The name is known throughout basketball. Except at Syracuse, where the repetitive passing and cutting offensive style of the Princeton Tigers, is better known as the Georgetown offense.

Georgetown, coached by Princeton grad John Thompson III, runs the Princeton offense. And when Georgetown goes up against Syracuse’s 2-3 zone defense, the Hoyas use ball movement to spread out the zone.

So when 6th-ranked Syracuse (2-0) faces Princeton (1-2) on Wednesday night at the Carrier Dome, the Orange players won’t see the Princeton offense. They’ll see the more familiar Georgetown offense.

“Princeton does a different job attacking a zone,’’ SU assistant Gerry McNamara said. “It’s similar to Georgetown. They move the ball extremely well. They try to put you in the second hash-mark of the free throw line. They put you in some difficult spots. They space you out. We’re going to have to move and be active.’’

McNamara has particular interest in Syracuse’s defense. McNamara coaches the Syracuse guards, which puts him in charge of the players at the top of Syracuse’s 2-3 zone defense.

Syracuse’s starting guards, Michael Carter-Williams and Brandon Triche, go 6-foot-6 and 6-foot-4, respectively. Their size is both a blessing and a challenge. A blessing in that Carter-Williams and Triche can cover a lot of ground and force opponents to shoot over them.

The challenge is for Carter-Williams and Triche to keep smaller, quicker guards from penetrating past them. Even Trevor Cooney, Syracuse’s primary backcourt backup, is big at 6-4, 188 pounds.

The SU guards fared well against Wagner on Sunday. In SU’s 88-57 win over the Seahawks, Syracuse held Wagner’s starting backcourt of Latif Rivers and Kenneth Ortiz to 5-for-15 shooting (1-for-3 from 3-point range).

“Wagner’s guards provided us with a good test,’’ McNamara said. “They had some pretty crafty guards. We gave up a little too much dribble penetration. That’s certainly something we’re going to have to work on.’’

In its season-opening win over San Diego State, Syracuse held the Aztecs’ starting backcourt of Chase Tapley and Xavier Thames to 4-for-24 shooting (0-for-8 from 3-point range).

In both games, the opposing guards tried to dribble through the gaps in SU’s zone. Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim said that’s nothing new. He expects to see even more this season.

“I think everybody’s attacking us pretty similarly the last couple of years,’’ Boeheim said. “You’ve got to get down and play good defense. It’s just like a man-to-man. You’ve got to keep the guy in front of you.’’

Triche, Syracuse’s senior guard, said he knows some guards will try to use their quickness to zip past him. But he added that he’s always adjusting to what the opponent is doing.

“You adjust to whatever a player is,’’ Triche said. “If there’s a player who primarily shoots jump shots, you’re going to close out a little bit higher and try to get them to put the ball on the ground. On smaller guys who don’t shoot as much, you back off and go under screens.’’

McNamara said the Orange will face smaller, quicker guards all year long. The Orange’s size, he said, will be more of an advantage than a disadvantage.

“I think our guys are more than capable of keeping people in front,’’ McNamara said. “That’s more effort than anything. It’s a mind-set.’’