2003 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament

Infobox NCAA Basketball Tournament
Year=2003


ImageSize=150px
Caption=2003 Final Four logo
Teams=65
FinalFourArena=Louisiana Superdome
FinalFourCity=New Orleans, Louisiana
Champions=Syracuse
TitleCount=1st
RunnerUp=Kansas
GameCount=7th
Semifinal1=Marquette
FinalFourCount=3rd
Semifinal2=Texas
FinalFourCount2=3rd
Coach=Jim Boeheim
CoachCount=1st
MOP=Carmelo Anthony
MOPTeam=Syracuse
Attendance=715,080
OneTopScorer=*
TwoTopScorers=
TopScorer=Carmelo Anthony
TopScorerTeam=Syracuse
Points=121The 2003 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 18, 2003, and ended with the championship game on April 7 in New Orleans, Louisiana. A total of 64 games were played.

Syracuse, coached by Jim Boeheim, won the national title with a 81-78 victory in the final game over Kansas, coached by Roy Williams. Carmelo Anthony of Syracuse was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player. Syracuse beat four Big 12 teams on its way to the title: Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, Texas and Kansas. Those helped earn Boeheim the national title that had eluded him in 1987 and 1996.

Because of the start of the Iraq war, CBS moved its telecasts of the games played on the first Thursday afternoon of the tournament to ESPN, allowing for expanded news coverage. To make up for lost advertising revenue, an additional time slot was opened the following Sunday evening for more CBS telecasts.

Locations

Final Four

At Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans

National Semifinals

*April 5, 2003
**Syracuse (E3) 95, Texas (S1) 84
*:Freshman Carmelo Anthony scored 33 points leading the Syracuse Orangemen past the Texas Longhorns in the night cap of the National Semifinal doubleheader. Syracuse opened up a comfortable 2nd half lead, but that was trimed to four with just 1:08 remaining. However, freshman Gerry McNamara iced the game with clutch foul shooting in the final minutes. The win put Syracuse and coach Jim Boeheim one win away from their first ever National Championship. Texas was the last number one seed remaining in the tournament.cite web|author=CNN Sports Illustrated|publisher=CNNSI.com|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/college/men/recaps/2003/04/05/5151_recap.html|title=2003 NCAA National Semifinals: (E3) Syracuse 95, (S1) Texas 84|accessdate=2008-03-06]

**Kansas (W2) 94, Marquette (M3) 61
*:It was as if only three teams had advanced to the final four as the Kansas Jayhawks routed the Marquette Golden Eagles by 33 points, the fourth largest blowout in final four history. Keith Langford led the Jayhawks with 24 points, and Kirk Hinrich and Aaron Miles each added 18 points. Like Boeheim, Kansas coach Roy Williams was just one win away from winning his first ever National Championship.cite web|author=CNN Sports Illustrated|publisher=CNNSI.com|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/college/men/recaps/2003/04/05/5150_recap.html|title=2003 NCAA National Semifinals: (W2) Kansas 94, (MW3) Marquette 61|accessdate=2008-03-06]

Championship Game

*April 7, 2003
**Syracuse (E3) 81, Kansas (W2) 78
*:This battle was defined as what future hall of fame coach would win his first ever national title. Jim Boeheim was in his twenty-third season as Syracuse head coach, and Roy Williams was in his fifteenth season as Kansas head coach. Both had been disappointed with previous championship game losses (Boeheim: 1987,1996 Williams: 1991). Syracuse dominated with a hot shooting first half to lead by 11 at the break. Gerry McNamara connected on an impressive six three-pointers in the half, which were his 18 points for the game. Kansas fought back to within 80-78 in the final minute and had a chance to tie after Hakim Warrick missed a pair of free throws in the final moments. Warrick would more than atone for his missed foul shots as he came out of nowhere to block Michael Lee's three point attempt with 0.7 on the game clock. Syracuse's victory gave them their first ever national championship, and coach Jim Boeheim the championship he had been chasing all his years at Syracuse. Carmelo Anthony was named Most Outstanding Player (MOP) with 20 points in the win. Syracuse also avenged a second-round loss to Kansas two years earlier.cite web|author=CNN Sports Illustrated|publisher=CNNSI.com|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/college/men/recaps/2003/04/07/5154_recap.html|title=2003 NCAA National Championship: (E3) Syracuse 81, (W2) Kansas 78|accessdate=2008-03-06] After the game, Roy Williams cursed at CBS reporter Bonnie Bernstein for asking him whether he'd take the North Carolina basketball job. Williams said he "couldn't give a flip," but, when reiterating his lack of concern, changed "flip" to "shit". Williams eventually took the UNC job and won a national title, his first, with the Tar Heels two years later.

