Syracuse Basketball: Top 30 Players in School History
By Josh Peelman
Many Syracuse Basketball fans think that G-Mac, as he’s affectionately called is overrated, but I heartily disagree. He may not have been the flashiest point guard, or the most athletic player Syracuse has ever had, but he was clutch, consistent, and one of the best of all-time in multiple categories.
Gerry McNamara, a native of Scranton, PA, came to Syracuse hungry to play and ready to make a difference. In his freshman year, he was immediately forced into the starting point guard position as a result of Billy Edelin’s suspension to start the season, according to Orangehoops.org. He would start every game that year and lead Syracuse, along with Hakim Warrick and Carmelo Anthony, to the 2003 national title; Syracuse’s first. He would also average 13.3 points, 4.4 assists, and 2.2 steals, according to Sports-reference.com.
His best shot, as we would all very quickly find out, was his three-point shot. However, over the course of his career, he became a fantastic passer as well as a solid finisher at the rim. He became the class act of the Big East quickly, and as a sophomore was named to the All-Big East Third Team. He would go on to average 17.2 points, 3.8 assists, and 1.7 steals a game.
As good as McNamara was his first two years, he kicked it up a notch in his Junior and Senior seasons. By his third year in Orange, he was already Syracuse’s star and most popular player. Fans loved and admired his passion for the game, as well as how he gave everything out on the court for the Orange.
He was a scrappy defender who constantly made plays to help pull his team through. G-Mac would sometimes take it upon himself to win games, when his teammates were struggling to score, and oftentimes his hard work paid off. As a Junior, he averaged 15.8 points, 4.9 assists, and 1.9 steals a game. He would garner All-Big East First team honors as a result.
In true fairy tale fashion, Gerry McNamara’s last season in Orange would be his best, even topping his national championship freshman campaign. Most of that lies in the fact that McNamara led Syracuse to a Big East Tournament Championship at the end of the season.
Going into the Big East Tournament that year, Syracuse had not played well and needed multiple victories or a Big East Tournament automatic bid to clinch a spot in the NCAA Tournament field. The problem: Syracuse was up against one of the hardest fields ever in that regard. In fact, every team in the Big East Tourney in Syracuse ‘s path was ranked in the Top 25, while Syracuse was unranked and struggling. That didn’t matter to McNamara though as he took over and made it his personal show.
In his first game against Cincinnati, he would hit a three-point game-winner between two defenders that was hoisted like a floater in the lane. After the game, Jim Boeheim would take McNamara’s back in one of his most famous press conferences ever by declaring Syracuse “would not have won ten ******* games” without McNamara, according to Syracuse.com. Against #1 ranked UConn in the next game, he would hit a game-tying three after breaking a double team to send the game to overtime, which Syracuse would go on to win.
In his next game, McNamara and Syracuse would make history by beating #23 Georgetown after trailing most of the game. Syracuse would also set Big East Tournament history by being the first team to win after winning in overtime the night before. A lot of that was because of McNamara’s contributions.
In the Big East Tournament Championship, Syracuse would go in front early and never look back. Syracuse and McNamara were on a roll and #16 Pitt had no chance. The Orangemen would go on to win that Big East Championship and clinch the automatic bid. Unfortunately, Syracuse and McNamara’s NCAA appearance after that was short-lived. Hampered by a groin injury he did not play the last eight minutes of their loss to Texas A&M.
McNamara will always be remembered for his incredible run of heroics in the 2006 Big East Tournament, but he’ll also be remembered for how he made a mark on the SU record books. Check out where he places on SU’s all-time lists: 4th in scoring, 3rd in assists, 1st in three-point field goals made, 6th in career free throws made, 1st in free throw percentage, and 1st in career minutes played, according to Cuse.com and Orangehoops.org.
In addition, he led Syracuse to four NCAA Tournament appearances, a national championship, and two Big East Tournament Championships. He also gained accolades such as Big East Tournament MVP, All-Big East First Team (twice), All-Big East Third Team (once), NCAA All-Tournament team (2003). To Syracuse fans though he’ll always mean so much more than these accolades and records could ever represent. He continues his legacy to his day at SU by being an assistant head coach to Jim Boeheim. Fairy tale endings don’t get much better than that.