PITTSBURGH — In an era when college basketball is dominated by freshmen and sophomores, Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim knows he needs his two seniors to step up to keep winning in the NCAA tournament.
Kansas State, the team the Orange will face Saturday in the third round of the East Regional, will need another big contribution from a freshman point guard to advance.
Both teams, though, will need better shooting to make it to the tournament's second week.
Syracuse joined a list of No. 1 seeds who have been scared in the first round by a No. 16 seed, but the Orange used a late 8-0 run, big plays and free throws from seniors Kris Joseph and Scoop Jardine in the final 4 minutes to beat North Carolina-Asheville 72-65 on Thursday.
Eighth-seeded Kansas State overcame a rough first half offensively to beat No. 9 Southern Mississippi 70-64, a win that was sealed when freshman point guard Angel Rodriguez took over in the final 2 minutes.