2002-03 Syracuse Orange men's basketball team

NCAATeamSeason
Mode=Basketball
Year=2002-03
Prev year=2001-02
Next year=2003-04
Team=Syracuse Orangemen


Conference=Big East Conference
Division=
ShortConference=Big East
CoachRank=
APRank=
Record=30-5
ConfRecord=13-3
HeadCoach=Jim Boeheim
AsstCoach1=Bernie Fine
AsstCoach2=Mike Hopkins
AsstCoach3=Troy Weaver
StadiumArena=Carrier Dome
Champion=
BowlTourney=
BowlTourneyResult=

The 2002-03 Syracuse Orangemen men's basketball team represented Syracuse University. The Head Coach was Jim Boeheim, serving for his 27th year. The team played its home games at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, New York. The team finished with a 30-5 (13-3) record, while while capturing its first modern-era NCAA Championship.

The team had just one senior, guard Kueth Duany. He was joined in the starting lineup by forwards Hakim Warrick (sophomore), Carmelo Anthony (freshman), center Craig Forth (sophomore) and guard Gerry McNamara (freshman). Other key contributors included guards Josh Pace (sophomore) and Billy Edelin (freshman), and center Jeremy McNeil (junior).

Season Recap

Things did not start well for Syracuse. Guards DeShaun Williams [ [http://media.www.dailyorange.com/media/storage/paper522/news/2002/08/28/News/Williams.To.Leave.Orangemen-263566.shtml Williams to leave Orangemen - News ] ] and James Thues [ [http://media.www.dailyorange.com/media/storage/paper522/news/2002/04/16/Sports/Thues.Transfers.To.Detroit.Mercy-237882.shtml Thues transfers to Detroit Mercy - Sports ] ] both left the team. Williams transferred to Iona while Thues left for Detroit. Freshman point guard Billy Edelin was suspended for 12 games for participating in a non-sanctioned basketball league. Syracuse then started its season with a loss against Memphis, despite Carmelo Anthony's 27 points, a then-high for a Syracuse freshman debut. [ [http://www.gazellegroup.com/events/cvc/results/2002/memsyrrecap.htm Memphis Holds Off Syracuse, 70-63 ] ]

But things turned around, as Syracuse went 13-3 in the Big East, with several memorable wins. McNamara would establish himself as a clutch player, nailing a game-winning 3-pointer as then-No. 17 Syracuse notched an 82-80 win over then-No. 10 Notre Dame in February. [ [http://www.dailyorange.com/media/paper522/news/2003/02/17/Sports/Mcnamara8217s.GameWinning.3.Lifts.Su.To.Win.Over.Notre.Dame-371327.shtml The Daily Orange ] ] In an upset of then-No. 24 Syracuse over then-No. 2 Pittsburgh, McNeil, a career 49.1% free throw shooter, hit two key free throws, and added a game-winning tip in a 67-65. [ [http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/mensbasketball/games/2003-02-01-pitt-syracuse_x.htm USATODAY.com - Syracuse blocks Pittsburgh from first coronation at No. 1 ] ]

The Orangemen would play five Big 12 teams throughout the year, including games against Missouri [ [http://www.usatoday.com/sports/scores103/103013/20030113NCAABSYRACUSE--0nr.htm NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball - Missouri vs. Syracuse ] ] in the regular season, and against Oklahoma (Elite Eight), Oklahoma State (second round), Texas (National Semifinal) and then Kansas (National Championship game). [ [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1208/is_15_227/ai_100048062 Fresh-squeezed orangeman: Carmelo Anthony carries Syracuse to its first NCAA championship and proves to have the juiciest game of any college freshman—ever | Sporting News, Th... ] ]

In the championship game against Kansas, with Syracuse leading by three with under 15 seconds left, Warrick missed two free throws that would've sealed the game with Syracuse hanging on to a three-point lead, 81-78. With 1.5 seconds left and the score still the same, Kansas' Michael Lee was wide-open from the baseline for a potential game-tying 3-pointer. But Warrick used his long arms to block Lee's attempt and Syracuse captured its first ever national championship. [ [http://www.dailyorange.com/home/index.cfm?event=displayArticle&ustory_id=4f0a629b-8546-49b8-889a-e34259bcd484 The Daily Orange ] ]

Ironically, the game was played in Super Dome in New Orleans, where Syracuse had lost the National Championship to Indiana in 1987 on a last second shot by Keith Smart. [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/espn25/story?page=moments/60 ESPN.com - ESPN 25 - 60: Smart's jumper wins NCAA title for Indiana ] ]

2002-03 Roster

Standings

ee also

*Syracuse Orange men's basketball
*2003 Big East Men's Basketball Tournament
*2003 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament

External links

* [http://www.suathletics.com/index.asp?path=mbasket Syracuse Orange men's basketball official website]

References