NCAA Final Four: Syracuse vs. Michigan

SYRACUSE

Starters

P; Ht.; Wt.; Statistics

F; C.J. Fair; 6-6; 215; 14.3 ppg

F; James Southerland; 6-8; 215; 13.5 ppg

C; Rakeem Christmas; 6-9; 242; 4.6 rpg

G; Brandon Triche; 6-4; 210; 13.7 ppg

G; Michael Carter-Williams; 6-6; 185; 12.1 ppg

Reserves

DeJuan Coleman; 6-9; 288; 8.9 ppg

Baye Moussa Keita; 6-10; 215; 3.7 ppg

MICHIGAN

Starters

P; Ht.; Wt.; Statistics

F; Glenn Robinson III; 6-6; 210; 11.0 ppg

G; Tim Hardaway Jr.; 6-6; 205; 14.6 ppg

F; Mitch McGary; 6-10; 250; 6.2 rpg

G; Nik Stauskas; 6-6; 190; 11.5 ppg

G; Trey Burke; 6-0; 190; 18.8 ppg

Reserves

F; Jon Horford; 6-10; 250; 2.3 rpg

F; Jordan Morgan; 6-8; 250; 4.7 ppg

SCOUTING REPORT

Syracuse has turned things around after losing seven of its last 12 games entering the Big East tournament. There’s no secret to the team’s success: it’s a suffocating 2-3 zone that has been baffling opponents for years. This could be Jim Boeheim’s best defensive unit because of the Orange’s size on the perimeter. Holding Marquette to 39 points was an achievement. Michigan has outscored four NCAA tournament teams by an average of 15.5 points. Guard Trey Burke is probably the best player left in the tournament. Michigan is a great offensive team that doesn’t turn the ball over. The emergence of freshman forwardcenter Mitch McGary has been a crucial to Michigan’s success.

KEY TO THE GAME

Can Syracuse’s defense keep a stranglehold on the Wolverines’ offense? Michigan made 10 of 19 three-pointers in its regional final win over Florida. Syracuse’s four opponents in the tournament have made 19 of 91 from three-point range. Syracuse’s defense has been so dominant that the Orange went 12 minutes without a basket against California and still won. Syracuse is the first team in shot-clock era to hold three teams to less than 50 points in the NCAA tournament.