BOSTON (AP) — Syracuse and Ohio State were supposed to play in the East Regional final. Just check the seeds.
The top-seeded Orange and second-seeded Buckeyes are very even statistically except for rebounding, and both schools have a solid history of Final Four appearances.
The difference could be Saturday, as it is in most games involving Syracuse, the 2-3 zone. No matter how sick people are of hearing about the zone, it impacts games, especially in the tournament when teams don’t have much more than 24 hours to prepare for an opponent.
Ohio State’s powerful frontline will be the difference in rebounding and it could be the difference in attacking the zone with passing from the post. The Buckeyes’ guards will have to hold up their end by making 3-pointers. Wisconsin made 14 3s in the regional semifinal against the Orange. It wasn’t enough.
Syracuse’s three-guard tandem will have to score and help on the boards as the Orange will again be without starting center Fab Melo.
