2002–03 Syracuse Orangemen basketball team

Season recap

Things did not start well for Syracuse. Guards DeShaun Williams and James Thues 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.

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. 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 upset.

The Orangemen would play five Big 12 teams throughout the year, including games against Missouri in the regular season, and against Oklahoma (Elite Eight), Oklahoma State (second round), Texas (National Semifinal) and then Kansas (National Championship game).

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 open on 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.

Coincidentally, the game was played in the Superdome in New Orleans, where Syracuse had lost the National Championship to Indiana in 1987 on a last-second shot by Keith Smart.

Schedule

|- !colspan=12 style='| Non-Conference Regular Season |- !colspan=12 style='|Big East Regular Season |- !colspan=12 style='| Big East Tournament |- !colspan=12 style='| NCAA Tournament Source:

Roster

References

References

1. [https://archive.today/20110805194343/http://media.www.dailyorange.com/media/storage/paper522/news/2002/08/28/News/Williams.To.Leave.Orangemen-263566.shtml Williams to leave Orangemen – News]
2. [https://archive.today/20110708222854/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]
3. [http://www.gazellegroup.com/events/cvc/results/2002/memsyrrecap.htm Memphis Holds Off Syracuse, 70–63] {{webarchive. link. (2009-11-26)
4. [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] {{webarchive. link. (2009-02-05)
5. [https://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]
6. [https://www.usatoday.com/sports/scores103/103013/20030113NCAABSYRACUSE--0nr.htm NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball – Missouri vs. Syracuse]
7. [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...] {{webarchive. link. (2007-02-22)
8. link. (2007-11-09)
9. [https://www.espn.com/espn/espn25/story?page=moments/60 ESPN.com – ESPN 25 – 60: Smart's jumper wins NCAA title for Indiana]
10. "2002-03 Men's Basketball Schedule". Syracuse University Athletics.
11. "2002-03 Men's Basketball Roster".