nickel
03-12-2006, 06:13 AM
http://www.amny.com/media/photo/2006-03/22385164.jpg
Syracuse's Terrence Roberts celebrates in the closing minute of play
against Pittsburgh during the championship game of the Big East Conference
basketball tournament Saturday at Madison Square Garden in New York.
Syracuse won, 65-61 :woohoo:
http://www.amny.com/media/photo/2006-03/22385486.jpg
Gerry McNamara #3 of the Syracuse Orange clips the net from a basket
after defeating the Pittsburgh Panthers 65-61 in the Big East Men's
Basketball Championship Final at Madison Square Garden on Saturday.
McNamara was named MVP of the tournament. :woohoo:
Syracuse wins Big East with magical ride
Orange completed four of the best days and evenings in the history of the Tournament by beating Pitt, 65-61
Seeded ninth in its own conference, Syracuse may have played its way to a spot on the top four lines of the NCAA showcase event. :woohoo:
The Orange completed four of the best days and evenings in the history of the Big East Tournament last night by defeating 15th-ranked Pittsburgh, 65-61.
In securing their second conference title in as many years, they earned an automatic invitation to the national tournament from which they feared being shut out at the start of the week.
After performing as a virtuoso for the first three games, tournament MVP Gerry McNamara played the role of conductor. Although he did hit a huge three-point shot immediately after Pitt took its only lead of the second half, he was content to set up teammates down the stretch.
Perhaps it was the result of fatigue or the Panthers' defense, but he was charged with several turnovers in the waning minutes and didn't score in the final 8 minutes, 16 seconds.
Not to worry. His backcourt partner, Eric Devendorf, kept Syracuse in the lead with a pressure jump shot that just beat the shot clock and a pair of free throws. Then Darryl Watkins benefited from a neat fast break initiated by Devendorf's steal. The pass went from McNamara to Terrence Robert to Watkins, who slammed it home. Finally, the Orange sealed the victory on four free throws by sophomore Josh Wright, McNamara's heir apparent at point guard.
Not only was Syracuse unranked in The Associated Press poll released early in the week, the Orange didn't receive a single vote. It was a rare moment of humility for a program that won the NCAA title three years ago and has been the sport's elite throughout the Big East's existence. For the first time in a quarter-century, Syracuse suffered through a losing conference season and had to play the opening game on the first day of the tournament at Madison Square Garden.
Syracuse wasn't even on the bubble for NCAA consideration at the time. It was behind the bubble before overcoming Cincinnati, 74-73, on McNamara's running one-hander from behind the arc. The Orange then grabbed the national spotlight by stunning top-ranked Connecticut, 86-84, after McNamara's trey sent the game into overtime. :woohoo:
After a last-minute triumph over Georgetown, which led by 15 points at halftime, coach Jim Boeheim called the trip to Manhattan "the best ever, by far." But there was more to come against a big Pittsburgh team that manhandled second-ranked Villanova the previous night. Not only did the victory avenge a regular-season defeat in January but it may have elevated Syracuse to a spot in the upper echelon of the NCAA Tournament. :woohoo:
There is a precedent. Maryland entered the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament two years ago with only an outside shot of qualifying and, after winning four games, found itself a No. 4 seed when the committee announced the field on Sunday night.
Syracuse, which suffered a humiliating, 39-point loss at DePaul on March 2, became the first team in Big East history to claim the title by winning four games. Remarkably, the combined margin of the victories was eight points. But the real difference was McNamara, who took over the Garden in a manner befitting Billy Joel.
McNamara, who scored his team's first basket of the game on a twisting layup, finished with 14 points and six assists. He had ample help from Demetris Nichols, who made 4 of 5 three-point attempts, Roberts (13 points) and Watkins (nine points, 11 rebounds).
Bench players contributed only five points but they included the final four on Wright's free throws.
Carl Krauser, a senior from the Bronx, led the Panthers with 16 points, including a three-pointer for Pitt's final basket. Aaron Gray, the 7-foot center, scored 14, as did long-distance shooter Antonio Graves off the bench.
After trailing by 14 midway through the first half and 34-25 at intermission, Pittsburgh crawled in front when freshman Sam Young took a slick pass from Krauser and banked in a close shot for a 48-47 lead. McNamara wasted no time in regaining the momentum for Syracuse, hitting his third and final trey 16 seconds later. And the Orange hung on thereafter to complete one of the most remarkable feats in the history of the conference. :woohoo:
http://www.newsday.com/sports/college/ny-spcuse0312,0,6584677.story?coll=ny-sports-headlines
Syracuse's Terrence Roberts celebrates in the closing minute of play
against Pittsburgh during the championship game of the Big East Conference
basketball tournament Saturday at Madison Square Garden in New York.
