Keith Hawkins, ESPN Stats & Info 11y

Saturday's Elite Eight: Stat-based analysis

As you get ready for the Elite Eight to begin, here's a stat-based look at what's working well for each of the teams playing in Saturday’s Regional Finals.

West Region Final: No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 9 Wichita State

A Key To Ohio State's Success

Deshaun Thomas is going to get his -- the Buckeyes' leading scorer has accounted for 28 percent of their points this season. However, in Ohio State's last two games (both three-point wins) Thomas had help carrying the scoring load.

In the first 34 games of the season, LaQuinton Ross was averaging less than 8 points per game. But in the last two, Ross has had 17 points in each game -- including the game-winning three against Arizona. Ross has made five of seven 3-pointers, and the Buckeyes -- who shot less than 35 percent behind the arc during the season -- are shooting 50 percent on threes (23-46) during the tournament. Wichita State has held its three tournament opponents to under 28 percent on three-pointers.

A Key To Wichita State's Success

In the Sweet 16, Wichita State outscored La Salle 40-26 in the paint. The Shockers took 43 shots in the paint, the most such attempts for a team in this year’s tournament. The Shockers’ 43 shots in the paint were 11 more than they had in their previous two games combined. The Shockers are shooting 57.3 percent inside the paint and must continue to shoot well on the interior for two reasons:

1. It’s an area they can take advantage of against Ohio State. The Buckeyes are allowing opponents to shoot 58.7 percent in the paint, the highest among Sweet 16 teams.

2. Outside the paint, the Shockers are shooting just 34.1 percent, which ranks 13th among Sweet 16 teams.

East Region Final: No. 3 Marquette vs. No. 4 Syracuse

A Key To Syracuse's Success

In eight games this season, the Orange have held opponents to shooting 20 percent or less behind the 3-point line -- and three of those games have come in the NCAA tournament. Montana, Cal and Indiana were a combined 11 for 67 behind the arc. When those three teams stepped inside the arc, they combined to shoot 42.2 percent.

Before Thursday's loss, the Hoosiers were making more than half of their two-point field goal attempts, but against Syracuse they shot just 39.3 percent (13-33) inside the arc. However, one reason Marquette beat Syracuse earlier this season (aside from outscoring the Orange 29-5 at the free throw line) was that the Golden Eagles shot 57.7 percent on two-point field goals (15-26). In all other games this season, Syracuse's opponents shot less than 43 percent on two-point field goals.

A Key To Marquette's Success

If late in the game the score is close, Buzz Williams' team has shown that it will continue to play with poise. Combined in the final five minutes against Davidson and Butler, Marquette shot 9-of-15 from the floor and outscored those two 29-19.

Marquette has made just 12 3-pointers in the tournament, but four of them came in final five minutes against Davidson and Butler.

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