Three keys to Syracuse’s upset hopes against North Carolina
Much of the pregame attention on Saturday’s Syracuse-North Carolina national semifinal has focused on the scandals that have embroiled both programs, but the game itself also has some compelling storylines. A look at three keys to the upset hopes of the 10th-seeded Orange:
1. Can Syracuse force North Carolina into jump shots?
Passing the ball around the perimeter of Syracuse’s trademark two-three zone is seldom the right approach to attacking it, however, that’s especially true this season. Opponents are shooting only 30 percent from behind the arc against the Orange but the unusual lack of length among Syracuse’s frontcourt players has made it easier to score around the rim against this team.
For North Carolina in particular, the importance of not settling for jump shots cannot be overstated. The Tar Heels’ biggest weakness offensively is that they’re 285th in the nation in 3-point percentage, though they’ve been a bit better lately as Marcus Paige has emerged from a late-season slump.
What North Carolina wants to do is beat Syracuse down the floor and score before the zone is set up. When that’s not possible, the Tar Heels need to look to probe gaps in the zone off the dribble or get the ball to All-American forward Brice Johnson in the high post and let him create from there.
2. Can Syracuse keep the Tar Heels off the offensive glass?
Forcing North Carolina to take jump shots is only half the battle for Syracuse. The Orange also have to snare the rebound of any shots the Tar Heels miss.
North Carolina is the nation’s third best offensive rebounding team, grabbing more than 40 percent of its misses. The Tar Heels’ three primary big men — Johnson, center Kennedy Meeks and top backup Isaiah Hicks — are all long, active and aggressive on the offensive boards, which explains why North Carolina scores such a high percentage of its points via second-chance opportunities.
Syracuse is especially vulnerable in this area because it’s not a good defensive rebounding team and its zone makes it hard to put a body on opposing big men. The Orange need Tyler Roberson to be a menace on the glass and they need the rest of the team to commit to helping him rebound rather than leaking out in transition.
3. Will Syracuse’s full-court press once again be effective?
The key to Syracuse’s victories in both the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight was the full-court press the Orange unleashed late in both games.
They outscored Gonzaga 9-1 during the final three minutes, forcing a timeout, two turnovers and a rushed Kyle Wiltjer layup attempt in the process. Then they roared back from a 13-point deficit over the final eight minutes against Virginia, speeding up the slow-paced Cavaliers the way few teams have and making them look rushed and uncomfortable.
Harassing a North Carolina team with experienced guards and a penchant for up-tempo basketball will not be so easy, but it’s still a weapon Syracuse has in its arsenal if it can keep the score close into the final minutes. If the Orange can get North Carolina to play defensively instead of aggressively against the press, it’s a good change of pace.
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Jeff Eisenberg is the editor of The Dagger on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter!
