Atlantic Coast Conference Foes Duke And Syracuse Meet In The Sweet Sixteen In Omaha

 Atlantic Coast Conference opponents that met earlier this season and who both play a zone will meet  in Omaha in the sweet sixteen Friday night as second seeded Duke will take on Syracuse who is the eleventh seed in the Midwest regional. 

The last time Duke and Syracuse met was back on February 24th in Durham in their only meeting of the season and in that game Duke won handily by a score of 60-44. "according to http://www.goduke.com/SportSelect.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=4200&SPID=1845&SPSID=22726

Will the sweet sixteen matchup between the two teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference  have a similar outcome? 

Duke comes in to their game  with Syracuse  with a record of 28-7 after advancing with their win over Rhode Island "according to http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/team/_/id/150/duke-blue-devils

Marvin Bagley III and the rest of his potentially one-and-done teammates appear to be all ears. The Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year poured in 22 points to go with nine rebounds and the second-seeded Blue Devils overwhelmed seventh-seeded Rhode Island 87-62 on Saturday to earn the program's 26th trip to the Sweet 16. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211706274

"After seeing these last couple games, these last few days of basketball, seeing what can happen, we have an idea that this tournament anything can happen," Bagley said. "We can't look ahead. We've got to worry about now."according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211706274

And the rest of the field might need to start worrying about the Blue Devils (28-7), who will play either Michigan State or Syracuse in the Midwest Regional semifinal in Omaha, Nebraska next Friday. Duke shot 57 percent (29 of 51) from the floor, finished with 20 assists and never let the Rams (26-8) in it following a 23-5 burst midway through the first half. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211706274

E.C. Matthews led Rhode Island with 21 points but the Rams looked confounded at times by Duke's much improved zone defense. A weakness during a mini-swoon in late January, the Blue Devils are no longer treating defense like a chore they're forced to complete before getting the ball back in their hands."according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211706274

"They played and looked like an NBA team out there," Rhode Island coach Danny Hurley said. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211706274

Pretty much. Of course, the coach is pretty good too. The victory was the 1,099th of Krzyzewski's career, breaking a tie with late Tennessee women's coach Pat Summitt for the most wins by a basketball coach in NCAA history. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211706274

"It's an honor because she was a pioneer in her sport," Krzyzewski said, adding "someone will have more eventually." "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211706274

Maybe but not for a while. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211706274

Krzyzewski's relationship with Hurley dates back to when Krzyzewski recruited Dan's older brother Bobby to Duke 30 years ago. Krzyzewski praised the Hurley family for their love of the "dignity of work," an ethos that has helped Dan turn the Rams into a force in the Atlantic 10."according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211706274

Work ethic is one thing. Talent is another. The Rams have plenty of the former and a fair amount of the latter. When the rapidly maturing Blue Devils are as fully engaged as they were on Saturday, they have a staggering amount of both. The proof came in a clinically efficient opening half in which Duke picked the Rams a part and quashed any chance of an upset. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211706274

If Grayson Allen, Gary Trent Jr. or Trevon Duval weren't knocking down 3-pointers then they were getting the ball inside to Bagley or Carter, the program's "other" potential lottery pick who is dealing with an achy Achilles. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211706274

Though Carter winced at least once while trying to set up on the block, when Carter had the ball in his hands, the grimace disappeared. He scored nine of Duke's first 11 points to establish the Blue Devils' dominance in the paint and when the backcourt got going, the Rams simply couldn't keep pace. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211706274

"They have the inside game, the 3-point game and then the length of that zone was really -- it had us -- we were just spooked," Hurley said. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211706274

A Duval 3-pointer gave Duke a 45-28 lead at halftime. As the Rams came out for the second half, junior guard Will Leviton went over to a section of Rhode Island fans and urged them to "get up, I still need you! It's still a game." according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211706274

Not really. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211706274

A pair of Bagley dunks shortly after intermission pushed Duke's advantage to more than 20 and the Blue Devils were on their way to Omaha."according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211706274

Syracuse meanwhile advanced  after beating Michigan State in the second round. 

