SWEET SIXTEEN – EAST SEMIFINALS
#1 INDIANA HOOSIERS VS #4 SYRACUSE ORANGE (+5.5)
Tonight at 9:45 EST in Washington these two teams will tip-off with both trying too extend their dreams of becoming national champions. With oddsmakers setting the line at -5.5 in Indiana’s favour I am going to lay the points. This game has the last minute buzzer beater for the win written all over it.
Indiana comes into this game the clear favourite behind Louisville to win the title. However for them to even get to a shot they will have to knock off some very good basketball teams. With Syracuse being just the first stepping stone, and in my eyes could prove most difficult. The Orange are used to playing tight games and great teams coming out of the Big East. I mentioned yesterday I think the Big Ten is the best conference in basketball, the Big East is not a very distant second. They launched 8 teams into the NCAA tournament with three still remaining (Marquette, Syracuse, Louisville). This conference is no stranger when it comes to stiff competition and if any team is prepared for the style of basketball Indiana plays, it is Syracuse.
Erase the labels of Indiana as a #1 seed and Syracuse a #4. Both these team’s have beaten the best this year. Indiana has beaten #4 seeded Michigan twice, #2 Ohio State once, and #3 Michigan State twice. Syracuse knocked off #1 seed Louisville once, and both #2 Georgetown and #9 Cincinnati once. They have shown they can both compete at the highest levels, but both have also shown they can be beaten. Indiana isn’t this untouchable transformer type juggernaut that media and analysts are making them out to be. They were knocked off by division rivals Wisconsin twice this year and once by Ohio State. They can have off games and teams can beat them when they are down. To me their Buckeye’s loss is the most intriguing because Syracuse is almost identical in their style of play. They have no weakness when they are playing their best basketball. This team is capable of playing some very tough defense, but will also make it rain offensively. If Syracuse brings their ‘A’ game it shouldn’t be a shocker if they send Indiana packing.
When my eyes are glued to the television tonight I will be watching how Syracuse chooses to deal with Cody Zellar and Victor Oladipo. These guys are pivotal to the Hoosiers success, how can we forget Oladipo’s final minute three pointer to put Indiana up by four points and solidify their victory against Temple. Both these guys can score in bunches but I think that Syracuse has the perfect size and grit to match up against them. Looking past Indiana, someone I feel doesn’t get enough limelight is Syracuse’s Senior James Southerland. He has averaged 13.7 points per game for the Orange this season and shot a Big East best 40.9% from three-point land. This man is dangerous when spotting up beyond the ark, but don’t overlook the rest of this squad. They can all hit daggers in spurts and could easily change a big deficit into a lead in a matter of minutes if given the opportunity.
Nobody is more emotionally invested in this game than Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim. Way back in 1987 he lead the Orange to the national championship game only to lose against Indiana. It took him 16 years to get back to that game and finally win a title in 2003. I am thinking that this is his opportunity to get revenge for a game he clearly spent over a decade pondering ‘what if’ about. Syracuse knocks off #1 Indiana and become one step closer to a final four appearance.
FINAL SCORE – INDIANA 70 – SYRACUSE 71