Elite Eight is Set–Two ACC Teams in the Mix
The Big Dance field has been whittled from 68 teams to 8. The Atlantic Coast Conference can take pride in having two teams still in the mix. #1 seeds Syracuse and North Carolina have made it to the Elite Eight.
Syracuse got to the Elite Eight by holding on to defeat Wisconsin, 64-63. If you watched this game, you saw a classic. Both teams executed their game plans very well. Wisconsin controlled the tempo–holding Syracuse to fewer possessions than any game in the past 15 years. Syracuse was able to force a handful of rare Wisconsin turnovers and convert them into points. And, despite the slow tempo, this game was on pace to be very high scoring until the last five minutes. That is because both teams were just blisteringly hot offensively. Wisconsin hit 14 three-pointers (out of 27), including one stretch where they converted six in a row. Syracuse shot 55% from the field. Wisconsin had two shots to win it down the stretch, but came up short. So, Syracuse now moves on to face #2 Ohio State. While Ohio State plays a more upbeat tempo than Wisconsin (as does everyone), Ohio State also has more talent than anyone Syracuse has faced all year. The key for the Orange will be to use their depth as an advantage and get the Buckeyes’ stars in foul trouble.
North Carolina got into the Elite Eight by holding on to defeat #13 seed Ohio, in overtime, 73-65. North Carolina actually had a comfortable lead for parts of the first half–by as much as 15. But credit the Bobcats–they did not give up. Instead, Ohio took advantage of North Carolina lacking point guard Kendall Marshall and pressured the Tar Heels into 24 turnovers. That is a recipe for disaster and allowed Ohio to climb right back into the game. However, Ohio missed a chance to win the game in regulation. Once it got into overtime, Ohio went scoreless from the field and the Tar Heels dominated. Here is a notable stat–the Tar Heels outrebounded the Bobcats 55 to 27. Tyler Zeller was the star, scoring 20 points and adding 23 rebounds. North Carolina moves on to face #2 Kansas, who only narrowly defeated North Carolina State, 60-57.
So both teams get to have their #1 seeds challenged by the regional #2 seed. And both teams are missing key players. If either or both teams make the Final Four, they will definitely have earned it.
The Confidential 