ShareThisSyracuse finds itself in a tempting transition. Once slumping, the Orange have moved from scrambling just to get into the NCAA Tournament to scheming to win it.
From hot to staying hot.
"We might as well try to win the whole thing," Syracuse forward Paul Harris told reporters in Miami, where the Orange dumped Stephen F. Austin and Arizona State.
On to the Sweet 16, where Syracuse faces Oklahoma on Friday in Memphis in one of two South Regional semifinals.
The Orange stood just 19-8 in late February, having lost seven of 10 during a rugged stretch in the Big East. Talk of postseason play sounded more NIT than NCAA.
Then Syracuse surged, winning nine of 10, earning this shot against the Sooners. The lone loss in the Syracuse run came against Louisville in the Big East championship game.
A turning point seemed to come against then-No. 4 Connecticut in the conference tournament, a six-overtime, 127-117 win that proved the Orange's mettle.
"I saw the highlights on SportsCenter," said OU star Blake Griffin. "I don't guess they're still worn down from that."
Not hardly.
More likely still energized.
Syracuse has tightened its vaunted 2-3 zone defense, which gave Arizona State fits on Sunday. Guard Eric Devendorf, so chippy he commands a villain tag, has heated up, adding another element to an already stout group of guards led by Jonny Flynn and Andy Rautins.
And the Orange are getting improved play inside, where Arinze Onuaku and Rick Jackson provide size and bulk. They'll be key to containing Griffin and in making the 2-3 zone click.
"They're gigantic," said Arizona State center Jeff Pendergraph, who was held to nine points and two rebounds before fouling out. "It's like a nightmare."
Syracuse is well aware of Griffin, who is averaging 30.5 points and 15 rebounds in the tournament. But the Orange might be more focused on Oklahoma's other parts.
"(Griffin's) going to do what he does, but we have to minimize what everyone else does," Flynn said. "You can't let him score 20 and someone else go out there for 30."
Scrapping -- and succeeding -- in the Big East likely prepared the Orange for anything this postseason. They also own early season wins over Kansas and Memphis, two more teams to streak into the Sweet 16.
They're hot. And plan on staying hot.
"We feel like nobody can beat us," Flynn said.
(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.scrippsnews.com.)
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