MATCHUP
No. 1 Syracuse (32-2) vs. No. 8 Kansas State (22-10)
12:15 p.m., CBS
Announcers: Kevin Harlan, Len Elmore, Reggie Miller, Marty Snider (sideline)
Tournament history: Syracuse defeated Kansas State, 95-87, in overtime in the 1975 East Regional Final to reach its first Final Four.
ABOUT SYRACUSE
Last game: Defeated No. 16 UNC Asheville, 72-65
Coach: Jim Boeheim, 36th season (46-27 NCAA Tournament)
Shining star: James Southerland came off the bench to score a game-high 15 points, 13 coming in the second half. He also tied for the team lead with eight rebounds.
Question mark: Starters Scoop Jardine and Kris Joseph combined for only two points in the first half, one reason that Syracuse trailed by four points at halftime.
On the line: Jardine, a 49 percent free-throw shooter, went 4 of 4 in the second half against Asheville.
Stat watch: Syracuse is trying to reach the Sweet 16 for the 17th time in 35 tournament appearances.
Coach speak: “He can shoot it. He can drive. He’s a terrific player, he really is. Tremendous player. Those kind of guys are always difficult to play against.” – Boeheim, on K-State guard Rodney McGruder.
Starting five
No. Name Ht. Pos. Ppg.
05 C.J. Fair 6-8 F 8.5
32 Kris Joseph 6-7 F 13.8
25 Rakeem Christmas 6-9 C 2.6
11 Scoop Jardine 6-2 G 8.4
20 Brandon Triche 6-4 G 9.3
ABOUT KANSAS STATE
Last game: Defeated No. 9 Southern Mississippi, 70-64
Coach: Frank Martin, fifth season (6-3 NCAA Tournament)
Shining star: Guard Rodney McGruder shot 11 of 16 from the field and scored a game-high 30 points, accounting for nearly 43 percent of his team’s scoring.
Question mark: Scoring depth could be an issue. Kansas State got only nine points from its reserves.
On the line: Jordan Henriquez, a 56 percent foul shooter, went 9 of 10 against Southern Miss.
Stat watch: The Wildcats are 2-1 against No. 1 seeds, but haven’t faced one since 1988.
Coach speak: “I’m tired of watching Syracuse. It’s been a long night, but that’s our job.” — Martin, on scouting the top-seeded Orange.
Starting five
No. Name Ht. Pos. Ppg.
21 Jordan Henriquez 6-11 F 7.4
32 Jamar Samuels 6-7 F 10.0
13 Angel Rodriguez 5-11 G 8.2
22 Rodney McGruder 6-4 G 15.9
55 Will Spradling 6-2 G 9.3
– By Joe Rutter
