Ford's penetration also provides Texas with a fairly good offensive rebounding. Syracuse needs to rebound well out of the zone to limit easy second-chance buckets.
Syracuse's offense is often overlooked due to the team's defensive abilities, but it is very solid. Carmelo Anthony is well-rounded and contributes in a stunning variety of ways. On the minus side, his abilities sometimes result in the other Syracuse players milling about and waiting for Anthony to do something. Syracuse also does not shoot particularly well from the outside, and they can be beat if forced to do so. Unfortunately for Texas, the Longhorns have not looked all that sharp on defense during the tournament.
You may also see Texas play the press. Syracuse is prone to turnovers and Texas' transition game is good enough to take advantage of any miscues. Syracuse has guards which are capable of solid ball handling and the height to attack the press, so the press will only work if Syracuse fails to execute properly.
The bottom line is that this game comes down to TJ Ford. If he penetrates effectively, Texas wins. Without its zone operating effectively, Syracuse is not good enough to advance. If the zone holds, it is difficult for anyone to beat the Orangemen.
