By BRENDAN MCGAIR

Sports writer

PROVIDENCE – Say this about the Big East Conference this season: you always know where you stand. Its clear-cut nature is simply a byproduct of a league driven by an enormous presence in the national polls.
Syracuse has a first-hand knowledge of playing teams residing in the upper tier, while Providence is about to undergo a similar battery of tests. Perhaps it’s only fitting then that the Friars and Orange meet up tonight at The Dunk in a game that looms large for both.
PC is attempting to travel down other road to recognition and respectability. The next 11 days will shed some serious light on this task, the kind that can only come when the schedule rattles off Syracuse, at Connecticut, Villanova and at West Virginia in succession.
Record-wise the Friars (5-2 in the Big East) head into this pivotal stretch on solid footing. Providence’s win-loss mark is good enough to pop up in the top eight of the league standings, above more decorated sorts such as Georgetown, West Virginia and Villanova.
Upon closer inspection, Providence arrived at its present position by bottom feeding upon the likes of St. John’s, De Paul, Seton Hall and Cincinnati (twice). Here’s the good part: the ironclad Big East schedule provides a host of opportunities for the Friars to earn their stripes by obtaining signature wins.
You can fret about the “murderer’s row” which awaits the Friars, but this four-game mad dash could be very influential, one way or another, for later on down the road.
“We’re definitely excited because this is a good opportunity for us to get some big wins. This (four-game gauntlet) is a measuring stick for us,” said PC point guard Sharaud Curry. “We’ve put ourselves in a good situation, but this next stretch, starting (tonight) is big.”
While PC is set to go toe-to-toe with several members of the Big East’s upper crust, the ‘Cuse are trying to catch their collective breaths from a four-game landmine that left plenty of scars. Syracuse’s previous four opponents were ranked, the list including Georgetown, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh and Louisville. Three of those four games saw the Orange lose by double figures, the lone exception coming in a win at the Carrier Dome against the Fighting Irish that’s also been on downward spiral of late.
The Orange come to Providence on a two-game losing streak that’s seen them struggle to find the range (39 percent combined against the Panthers and Cardinals) and get out-rebounded by a wide margin (85-64). The hard times have taken its toll on Syracuse in the rankings, which witnessed head coach Jim Boeheim’s club tumble out of the Top-10 this week to No. 15 in both polls.
Their woes also extend to the injury front. Shooting guard Andy Rautins is expected to miss tonight with a sprained right ankle he suffered in the second half of Sunday’s 67-57 home loss to Louisville. A 38 percent shooter from distance, Rautins torched the Friars in Providence two years ago for a then-personal best 19 points. 
Asked if he’s catching Syracuse at a good time, PC head coach Keno Davis answered, “I would rather not play any team after they lose a game. Sometimes there’s a sense of urgency that goes through (a team following a loss) … you would rather catch a team that feels pretty good about themselves.”    1
Though the absence of Rautins will undoubtedly be felt, the cupboard is far from bare for Syracuse, which like Providence is averaging just under 80 points per. There’s still sophomore playmaker Jonny Flynn, the Orange’s leading scorer (15.9 ppg) and assist man (5.9). Junior Eric Devendorf, who’s been coming off the bench and is a likely choice to take Rautins’ spot, scores at 14.2 clip. Paul Harris is the ‘Cuse’s top rebounder (8.4) and is also a double figure scorer (13.3 points).
The Syracuse player Davis noted “near the top of the scouting reports” is Arinze Onuaku. The junior uses every ounce of his 6-foot-9, 275-pound frame on both ends of the floor. Onuaku makes just about all his touches count (his 70.6 field goal percentage tops the nation) while rebounding (8.7) and blocking shots (1.7) at a noteworthy clip.
“He’s a big banger,” said Curry. “We’ve got to use a number of guys against him; that has to be the approach.”
Starting tonight, the Friars’ seek to show they too belong among the Big East’s hierarchy.
***
RIM RATTLERS: Onuaku is receiving hot competition from PC senior Randall Hanke, who’s shooting an even 70 percent on the year. … Painting the Town Orange: Syracuse is 20-5 all-time against the Friars in Providence. … The Friars’ last home win against a ranked opponent came Feb. 2007 against West Virginia. … PC is one of five schools boasting three active 1,000 point scorers in Pawtucket’s Jeff Xavier, Weyinmi Efejuku and Geoff McDermott. … Providence’s defense may be the team’s Achilles’ Heal, but over the last 12 games the Friars are allowing opponents to shoot just 28 percent (67-of-239) from 3-point territory.