Sports

Michigan uniquely qualified to bust Syracuse defense

ORANGE CRUSHED? Syracuse’s 2-3 zone defense has shut down high-powered offensive attacks such as Indiana, but Michigan’s Nik Stauskas (inset) could be the Wolverines’ zone breaker. (
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ATLANTA — When the nets are cut down Monday night in the Georgia Dome and the strains of “One Shining Moment” are blasted through speakers the size of an 18-wheeler, the video board will show an exhilarating celebration of the NCAA Tournament and the new national champion.

We have plans of producing our own video, a YouTube sensation of the facial expressions on the opposing coach’s and players’ faces upon seeing Syracuse’s 2-3 zone for the first time in this tournament.

Think Edvard Munch’s painting, “The Scream.”

“We haven’t seen that kind of length and athleticism all season long,’’ Montana coach Wayne Tinkle said after his team made just 20 percent (11-of-64) of its field goals in the second round against the zone.

“It frustrated us a little bit,’’ Richard Solomon said after Cal made just 4-of-21 3-pointers.

“Let’s face facts, we haven’t seen a zone like that,’’ Indiana coach Tom Crean said after his team scored a mere 50 points against the 2-3, almost 30 less than its season average.

“To compare Syracuse’s zone to someone else’s zone I think is unfair to Coach [Jim] Boeheim and disrespectful to their players,’’ Marquette coach Buzz Williams said after the Golden Eagles set a record for futility by scoring 39 points in the East Region final, the lowest point total in a regional final since the shot clock was implemented.

After listening to these testimonials, one might think the Michigan Wolverines are traumatized just thinking about going up against Syracuse’s defense tonight in the late national semifinal game in the Georgia Dome. Not so.

“If the zone was unbeatable, then they would be 39-0, whatever the case may be,’’ Michigan guard Tim Hardaway Jr. said.

Not only is the 2-3 zone beatable, but Michigan might have the perfect team to beat it.

With Trey Burke’s and Nik Stauskas’ outside shooting, Glenn Robinson III’s skill set to work the high post and Mitch McGary’s inside presence, the Wolverines (30-7) have not covered their eyes and screamed this week when prepping for ’Cuse’s unique defense.

“Syracuse has done a great job with the zone, holding teams to unbelievable numbers in this tournament, but playing against a zone was a joke to me,’’ said former Miami of Ohio and NBA sharpshooter Wally Szczerbiak of Cold Spring Harbor, L.I., now an analyst with CBS College Sports.

“Because it is so easy to attack if you have five players with the right skill set. And Michigan does. Michigan has the perfect team to attack that zone.’’

As good as the Orange (30-9) have been on defense in this tournament — and they have been exceptional in becoming the first team in the shot clock era to hold three of four tournament teams to 50 or fewer points — Michigan has been as good on offense.

The Wolverines have knocked down 40.2 percent of their 3-pointers (33 of 82), averaged 78.8 points and won their four tournament games by an average of 15.5 points.

According to statistical wunderkind Ken Pomeroy, Michigan, which leads the nation in fewest turnovers per game (9.35), has been the most efficient offensive team in the country.

Unlike Cal, which had about 36 hours to prepare for the 2-3 zone, or Indiana, whose undersized guards couldn’t get off against 6-foot-5 Michael Carter-Williams and 6-foot-4 Brandon Triche, Michigan has had almost a week to practice against the zone.

Burke (6-foot-0) and Hardway (6-foot-5) are significantly taller than Indiana’s backcourt of Jordan Hulls, who is generously listed at 6-foot-0, and Yogi Ferrell, a slight, 6-foot-0 freshman. Michigan coach John Beilein — from Burt, N.Y, in Niagara County — has followed Syracuse’s Boeheim his entire career.

“I used to play the same 2‑3 zone for a long time,’’ Beilein said. “Everybody in Upstate New York did.’’

Not many teams play the 2-3 zone, and none do it as well as Syracuse. Michigan might just make it look like a joke.

lenn.robbins@nypost.com