Syracuse Basketball: Cardiac ‘Cuse Collects Another Close Conquest

The Syracuse basketball squad continues to give its fans heart attacks. Another tight conquest, resulted in another photo finish.

In front of the largest on-campus crowd to watch a college-basketball contest so far in the 2016-17 campaign, the Syracuse basketball squad picked up a massive, much-needed triumph over No. 10 Duke on Wednesday night.

Graduate transfer John Gillon, who had struggled a bit of late, banked in a 3-pointer at the buzzer, capping off a 26-point, six-assist and zero-turnover performance, while lifting the Orange to a 78-75 victory.

After its NCAA Tournament hopes took a huge hit during a recent three-affair dive, SU (17-12, 9-7 in ACC competition) yet again came back from a large deficit – hi, N.C. State, Virginia and Clemson – to secure its third win over a top-10 team.

The ‘Cuse’s resume is anything but stellar, however, it does now own successes versus three in

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the RPI top 25, six in the top 50 and nine in the top 100, according to ESPN.com. Many of the other outfits on the bubble cannot stake claim to that. ESPN also noted on its various broadcasts throughout the evening that Syracuse is the only unranked bunch to have a trio of triumphs over top-10 squads.

Gillon has had his fair share of rough outings, but he and freshman Tyus Battle (18 points) proved tremendous after intermission, as the Orange hung around with the Blue Devils (22-6, 10-5) before pulling this one out in the end.

Considering that Duke absolutely crushed Syracuse on the offensive glass, and fellow grad transfer and leading scorer Andrew White III took just four shots, it’s pretty amazing that the ‘Cuse even had a chance.

SU took care of the ball well, committing only eight turnovers. And it connected on 53 percent from the field, 55 percent from downtown (although a mere six makes) and a whopping 22-of-25 from the charity stripe (88 percent).

Gillon, according to Syracuse.com, has hit 43 straight free-throws; Brandon Triche most recently had set the program record, of 36, in the 2010-11 stanza.

Once more, the Orange exhibited fight, grit and toughness. After Gillon’s drive in the lane tied the game in the waning seconds, he then played some serious defense on Luke Kennard. Thankfully, SU grabbed the board following Kennard’s miss. Gillon got the ball, sped up the court, and threw up a heave as time expired.

After it went in, 30,331 delirious fans went nuts. Syracuse has bolstered its case for a possible Big Dance invite. Head coach Jim Boeheim will not endure a losing record this year. Duke’s legendary boss, Mike Krzyzewski, possesses as many national titles (five) as Boeheim has Final Four appearances.

But on Wednesday night, in a duel of the two winningest men’s head coaches ever, Boeheim got the better of his dear friend. In thrilling fashion. And, my heart has seemingly never beaten faster.

Okay, deep breath. Time to move on. There’s more work to get done.

Syracuse seeks to keep the momentum going when it travels to No. 7 Louisville this Sunday afternoon in the rematch of an overtime victory for the Cardinals at the Carrier Dome on Feb. 13.

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If the ‘Cuse could somehow knock off Louisville on the road, I think that clinches an NCAA Tournament berth for our beloved Orange.

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