Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images. Pictured: Matt Mitchell.
#6 San Diego St. vs. #11 Syracuse Odds
| Projected Spread | San Diego St. -2 | |
| Projected Total | 136.31 | |
| Projected ML | San Diego St. -123 | |
| Time | TBA | |
| TV | TBA | |
| Projected odds based on our initial PRO Projections. Odds will be added once they’re released. | ||
How San Diego St. & Syracuse Match Up
| San Diego St. | vs. | Syracuse |
| 298 | Tempo | 138 |
| 62 | eFG% | 130 |
| 74 | TO% | 31 |
| 109 | OR% | 98 |
| 99 | FTR | 257 |
| 40 | DeFG% | 103 |
| 25 | DTO% | 66 |
| 42 | DR% | 339 |
| 200 | DFTR | 35 |
| All stats via KenPom. | ||
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What To Know About San Diego St.
As is typical of the Aztecs, they are one of college basketball’s best defensive teams this season. Brian Dutcher has San Diego State playing a lot like his former boss, Steve Fisher, with the No. 8-ranked adjusted defensive efficiency in college hoops, according to KenPom.
Offensively, Matt Mitchell and Jordan Schakel are a two-man wrecking crew, averaging 29.8 points per game. Schakel paces one of the best 3-point shooting teams in the country (38%) with a staggering 46.4% mark from deep this season. The Aztecs will grind with you for 40 minutes and you better be ready. — Matt Trebby
What To Know About Syracuse
While Jim Boeheim’s team will always be known primarily for its 2-3 zone, the Orange’s 21st-rated adjusted offensive efficiency, according to KenPom, is what has led them to success this season. Syracuse has three players averaging more than 14 points this season, led by coach’s kid, Buddy Boeheim.
When Alan Griffin is on, this offense is extremely dangerous, especially since the emergence of Kadary Richmond, who provides much needed depth and an elite creator in the half court. The Orange won 6-of-8 before dropping a buzzer-beating heartbreaker to Virginia in the ACC Tournament, so this is a team that will enter the tournament with plenty of confidence and momentum.
And we have seen Syracuse sneak into the tournament and make runs before. A unique zone will always be tricky to prepare for in a tournament setting against non-conference teams that aren’t used to seeing it, especially with shorter preparation times.
So, while this Syracuse zone doesn’t have as elite of length as some of Boeheim’s zones in the past, it still has the unfamiliarity factor working in its favor. Teams that struggle from the outside or that lack an effective point man at the top of the key will not want to see Syracuse anywhere near their name on the bracket — Matt Trebby