WASHINGTON – Like something straight out of Dickens, the Syracuse frontcourt provided a tale of the starkest contrast when the Orange took on Georgetown on Saturday at the MCI Center.

For one player, it was the best of times. The other, it was the worst of times.

Although he thoroughly denied the gravity of his 12-point, eight-rebound, four-block performance, center Darryl Watkins continues to show flashes of promise which could exercise the ghost of Syracuse centers past.

Stiff as a log and just about as coordinated as one on offense only a month ago (see missed dunks against Seton Hall), Watkins displayed post moves the public hadn’t seen in a game against a highly-touted Hoyas frontcourt. He’s added a newfound offensive game to his already consistent defensive presence, giving SU a target in the middle to ease the pressure off of those constantly-dogged shooters.

This is the Watkins the Orange needs to run with the top of the Big East.

‘He’s been playing really well since the UConn game (on Feb. 8),’ Syracuse guard Louie McCroskey said. ‘He’s been more active, making defensive plays and he’s gotten a lot better finishing. It’s always good to see the big men play well.’

But all the big men did not play well.

After a spectacular performance against undersized West Virginia, forward Terrence Roberts joyfully paraded around the SU locker room with a mink coat his mother rewarded the junior with for his great showing.

But after Saturday’s performance, maybe Roberts should think about returning the coat.

Against Georgetown, Roberts managed to score only two points and grab two rebounds before fouling out of the game with 5:46 remaining. Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim had to be careful with Roberts most of the game, playing his forward 10 minutes in the first half and only eight minutes in the second.

Widely thought to be SU’s second-best player before the season began, Roberts hasn’t yet filled those expectations. He’s been wildly inconsistent, as evidenced by following Monday’s 16-point game with Saturday’s two-point disappointment.

Roberts provides a huge emotional spark for the Orange it can not do without. In essence, Syracuse played more than half the game without a huge piece thanks to Roberts’ foul trouble, damaging SU’s chance to win.

‘He’s one of the catalysts of this team,’ Syracuse guard Eric Devendorf said. ‘When he gets going the whole team gets going. It definitely hurt.’

In the end, what it comes down to for Syracuse is all the pieces need to fit together for the Orange to really shine. That wasn’t the case against the Hoyas, and SU fell flat.

While Syracuse is and always has been a guard-oriented team, it needs an inside threat to pull defenses off the shooters. Watkins has made great strides, and Roberts has shown he is capable of great things. The Orange needs both of them to play well if there’s any hope for success the rest of the season.

‘Mookie played great,’ Syracuse guard Gerry McNamara said. ‘Without him, this game is a lot worse. It’s such a difference. You see Terrence get in foul trouble and what he did for us in the West Virginia game, the difference when our big guys play well. We’re so much better. We need both of them in there.’

This much is true – the big men are the difference between a two-point upset win and a 15-point loss. Only one of them fulfilled that call this weekend.

Rob Anthes is an assistant sports editor at The Daily Orange, where his columns appear occasionally. E-mail him at rmanthes@syr.edu.

Published on February 26, 2006 at 12:00 pm