The Syracuse Orange had to win in Dayton just to get into the field of 64. Now? Jim Boeheim’s team is headed to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2016.
Since taking over the program in 1977, it’s not been often that the Syracuse Orange men’s basketball team finds itself in the role of Cinderella. Yet 2018 has provided such an opportunity, and so far, the slipper fits.
Syracuse was able to knock off the Arizona State Sun Devils in one of the four play-in games before dispatching the sixth-seeded TCU Horned Frogs. Then, on Sunday afternoon, the Orange brought the house down, beating Tom Izzo and the third-seeded Michigan State Spartans, 55-53.
The win puts Syracuse in the Sweet 16 where it will face the Duke Blue Devils, another contest in which it will be a decided underdog. Apparently, the Orange fans aren’t sweating it.
https://twitter.com/Britt_bri7/status/975484959073951744
Syracuse has held its three opponents to 57, 52, and 53 points. But let’s keep hearing about how they’re ruining ruining your #MarchMadness.
— Matt Maisel (@Matt_Maisel) March 18, 2018
Syracuse today...
— daviddaman2 (@daviddaman2) March 18, 2018
- Had 3 Assists
- Lost rebound battle 44-24
- Allowed 26 offensive rebounds
- Made 1 3 point shot
and won the game
Who can blame anybody who fights for the ‘Cuse for being fired up? Nobody believed in the Orange, especially when many didn’t think they should be in the tournament to begin with. Now, three wins later, Syracuse appears to be a tough out for Duke in the all-ACC matchup.
Next: Each State's Nominee for America's Team
When the two teams played each other earlier in the year, Syracuse lost 60-44 at Cameron Indoor Stadium on Feb. 24. Less than a month later, Boeheim and Co. won’t be the same team coming into the game.
In the meantime, the fine folks of Central New York can have a party. Their team continues dancing against all odds.