Point Guard	Height	Weight	Class	PPG	APG
Michael Carter-Williams	6’6″	185	Soph.	12.1	7.4
Trey Burke	6’0″	190	Soph.	18.8	6.8

Carter-Williams has been on a tear throughout the NCAA Tournament and his length has created matchup issues for smaller guards, but Burke is an entirely different player and earned Associated Press Player of the Year honors because of it.

Shooting Guard	Height	Weight	Class	PPG	APG
Brandon Triche	6’4″	210	Senior	13.7	3.5
Tim Hardaway Jr.	6’6″	205	Junior	14.6	2.3

Triche is playing arguably the best basketball of his career in this NCAA Tournament, but Hardaway’s nearly unlimited range could make him an ideal zone-buster for Michigan.

Small Forward	Height	Weight	Class	PPG	APG
James Southerland	6’8″	215	Senior	13.5	5.2
Nik Stauskas	6’6″	190	Freshman	11.5	3.1

Stauskas, like Southerland, can get hot at any moment and shoot his team into any game – just as he did against Florida. But Southerland is just a bit more consistent and a far superior defender and rebounder.

Power Forward	Height	Weight	Class	PPG	RPG
C.J. Fair	6’8″	215	Junior	14.3	7.0
Glenn Robinson III	6’6″	210	Freshman	11.0	5.5

Fair is Syracuse’s most reliable player and has the size advantage over Robinson. But Robinson, who is more of a small forward, is simply explosive with the ability to erupt at any moment with his freakish athleticism.

Center	Height	Weight	Class	PPG	RPG
Rakeem Christmas	6’9″	242	Soph.	5.1	4.6
Mitch McGary	6’10”	250	Freshman	7.4	6.2

Christmas is a starter only by title – he gets the minutes of a reserve. Meanwhile, McGary has elevated his game to another level during the NCAA Tournament, becoming one of the best big men in the nation.

Coaches	Wins	Losses	Seasons
Jim Boeheim	920	313	37
John Beilein	414	259	21

Beilein has done a good job turning Michigan back into a power, but in nine attempts, he has never beaten Boeheim, his unofficial mentor and a Hall of Fame head coach.

Free throws

Trey Burke was dominant on the basketball court from a young age. When he was 4 or 5, the Youth for Positive Image league stopped allowing him to cross midcourt when the other team had possession because he stole the ball too easily.

Mitch McGary is also a skilled unicyclist. The Michigan big man, along with a friend, delivered newspapers while riding unicycles.

Stat to know

Michigan is unbeaten this season when Glenn Robinson III scores at least 14 points. The forward was the Wolverines most highly touted recruit in its Class of 2012, but he’s only scored at least 14 points eight times.

Big number

0

Number of 3-pointers made by starting point guards against Syracuse during the NCAA Tournament, including Montana’s Will Cherry, California’s Justin Cobbs, Indiana’s Jordan Hulls and Marquette’s Junior Cadougan.

Beat writer predictions

Michael Cohen

Syracuse 67, Michigan 63

Syracuse makes a Beilein for the title game.

 

Ryne Gery

Syracuse 77, Michigan 68

Only one step left.

 

Chris Iseman

Syracuse 72, Michigan 66

Final trip.

Published on April 6, 2013 at 4:22 pm