FACTS & STATS: Site: Madison Square Garden (19,876) -- New York, New York. Television: ESPN2. Home Record: Syracuse 2-0, N. Carolina 3-0. Away Record: Syracuse 0-0, N. Carolina 0-0. Neutral Record: Syracuse 1-0, N. Carolina 1-0. Conference Record: Syracuse 0-0, N. Carolina 0-0. Series Record: North Carolina leads, 4-2.

GAME NOTES: The championship game of the 2K Sports Classic benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer pits the sixth-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels against the dangerous Syracuse Orange.

No team nationally has been more dominant than Syracuse thus far, as it has won its first three games by an average margin in excess of 31 points. Last night, the team completely dismantled 13th-ranked California in a 95-73 final in front of the New York crowd, and there will obviously be plenty of fans wearing orange tonight. A member of the Big East Conference, Syracuse appears to be underrated and may be in position to contend for the league title in 2009-10, something that many fans didn't see as a possibility.

As for North Carolina, it lost four players to the NBA from last season's team that won the national title. Fortunately, head coach Roy Williams has done a tremendous job of recruiting, thus explaining the high national ranking. The Heels moved to 4-0 last night with a 77-73 decision over a tough Ohio State squad. UNC is expected to once against challenge for the ACC crown, something it does every year.

The Tar Heels own a 4-2 series lead over the Orange, and the teams last met in 1987.

Wes Johnson has emerged as the leading scorer for Syracuse through the first three games of the season. He is averaging 14.7 ppg on the strength of his 56.3 percent shooting from the floor, and he adds 7.3 rpg, 3.0 bpg and 3.3 spg to the mix. Arinze Onuaku and Scoop Jardine provide 13.3 ppg apiece, and Onuaku's 78.3 field goal percentage is staggering. Andy Rautins rounds out a foursome of double-digit scorers with 10.0 ppg for the Orange, who are netting 90.0 ppg on 54.6 percent shooting while limiting foes to 58.7 ppg on 34.9 percent efficiency. Jardine was outstanding against Cal last night, as he scored a career-high 22 points to go along with six assists, six rebounds and four steals. Johnson posted 17 points and 11 rebounds for the Orange, who were able to knock down 57.1 percent of their shots from the field. A 14-7 edge in points from the foul line certainly helped the cause, as did 21 assists.

North Carolina shot an efficient 49.1 percent from the floor against Ohio State last night, including a 7-of-15 showing from three-point range. The Tar Heels committed 19 turnovers and were outrebounded by four boards, making the game closer than some expected. Four UNC players reached double figures in the win, and Deon Thompson was tops with 15 points and 12 boards. Will Graves added 14 points, Marcus Ginyard had 13 points, and Larry Drew II pitched in with 11 points and eight rebounds. Thompson has been the team's leading scorer in three of the four games thus far and is averaging 17.0 ppg to go along with 9.3 rpg. Ginyard is netting 11.8 ppg, while both Ed Davis and Tyler Zeller are contributing 10.5 ppg. The Heels are generating 85.5 ppg while surrendering 66.0 ppg.

Expect a second consecutive upset victory for Syracuse, which is playing with a wealth of confidence. The Orange will get balanced scoring and feed off the partisan crowd.

Predicted Outcome

Syracuse 81, North Carolina 76