Scintillating Syracuse Survives Sextuplet Stunner

I am glad I had my radio on at 1:30 A.M. It’s true I was lying in bed, half asleep, listening to the finale of the Big East quarterfinals at Madison Square Garden. I couldn’t turn the radio off, not with the smashing and shocking Syracuse headed into their sixth overtime against Connecticut. I tuned in to listen and fell asleep before the first extra session began. Luckily, the excited voices of the enthusiastic announcers awakened and astonished me out of my slumber. The first overtime instigated a never-ending saga unfolding right before my tired eyes (or ears I should say).
The game is an instant classic and it wasn’t even a championship one. March madness hasn’t officially kicked off, but this is exactly what college basketball is all about. Both teams’ hearts could not have been measured until last night’s epic effigy of a battle. It was as if the jerseys were iridescent and you could see the hearts pumping inside each players’ chest. Syracuse and Connecticut carved themselves into Big East history with the longest conference game ever played. The 127-117 Syracuse win featured many special highlights but here are a few of the standout figures and notable facts:

-The Orangemen did not take a lead during any of the overtime sessions until the 6th and final one.
-70 total minutes of basketball were played and Orange point guard, Jonny Flynn logged a whopping 67 of those minutes.
-8 players fouled out of the game, four on each team
-The 3 hour 46 minute game was the second longest in NCAA Division I history
-Flynn had 34 points and 11 assists, Paul Harris had 29 points and 22 rebounds, Eric Devendorf had 22 points and Andy Rautins had 20 points to lead ‘Cuse. Rautin’s 3-pointer early in the 6th OT was probably the game-deciding blow. He sunk the shot and was an overall critical clutch performer.
-Syracuse made 40 of 51 free throws and Flynn was a perfect 16-16 from the line.
-A.J. Price had 33 points and 10 assists, Stanley Robinson had 28 points and Hasheem Thabeet had 19 points, 14 rebounds and 6 blocked shots for the Huskies.

The Orangemen move on now to the semifinals this evening against Bob Huggins and the West Virginia Mountaineers. The Mountaineers shocked Pittsburgh and are looking for a trip to the Big East finals. Pitt appeared wretched against the walloping West Virginia. Syracuse fans are probably pleased Pitt was purged because most would rather see WVU tonight. The upset-minded Orangemen are coming off a tiring game and I wonder just how much gas they have left. Jim Boeheim needs his players well rested so I expect they will have a very light practice today before returning to the scene of their greatest game. Meanwhile, Jim Calhoun and the formally potential number one seeded Huskies get a break to rest before selection Sunday. Connecticut and Pittsburgh are still hoping to land those top seeds but both are unlikely to get them now that they’ve been eliminated from their conferences. The knockout blows will hurt their seedings but I think the Panthers still have an outside chance. If the selection committee is kind, Jamie Dixon’s talented team can land a number one. They’ve been one of the nation’s most well-rounded teams all season.
In the other Big East semifinal, the Louisville Cardinals face Villanova. There has to be some Villanova vexation after Jay Wright’s team allowed Marquette to masquerade late yesterday afternoon. Had the Golden Eagles come back to beat Nova, it would have spelled the greatest comeback in league history. But, the Wildcats escaped with late heroics and look to upset the top team tonight at MSG. Rick Pitino’s Cardinals should earn a number one seed this weekend if they reach the Big East final game. Even if they fail to advance, they are Final Four contenders.
Flynn said after the Syracuse victory it was the funnest game he ever played in. I must say Flynn is one of the funner players on the court to watch. He can take over a game and he was unquestionably the shining, spinning, stylish star for Syracuse. You had to believe in Syracuse after seeing them battle early Friday the 13th morning. But you also have to give credit to the Huskies for giving their all and staying affluent throughout the contest. The box score doesn’t do justice to just how rocking, rolling and rumbling an affair went down in NYC. Syracuse acted as if it were their prerogative to stay afloat, and they certainly managed to establish damage control.

Parting points: Prediction for the Big East final- Louisville vs. Syracuse