Orange Opens NCAA Tournament Play Against Western Michigan

Syracuse vs. Western Michigan
Game Details	Thursday, March 20 \| Buffalo, N.Y. \| 2:45 p.m.
Game Coverage	TV: CBS \| Radio: TK99 (99.5 FM), Syracuse IMG Radio Network Video \| Audio \| Live Stats \| Real-time Highlights \| Interactive Bracket Twitter: @cuse
Syracuse Links	Notes \| News \| Roster \| Schedule
Western Michigan Links	Notes \| News \| Roster \| Schedule

BUFFALO -- Syracuse will compete in the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament for the 37th time beginning Thursday, March 20. The Orange, the No. 3 seed in the South Region, takes on No. 14 seed Western Michigan at approximately 2:45 at First Niagara Center in Buffalo, N.Y.

The game will be televised on CBS. Fans can also listen to the action on the Syracuse IMG Radio Network and its flagship TK99 (99.5 FM). Live audio will be available on CuseTV on Cuse.com. Subscriptions to CuseTV are available at daily, monthly and yearly rates.

PREGAME READING
What to Watch For – Syracuse (27-5)
1. Syracuse is 60-36 all-time in NCAA Tournament play. The Orange is 25-5 in its first-round games under the direction of head coach Jim Boeheim. Overall, Boeheim has guided the Orange to a record of 52-29 (.642) in NCAA Tournament play.
2. C.J. Fair is Syracuse's leading scorer, averaging 16.7 points per game. He has reached double figures in scoring in 29 of 32 games and ranks 37th in the nation in field goals made. Fair has played in 141 games in Syracuse career, which is the fifth-highest total in program history.
3. Sophomore Jerami Grant has returned to form after being limited by a back injury. In the two games since he sat out against Georgia Tech, Grant averaged 17.5 points and 9.0 rebounds. He posted his seventh double-double of the season against North Carolina State in the ACC Tournament with 19 points and 10 rebounds.

PREGAME READING
What to Watch For – Western Michigan (23-9)
1. Western Michigan defeated Toledo, 98-77, to claim the Mid-American Conference (MAC) tournament title and earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Broncos enter Thursday's game with a 23-9 record.
2. David Brown earned the MAC tournament MVP award after averaging 24.4 points in the two games. He is Western Michigan's leading scorer, averaging 19.4 points per game. Shayne Whittington posted 14 double-doubles this season and is averaging 16.3 points and 9.1 rebounds per game. Brown and Whittington were both voted to the All-Mid-American Conference First Team.
3. Steve Hawkins is in his 11th season at the helm of the Western Michigan program. He has guided the Broncos to a record of 204-154 and six 20-win seasons.

SERIES HISTORY
Thursday's game will be the third all-time meeting between the two schools. The Orange has won the previous two contests, defeating the Broncos during the regular season in 1978-79 (93-71) and 1988-89 (94-71).

Syracuse University Athletics

Orange Opens NCAA Tournament Play Against Western Michigan

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