Breaking down the East Region
Syracuse's Fab Melo, of Brazil, center, and C.J. Fair, right, pressure Cincinnati's Justin Jackson (5) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinals of the Big East Conference tournament. (March 9, 2012) Credit: AP
Syracuse (31-2) has veteran leaders in Kris Joseph and Scoop Jardine, shot-blocking under the basket from Fab Melo and a sixth man in shooting guard Dion Waiters who can play a dominant role in the tournament. Orange coach Jim Boeheim lets the off-court controversies surrounding his team roll off his back like water off a duck. But as he said following a Big East Tournament loss, seniors Joseph and Jardine must step up their spotty play of late.
Vanderbilt forward Jeffery Taylor labors in the shadow of shooting guard John Jenkins, but at 6-7, 225, he's a great complementary offensive threat. He averages 16.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, shoots 50 percent overall and 43 percent from three.
Vanderbilt guard John Jenkins is among the best shooters in the country, connecting at a 48.5-percent rate overall and 45.3 from three-point range. He averaged 20.0 points per game, and he's clutch at the line, hitting 84 percent of his free throws.
If there's going to be a major upset in this bracket, Vanderbilt is the leading candidate to take out Syracuse in the Sweet 16 as the Commodores showed in knocking off No. 1 Kentucky in the SEC tourney final Sunday. Vandy has great shooters, but it's also inconsistent enough to lose to Cleveland State and Indiana State.
If the selection committee has done its job well, Syracuse and Ohio State should meet in the East final in Boston. The Buckeyes have a terrific playmaker in Aaron Craft, and forwards William Buford (14.8 points, 4.9 rebounds) and DeShaun Thomas (15.5, 5.0) add firepower. But the player who might emerge as the difference-maker is Syracuse guard Dion Waiters (12.6), who can take over a game on offense or as a muscular defender.
