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Syracuse aims to take advantage of schedule

Jan 10, 2009 - 11:37 AM No. 9 Syracuse (15-1) at Rutgers (9-7), 7:30 p.m. EST

PISCATAWAY, New Jersey (Ticker) -- Syracuse has yet to feel the expected difficulty in the Big East Conference and hopes to continue taking advantage of the schedule while it still can.

The ninth-ranked Orange visit Rutgers on Saturday.

Despite nine Big East teams ranked in the Top 25, Syracuse (15-1, 3-0 Big East) has not faced one of them in its first four conference games.

However, things will get more difficult as Syracuse takes on ranked teams Georgetown, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh and Louisville in its next four contests.

The Orange did not look past DePaul on Wednesday and won their sixth straight game overall, 85-68, at the Carrier Dome.

Andy Rautins continued to excel as a starter with 17 points, leading six players in double figures. Jonny Flynn is averaging 16.5 points to lead the Orange.

Rutgers (9-7, 0-3) knows all about the competitiveness in the Big East as it plays against its fifth straight ranked opponent - fourth in the conference.

The Scarlet Knights trailed by as many as 21 before their late rally fell short in an 81-76 setback to No. 15 Marquette on Wednesday.

Freshman Mike Rosario had 22 points in the loss and leads the team in scoring at 17.6 per game.

Rutgers has not defeated Syracuse since January 29, 2003.