The Orange pulled a MacGyver against UNC Ashville, escaping without the use of their most dangerous weapon. Easy buckets were hard to come by for Syracuse without Fab Melo in the line lineup, which allowed a #16 seed to hang around for 40 straight minutes.

Against Kansas State they were simply the better team. The Syracuse bench, AKA Dion Waiters and James Southerland, outscored the Kansas State bench 33-0.

Syracuse Will Beat Wisconsin Because:

Rational Reasoning

Wisconsin earned a #4 seed thanks to their ability to contest shots-- they're 6th in the country in opponent three-point percentage allowed. But unfortunately for Wisco they're bringing a knife to a gunfight. Ya see because Syracuse doesn't rely on the three. They took nine of them last game. Actually, the three-ball only accounts for 25.5% of their total offensive output, good for the 214th most in the country.

If you ask any coach how to beat a zone defense, they'll tell you ball movement and dribble penetration. Offensively, Wisconsin lacks quickness off the bounce, and ranks #268 in the country in assists. If we're going by rationale, I'd think Syracuse's length, athleticism and seemingly infinite depth should swallow Wisconsin up like a damn Pacman.

Irrational Reasoning

But of course if we're going to be irrational, which is ironically the more rational way to think these days, Syracuse is going to win because Vegas made them four-point favorites at a neutral site. That means Vegas thinks they should win the game by four points. And Vegas is right more than they're wrong. That's why you've lost more money than you've won betting on sports. Yes, I'm talking to you, reader.

Wisconsin Will Beat Syracuse Because:

Rational Reasoning

Syracuse lost their MVP. And even though he probably couldn't read the names on the back of the jerseys, he could read the offense when defending the rim.

The Orange are vulnerable without their big man in the middle. If Jordan Taylor gets in attack mode, he won't have a gigantic, 7-foot Brazilian to send him away. Also, without anyone for the Syracuse guards to dump the ball into, Syracuse might have to rely on outside shooting more than they're use to. Like I said earlier, Wisconsin defends the three as well as anyone, and Syracuse doesn't have any three-point shooters over 40%.

Irrational Reasoning

How about this for irrational. Wisconsin will win because Syracuse hasn't gotten out of the the Sweet 16 since their championship run in 2003. The pairing of Scoop Jardine and Kris Joseph always seem to disappoint in March. So if you want an irrational reason to take the Badgers, it's because the seniors on the team have failed in the past. Maybe that's actually rational, I'm not sure.

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Jonathan Wasserman