Since beating Villanova on Jan. 9, Syracuse had eight opportunities to record its third Big East win. The Orange has come up short on every try.

Syracuse plays four more games this season, but the game against Georgetown may be its best chance at topping last season’s two-win total in conference play.

Syracuse (8-17, 2-10) will travel to McDonough Arena Saturday to take on the Hoyas at 3 p.m. Georgetown (12-13, 2-10) is tied with SU for 14th in the Big East and has the worst conference record out of the Orange’s remaining opponents.

Though a victory would show improvement in the record book from this season to last, senior guard Ashley McMillen said the team would need a win to decide whether last year was successful or not.

‘I think it helps having another win regardless of last year,’ McMillen said. ‘I don’t think we really compare ourselves to last year’s team too much. We try to distance ourselves from the past. But definitely a win would help our morale.’

SU opened the Big East with a win against St. John’s (7-16, 3-9) then beat the basement team of the conference, Villanova (7-18, 1-11). Georgetown recorded its only conference wins against the same two teams.

But even with the similar records, assistant coach Mary McKissack said the teams are not extremely similar.

‘I think maybe more or less it’s just the record,’ she said. ‘But there are some similarities as far as shooters.’

Georgetown can shoot from the outside, but McKissack said the Hoyas will be more likely to go inside than the Orange on Saturday.

Even with the Hoyas’ poor conference record, McMillen said she is not viewing them any differently than perennial powerhouses like Connecticut and Rutgers.

‘I think coach has instilled in us that any team we can beat on any night,’ she said. ‘We don’t go into any game saying we’re going to lose this game.’

Coming off last season’s disappointment, junior center Vaida Sipaviciute said she thought the team could take a big step this year. With the eight-game losing streak and the similar Big East record, the Orange has not lived up to her expectations so far. But she thinks any win could make a big difference.

‘We still kind of have that losers’ mentality from last year,’ Sipaviciute said. ‘We are going to have to win some games. Winning is going to change everything.’

Though SU doesn’t want to think about the past too much, the Orange players are certainly thinking about the future of the program. By winning at least one more Big East game this season, SU can potentially make a statement that the team is moving in the right direction.

‘Every single game you have to think about the future,’ Sipaviciute said. ‘I’m not thinking about my future anymore because I’m graduating next year, but I’m thinking about the people that are going to be here.’

Sipaviciute will still have the opportunity to play one more year at SU, but other players are going to be moving on after this season. McMillen said every win will help the program, whether it is in morale or in recruiting. Even though she won’t be there to enjoy it if the team succeeds in the future, McMillen still wants to see the Orange thrive in the future.

‘Every win in the Big East helps us in terms of next year,’ she said. ‘You always want to see your program succeed.’

Published on February 15, 2007 at 12:00 pm