Two basketball schools that are no strangers to March Madness glory will square off one-on-one in prime time on Saturday as the No.4. seeded Syracuse Orangemen and the Michigan Wolverines collide in the latter half of Final Four action.
Vying for their first national title since 2003, which came on the back of now-NBA superstar Carmelo Anthony, Syracuse has been on a roll throughout the tournament, knocking off Montana, California, No.1 East seed Indiana and No.3 Marquette to make their fifth-ever Final Four appearance.
In addition to junior forward C.J. Fair, who leads Syracuse with 14.4 points this season, the Orangemen had been playing lockdown defense on the other end, allowing opponents only 45.7 points per game and holding all four of their NCAA tournament opponents to only 28.9 percent field goal shooting and only 15.4 percent from three-point territory.
And they'll need their defense to be at its best against Michigan, which is averaging 75.5 points a game this season and 78.8 points during the tournament. Plus, the Wolverines, who haven't been to the national title game since the Chris Webber-led Fab Four team of 1993, have one deadly weapon in their arsenal that can make a huge difference-Trey Burke.
This season's Associated Press Player of the Year in college hoops, Burke has been an offensive machine, averaging 18.8 points and 3.1 assists for Michigan. In addition, Burke has played some of his best college ball in the tournament, leading the Wolverines back from a 14-point hole against No.1-ranked Kansas in the regionals that included a clutch three-point shot at the end of regulation to send the game into overtime as the Wolverines upset the Jayhawks.
Predictions
Syracuse will look to challenge Burke on the defensive end, and Burke has admitted that the Orangemen can play a "really good" 2-3. Defensively, Syracuse may have the edge if they can make Michigan's key offensive pieces Burke and Mitch McGary uncomfortable. However, Burke has been playing lights-out basketball all tournament long. If he can pick his spots well and make his shots, the Wolverines will have a date with the NCAA title game on Monday night.
Prediction: Wolverines by 10
Syracuse (4) vs. Michigan (4)
Time: 8:49 p.m. EST
TV Channel: CBS
Live Stream: NCAA.com's March Madness Site