No. 4 seed Syracuse (29-7, 13-3 Atlantic Coast) will face No. 7 seed (26-10, 11-7 Pacific-12) in both teams’ first-ever Final Four. Earlier this season, the Orange beat the Huskies, 66-62, in Las Vegas in the teams’ first-ever matchup.

Here’s how our beat writers predict the Final Four matchup to unfold.

Connor Grossman
Washington 64, Syracuse 63
Still on upset alert

Syracuse barely skated by Washington in an early-season game in Las Vegas, and will fall to the Huskies in this second go around. Both teams are vastly improved since their November meet-up, and head coach Quentin Hillsman dipped deeper into his bench than he likely will on Sunday. The Orange has to be cognizant of Kelsey Plum, the third-leading scorer in the country, but also of Chantel Osahor, the 6-foot-2 center who hit three 3s against Stanford on Sunday. UW advances to its first-ever national championship, and SU’s unlikely March run comes to an end.

Jon Mettus
Syracuse 76, Washington 61
What up squad?

Outside of Connecticut, Syracuse has been on the hottest streak in the country. Alexis Peterson and company have this team storming through the tournament, having won 15 of its last 16 games with the only loss coming against Notre Dame in the conference championship. SU and Washington are much different teams than when the Orange won by four in late November (SU had a 21-point lead at one point). Unfortunately for the Huskies, the Orange is the most improved. As long as Peterson stays healthy and SU keeps knocking down shots, the Orange will make it to the national championship game.

Paul Schwedelson
Syracuse 75, Washington 68
The Other Huskies

In women’s college basketball, only one team nicknamed “Huskies” matters. On Sunday night, Syracuse takes down the other Huskies and advances to the championship game (probably) against Connecticut. Right now, Syracuse is in such a groove with Peterson playing as well as anyone in the country, and she’ll pour in another 25-plus points. Kelsey Plum, the nation’s third-leading scorer keeps it close for UW, but the diverse scoring triumvirate of Brianna Butler, Brittney Sykes and Cornelia Fondren come through when the Orange needs key baskets late.

Published on March 31, 2016 at 5:37 pm