Bracket

East region

16TeamBracket | RD3=Sweet Sixteen | RD4=Elite Eight | RD1-seed01=1
subgroup1=Oklahoma City
subgroup2=Birmingham
subgroup3=Boston
subgroup4=Tampa
RD1-team01=Oklahoma
RD1-score01=71
RD1-seed02=16
RD1-team02=South Carolina St
RD1-score02=54
RD1-seed03=8
RD1-team03=California
RD1-score03=76
RD1-seed04=9
RD1-team04=North Carolina State
RD1-score04=74*
RD1-seed05=5
RD1-team05=Mississippi St
RD1-score05=46
RD1-seed06=12
RD1-team06=Butler
RD1-score06=47
RD1-seed07=4
RD1-team07=Louisville
RD1-score07=86
RD1-seed08=13
RD1-team08=Austin Peay
RD1-score08=64
RD1-seed09=6
RD1-team09=Oklahoma St
RD1-score09=77
RD1-seed10=11
RD1-team10=Pennsylvania
RD1-score10=63
RD1-seed11=3
RD1-team11=Syracuse
RD1-score11=76
RD1-seed12=14
RD1-team12=Manhattan
RD1-score12=65
RD1-seed13=7
RD1-team13=Saint Joseph's
RD1-score13=63*
RD1-seed14=10
RD1-team14=Auburn
RD1-score14=65
RD1-seed15=2
RD1-team15=Wake Forest
RD1-score15=76
RD1-seed16=15
RD1-team16=East Tennessee St
RD1-score16=73
RD2-seed01=1
RD2-team01=Oklahoma
RD2-score01=74
RD2-seed02=8
RD2-team02=California
RD2-score02=65
RD2-seed03=12
RD2-team03=Butler
RD2-score03=79
RD2-seed04=4
RD2-team04=Louisville
RD2-score04=71
RD2-seed05=6
RD2-team05=Oklahoma St
RD2-score05=56
RD2-seed06=3
RD2-team06=Syracuse
RD2-score06=68
RD2-seed07=10
RD2-team07=Auburn
RD2-score07=68
RD2-seed08=2
RD2-team08=Wake Forest
RD2-score08=62
RD3-seed01=1
RD3-team01=Oklahoma
RD3-score01=65
RD3-seed02=12
RD3-team02=Butler
RD3-score02=54
RD3-seed03=3
RD3-team03=Syracuse
RD3-score03=79
RD3-seed04=10
RD3-team04=Auburn
RD3-score04=78
RD4-seed01=1
RD4-team01=Oklahoma
RD4-score01=47
RD4-seed02=3
RD4-team02=Syracuse
RD4-score02=63

