This has got me wondering: Setting aside the entire 2003 championship run and all of those incredibly memorable games (including the National Title game, the semifinals against Texas and the comeback vs Oklahoma State in the Round of 32), what are the most memorable Syracuse NCAA tourney games? I think this Virginia Elite eight game is up there near the top.
1.) The all-time tourney classic Syracuse-Georgia OT game during the 1996 run to the National Title game, featuring two buzzer beaters. One of the best NCAA tourney thrillers ever.
2.) Syracuse beating #1 seed North Carolina in the Elite Eight in 1987 to send JB to his first Final Four. It was a thrilling game that went down to the wire pairing two of the best teams in the country. Sherm bested Kenny Smith and DC bested JR Reid.
3.) The legendary Syracuse comeback against Virginia in 2016 to send us to the Final Four.
4.) Syracuse upsetting overall #1 seed Indiana in 2013 on the way to the Final Four. Totally dominating performance.
5.) The win over Kansas in the Elite Eight in 1996 to send us to the Final Four.
6.) The Sweet 16 upset vs North Carolina in 1975 on the way to our first Final Four.
7.) The Sweet 16 comeback win vs Gonzaga in 2016 on the way to the Final Four.
8.) The defensive dominance vs Marquette in the Elite Eight to send us to the 2013 Final Four.
9.) 1975 Elite Eight win vs Kansas State to send Cuse to its first Final Four.
10.) The sweet 16 win vs Missouri in 1989. That team should have won the title! Damn Illinois and some bad breaks in that Elite Eight game.
11.) The Sweet 16 win vs Florida in 1987 (Seikaly destroys Schintzus) on the way to one of the all time great title games.
12.) The 2012 Sweet 16 win vs Wisconsin. Another team that shoud have been playing for the title.
Runners up: 1987 Final Four win over Providence, 1996 Final Four win over Mississippi State. The 2010 win over Gonzaga in the second round (perhaps the best Cuse team ever) and 2000 win over Kentucky in the second round to set up the classic meeting with Michigan State. The 2018 win over Michigan State in the second round to go to the Sweet 16, and the 2021 win over West Virginia to go to the sweet 16, were also exciting and memorable games.
What ones have I missed?