Orange, Bears Meet in NCAA Opener

Syracuse vs. Baylor
Game Details	Thursday, March 21 \| Salt Lake City, Utah \| 9:57 EST p.m. \| Vivint Smart Home Arena
Game Coverage	TV: TRU tv Live Video: ncaa.com Radio: Syracuse Sports Network from Learfield IMG Live Stats Twitter: @Cuse \| @Cuse_MBB Instagram: @cusepics \| @cuse_mbb
Syracuse Links	Notes \| News \| Roster \| Schedule
Baylor Links	News \| Roster \| Schedule

SALT LAKE CITY – March Madness is here and Syracuse opens NCAA Tournament play on Thursday, March 21 against Baylor. The game is the final contest of the day at the Vivint Smart Home Center in Salt Lake City and is scheduled for a 9:57 p.m. EDT tipoff.

Fans can watch the game on Tru TV or listen to the live broadcast on the Syracuse Sports Network from Learfield IMG College.

ORANGE UPDATE
Syracuse is the No. 8 seed in the West Region. The Orange enter the NCAA Tournament with a 20-13 overall record. It marks the second consecutive year Syracuse has posted 20 or more wins. The Orange are led by junior Tyus Battle. The All-ACC Third Team selection is averaging 17.2 points per game. He ranks fifth in the ACC in scoring and third in minutes played (36.26).

Redshirt junior Elijah Hughes has been Syracuse's biggest threat from outside. He ranks seventh in the ACC in 3-point field goals made (2.45 pg.). Sophomore Oshae Brissett averages a team-best 7.5 rebounds per game, while senior Paschal Chukwu leads the squad in blocks with 57.

'CUSE IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT
The Orange are making their 40th appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Syracuse has made 19 appearances in the Sweet 16, nine in the Elite Eight and six in the Final Four. The Orange won the national championship in 2003.

Syracuse played in the Vivint Smart Home Arena, then called the Energy Solutions Arena, in the 2010 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 where it lost to Butler, 63-59.

SCOUTING THE BEARS
Baylor is the No. 9 seed in the West Region. The Bears posted a 19-13 overall record, including a 10-8 mark in the Big 12. Baylor is appearing the NCAA Tournament for the fifth time in the last six years.

Redshirt senior Makai Mason leads the Bears' offense. The All-Big 12 Second Team honoree averages 14.6 points per game. He is the Bears' most accurate shooter from 3-point range. Redshirt sophomore Mark Vital is Baylor's leading rebounder, pulling down 7.2 per game. Vital, who earned All-Big 12 Honorable Mention honors, also leads the team in steals (33).

The Bears rank second nationally in offensive rebounding percentage (38.2). Baylor has been outrebounded only once in its last 24 games.

Scott Drew is in his 16th season at the helm of the Baylor program. He has guided the Bears to two Elite Eight and four Sweet 16 appearances.

THE SERIES
Syracuse and Baylor will meet for the third time overall and the first time in NCAA Tournament play on Thursday. The Orange have won the previous two meetings.

The squads last met in the championship game of the 2013 EA Sports Maui Invitational. C.J. Fair led all scorers with 24 points to lead Syracuse to a 74-67 victory. The first meeting took place in the Carrier Dome in December 2006. Demetris Nichols scored 28 points to lead the Orange to a 94-71 victory.

UP NEXT
The winner of Thursday's game will advance to the second round on Saturday where it will face the winner of the Gonzaga-Fairleigh Dickinson game.

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Players Mentioned

Tyus Battle

Oshae Brissett

Paschal Chukwu

C.J. Fair

Elijah Hughes

Syracuse University Athletics