outh region

16TeamBracket | RD3=Sweet Sixteen | RD4=Elite Eight | RD1-seed01=1
subgroup1=Birmingham
subgroup2=Spokane
subgroup3=Nashville
subgroup4=Tampa
RD1-team01=Texas
RD1-score01=82
RD1-seed02=16
RD1-team02=UNC-Asheville
RD1-score02=61
RD1-seed03=8
RD1-team03=LSU
RD1-score03=56
RD1-seed04=9
RD1-team04=Purdue
RD1-score04=80
RD1-seed05=5
RD1-team05=Connecticut
RD1-score05=58
RD1-seed06=12
RD1-team06=BYU
RD1-score06=53
RD1-seed07=4
RD1-team07=Stanford
RD1-score07=77
RD1-seed08=13
RD1-team08=San Diego
RD1-score08=69
RD1-seed09=6
RD1-team09=Maryland
RD1-score09=75
RD1-seed10=11
RD1-team10=UNC-Wilmington
RD1-score10=73
RD1-seed11=3
RD1-team11=Xavier
RD1-score11=71
RD1-seed12=14
RD1-team12=Troy St
RD1-score12=59
RD1-seed13=7
RD1-team13=Michigan St
RD1-score13=79
RD1-seed14=10
RD1-team14=Colorado
RD1-score14=64
RD1-seed15=2
RD1-team15=Florida
RD1-score15=85
RD1-seed16=15
RD1-team16=Sam Houston St
RD1-score16=55
RD2-seed01=1
RD2-team01=Texas
RD2-score01=77
RD2-seed02=9
RD2-team02=Purdue
RD2-score02=67
RD2-seed03=5
RD2-team03=Connecticut
RD2-score03=85
RD2-seed04=4
RD2-team04=Stanford
RD2-score04=74
RD2-seed05=6
RD2-team05=Maryland
RD2-score05=77
RD2-seed06=3
RD2-team06=Xavier
RD2-score06=64
RD2-seed07=7
RD2-team07=Michigan St
RD2-score07=68
RD2-seed08=2
RD2-team08=Florida
RD2-score08=46
RD3-seed01=1
RD3-team01=Texas
RD3-score01=82
RD3-seed02=5
RD3-team02=Connecticut
RD3-score02=78
RD3-seed03=6
RD3-team03=Maryland
RD3-score03=58
RD3-seed04=7
RD3-team04=Michigan St
RD3-score04=60
RD4-seed01=1
RD4-team01=Texas
RD4-score01=85
RD4-seed02=7
RD4-team02=Michigan St
RD4-score02=76

Midwest region

16TeamBracket | RD3=Sweet Sixteen | RD4=Elite Eight | RD1-seed01=1
subgroup1=Nashville
subgroup2=Spokane
subgroup3=Indianapolis
subgroup4=Boston
RD1-team01=Kentucky
RD1-score01=95
RD1-seed02=16
RD1-team02=IUPUI
RD1-score02=64
RD1-seed03=8
RD1-team03=Oregon
RD1-score03=58
RD1-seed04=9
RD1-team04=Utah
RD1-score04=60
RD1-seed05=5
RD1-team05=Wisconsin
RD1-score05=81
RD1-seed06=12
RD1-team06=Weber St
RD1-score06=74
RD1-seed07=4
RD1-team07=Dayton
RD1-score07=71
RD1-seed08=13
RD1-team08=Tulsa
RD1-score08=84
RD1-seed09=6
RD1-team09=Missouri
RD1-score09=72
RD1-seed10=11
RD1-team10=Southern Illinois
RD1-score10=71
RD1-seed11=3
RD1-team11=Marquette
RD1-score11=72
RD1-seed12=14
RD1-team12=Holy Cross
RD1-score12=68
RD1-seed13=7
RD1-team13=Indiana
RD1-score13=67
RD1-seed14=10
RD1-team14=Alabama
RD1-score14=62
RD1-seed15=2
RD1-team15=Pittsburgh
RD1-score15=87
RD1-seed16=15
RD1-team16=Wagner
RD1-score16=61
RD2-seed01=1
RD2-team01=Kentucky
RD2-score01=74
RD2-seed02=9
RD2-team02=Utah
RD2-score02=54
RD2-seed03=5
RD2-team03=Wisconsin
RD2-score03=61
RD2-seed04=13
RD2-team04=Tulsa
RD2-score04=60
RD2-seed05=6
RD2-team05=Missouri
RD2-score05=92*
RD2-seed06=3
RD2-team06=Marquette
RD2-score06=101
RD2-seed07=7
RD2-team07=Indiana
RD2-score07=52
RD2-seed08=2
RD2-team08=Pittsburgh
RD2-score08=74
RD3-seed01=1
RD3-team01=Kentucky
RD3-score01=63
RD3-seed02=5
RD3-team02=Wisconsin
RD3-score02=57
RD3-seed03=3
RD3-team03=Marquette
RD3-score03=77
RD3-seed04=2
RD3-team04=Pittsburgh
RD3-score04=74
RD4-seed01=1
RD4-team01=Kentucky
RD4-score01=69
RD4-seed02=3
RD4-team02=Marquette
RD4-score02=83

