Quite likely the last regular-season game ever for West Virginia at the Carrier Dome and they’ll go out in style. Today’s game, which starts at 1 p.m. on ESPNU, will have the largest crowd  for a game this season. The Mountaineers have lost nine straight to the Orange here — can’t forget the Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight wins here in 2010 — and have lost all nine in the series since they won here in 1996.

Per my experiences, this is the arena that affects the opposition the most. When the crowd gets going, the other team struggles and Syracuse surges. It takes a very mature team — not necessarily old or experienced … just mature — to handle the inevitable roars and runs. It takes a simple skill to keep a lid on things: Don’t turn the ball over.

The Orange lead college basketball in steals per game (10.3) and turnover margin (plus-7) and no one turns a live-ball turnover into points like these guys. Just watch them get a steal, flip a switch and turn defense into offense. It happens fast, it usually ends with a dunk or a 3-pointer, and nothing gets the crowd going like that.

Not sure what to think of the Mountaineers in this specific area. They actually average fewer turnovers (13.3) in losses than they do in wins (14.1). In home games, they average 14 turnovers. In road games (I count Kansas State and Marshall because they were up against the crowd in both) they average 13.8. In the two games in Las Vegas, they totaled 28.

WVU is good for about 14 turnovers a game, no matter what. That can’t change for the worse today if they want to change their recent past here for the better.

 12:32: I’m in pretty agonizing pain today. My back is locked up and won’t cooperate with me. I blame it on an especially violent flight from Laguardia to Philadelphia yesterday in what passed for an airplane and wouldn’t be used to dust crops in most states. And that was after two flights before it didn’t happen (Aside: Got my flight voucher!).

And my bed was probably too soft. I knew I was in trouble around 4 a.m.

This is background because I just filmed a segment for next week’s “Inside the Big East.” I was seated and I hope I wasn’t as stiff as the drink I’m going to need to shake this pain. Then again, maybe I’ll go bug Randy Meador for some pain relief — and this is all an excuse to tell a great story about road trips.

Years back, there was an impromptu blizzard here on game day. I drove to the stadium with Dave Hickman, back when I couldn’t rent cars because I wasn’t 25 years old. It’s a long walk from where we park to the gym and the snow was heavy and blinding. We’re walking, heads down, up a hill, and we’re talking … and then Dave just disappeared.

I look back and he’s wobbly and bloodied. Apparently — and again, we couldn’t see because of the snow and because we were keeping our heads down — a plow drove past, kicked up a cinder and pelted Dave in the forehead. I’ll never forget seeing Dave getting medical attention on the WVU bench before the game. After the game, it took 15 minutes to clear the car and get out of the parking lot. Good times!

12:45: Was just reminded cheerleaders and a head cold altered my prior “IBE” appearance.

1:13: Already a better start than Wednesday. KJ got two easy jumpers in the zone and made them and then had a good look at a 3 in transition. We’re tied 4-4 after Kilicli grabs the rim on defense on a shot that wasn’t going to go for Syracuse.

1:15: This just in … @dphickman1. Enjoy.

1:16: Truck with the live-ball turnover and Kilicli shoulder blocks Scoop for two free throws. He misses one … better than a dunk.

1:17: Truck with the live-ball turnover (Syracuse pressed!) and Fair gets a layup. Aaron Brown is awake today, too. Makes an open 3 and gets ahead on a Syracuse turnover and nearly scored on a foul when the defender wasn’t going to let him score. The Mountaineers lead 9-7. Energy is not a worry today.

1:20: Some pictures and videos I want to share with you, but it might have to wait until halftime. Good scene-setter stuff.

1:22: High ball screens. If WVU is going to take you out of your stuff, and if you’ve got Dion Waiters, why not run ’em? I don’t think Deniz wanted to pick up his second foul there, to be honest. Huggins calls a timeout at 13-9.

1:24: Excellent interior pass there. And a bounce pass in the middle against a zone. Weird, but it worked. Aaron Brown looks like he believes he’s supposed to be out there. Good body language.

1:26: Shot clock shots usually create long rebounds and Browne sling-shotted one off the front of the rim that led to a runout dunk for waiters. First pressure test right here and WVU leads 15-14.

1:32: KJ makes two free throws Baye Keita picks up his second foul and leaves teh game. No Keita, no Melo and not so much size inside right now. Enter Nique Rutledge, who was good against the zone Wednesday.

1:34: That’s Nique’s weakness. He dribbles too much and inbad spots.

1:35: And that’s KJ strength. Quick release. That 3 gives WVU a 22-16 lead.

1:37: Regarding the crowd and the noise, WVU huddles in the paint during its timeouts.

1:39: I think the Syracuse benc was working on that call and it worked. Kilicli has two now and he’s still in, though Noreen is waiting to come in. Careful, D.

1:41: KJ got kind of mugged and never had a chance to catch the entry pass. Syracuse gets a lob-layup on the run. Really fun to watch them on the go. Kilicli, meanwhile, is still in and draws a foul. He goes 0-for-2 at the line and would have stayed in longer, but Browne fouled on the rebound.

