Syracuse could have used two extra Big East games last year.

After finishing the regular season with a tough loss at Villanova before crashing out of the Big East tournament two games later against Georgetown, Syracuse was left with an 24-11 (10-6) record, a Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) of 50 and a strength of schedule (SOS) of 46.

Those credentials still gave the Orange a more-than-respectable claim to an NCAA Tournament selection. Yet, as the history books read, SU was snubbed and played out the season in the National Invitational Tournament as a national afterthought.

With two more Big East games, Syracuse could have possibly scrapped out two more resume-building wins, improved its strength of schedule and left even less doubt about its selection.

If a similar situation arises this year, the Orange will have those two chances to cement its case. Beginning this season, each Big East team will play 18 conference games in the regular season – two more than the 16-game slate of previous years.

The new arrangement ensures that each of the 16 schools in the Big East will play each other at least once this season. Last year, each school did not play two other conference members in the regular season. Like last year, each Big East team will play three conference schools twice.

‘I understand why they did it,’ first-year South Florida head coach Stan Heath said. ‘I think it’s healthy for us to play everybody in the league at least once. I’m supportive of that decision. It makes it tougher. But in some ways, I see value in it as we move forward.’

The additional contests could play a large role in determining the success or failure of squads positioned in the middle of the conference standings. The new schedule presents two more tough contests for Big East teams on the NCAA Tournament bubble. Yet some argue the strength of schedule gained from two extra Big East conference games could boost credentials enough to ensure a spot in the field of 65.

‘There are teams that are kind of up at the top that it won’t affect them as much because they have their RPI, their chance in the Big East Tournament, the NCAA and all that,’ Seton Hall head coach Bobby Gonzalez said. ‘Where it’ll really be tough on is teams like ourselves that are climbing and trying to get in that top 12 and the top 10 and things like that. These games are going to be really critical.’

Last year, the Big East had the most teams (eight) ranked in the RPI top 50 of any conference in the country, which reflects both winning percentage and strength of schedule. Only the Atlantic Coast Conference had as many teams in the top 50. Still, only six Big East teams out of 16 were invited to the NCAA Tournament.

Two conferences – the Big Ten and Pac-10 – already use 18-game conference schedules. Most other top conferences, such as the ACC, the Southeastern Conference and the Big 12, still use 16-game regular season conference slates.

Heath, who made the Tournament last year as head coach of Arkansas, pinpointed the SOS as the most major benefit of playing two extra conference games.

‘I think at the end of the day, when teams look and see why they got into the NCAA Tournament and are asking why (the Big East) didn’t have as many as we think we should have,’ Heath said, ‘the determining factor was a couple more games, win or lose, as strength of schedule, might have made the difference in getting an extra team or two into the NCAA Tournament.’

Last year, six of the 10 teams in the Pac-10 and six of 11 in the Big Ten made the Tournament. Those percentages (60 percent and 54.5 percent, respectively) were far better than the 37.5 percent of Big East teams that made the field of 65 in 2007. Stanford of the Pac-10 made the Tournament instead of the Orange last year with a 19-13 (10-8) record perhaps in part because its SOS (32) was 14 spots better than Syracuse.

Yet considering the ultra-competitive nature of the Big East, having to play two more contests isn’t a totally welcome task. With extra conference contests, more losses could also follow. One or two losses in that pair of games could be enough to relegate a team to the NIT regardless of SOS.

‘It’s tough, it’s always tough,’ SU head coach Jim Boeheim said in a phone interview. ‘We knew that going in. It’ll be challenging. We’re playing all the best teams and a couple of them twice. … It’s the same for everybody.’

‘You’re playing two more games against unbelievable competition,’ Gonzalez said, accentuating the change more than his Syracuse counterpart. ‘It’s definitely going to be harder. You could go 8-10 in this league, and that’s a pretty good year. … People might not perceive it that way, but that’s a pretty good year.’

Whether an 8-10 year will be enough to get a Big East team into the tournament remains unclear. The struggle between record and SOS could persist from year to year. It likely won’t be until Selection Sunday in March that the Big East coaches find out what effect, if any, two games can have on a season.

‘Well, that’s what everybody is waiting to see. It certainly could,’ Gonzalez said. ‘The proof is in the pudding. What’s going to happen at the end of the year? Is it going to help us get more in or is it gonna force a couple more to not get it? That’s going to be the determining factor really. That’s going to be the moment of the truth.’

First practice Friday

Syracuse will begin official practices on Friday with a 7 p.m. workout at Manley Field House that will be open to the public. Friday is the first day that college basketball teams nationwide can begin official practices.

The workout will be preceded by Media Day festivities for both the men’s and women’s teams earlier in the day.

Also, tryouts for the men’s basketball team will be held Friday at 10 p.m. at Manley. Those trying out should bring their SUID and athletic gear. All athletes should be in good academic standing.

Published on October 9, 2007 at 12:00 pm