Polar opposites

SYRACUSE — Fourth-year Syracuse coach Greg Robinson is poised to get a closer look at a coach who has turned around a team that seemed destined to join the Orange in the Big East basement when the season began.

That would be second-year Louisville coach Steve Kragthorpe, who has four new assistant coaches, a new quarterback, and a new trio of starting linebackers that includes two junior college transfers and a freshman. He’s also had to replace his top three receivers and place-kicker Art Carmody, who scored more points (433) than any other player at his position in NCAA history.

“We had no depth at those positions,” Kragthorpe said Monday on the Big East teleconference. “It’s been a quick learn for those guys. We’ve made some improvement, but we’ve got to make a lot of improvement to be good down the stretch.”