Syracuse continued the Big East's dominance of the NCAA Tournament and ended Herb Sendek's return with a 78-67 win over Arizona State on Sunday to move on to the Sweet 16.
The Cuse (3) joins Oklahoma (2), UNC (1) and Gonzaga (4) in the chalky South Regional in Memphis, which starts on Friday. The Cuse faces Oklahoma and UNC gets Gonzaga. Strong regional, much stronger than the Louisville-Washington State-Tennessee pod from Charlotte last year.
UNC will have its hands full in the Final Eight, assuming it takes care of Gonzaga in the Round of 16, because Syracuse has some bigs to support guards Johnny Flynn and Eric Devendorf and shooter Andy Rautins gives the Orange a lot of perimeter options.
UNC should start working the Orange's 2-3 zone now. With their usual length on the baseline, the Cuse will make life awfully difficult for both Oklahoma's Blake Griffin and UNC's Tyler Hansbrough.
The last time Roy Williams saw Syracuse's zone in the tournament, it was in the 2003 championship game. Syracuse beat Kansas 81-78 in New Orleans in Williams' final game with Kansas.
The Big East has five teams (Villanova, UConn, Pitt, Louisville) in the Sweet 16. It sent a record three teams to the Final Four in 1985.
Given the way Syracuse is playing — and UConn's performance on Saturday — the Big East could take all four spots in Detroit in two weeks.
Comments
South regional
Sun, 03/22/2009 - 21:10 — wufpack76Lots of assumptions in this entry ...
"assuming it takes care of Gonzaga in the Round of 16 ..."
^It was a couple of seasons ago and each are different players now, but Heytfelt dominated Hansbrough in a preseason NIT tourny matchup the other year which the Zags won. Clearly the Zags and Holes are different teams now, but I still think this matchup deserves more than a "oh yeah, easy win" assumption.
"... the Cuse *will* make life awfully difficult for both Oklahoma's Blake Griffin and UNC's Tyler Hansbrough. "
^Another assumption that Syracuse will definitely handle Oklahoma. Maybe even a larger assumption than that of the Holes easily dispatching Gonzaga.
I don't necessarily disagree with your take, but felt that these were some pretty big assumptions. Maybe the word "could" would apply better than something definitive, like the word "will".
I'm sorry, I know I'm a nit.
what does this word mean to you??
Mon, 03/23/2009 - 08:15 — gvillegatr"assuming"
I swear, i've looked everywhere for its orgin and meaning and no where do I see the word "oh yea, easy win."
also, you seemed to use the word "assumptions" just like JPG used the word "assume." can you explain this??
we'll see you in august when football starts to heat up!