West region

16TeamBracket | RD3=Sweet Sixteen | RD4=Elite Eight | RD1-seed01=1
subgroup1=Salt Lake City
subgroup2=Indianapolis
subgroup3=Salt Lake City
subgroup4=Oklahoma City
RD1-team01=Arizona
RD1-score01=80
RD1-seed02=16
RD1-team02=Vermont
RD1-score02=51
RD1-seed03=8
RD1-team03=Cincinnati
RD1-score03=69
RD1-seed04=9
RD1-team04=Gonzaga
RD1-score04=74
RD1-seed05=5
RD1-team05=Notre Dame
RD1-score05=70
RD1-seed06=12
RD1-team06=UW-Milwaukee
RD1-score06=69
RD1-seed07=4
RD1-team07=Illinois
RD1-score07=65
RD1-seed08=13
RD1-team08=Western Kentucky
RD1-score08=60
RD1-seed09=6
RD1-team09=Creighton
RD1-score09=73
RD1-seed10=11
RD1-team10=Central Michigan
RD1-score10=79
RD1-seed11=3
RD1-team11=Duke
RD1-score11=67
RD1-seed12=14
RD1-team12=Colorado St
RD1-score12=57
RD1-seed13=7
RD1-team13=Memphis
RD1-score13=71
RD1-seed14=10
RD1-team14=Arizona St
RD1-score14=84
RD1-seed15=2
RD1-team15=Kansas
RD1-score15=64
RD1-seed16=15
RD1-team16=Utah St
RD1-score16=61
RD2-seed01=1
RD2-team01=Arizona
RD2-score01=96**
RD2-seed02=9
RD2-team02=Gonzaga
RD2-score02=95
RD2-seed03=5
RD2-team03=Notre Dame
RD2-score03=68
RD2-seed04=4
RD2-team04=Illinois
RD2-score04=60
RD2-seed05=11
RD2-team05=Central Michigan
RD2-score05=60
RD2-seed06=3
RD2-team06=Duke
RD2-score06=86
RD2-seed07=10
RD2-team07=Arizona St
RD2-score07=76
RD2-seed08=2
RD2-team08=Kansas
RD2-score08=108
RD3-seed01=1
RD3-team01=Arizona
RD3-score01=88
RD3-seed02=5
RD3-team02=Notre Dame
RD3-score02=71
RD3-seed03=3
RD3-team03=Duke
RD3-score03=65
RD3-seed04=2
RD3-team04=Kansas
RD3-score04=69
RD4-seed01=1
RD4-team01=Arizona
RD4-score01=75
RD4-seed02=2
RD4-team02=Kansas
RD4-score02=78

Final Four

4TeamBracket | RD1=National Semifinals | RD2=National Finals | RD1-seed1=3
RD1-team1=Syracuse
RD1-score1=95
RD1-seed2=1
RD1-team2=Texas
RD1-score2=84
RD1-seed3=3
RD1-team3=Marquette
RD1-score3=61
RD1-seed4=2
RD1-team4=Kansas
RD1-score4=94
RD2-seed1=3
RD2-team1=Syracuse
RD2-score1=81
RD2-seed2=2
RD2-team2=Kansas
RD2-score2=78

External links

* [http://www.shrpsports.com/collbask/2003.htm 2003 NCAA Basketball Tournament] on Shrp Sports (source for the bracket)

ee also

* 2003 NAIA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament

References