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NCAA Tournament Predictions: East Region: 4. Syracuse vs. 13. Montana
- Updated: March 18, 2013
Forward James Southerland (Washington Post)
4 Syracuse (26-9, 11-7 Big East)- The ‘Cuse staggered across the finish line like a drunk bar patron on St. Patty’s Day. The Orange are 4-5 in their last nine games, and have put up some ugly numbers in some of those L’s, including scoring just 39 points at Georgetown and allowing Louisville to go on a 44-10 run in the Big East championship game. Before senior forward James Southerland caught fire like no one in Big East tournament history (he set the record for most threes in the tournament with a ridiculous 19 in four games), the Orange were having trouble scoring. That won’t be a problem if Southerland can keep up his torrid pace.
Syracuse can also rely on 6-8 junior C.J. Fair, who leads the team in scoring at 14.4 points per game. He also pulls down 7.7 boards per contest. Brandon Triche is solid at the point and Michael Carter-Williams has NBA size and talent, but still needs to learn how to put it all together. The Orange’s zone defense always presents a challenge for mid-major teams like Montana, but the Grizzlies may have the guardplay and shooters to neutralize it.
KEY STATS:
5th Opponents’ Field Goal Percentage (37.7)
20th Rebounds Per Game (38.7)
80th Points Per Game (71.3)
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Guard Kareem Jamar (AP)
Montana (25-6, 19-1 Big Sky)- The Grizzlies boast a pair of zone-busters in guards Will Cherry and Kareem Jamar, both of whom can shoot from distance. Cherry (13.8 ppg, 4.1 apg) and Jamar (14.5 ppg, 4.1 apg) just might be the best backcourt in mid-major college basketball. Both have innate playmaking ability and a knack for making the extra pass. Throw in 6-7 senior forward Mathias Ward (14.8 ppg), and Montana has a trio of top-flight scorers who can give Syracuse fits on the defensive end.
The Grizzlies aren’t very big (their tallest rotation player is 6-7), but they’re plenty experienced. This is the same group that kept Portland Trailblazers guard and Rookie of the Year favorite Damian Lillard and his Weber State Wildcats out of the dance last season. They’re heading to their 3rd NCAA appearance in four years, and have dominated the Big Sky like few teams dominate their conferences. Montana is 30-2 in conference play in the last two seasons. They don’t own a bad loss this year, either.
KEY FACTS:
23rd Field Goal Percentage (.474)
309th Rebounds Per Game (31.2)
88th Points Per Game (71.1)
PREDICTION: Syracuse
