March Madness

Final Four, Syracuse vs. Michigan preview: Game time, TV schedule and more

A pair of No. 4 seeds who win games in completely different ways will clash in the opening game of the 2013 Final Four.

By Bryan Kilpatrick@purplerowBK Apr 6, 2013, 8:00am EDT

The Syracuse Orange are making their final season as a member of the Big East count.

The fourth-seeded Orange, who will move to the ACC following the season, used their trademark 2-3 zone to shut down every one of the four offenses they've faced. They find themselves one win away from a berth in the National Championship game as a result.

Syracuse will face the No. 4 Michigan Wolverines on Saturday in the 2013 Final Four. Like the Orange, the Wolverines defeated a top-seed on their way to winning their region. The difference was how the two teams knocked off those teams.

Complete game coverage: Maize n Brew Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician

The Orange held the Indiana Hoosiers to a season-low scoring output in a 61-50 victory in the Sweet 16. Syracuse also kept the Montana Grizzlies and Marquette Golden Eagles to under 50 points, and leads all tournament teams in field goal percentage defense. They've also forced 67 turnovers, compared to just 61 baskets allowed.

Only the Iowa State Cyclones scored more points on the Kansas Jayhawks this season than Michigan did in its 87-85 overtime win on March 29. Scoring has been a theme for the Wolverines in the tournament, in which they rank second in points per game behind the Louisville Cardinals at 78.8. Mitch McGary's emergence is a big reason for Michigan's exceptional offensive output. McGary is averaging 17.5 points per game in the tournament -- more than 10 points better than his regular-season average -- while grabbing 11.5 rebounds per contest.

The winner of this classic offense-vs.-defense matchup will face either Louisville or the Wichita State Cyclones in the title game on Monday.

Game time, TV: 8:49 p.m. ET, CBS/March Madness Live

Location: Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Ga.