Syracuse won, 65-61 :woohoo:
http://www.amny.com/media/photo/2006-03/22385486.jpg
Gerry McNamara #3 of the Syracuse Orange clips the net from a basket
after defeating the Pittsburgh Panthers 65-61 in the Big East Men's
Basketball Championship Final at Madison Square Garden on Saturday.
McNamara was named MVP of the tournament. :woohoo:
Syracuse wins Big East with magical ride
Orange completed four of the best days and evenings in the history of the Tournament by beating Pitt, 65-61
Seeded ninth in its own conference, Syracuse may have played its way to a spot on the top four lines of the NCAA showcase event. :woohoo:
The Orange completed four of the best days and evenings in the history of the Big East Tournament last night by defeating 15th-ranked Pittsburgh, 65-61.
In securing their second conference title in as many years, they earned an automatic invitation to the national tournament from which they feared being shut out at the start of the week.
After performing as a virtuoso for the first three games, tournament MVP Gerry McNamara played the role of conductor. Although he did hit a huge three-point shot immediately after Pitt took its only lead of the second half, he was content to set up teammates down the stretch.
Perhaps it was the result of fatigue or the Panthers' defense, but he was charged with several turnovers in the waning minutes and didn't score in the final 8 minutes, 16 seconds.
Not to worry. His backcourt partner, Eric Devendorf, kept Syracuse in the lead with a pressure jump shot that just beat the shot clock and a pair of free throws. Then Darryl Watkins benefited from a neat fast break initiated by Devendorf's steal. The pass went from McNamara to Terrence Robert to Watkins, who slammed it home. Finally, the Orange sealed the victory on four free throws by sophomore Josh Wright, McNamara's heir apparent at point guard.
Not only was Syracuse unranked in The Associated Press poll released early in the week, the Orange didn't receive a single vote. It was a rare moment of humility for a program that won the NCAA title three years ago and has been the sport's elite throughout the Big East's existence. For the first time in a quarter-century, Syracuse suffered through a losing conference season and had to play the opening game on the first day of the tournament at Madison Square Garden.
Syracuse wasn't even on the bubble for NCAA consideration at the time. It was behind the bubble before overcoming Cincinnati, 74-73, on McNamara's running one-hander from behind the arc. The Orange then grabbed the national spotlight by stunning top-ranked Connecticut, 86-84, after McNamara's trey sent the game into overtime. :woohoo:
After a last-minute triumph over Georgetown, which led by 15 points at halftime, coach Jim Boeheim called the trip to Manhattan "the best ever, by far." But there was more to come against a big Pittsburgh team that manhandled second-ranked Villanova the previous night. Not only did the victory avenge a regular-season defeat in January but it may have elevated Syracuse to a spot in the upper echelon of the NCAA Tournament. :woohoo:
There is a precedent. Maryland entered the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament two years ago with only an outside shot of qualifying and, after winning four games, found itself a No. 4 seed when the committee announced the field on Sunday night.
Syracuse, which suffered a humiliating, 39-point loss at DePaul on March 2, became the first team in Big East history to claim the title by winning four games. Remarkably, the combined margin of the victories was eight points. But the real difference was McNamara, who took over the Garden in a manner befitting Billy Joel.
McNamara, who scored his team's first basket of the game on a twisting layup, finished with 14 points and six assists. He had ample help from Demetris Nichols, who made 4 of 5 three-point attempts, Roberts (13 points) and Watkins (nine points, 11 rebounds).
Bench players contributed only five points but they included the final four on Wright's free throws.
Carl Krauser, a senior from the Bronx, led the Panthers with 16 points, including a three-pointer for Pitt's final basket. Aaron Gray, the 7-foot center, scored 14, as did long-distance shooter Antonio Graves off the bench.
After trailing by 14 midway through the first half and 34-25 at intermission, Pittsburgh crawled in front when freshman Sam Young took a slick pass from Krauser and banked in a close shot for a 48-47 lead. McNamara wasted no time in regaining the momentum for Syracuse, hitting his third and final trey 16 seconds later. And the Orange hung on thereafter to complete one of the most remarkable feats in the history of the conference. :woohoo:
http://www.newsday.com/sports/college/ny-spcuse0312,0,6584677.story?coll=ny-sports-headlines