BOSTON—
BOSTON -- Styles will clash Thursday night when methodical
Wisconsin and up-tempo
Syracuse meet for an East Region semifinal at TD Arena. The team that better forces its pace should have the best shot to advance to Saturday's Elite Eight game.
"The great thing about the game of basketball is you can play and approach it in a lot of different ways and be successful," Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim said Wednesday of the first of two games pitting Big East and Big Ten teams. Cincinnati and Ohio State meet in the second game.
Senior guard Jordan Taylor averages 14.7 points and four assists to lead fourth-seeded Wisconsin (26-9). Junior forwards Ryan Evans and Jared Berggren combine for more than 21 points and 11 rebounds per game.
Top-seeded Syracuse (33-2) brings a balanced attack to the meeting with the Badgers, led by senior forward Kris Joseph's 13.7 points and 4.9 rebounds per game. Sophomore guard Dion Waiters adds 12.7 points per game.
Syracuse freshman Rakeem Christmas could be a major factor for the Orange, who are playing without ineligible 7-foot center Fab Melo. Christmas, a 6-9 forward, totaled 14 points and 18 rebounds in the first two tournament games.
"I know that they're still an extremely talented team no matter who they have on the floor," Berggren said. "Everyone in that program is a highly recruited player for the most part. Everyone they put on the floor can play, and with their 2-3 zone, their length and athleticism makes it difficult for anyone to be successful."
Wisconsin, making its third Sweet 16 appearance in five years, will try to secure its first Elite Eight berth since 2005. Syracuse, which is making its third appearance in four years, hasn't been to the Elite Eight since 2003.
ckane@tribune.com
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