Once ranked No. 8 in the country at 16-1 and 4-0 in the Big East, Syracuse is now 17-5, 5-4 and No. 20 after what is now a routine trip through the Big East — at Georgetown, vs. Notre Dame, at Pitt, vs. Louisville. Of course, the Orange did manage to score 94 and lose by six at Providence last week, too.

I’m going to cross my fingers now and board a plane to Syracuse, but let’s consider this game for a moment.

The Orange are dealing with a combination of the schedule and an accumulating list of injuries/issues. Andy Rautins missed the Providence game and Arinze Onuaku barely played, though both could play tomorrow night against WVU. Paul Harris did not start against the Friars because of a “team decision.” It’s all got Jim Boeheim in a very good mood entering a very big game that helps establish some order in the Big East’s second tier.

The Harris thing looks temoprary, but Rautins and Onuaku are dealing with things that linger. Rautins is a knock-down shooter — who needs two good ankles — and Onuaku is the type of mammoth player who gives WVU fits inside — and needs two good knees.  

The Mountaineers could use the help inside the Carrier Dome, where they’ve had almost no luck. WVU won its first game there in 1996 and has lost the seven since. Then again, prior to the first half Saturday, you could make the argument WVU not only played better on the road, but played like it preferred being on the road. What was the aberration? The first half against Louisville or the second? That road game or otherwise positive performances against Mississippi and Duquesne, Ohio State and Seton Hall and maybe even Marquette? Answers aplenty at 7 o’clock tomorrow night on ESPN.