Syracuse will represent the Big East in the Elite Eight after squeaking by Wisconsin Thursday night, 64-63.
Syracuse built a lead early on, with Scoop Jardine hitting a three-pointer with two and a half minutes left in the first half to put the Orange up 33-23. Wisconsin closed the lead to 33-27 at the half, however, then came charging out of the gate in the second half as Jordan Taylor hit two three-pointers in the first two minutes as the Badgers cut the lead to one.
C.J. Fair helped Syracuse build its lead back to seven with a series of jumpers, but Wisconsin wouldn’t go away, and a three by Ben Brust gave Wisconsin a three-point lead with eight minutes left. Dion Waiters’ layup gave the Orange a 60-59 lead with six minutes to go, however, and both teams struggled to score as the game came to an end.
For more on the 2012 NCAA Tournament bracket, stay with SB Nation’s Tournament StoryStream, and stick around SB Nation’s NCAA Tournament hub for a complete printable NCAA Tournament bracket and tons of analysis on the games as they happen.