Syracuse basketball: All-time starting 5 lineup

LOUISVILLE, KY - FEBRUARY 19: Head coach Jim Boeheim of the Syracuse Orange looks on during a game against the Louisville Cardinals at KFC YUM! Center on February 19, 2020 in Louisville, Kentucky. Louisville defeated Syracuse 90-66. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

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Sherman Douglas (Photo by Chris Chambers/Getty Images) /

3. Sherman Douglas (1985-1989)

Every team needs a good floor general and Syracuse has one of the best to ever take the floor in college basketball on their side. Sherman Douglas, who earned the nickname of “The General”, was a part of some of the greatest teams in Syracuse history.

The highlight of Douglas’ tenure came in 1987, when the Orangemen advanced all the way to the national championship game and came within seconds of winning it all. Indiana’s Keith Smart had different plans, however, nailing the winning jumper in the final seconds to send Syracuse home in bitter fashion.

Douglas’ senior year saw the Orangemen return to the Elite Eight only to fall by three to top-seeded Illinois. Even though he didn’t win a championship Douglas definitely left his mark on college basketball, leaving school as the NCAA’s all-time assists leader.

That success carried over to the NBA for Douglas, who turned in a 12-year pro career after being selected with one of the last picks in the second round. Douglas will be best known for his time at Syracuse, where he was a three-time All-American and made the All-Big East first team in three consecutive years.

Like Bing and Anthony before him, Douglas’ number 20 was retired by Syracuse. The idea of Douglas running the point and distributing the ball to those two, as well as the next two guys on our list, is really exciting.