For 30 minutes, Hakim Warrick barely moved. After Syracuse’s 68-64 loss to Pittsburgh on Monday, Warrick sat facing his locker, head down. As the rest of his team showered and left the room, Warrick only managed to take off his sneakers and stare into his hands. The usual talkative forward spoke softly to the occasional reporter, offering his disappointment in short bites.

‘We just gotta get better,’ he said. ‘They just outhustled us tonight. They wanted it more.’

No one wanted a win against Pitt more than Warrick, though. The senior Player of the Year candidate was understandably frustrated after scoring eight points less than his season average and grabbing only three rebounds. The game that could’ve been a momentum builder heading into Saturday’s matchup with Boston College was a step in the opposite direction.

Though SU cannot take a share of the Big East lead with a win over BC, it has a chance to give the Eagles their first home loss of the season on Saturday at 6 p.m. at Conte Forum. Warrick will be even more aware of the stakes this time.

‘Them being first in the Big East, we really need to go in there and win,’ he said. ‘We need to get better on offense, getting more disciplined. I think we forced it a little too much (against Pitt).’

Even the most casual basketball fan knows the importance of Saturday’s game in Beantown – the game was moved up an hour and a half so that ESPN could televise it nationally.

For No. 9 SU (22-4, 9-3 Big East), it’s most likely its last shot at catching the Eagles in the conference standings. For No. 6 BC (21-1, 10-1), it’s a chance to prove itself against its highest-ranked opponent of the season while defending its unbeaten home record.

As if this game isn’t played up enough, it could be the last time the teams face each other in the Big East as BC will defect to the Atlantic Coast Conference next season. But no one on Syracuse is talking about that. Right now, there’s too much else on the line.

‘I think any game from now on is our most important game,’ said senior Josh Pace. ‘We want to bounce back and get a win. It’s good to play a quality team like BC to try to get back on track.’

While the Eagles have their own Player of the Year candidate in junior Craig Smith, they will show more balance offensively. Four Eagles average more than 10 points. And while the Eagles are no longer undefeated, their loss to Notre Dame on Feb. 8 will help them in the short term.

‘Right now we’re just focusing on the league and doing as best as we can,’ said BC head coach Al Skinner. ‘We gotta continue to play and get better to continue to have success.’

So whatever you value – Big East bragging rights, conference standing, national recognition or home record – this game is a big one. It could catapult the Orange into a postseason run or throw it back another step.

‘It’s imperative that we go in there and get a win,’ SU guard Gerry McNamara said. ‘We’re in a tough spot right now and they’re on top. It’s important for us to finish the season the right way.’

Published on February 17, 2005 at 12:00 pm