After winning the title in 2003 | Syracusefan.com

After winning the title in 2003

HRE Otto IV

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We were the best Northeastern program and in the Elite 8 of programs. You could have made a legit argument that we were the best non blue blood program.

23 years later we are the 3rd best Northeastern program and while we are still in the Sweet 16 of programs, with several programs knocking on our door it wouldn't take much to knock us out.

GMac better turn this thing around.
 
We were the best Northeastern program and in the Elite 8 of programs. You could have made a legit argument that we were the best non blue blood program.

23 years later we are the 3rd best Northeastern program and while we are still in the Sweet 16 of programs, with several programs knocking on our door it wouldn't take much to knock us out.

GMac better turn this thing around.
So true. Thank god for the unexpected 2016 Final Four and the 2018 and 2021 Sweet 16s (along with the the 2019 tourney bid). Those helped goose our overall numbers. It’s really freakin unfortunate that we didn’t win the national title in 2010 (AO’s injury, ugh) and didn’t make the 2012 Final Four. That would’ve really helped our overall program resume and maybe this 10-year swoon wouldn’t have felt as bad. I think we’re all desperate for Gmac and Co to get things back on track—and quickly.
 
I have a hard time putting us in sweet 16 of programs

Historically? How can you have us any worse than 14th?

By Titles alone we have to put UCLA, Kentucky, UNC, UConn, Duke, Indiana, Kansas, Florida, Nova, Louisville ahead of SU.

By Titles and Final Fours we have to put Michigan State and Michigan ahead of SU.

Who else can we put ahead of SU? Zona? Maybe. We still have a higher overall win % and another Final Four on them.
 
There was a time where uconn was one of our peer programs. Now people think nc state is a better job. Gmac you need to pull us out of this mess.

Really pre 2009 I would say that SU was ahead of UConn all time.



Edit
Expanding on this

Titles: UConn 2 vs SU 1
Champ Games: SU 3 vs UConn 2
Final Fours: SU 4 vs UConn 2
Elite 8s: UConn 8 vs SU 7
Sweet 16s: SU 17 vs UConn 15
NCAAs: SU 31 vs UConn 28
Helms: SU 2 vs UConn 0
NIT: UConn 1 vs SU 0
Conf Reg: UConn 9 vs SU 7
Conf Turney: UConn 6 vs SU 5
Win %: SU > UConn

You could go either way with who was better at that point.
 
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When does "history" begin? After San Francisco's run? Cincinnati's? But too long ago before Gonzaga's?

There are dozens of ways to skin a cat.

During the big bang I believe.


No one in their right mind is going to put more significance in titles in the 1940s over everything else. They count but titles alone and old ones at that do not overtake all other factors like winning %, Championship game appearances, Final Fours, Elite 8s, Sweet 16s, Tourney appearances, Top 25 finishes, conference regular or tournament titles, and heck even old school NITs.


Teams that have multiple titles that I hadn't mentioned before:

Cincy- 1959-63 they had an amazing run, including back to back champs. But have one Final Four since then and only one Sweet 16 since 2001. Having a 2nd title back in 1962 doesn't overtake everything else.

NC State- one Final Four since 1983, and only four total. No other Elite 8s since 1986 besides the Final Four run.

Okie State- another back to back champ like Cincy. They haven't made the Sweet 16 since 2005 and the Final Four since 2004. Only two since 1951. Overall win % well under .600 and haven't won anything within conference since 2005.

San Fran- back to back champs, have been to the NCAAT twice since 1982. 1979 was their last Sweet 16 and their three Final Fours were 1955-57.


Schools with more or equal amount of Final Fours as SU:

Ohio State- I suppose one could put them ahead of SU. They have 11 Final Fours. But only 3 since 1968. The last time they made it to the Sweet 16 was 2013. Their win % is quite a bit lower too. I think it is fair to have them ahead.

Houston- they have 7 Final Fours but no titles. They did not even make the Sweet 16 between 1984 and 2019.

Illinois- they have 6 Final Fours but no titles.

Arkansas- they have the same amount of titles and Final Fours as SU, but nothing since 1995.



Edit
I forgot the Helms helps SU too. It shouldn't count for much but if you need a tie breaker, it is there.
 
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Historically? How can you have us any worse than 14th?

By Titles alone we have to put UCLA, Kentucky, UNC, UConn, Duke, Indiana, Kansas, Florida, Nova, Louisville ahead of SU.

By Titles and Final Fours we have to put Michigan State and Michigan ahead of SU.

Who else can we put ahead of SU? Zona? Maybe. We still have a higher overall win % and another Final Four on them.
Syracuse is in the top 16 of programs right now and I would include them with a group like Ohio St., Illinois, Houston, and Georgetown. But, any of these schools can drop down in the future if they don't decide to compete at the highest level ($).
 

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