Returning to the Carrier Dome was supposed to cure all the Syracuse men’s basketball team’s ailments. But after Sunday’s home loss to Seton Hall, it seems the Orange needs more than its home court to change its recent losing ways.

SU lost four straight, its longest losing streak since 2001-2002 when the Orange dropped four in a row to end the season and missed the NCAA Tournament. Its confidence is down, it has dropped out of the Top 25, it is in danger of missing the NCAAs and it has already lost the most home games since that 2001-2002 season.

Syracuse will have plenty on its mind tonight against Rutgers at 7 in the Carrier Dome, when it tries to avoid the first five-game losing streak with Jim Boeheim.

‘We can’t (underestimate opponents),’ Syracuse guard Gerry McNamara said. ‘How can we underestimate anyone? We’ve lost four games straight. We can’t underestimate Rutgers.’

Rutgers is coming off a 65-56 home win against Louisville, another formerly ranked team whose struggles rival Syracuse’s this season. RU also boasts the Big East’s leading scorer, Quincy Douby, who’s scoring 22.8 points per game.

‘They’re a pretty good team. … They’ve got Quincy Douby, a great shooter,’ Syracuse guard Louie McCroskey said. ‘We’ve got to keep our eyes on him and make sure they don’t get any easy baskets.’

But those things may not matter thanks to the Carrier Dome. The spacious Dome is in stark contrast to the steep and tight Rutgers Athletic Center. The Scarlet Knights (13-7, 3-4 Big East) are traditionally tough at the RAC, but in 10 tries have yet to win a game in the Carrier Dome.

Rutgers assistant coach Jim Carr said RU will try to combat its poor history at the Carrier Dome by having at least one practice session in the Dome before the game.

But Syracuse’s offense is the more important factor after shooting 38.5 percent from field and a mere 18.8 percent from beyond the 3-point line against Seton Hall. The Orange missed numerous easy looks, including eight lay-ups against Seton Hall.

The Scarlet Knights fully expect to see a different Syracuse (15-6, 3-4) team tonight. Boeheim said on Sunday after the Seton Hall loss he didn’t have a problem with any of the shots his team attempted.

It’s just a matter of time before those shots fall, Carr said.

‘They’re going to fight like heck,’ Carr said. ‘Coming off a loss, they’re going to be extremely focused. I don’t think they have one problem. They’re in a little bit of a rut. They’re playing very, very hard. They’ll shoot their way out of it. I think they’ll be more focused than they’ve ever been.’

Immediately after Sunday’s game, the realization of an impending five-game losing streak made Syracuse analyze itself.

‘Everyone is going to be down,’ McCroskey said, ‘but you have to find it within yourself. … The good thing about it is you always have that next game, and if we make our shots, hopefully we’ll be able to get a win.’

Published on January 31, 2006 at 12:00 pm