1:43: Meanwhile, Syracuse shoots a lot of 3s and doesn’t run much offense in the half-court and WVU is getting a pretty good selection of shots. Hinds waits and steps in for a jumper and faked just enough to hold the opening. Moountaineers ahead, 24-20.

1:48: KJ hit the rim, right? Not sure why that was a violation, unless he missed from point blank range. Steratore, Hess and O’Connell letting a lot gounder the basket that’s 10 feet from me. Not sure about the other end, but I am sure about this end.

1:50: Two violations and an offensive foul. At least they’re dead-ball turnovers, but Syracuse scores and leads, 25-24.

1:51: KJ had that rebound, then there was a collision and now Syracuse has the ball in a timeout trying to figure out what to do with 31 seconds and no shotclock.

1:53: One play they do run well, and a lot, is that one. They crowd the left side, get a ball screen to draw a defender form the right and Scoop is open for a 3. Suddenly, a 28-24 lead at the half. Little 12-2 run to end the half.

2:06: Something else I’ll miss about the Dome? These guys!

I’m not even sure who they are. I never inquired. They don’t bother me and have never gotten in my way. I like their style and I feel better knowing they’re here.

2:13: Curious start. Kilicli with an and-one, but Truck ducks under a screen and Triche makes a 3. Kilicli turns theball over and Triche layups WVU into a timeout. The 33-27 lead is Syracuse’s largest of the game … and another turnover against the press leads to a Triche layup he misses under pressure. Truck is in the books with a timely 3 and Miles blocks Kris Joseph on the block. Good recovery.

2:16: And Scoop gets a layup.

2:17: Another turnover in aninbound and Miles commits a smart foul with a tackle that prevents a run out. Syracuse dunks anyhow and this is threatening to get away from WVU … even at 37-32.

2:19: Game saving sequence in a pinch. Nique dribbles and pivots and feeds KJ for a layup. Miles strips Triche and Truck scores to push Syracuse into a timeoout up 37-36. Crowd was percolating, Syracuse was bouncy and things have quieted a little bit.

2:21: Daryl Gross is in the front row. How do I know? Well, for one, I recognize the Syracuse AD. And he’s also wearing a blue pull over with his name on the right sleeve.

2:27: Truck is wearing a sweatshirt…heating up.

2:28: Look at that…they race for the basket after a turnover.

2:34: Four fouls on Keita and Sutherland really tried to draw that one, but O’Connell wasn’t having it. And Syracuse has taken a lot of 3s. And mostly all of them were good looks. Three have gone in, though.

2:36: Miles is doing a godo job rebounding and guarding. He still isn’t a shooter and, for some reason, he came over to help on that Waiters layup and I don’t think Waiters was ever going to score on that drive. I’m not sure he would have gotten the ball up or out.

2:38: Ties at 47 and WVU goes with three guards. Hasn’t been able to do that much today. Truck gets to the foul line …

2:40: Man, work and work and work to get a lead and Triche — a 40-percent shooter from deep, by the way — makes a 3 as Hinds goes under. They’re obiously worried about the drive-and-dish. Pick your poison stuff.

2:45: Deniz is getting good looks, just can’t get one to go. Triche with a tricky shot in transition for a 52-49 leaf, but Browne banks in a 3 to tie it again.

2:46: Three shot-clock baskets for Browne, not insignificant today.

2:47: Deniz seems to be moving too fast or too hard. He’s not getting centerd and, as such, all his shots are a smidge off one way or another. But he’s otherwise doing what he needs. Browne rebound fouls out Christmas and with 4:58 he goes 2-for-2 in the bonus to tie it 54-54.

2:49: Browne is nails. Another long rebound and this time a shot fake against the shot clock draws a foul and two more made free throws. Tied at 56.

2:51: …but he’s not a magician. WVU kicked that one around and gets another shot clock violation. The offense is definitely trusting that it can get a quality shot late.

2:54: I keep forgetting Gerry McNamara is a G.A. I wonder how many games the team would have won without him this season.

2:54: Oof. Friendly roll there for Joseph and a free throw for a 59-56 lead.

2:57: Another shot with consequences for KJ and another tie as his corner 3 makes it 61-61.

2:57: And Triche just speeds down, gets fouled and makes free throws. Huggins didn’t like that at all. And he’s talking to the officials in this timeout.

3:00: Hilarious. KJ reaches Pittsnogle-Butler status when he has the open 3 there — just a frightened scream by the fans. He missed, but Kilicli did well to grab a tough rebound and WVU has theball, no shot clock and 26.5 seconds down 63-61. I’m not playing for overtime on the road. I want the win here. You?

3:02: I put down 13GT and circled it in my notes because I thought Kilicli’s shot was goal tended. We how have 6.2 seconds left and I’m still going for the win.

3:04: I think I know what the story will be here and I don’t want to write it. Wonderful game, both ways, but I do have to wonder about that block and I hate that it might be about that. Nevertheless, Syracuse wins 63-61 and WVU looks to prevent its first three-game losing streak under Huggins in 44 hours.