**Syracuse versus Georgetown**

–Las Vegas Sports Consultants opened Georgetown as a 3 1/2-point Madison Square Garden favorite over Syracuse, with the total set at 130. ESPN will provide coverage of this semifinal contest beginning at 7:00 p.m. ET.

–Syracuse (21-11 straight up, 12-17 against the spread) continued its Big East run compliments of Thursday’s overtime victory over top-ranked UConn as an 11 1/2-point underdog, 86-84. The combined 170 points soared ‘over’ the 147-point closing total.

–The Orange shot 46 percent (31-of-68) from the field, and guard Gerry McNamara stepped up with 17 points and 13 assists. Syracuse is now 7-6 both SU and ATS away from home.

-Georgetown is 2-1 SU and 1-2 ATS the previous three encounters versus Syracuse after winning Feb. 25 as a six-point home favorite, 68-53.

–Georgetown (21-8 SU, 13-11 ATS) punched its semifinal ticket by outlasting Marquette Thursday as a three-point ‘chalk,’ 62-59. The Hoyas are now 5-1 SU and 4-1-1 ATS their last six games.

–Brandon Bowman finished the game with 14 points, while the team shot 41 percent (21-of-51) from the field.

–Georgetown is now 10-6 SU and 7-6 ATS on the road, winning those games by an average score of 66-62.


**Villanova vs. Pittsburgh**

-LVSC opened Villanova as a 4 1/2-point Madison Square Garden favorite over Pittsburgh, with the total listed at 134. ESPN will start its coverage of this semifinal contest at 9:20 p.m. ET.

–Villanova (25-3 SU, 13-11 ATS) steamrolled Rutgers Thursday as a 10-point ‘chalk,’ 87-55. The Wildcats continue to have their sights set on a top seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament.

–Allan Ray netted 19 of his 26 points after halftime, and Will Sheridan added 17 and 13 rebounds.

–Villanova improved to 13-2 SU and 8-6 ATS away from home, prevailing by an average score of 72-64.

-The Wildcats are 2-1 SU and ATS the last three meetings with Pittsburgh, but this is the first contest this season.

–Pittsburgh (23-6 SU, 14-9 ATS) knocked off West Virginia Thursday as a one-point Madison Square Garden favorite, 68-57.

–Freshman Sam Young led the charge with 14 points and 11 rebounds, while Aaron Gray added 19 and 15 and Carl Krauser contributed 10, six and six assists.

–The Panthers own a 7-5 SU and 8-4 ATS road record, winning those games by an average score of 67-65.