DUKE (31-3) vs. SYRACUSE (26-8)

* The Blue Devils appear to be perfectly put together to do damage against the sometimes-boggling Orangeman 2-3 zone. Syracuse held New Mexico to 46 points and only 16-of-55 shooting in Syracuse’s 10-point victory in the second round. But the Lobos don’t have anywhere near Duke’s inside-outside offensive versatility and it’s difficult to figure how you contain shooters Trajan Langdon, Steve Wojchiechowski and Roshown McLeod with any kind of zone. Orangeman forward Todd Burgan has scored in double digits in Syracuse’s previous 15 games. The Blue Devils struggled at times against Oklahoma State in the second round but won, 79-73. Duke Coach Mike Krzyzewski has the highest NCAA tournament winning percentage among active coaches, with a 42-11 record (79.2%).

UCLA (24-8) vs. KENTUCKY (31-4)

7 tonight, Channel 2

St. Petersburg, Fla.

* One overlooked statistic about the Wildcats that might end up pivotal against UCLA--they are the No. 2 rebounding team in the nation, averaging 42.6 rebounds a game. Kentucky does this by moving in fresh legs (Coach Tubby Smith rarely has players in for longer than six- or seven-minute stints) and hitting the offensive glass with slashers Heshimu Evans and Allen Edwards and big men Nazr Mohammed and Jamaal Magloire. But the Wildcats have had shaky moments against teams that can match their athleticism, including home losses to Louisville, Florida and Mississippi. Kentucky’s other loss was to hyper-drive Arizona in Maui. “J.R. Henderson is the type of player that can take our big men away from the basket and put the ball on the floor and shoot from range,” Smith said. “I think [forward Kris] Johnson at his size creates a matchup problem for us as well.”