WEST REGIONAL

Syracuse Coach Jim Boeheim needs better play from his bench in order for the Orangemen to have any chance against a deep Kansas team. In Syracuse’s last two victories, the Orangemen reserves have combined for only seven points and four rebounds. In Syracuse’s 83-81 overtime victory over Georgia in the semifinal Friday, point guard Lazarus Sims played all 45 minutes, while Todd Burgan and Jason Cipolla each played 37. Otis Hill played 32 minutes before fouling out in overtime, and John Wallace, whose three-point shot won the game for the Orangemen, played 35 minutes, including the final 17 with four fouls. “It was a gamble to play John with four fouls, but we really did not have much choice,” said Boeheim, who did not get a point or a rebound from a non-starter against Georgia. Look for Kansas Coach Roy Williams to take advantage of Syracuse’s lack of depth with full-court pressure defense. In their 83-80 victory over Arizona in Friday’s regional semifinal, the Jayhawks wore the Wildcats down with a bench that accounted for 26 points and 13 rebounds. B.J. Williams came off the bench to score a career-high 18 to go with nine rebounds. The only Kansas starter to play more than 30 minutes was point guard Jacque Vaughn with 37. “It was a grueling game for both teams,” Vaughn said about today’s fatigue factor. “But at this point of the season, you’ve got to be able to convince yourselves mentally to regroup and be ready to play.”