For the 19th time in program history, the Syracuse men's basketball team is headed to the Sweet 16! "according to https://cuse.com/news/2018/3/18/mens-basketball-how-sweet-it-is.aspx

The Orange (23-13) danced their way into the Midwest Regional semifinals with a 55-53 victory over No. 3 seed Michigan State (30-5) Sunday in the second round of the 2018 NCAA Tournament at Little Caesars Arena. "according to https://cuse.com/news/2018/3/18/mens-basketball-how-sweet-it-is.aspx

Three Orange scored in double figures. Sophomore Tyus Battle paced Syracuse with 17 points, including 16 in the second half. Freshman Oshae Brissett added 15 points and a team-best nine rebounds, while junior Frank Howard scored 13."according to https://cuse.com/news/2018/3/18/mens-basketball-how-sweet-it-is.aspx

Cassius Winston had 15 points to the lead the Spartans. "according to https://cuse.com/news/2018/3/18/mens-basketball-how-sweet-it-is.aspx

Syracuse is now 11-7 all-time against Michigan State, including five straight wins in the series. "according to https://cuse.com/news/2018/3/18/mens-basketball-how-sweet-it-is.aspx

HOW IT WAS DECIDED
Playing for the third time in five days, the Orange won again with defense. The Spartans shot just 25.8 percent (17-66) for the game and turned the ball over 14 times. They attempted 37 shots from beyond the 3-point arc, the most ever for a Syracuse opponent in an NCAA Tournament game. They made eight and outscored Syracuse 24-3 from long range. However, the Orange hit 24-of-31 (.774) free throws, including 19-of-23 (.826) in the second half, to negate the advantage. Battle led the Syracuse parade at the charity stripe, connecting on 9-of-10 attempts. "according to https://cuse.com/news/2018/3/18/mens-basketball-how-sweet-it-is.aspx

Michigan State led 48-43 on a basket by Winston with 5:41 remaining, but his hoop proved to be the Spartans' last field goal. The Syracuse zone suffocated the Spartans for the remainder of the game. Michigan State missed its last 13 attempts from floor and the Orange outscored the Spartans 12-5 during that span to emerge victorious. "according to https://cuse.com/news/2018/3/18/mens-basketball-how-sweet-it-is.aspx

In the last 10 seconds, Syracuse made three of its four free throws. Junior Paschal Chukwu made one out of two foul shots with 2.4 seconds left to provide the winning margin. "according to https://cuse.com/news/2018/3/18/mens-basketball-how-sweet-it-is.aspx

GAME SUMMARY
Michigan State scored seven of the game's first nine points before the Syracuse zone started to flummox the Spartans, who missed their next six shots and went nearly five minutes without scoring. "according to https://cuse.com/news/2018/3/18/mens-basketball-how-sweet-it-is.aspx

The Orange took advantage of the dry spell, tallying the next eight points, including a twisting jumper by freshman Marek Dolezaj with 13:31 to go in the first half that put Syracuse ahead for the first time, 8-7. "according to https://cuse.com/news/2018/3/18/mens-basketball-how-sweet-it-is.aspx

A pair of free throws by Jaren Jackson Jr. at the 11:45 mark broke the Michigan State drought and sparked a 13-5 run for the Spartans that resulted in a 20-15 advantage. "according to https://cuse.com/news/2018/3/18/mens-basketball-how-sweet-it-is.aspx

Facing a five-point deficit for the third time in the first half, Howard tallied four straight Orange points and Brissett followed with a 3-pointer to knot the game 22-22 with 1:20 left. "according tohttps://cuse.com/news/2018/3/18/mens-basketball-how-sweet-it-is.aspx

A desperation three at the buzzer by Matt McQuaid lifted the Spartans to a 25-22 halftime edge. "according to https://cuse.com/news/2018/3/18/mens-basketball-how-sweet-it-is.aspx

In the second half, a trifecta by Winston less than 30 seconds into the period gave Michigan State its largest lead, 28-22."according to https://cuse.com/news/2018/3/18/mens-basketball-how-sweet-it-is.aspx

