Syracuse Basketball’s season is over after a crushing season defeat at home to Ole Miss. Inside the Loud House looks back at the Top 10 Best Moments the Orange had this season.
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Syracuse Basketball team and fans alike didn’t want for this roller coaster of a season to be over. Yeah, there were highs and lows, but we still enjoyed the ride. I know its hard to get over the disappointment of losing to Ole Miss.
Therefore, I thought a pick me up was in order. So let’s take a trip down memory lane shall we? Let’s relive Syracuse Basketball’s Ten Best Moments this season.
10.) Winning Revenge Game Against Boston College
Syracuse Basketball had lost earlier in ACC play to these same Boston College Eagles, so this game was a revenge game of sorts. Syracuse went ahead early and never relinquished its lead, winning by 23 points at home. Tyus Battle led the way with 21 points and three steals, according to ESPN.com. Boston College isn’t a huge win I know, but winning big at home is always fun to watch. Especially when you want payback for an early loss.
9.) Thrashing Monmouth in First True Test of the Season
This was a huge confidence booster early in the 2016 season. Ranked 18th in the country and still undefeated at 2-0, the Orange beat a very capable Monmouth team. The Orange and Hawks played close up until halftime, but the Orange pulled away for the easy 21 point win in the second half, according to SportsIllustrated.com. The Hawks only shot 31% from the field and 14% from three for the game, according to ESPN.com. Andrew White III was the high point man for the Orange with 18 points. Taurean Thompson showed some of his potential as a freshman in scoring 12 points for Syracuse.
8.) The Almost-Comeback Against Louisville at Home
This was one of those games that should’ve been one of the biggest disappointments of the season, but it wasn’t. Syracuse fell behind by as much as 14 in the first half, and as much as seven late in the second half, according to ESPN.com. Each time though, Syracuse rallied.
The exclamation point for Syracuse was a high-arcing game-tying three from John Gillon late in the second half. That tied the game at 58 apiece. Tyler Roberson would foul Louisville’s Jaylen Johnson who tried to score under the basket, and send him to the line for two shots. Luckily for Syracuse, he missed both, giving Syracuse a chance for the last shot.
John Gillon drove the lane with 9.4 seconds to go with a chance to win. Unfortunately, his attempt at a layup was blocked and went off his fingertips somehow. After a review the call stood. The ball therefore went back to Louisville with three seconds to go, who missed an long three to send the game to overtime.
Overtime:
In overtime, the Orange fell behind early, but in the final minute they bounced back. Jaylen Johnson once gain missed two free throws, giving Syracuse a chance to tie or take the lead with 12 seconds to go. Andrew White III hoisted up a long and contested 3 point try which airballed. Luckily, Tyler Roberson caught it and put it back up with 3 second to play, according to ESPN.com.
Unfortunately, it rimmed out, but he was fouled, sending him to the line for two shots. If he hit them both he would tie the game. Roberson is a horrible free throw shooter though, and he missed both, costing the Orange the game.
This game was a win Syracuse could have had, but missed in the end. The rallies Syracuse had in this game were amazing, and went against all odds. Maybe that’s why, in the end, the odds went out of the Orange’s favor.
7.) Andrew White III Setting SU Single Season Three-Point Record
Many thought when Syracuse Basketball missed the NCAA Tournament and was invited to the NIT that they wouldn’t really try. Boy, were they wrong! Syracuse had a great day all around in its first game in the NIT. If the UNC Greensboro Spartans were lousy at shooting the ball, it would have been a blowout.
The best part of the matchup was watching Syracuse’s Andrew White III light it up from three. Knowing he was so close to Gerry McNamara’s Syracuse’s single season three’s record, he hoisted up three after three. Thing is, he made them, and it looked easy.
He shot 7 of 9 from three, and 11 of 15 from the field: good for 34 points. White broke McNamara’s record and extended his own SU record to 109 three’s. He would finish the season with 112 threes point field goals, according to Sports-Reference.com.
That’s an unbelievable feat, and just goes to show you the amazing, but sadly short career he had in Orange. This win sent Syracuse to the second round where they would lose at home to Ole Miss 85-80, according to ESPN.com.
6.) Season-Ending Win Against Georgia Tech
This game was a highlight show in the second half. Sure, the Orange were up by 12 at half, but they quickly squandered that lead early in the second half. In fact, the Yellow Jackets got within three with 17:40 left to go in the second half. The Orange though would go on a huge 52-26 run, after that initial outburst by Georgia Tech, to put the game away for good.
The main reason for this run: Andrew White III went nuts from three point land. He had a career high eight three’s in nine tries and shot 12 of 16 from the field. That’s a 75 percent clip from the field. Altogether he scored a career high 40 points, which was a dome career record.
It was one of the most fascinating games of the year for the Orange, and one of the games that made Syracuse feel secure it was in the NCAA Tournament. As we all know though, that didn’t happen, but at least they tried with performances like this one.
5.) Beating Virginia
The Virginia game was close throughout. The Orange fell behind by 12 before halftime, but they came back quickly, and took a lead early in the second half. Virginia made it close near the end of the game, but Syracuse would respond time and time again.
With about a minute to play, Virginia’s London Perrantes made a three to get the Cavaliers within one at 60-59. However, as mentioned before the Orange would respond with a jumper in the lane by Gillon, putting the Orange back up three. From there, it was a free throw show and Syracuse prevailed.
The SU victory marked the second Top-10 opponent Syracuse Basketball had knocked off on the season. This victory was huge, and was part of an amazing mid-ACC stretch where the Orange would go 5-0.
