Syracuse Orange vs. California Golden Bears (pick’em)
It’s no secret what the Golden Bears plan to do against the Orange in this Coaches vs. Cancer semifinal at Madison Square Garden – shoot, shoot and shoot some more.
Cal was the nation’s top 3-point shooting team last season and returns top scores Patrick Christopher, Jerome Randle and Theo Robinson. Those three have combined to knock down almost 46 percent from beyond the arc in the team’s two games this season.
“We know what those guys are looking for, we know they can shoot,” SU guard Scoop Jardine told The Post-Standard. “So what we do in practice is we work on trying to get out to the shooters, try to make them put it on the floor to beat us, or shoot over us.”
While the Bears are lethal from long range they are short on size. Cal will start with 6-foot-7 JuCo transfer Markhuri Sanders-Frison and 6-8 Jamal Boykin as the only real size, leaving the Golden Bears looking up a hulking Syracuse lineup that starts no player shorter than 6-4.
The Orange will come out with their 2-3 zone, which does a terrific job moving with the basketball and closing out on perimeter scorers. Add to that, the mammoth dimensions of MSG, which has plagued shooting schools not accustomed to the arena. Syracuse is used to the deep foregrounds with its home in the Carrier Dome.
“The main thing we’re going to have to do,” Orange reserve forward Kris Joseph said, “is get back on our defense and get set up in our zone before they can push the ball in transition and get an easy basket.”
Pick: Syracuse
North Carolina Tar Heels vs. Ohio State Buckeyes (+2)
Defending a national title is hard enough. But the North Carolina Tar Heels have to do so without four members of that championship starting five.
That transition in talent has left many to question if this year’s Tar Heels know they’re roles yet – especially the role of go-to guy.
Beat writer Robbi Pickeral of the Charlotte Observer asked members of the team who would take the final shot if a game, possibly tonight’s against the Ohio State Buckeyes, came down to the wire. He pretty much got the same answer from just about every player – Me.
Coach Roy Williams is also searching for that player. He has talented returnees in Ed Davis, Marcus Ginyard, Larry Drew and Deon Thompson but none of those players have shown that the leader quality two games into the season.
"So we don't have any of those proven scorers, but that's what we said in the preseason - that it's going to be interesting to see who can do it when the defense is aimed to stop you. ... And we haven't had those scenarios yet,” coach Williams told reporters.
Ohio State sure has its guy when the going gets its toughest. Junior Evan Turner is quickly maturing into a go-to-scorer and floor leader for the Buckeyes. He’s taken over the role of point guard after being asked by coach Thad Matta to move from the wing to the No. 1.
Turner, who scored just over 17 points per game last season, garnered some national attention for his triple-double in OSU’s opener with Alcorn State. He followed that up with a 24-point, 17-rebound performance against James Madison. While UNC is far from the likes of those two mid-major programs, Turner’s efforts are undeniable.
"I'm pumped," Turner told SI.com about tonight’s matchup in MSG. "That's something you really dream about when you're a little kid is to play in one of the best basketball arenas in the world. Everybody is going to be watching."
Pick: Ohio State +2