The Spartans were still up six (38-32) until five straight free throws, including three by Brissett, drew the Orange to within 38-37 at the under-12 media timeout. "according tohttps://cuse.com/news/2018/3/18/mens-basketball-how-sweet-it-is.aspx

During the next six minutes, the Michigan State lead grew to five twice, but the Spartans couldn't pull away and two free throws by Dolezaj with 4:22 remaining pushed Syracuse in front, 49-48. It was the Orange's first lead since midway through the opening half. "according to https://cuse.com/news/2018/3/18/mens-basketball-how-sweet-it-is.aspx

Neither side could get much going down the stretch until Battle drained a step-back jumper with 47 seconds to play that extended the Syracuse margin to 52-49. That was score with six seconds on the clock when McQuaid went to the free-throw line. He made both to trim the lead to 52-51."according to https://cuse.com/news/2018/3/18/mens-basketball-how-sweet-it-is.aspx

Each team fouled once during the next three seconds with Battle and Winston trading two free throws apiece to make it 54-53 Syracuse. "according to https://cuse.com/news/2018/3/18/mens-basketball-how-sweet-it-is.aspx

After Winston hit his two, Xavier Tillman sent Chukwu to the line. The 7-foot-2 Orange center made the first and missed the second. Josh Langford grabbed the rebound, but the Spartans' heave from halfcourt as the final whistle sounded was off the mark. "according to https://cuse.com/news/2018/3/18/mens-basketball-how-sweet-it-is.aspx
 
OF NOTE
Syracuse is the fourth team from the First Four to advance to the Sweet 16 since the NCAA initiated the play-in games in 2011. The others: VCU (2011), LaSalle (2013) and Tennessee (2014). Only VCU advanced past the regional semifinals, making it all the way to the Final Four."according to https://cuse.com/news/2018/3/18/mens-basketball-how-sweet-it-is.aspx

The Orange's three NCAA Tournament opponents all averaged better than 80 points a game, but struggled mightily against Syracuse's vaunted 2-3 zone. The Orange held Arizona State, TCU and Michigan State to 56, 52 and 53 points, respectively. "according to https://cuse.com/news/2018/3/18/mens-basketball-how-sweet-it-is.aspx

Syracuse limited Michigan State's Miles Bridges, who averaged a team-best 17.3 points per game coming into Sunday, to 11 points. Bridges did not score until he hit a three at the 2:55 mark of the first half. "according to https://cuse.com/news/2018/3/18/mens-basketball-how-sweet-it-is.aspx

The Spartans' 25 points were their third-fewest in one half of play this season. Michigan State scored 24 in the first half against both Maryland (Jan. 28) and Penn State (Jan. 31). "according to https://cuse.com/news/2018/3/18/mens-basketball-how-sweet-it-is.aspx

Junior Braedon Bayer replaced Howard in the Syracuse lineup after Howard fouled out with less than seven minutes to go. The former walk-on, who began his career at Division III Grinnell College, played the final 6:29 of the game and contributed one block and one steal. Prior to Sunday, Bayer had seen the court for a total of 11 minutes this season. "according to https://cuse.com/news/2018/3/18/mens-basketball-how-sweet-it-is.aspx

Michigan State outrebounded the Orange 51-30, including a 29-7 margin on the offensive glass. The Spartans' board work led to a 21-5 advantage in second-chance points."according to https://cuse.com/news/2018/3/18/mens-basketball-how-sweet-it-is.aspx

Battle now has 693 points this season, the most ever for an Orange sophomore. Jonny Flynn held the previous Syracuse record for points by a second-year player with 663 in 2008-09. In addition, Battle played all 40 minutes for the 14th time in the last 17 games. "according tohttps://cuse.com/news/2018/3/18/mens-basketball-how-sweet-it-is.aspx

Brissett is making his way up the Syracuse freshman scoring list. He now has 538 points, which is 10 points shy of Flynn for fourth among Orange rookies. "according to https://cuse.com/news/2018/3/18/mens-basketball-how-sweet-it-is.aspx

Tip-off is set for 9:37pm from CentryLink Center. The game will be televised on CBS "according to http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/game?gameId=401025881