4.) John Gillon’s Performance at NC State for First Road Win
John Gillon’s individual performance alone in the NC State game was worthy of the number one spot. In my book though, Syracuse just had too many other exciting and deserving moments to go ahead of this one. The game tying three-point shot at the end, which was heavily guarded and off balance, was one of the best all season, but I think one other shot topped it. All Syracuse Basketball fans should know which one i’m talking about. Don’t worry, we’ll get there.
In this game, Gillon went 10 of 13 from the field, made 9 of 10 three point shots, and went a perfect 14 for 14 from the line, according to ESPN.com. In addition, he scored 43 points to help Syracuse pick up its first road win of the season. The Orange would surprisingly only get one more, on a buzzer beater no less.
Andrew White III also had a memorable game, scoring 28 points on 11 of 19 field goals, and 3 of 8 from three. Those two combined to score 71 of Syracuse’s 100 points on the night. It was definitely a heart pounding game with neither team giving up, and Syracuse just clawed their way back and won it. If that doesn’t sound like Syracuse Basketball this season, I don’t know what does.
3.) Beating Florida State
Oh yes, the first big win of the season. Yeah, Miami was a nice prize and so was Monmouth, but this one was the one that changed our season around. The Orange took control early in the game and never looked back. The fact that this game was played in the Carrier Dome helped tremendously because the home crowd was amazing.
The Orange played like a team on a mission, taking an 18 point halftime lead. Sure they knew the Seminoles were a Top 10 team: 6th in the nation in fact. That didn’t intimidate them though, as the Orange looked like the better team throughout.
The funny thing was the eye test showed Florida State was much bigger than us in almost every way. Yet, the Orange out rebounded them by three, 42-39. In addition, Syracuse who was smaller defensively had five more blocked shots, 9-4. Those shots led to good transition buckets and three’s which Syracuse’s Andrew White II and John Gillon made easy work of.
Gillon scored 21 points and dished out 11 assists. Andrew White III, on the other hand, scored 24 to go along with nine huge rebounds. Those, along with Lydon’s six blocks inside, sealed the deal for the Orange. It was the first of three Top-10 upsets the Orange would have on the season. In addition, it would give the Orange confidence that they could beat anyone in the country. Too bad the NCAA selection committee never gave them that chance.
2.) Tyus Battle Buzzer-Beater at Clemson
This game, like the Virginia and NC State game, was back and forth. The Orange trailed early by 12 in the first half, but responded with a run that got them within two at halftime.
The stats, were not terribly impressive in this game, but the ending was remarkable. The Orange trailed by as much as nine with about seven minutes left in the game, but they kept clawing their way back with huge free throws.
The Orange got Clemson into the bonus, and then constantly went into the lane to try and draw fouls to gain foul shots. The move slowed the clock down, and gave Syracuse either free throws or a layup almost every time. The Orange, who were surprisingly good at free throws this season, made them count.
The Orange still trailed by two after Clemson’s Donte Graham made a jumper to put the Tigers up with 7 seconds to play. The next shot though would win the game, and give Syracuse one of its best moments of the season.
Gillon hustled up court, passed it to a screening Lydon, who found an open Tyus Battle on the wing for three. Of course, it was nothing but net, and Syracuse won the game at the buzzer, 82-81. It was even more exciting at the time because it prolonged Syracuse’s winning streak to five straight games. As Boeheim said afterwards, he believed Battle would hit it all along though, according to Syracuse.com.
"“When he caught it, I thought he was going to make it. Great shot. Big time play for a freshman.”"
1.) Duke Buzzer-Beater
Finally, we get to the best moment of the season. It was by and and large one of the best moments in Syracuse Basketball memory. It ranks right up there with the Hakim Warrick’s block against Kansas, Lydon’s block against Gonzaga last year, and McNamara’s heave from three against Cincinnati in my book. For Syracuse fans, it was a moment they won’t forget for a long time.
Let me set the stage. Duke had just taken a lead with just under two minutes to go, at 75-73, according to ESPN.com. The lead was courtesy of a Grayson Allen three and some Amile Jefferson free throws. The Orange had to get a score and fast because time was running out. Gillon quickly delivered an off-balance floater in the lane to tie the game at 75 apiece. There was 38 seconds left in the game and the Orange had to make one more stop to force overtime.
Duke’s Luke Kennard, who had been having an amazing season shooting the ball, was given the chance to put Duke ahead and win the game with time running down. Great on-ball defense by a much shorter Gillon forced Kennard into a hard, off balance fadeaway shot. Lydon jumped high to grab the rebound, and passed it to Battle to bring it up the floor.
The Shot:
Unfortunately, Lydon wasn’t thinking, as Battle was behind him, and it just wasted more time. Battle, who anticipated that might happen, threw it quickly ahead to Gillon who was almost at half court. He hoped that whatever shot Gillon would get would at least be closer than his would have been. He was right.
Gillon took a few more steps, drove to the top of the top of the arc, and planted his feet for a game winning three. Guarded by three tall Duke players with outstretched arms, he hoisted up the prayer.
Bank. Ball game. Syracuse had won the game with a three at the buzzer.
It was a moment Syracuse fans who saw it will never forget. Not only was it an amazing buzzer beater, it gave the Orange their third Top-10 win on the season. Furthermore, it gave the Orange a win against an opponent they were growing to dislike. Sorry, Orange fans, but hate is too strong word.
Duke-Syracuse has become a mini-rivalry of late, and this shot only felt that much more sweeter as a result. Everything about the shot was just memorable and as a result, ended up as #1 on our list.
Next: Syracuse Basketball: Player Grades for the 2016-2017 Season
Hope you enjoyed these Top 10 moments of the Syracuse Basketball season. Make sure to visit us again here at Inside the Loud House for more Syracuse Basketball coverage.