SOUTH REGION
No. 2 Oklahoma (29-5) vs. No. 3 Syracuse (28-9)
Where: Memphis, Tenn.
Tip-off: 4:27 p.m.
Overview: Syracuse’s 2-3 zone defense was hard on the last All-American it faced, holding Arizona State’s James Harden to 10 points on 2-for-10 shooting. Now comes a stiffer test. Six-foot-10 Blake Griffin has been indefensible in the tournament, muscling through double- and triple-teams.
Assuming the Orange can limit his damage, the onus falls on OU guards Willie Warren, Austin Johnson and offensively struggling Tony Crocker.
Stattitude: Syracuse’s NCAA opponents to date, Stephen F. Austin and Arizona State, shot a combined 31.1 percent.
No. 1 North Carolina (30-4)
vs. No. 4 Gonzaga (28-5)
Where: Memphis, Tenn.
Tip-off: 6:57 p.m.
Overview: Carolina will need to play some defense. Gonzaga – one of the nation’s 12 top-scoring teams along with the Tar Heels – can run and shoot with them. But as his toe continues to heal, Ty Lawson figures to be even better than he was against LSU.
And Tyler Hansbrough, heading into the last week or two of his career, will be plenty motivated after a subpar, nine-point, nine-rebound performance vs. Josh Heytvelt and the Zags in the NIT Season Tip-Off in November 2006.
Stattitude: Carolina is 3-0 against the rest of the Sweet 16 (beating Michigan State and Duke twice). Gonzaga is 0-3 (losing to Arizona, Connecticut and Memphis).
MIDWEST REGION
No. 2 Michigan State (28-6) vs. No. 3 Kansas (27-7)
Tipoff: 6:37 p.m.
Overview: Defending national champion Kansas has a powerful inside-outside duo in C Cole Aldrich and G Sherron Collins but will need major contributions from a young supporting cast to beat a balanced Michigan State team that has a 10-player rotation. Eight Spartans have led the team in scoring in a game this season.
Stattitude: In January, Michigan State beat Kansas 75-62 in East Lansing behind Lucas’ 22 points. MSU also won the rebounding battle handily with 42 to Kansas’ 31.
USA TODAY