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BOSTON C.J. Fair cracked a bit of a smile and then declined to answer the question. When asked about the difference in athleticism between Syracuse and Wisconsin, the SU sophomore wanted no part of that discussion.

Thats because there is no comparison. But Fair knew better than to create bulletin board material the day before the Sweet 16 matchup between the Orange and the Badgers.

Thursday night marks a date between two teams with polar opposite philosophies. Top-seeded Syracuse (33-2) has dominated teams this season by pushing the tempo and getting out in transition whenever possible. Wisconsin (26-9), by contrast, has the best scoring defense in the country and plays a methodical, slow-down game against its opponents.

Thus the battle over tempo becomes crucial, as each team will try to impose its very different style onto the other.

In the Big East we were able to play both (styles), SU guard Brandon Triche said. We had a few games playing in the 50s. A lot of teams tried to slow us down. I think the biggest thing for us is being able to rebound, try to speed them up a little bit as much as we can.

Bo Ryans team holds its opponents to 52.9 points per game this season, best in Division I and more than a full point of second-place Virginia.

Its a stark contrast from the points-happy team the Badgers face Thursday. All season long, Syracuse has run teams out of the gym with backbreaking stretches to blow games open. SU enters the game against Wisconsin scoring 74.5 points per game.

This isnt the first time weve faced a team like that, but obviously they are extremely good at (fast breaking) and extremely athletic, and they run with the best of them, Wisconsin forward Jared Berggren said. So we are going to have to do a good job of sticking to our system, taking care of the ball, getting good shots and thats the things that help us be successful.

Syracuse forward James Southerland said the Orange must be prepared to defend for at least 30 seconds on every defensive possession. Offensive efficiency is the trademark of Bo Ryans swing offense, and his point guard, Jordan Taylor, is as efficient as they come.

Taylor holds the best assist-to-turnover ratio in the history of NCAA basketball among players with at least 400 career assists.

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MBB | Orange will look to push tempo against patient Badgers team