It's almost become a rite of spring. As sure as we can depend on a late snowfall or two around here every March (not to mention April and May), we can also rely on the reemergence of chatter about Jim Boeheim's still-stupefying zone defense.

It's basically the same defense Boeheim's teams have played for nearly a half-century, but it never gets as much hype as it does once March Madness rolls around. Opposing players and coaches talk about it in mystical tones, giving it an almost-otherworldly aura of invincibility.

San Diego State coach Brian Dutcher, whose Aztecs will face Syracuse in the NCAA tournament Friday night, compares it to a chameleon.

"It's not like it's one zone," said Dutcher on the eve of the matchup. "They play it so many different ways, that's the beauty of what they do. So, we prepared a couple different ways to attack it. I think we have some good ideas, but once you step on the floor, that's a whole 'nother story."

Boeheim himself did his best to fan the flames this week, saying SU's zone is an advantage against teams unfamiliar with it, though more of one in the second round of the tournament than in the first, because of the quick turnaround. The Aztecs' have had all week to get ready for it, and the team's best shooter sounds confident.

"We've played well against zones all year," said senior guard Jordan Schakel, who's made nearly 47 percent of his three-pointers this season. "[You've] just got to continue to move the ball, [you're] not allowed to get sticky, and just attack. The windows are there, you know, every zone has holes. There is no perfect zone, so we've got to attack where they give us openings."

"I think our kids are excited to play against it, to be honest with you," said Schakel's coach, who's won the last two Mountain West Coach of the Year awards. "I suppose if you had a team of non-shooters, you might be overly concerned. But, I think we can stretch [the zone] with our shooters, and then what we can do on the interior remains to be seen."

The question is not only how will SDSU do against the zone, but also which team will get in it. Syracuse has won three of its last four games, and seems to be finding its groove late in the season. But, the Aztecs have won their last 14 contests, and haven't lost in two months.

The Orange have also had great success the last two times they were a double-digit seed in the NCAA tournament, advancing to the Final Four as a 10-seed in 2016, and to the Sweet 16 as an 11-seed in 2018. That may be a factor in why the experts are making Syracuse a popular upset pick, which Dutcher says he's trying to not take personally.

"Hopefully, they're not picking Syracuse because they're comparing the coaches," Dutcher said with a laugh. "I might be a little upset about that, but Coach Boeheim's won a national championship, and he's won a lot of games. So, you can spin it, 'Hey, they're picking against us, they doubt us.' Whatever coaches have to say to get their team ready to play, we're going to use."

Boeheim, who's gone 26-8 in NCAA first-round games, said last week he thinks this year's team will be a good tournament team. One of the biggest reasons is the way "the zone" has improved over the last few weeks. The more obvious reason, though, is the zone his team entered once the calendar flipped to March.

"I think we're playing good enough to win," said Boeheim, who has 56 wins in his first 34 NCAA tournament appearances. "It happens to be in a tournament, so you're facing new teams. I think we're playing well, we've got a number of offensive weapons, and I think our defense has gotten better. And that's what it takes to win in the tournament."