Kansas center Udoka Azubuike (35) gets up for a lob jam against Kentucky during the second half on Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2017 at United Center.

This year’s Kansas and Syracuse basketball teams are as different as the body types of their Nigerian centers.

Syracuse’s Paschal Chukwu, who started his college career at Providence, is 7-foot-2, and weighs 228 pounds. KU’s Udoka Azubuike, much wider and thicker, spreads 280 pounds across his well-conditioned body.

Chukwu splits minutes pretty evenly with 6-10 freshman Burma Sidibe. Azubuike’s backup is 6-foot-8 Mitch Lightfoot.

“Contrasting styles,” Kansas coach Bill Self said in summing up the center matchup. “He’s bigger than Dok, height wise. Dok is obviously a lot thicker than he is. You’re probably going to have length, explosiveness in a lot of ways versus girth. Dok is going to have to do a good job of trying to catch the ball close to the basket, where maybe his length isn’t as much of a factor.”

Size is the first difference the eye catches between the 6-0 schools that face each other Saturday at American Airlines Arena at 4:30 p.m. with Rich Hollenberg and the planet’s No. 1 college basketball ambassador, Dick Vitale.

Kenpom.com ranks 25 different categories, including average height, for each Div. I college basketball team. Syracuse ranks first with an average height of 79.7 inches (6-7.7) for every player on the court for every minute of the season. Not small compared to most schools, Kansas ranks 44th at 77.9 inches (6-5.9).

Both squads are led by Hall of Fame coaches, but the styles they have used to reach Springfield, Mass., differ greatly.

Self always has been a big believer in man-to-man defense, Syracuse’s Jim Boeheim the face of the 2-3 zone.

Self wants his team to play at a fast pace to capitalize on the speed of his roster, then looks for high-percentage shots if nothing presents itself in transition. For Kansas high-percentage shots mean those close to the basket and from 3-point range.

Syracuse ranks 329th in the nation in adjusted tempo, Kansas 78th.

No. 2 KU’s biggest advantage vs. unranked Syracuse comes outside the 3-point semi-circle.

KU ranks eighth in the nation in 3-point percentage (.452) and 62nd (.303) defending the 3-pointers. The Orange shoot .291 from 3 (304th) and opponents shoot .340 (161st).

Both schools make buckets inside the 3-point line tough to score. Syracuse opponents shoot .371 on 2-point attempts, third-best in the nation, and KU foes shoot .399 inside the arc, ninth-best.

Overall, advantage Kansas.