Here’s a great list from Syracuse‘s tournament games

[GENESEO1983]

Kind of a crazy stat, but aside from the first minute of the game, Auburn never once had possession of the ball, down by 3 points or less.

My Top 5 from the above:
1. April 7, 2003
2 '96 vs UGa
3. '12 vs Wisconsin
4. '96 vs Kansas
5. Zaga in '16

Wow.. what are your top 5
View attachment 215778

1975 elite 8 game against Kansas State. Down 2 with 5 seconds left, Bug Williams goes the length of the court, dishes to Rudy Hackett who lays it in at the buzzer to send the game into overtime. SU wins in overtime and goes onto San Diego for their first final 4!

 

[rrlbees]

Was that the game where Al Maguire did a post game dance with the team ? Or was that 96?

96

 

[crv1728]

96

Ok. So that was John Wallace singing “the Cuse is in the house…..” where Al started dancing along. What a great moment. Was there something with Seikley in 87?

 

[djorange1989]

KU in 2003 is obviously first. UGA in 1996 was an absolutely insane game. I was at the 2016 Gonzaga game at United Center so that one is special to me just for that.

 

[djorange1989]

Ok. So that was John Wallace singing “the Cuse is in the house…..” where Al started dancing along. What a great moment. Was there something with Seikley in 87?

Rony was getting disrespected by Dickie V the week of the Florida Sweet 16 game, Dickie was basically saying Dwayne Schintzus was going to give Rony fits. Rony went running down the hallway in the hotel the night before the game screaming, because he was so fired up. And boy did he kick Schintzus’ arse

 

[Capt. Tuttle]

Haven’t seen any of that game since it happened, but I recall a lot of SU avoiding fouling and Auburn getting hoops because if it. Not sure if that memory is accurate.

But yeah, I do remember I was never worried.

Marquis Daniels was scoring from the foul line area, a lot.

I have a memory of Melo soaring above everyone for a clutch defensive rebound late in that game. Just decided to jump higher than everyone else.

 

[Capt. Tuttle]

Rony was getting disrespected by Dickie V the week of the Florida Sweet 16 game, Dickie was basically saying Dwayne Schintzus was going to give Rony fits. Rony went running down the hallway in the hotel the night before the game screaming, because he was so fired up. And boy did he kick Schintzus’ arse

I was there that weekend. Just crazy.

 

[pattycuse]

Excluding the 2003 National Championship game…and being too young to truly appreciate the 80s, top five best/most exciting SU tournament games:

Georgia 96
Texas 03
Wisconsin 2012
Gonzaga 2016
Virginia 2016

 

[orange79]

Was that the game where Al Maguire did a post game dance with the team ? Or was that 96?

'96

 

[pfister1]

Wow.. what are your top 5
View attachment 215778

Ok…..

APRIL 7, 2003 SU 81 v KU 78

…… and the list begins and ends there. Not sure any other game belongs on the same list as that game.

 

[OttoMets]

Love all of those. I would add beating Kansas in ‘96. That was a significant upset if I remember correctly. I think of that game as one where Boeheim pulled his magic act and won a game not many thought SU could.

Post-Standard headline: "Kansas Disappears In SU Danger Zone."

Probably wasn't the best-played game, but they were probably a lot better than we were and I know after the beat Arizona in the late game all the talk was how unjust it was that the two good teams in the regional had to meet in the semifinal.

Otis Hill really got the better of two future NBA bigs.

It was a great win.

 

[STEVEHOLT]

Was that the game where Al Maguire did a post game dance with the team ? Or was that 96?

96 vs Kansas .. also featured the phrase “wipe out by Todd”

 

[OrangeDW]

Post-Standard headline: "Kansas Disappears In SU Danger Zone."

Probably wasn't the best-played game, but they were probably a lot better than we were and I know after the beat Arizona in the late game all the talk was how unjust it was that the two good teams in the regional had to meet in the semifinal.

Otis Hill really got the better of two future NBA bigs.

It was a great win.

And then in the final 4, the talk was they should re-seed so UMass and Kentucky could meet in the finals and that was the “real” championship.

So much disrespect for the Cuse in that run, and we ended up giving Kentucky a run for their money too. If Sims didn’t get hurt and Wallace didn’t foul out on a bad call, we might’ve won.

 

[Cusefan0307]

That Kansas team in 96 was loaded. They we like 6-7 point favorites in both 96 and 03. Those were the days when Roy used to get slammed for not winning the big one. I can’t imagine what the discussion would be about Kansas had Memphis not choked it away in 08.

 

[OttoMets]

That Kansas team in 96 was loaded. They we like 6-7 point favorites in both 96 and 03. Those were the days when Roy used to get slammed for not winning the big one. I can’t imagine what the discussion would be about Kansas had Memphis not choked it away in 08.

Pollard, Lafrentz, Paul Pierce, Haase, and Jacque Vaughn (who'd been in college for about a decade and was a really strong point guard). That's a heck of a lineup.

Haase missed something like 9 of 10 shots from the field that day, Otis outplayed their bigs, and I don't know that Pierce did anything special.

 

[pfister1]

Pollard, Lafrentz, Paul Pierce, Haase, and Jacque Vaughn (who'd been in college for about a decade and was a really strong point guard). That's a heck of a lineup.

Haase missed something like 9 of 10 shots from the field that day, Otis outplayed their bigs, and I don't know that Pierce did anything special.

Next to the win over the Jayhawks in 2003 my all time favorite SU tourney win was probably the one that occurred on March 7, 1981!!

Leo Rautins with the tip and Cuse takes the Big East tournament in TRIPLE overtime over Rolllie Massimino and those pesky Wildcats.

And then the selection committee snubs Cuse because the Big East hadn’t yet earned its automatic berth. ’ers!!

SU went on to the NIT championship game against Tulsa losing 86-84 in another OT game, but only after most of the starting lineup (and we know how JB likes to develop his bench) Schayes, Rautins and Bruin (all Cuse legends) had fouled out!

Was this game legendary, or is it that it occurred at a time in my youth when it seemed absolutely remarkable!

And if you're a few years younger than me maybe its the 6OT game against UConn that serves the same purpose for you. Some great "Tournament" games.

Syracuse Orangemen Basketball 1980-1981

www.orangehoops.org

 

[kirbivore]

Haven’t seen any of that game since it happened, but I recall a lot of SU avoiding fouling and Auburn getting hoops because if it. Not sure if that memory is accurate.

But yeah, I do remember I was never worried.

Marquis Daniels was scoring from the foul line area, a lot.

The only game in that tournament SU didn't cover.

 

[Col. Bleep]

Taking out the national championship game...which is unique...the best tournament game ever was the '96 Georgia game.
Without any question.

John Wallace simply would not be denied.

There was his inbound pass to Jason Cipolla with 2 seconds left and Cipolla hit the game-tying shot as he fell backwards.
Then the exchange of down to the wire buckets in OT...culminating with Wallace pulling up for a game-winning 3 (instead of taking it to the hoop).

 

[OttoMets]

If it weren't for the stomach-churning result, the best SU tournament game might well be Arkansas.

Hear me out, hear me out.

That was high-level college basketball with a great flow; defense-optional in spite of Nolan Richardson's rep; with ten complete basketball players on the floor at all times. And it featured a classic SU comeback capped by a spectacular play to take the lead late.

After that, it became memorable for the wrong reason.

 

[Stevenson]

Syracuse vs Oklahoma in 2003 just because I was there.

The Knick was rocking