New Orleans ? Syracuse defeated three of the top four teams in the Big 12 Conference during its run to the NCAA Tournament final.
Big 12 champion Kansas University will stand between Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim and the first national championship in his 27-year career when the teams meet Monday night at the Superdome.
The Jayhawks will have to overcome the Orangemen’s notorious, stifling 2-3 zone defense to give coach Roy Williams his first title in 15 years at Kansas.
Boeheim and Williams talked a few days ago about media criticism and their lack of national titles.
“You know, we both just said if we both get there Monday night, one of us will not have to listen to you anymore,” Boeheim said Saturday after freshman Carmelo Anthony led Syracuse to a 95-84 victory over Texas in the second national semifinal.
Earlier, Kansas had defeated Marquette, 94-61.
Syracuse is 4-0 against Big 12 teams this season. The Orangemen defeated fifth-place finisher Missouri, 76-69, during the regular season and rolled past fourth-place Oklahoma State, 68-56, in the first-round of the NCAA Tournament.
The Orange crushed third-place Oklahoma, 63-47, in the East Regional final before eliminating runner-up Texas Saturday.
Next up for Big East power Syracuse is two-time defending Big 12 champ KU.
“That’s going to be huge,” Syracuse center Craig Forth said. “Three, two, one. Watch out.”
Boeheim wasn’t as impressed.
“I don’t care about that stuff,” he said. “We’re playing Kansas. Doesn’t matter what conference. They could be from the WAC. It doesn’t matter.”
The Orangemen’s run through the Big 12 powers hasn’t diminished their respect for KU.
“They’re a great team,” senior guard Kueth Duany said. “They have great senior leaders. Coach Williams is one of the best coaches in the country.”
Texas, which has lost to both finalists, offered some perspective.
“I think you’ll see an up-and-down game,” UT coach Rick Barnes said. “Right now, two teams playing great basketball are playing for the national championship. Carmelo Anthony is a tough matchup for anybody, but Nick Collison is a tough matchup as well.”
OK, but who will win?
“I think Kansas will,” UT center James Thomas said. “They really run, and they’re a Big 12 team.”
So far, that hasn’t stopped Syracuse.
