Syracuse Basketball: Top 3 most exciting on fast break in Jim Boeheim era

3. Dion Waiters, 2010-12.

With so many exciting players to choose from in the Boeheim era, Dion could be looked at as a surprise selection. After all, he never started a game for the Orange.

But Waiters’ Syracuse career was sort of like a fast break of its own: Exciting, a little unpredictable and over quickly with a slam dunk.

The 2011-12 Syracuse Orange campaign, with Waiters as the overqualified sixth man in his sophomore year, may have been the best team in the Boeheim era. Waiters was the squad’s best offensive player and the team compiled a 34-3 record, was ranked No. 2 in the country, and would have probably gone undefeated and won the national championship if not for the controversy surrounding center Fab Melo’s eligibility.

One of that special team’s calling cards was its electric, perfectly run, fast break. One reason for it was the steals the 2-3 created (and Dion lead the team with 67 thefts). Slashing players like Scoop Jardine, Brandon Triche, Kris Joseph, James Southerland and bigs Rakeem Christmas and Melo, moved as one towards the basket. And Dion was the most feared of all on that break. Most teams simply got out of his way.

Today, none of the 34 wins from that season “count” on Boeheim’s official NCAA record, one of the great travesties in sports. But you can’t wipe out what happened.

Waiters declared himself eligible for the NBA draft and was selected No. 4 overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers. Remarkable when you think of the fact he never started a game at Syracuse.

One thing is for sure, since 1976 Jim Boeheim has had a lot of exciting players in the fast break. But no one better combined Dion’s speed, power and confidence in the open court.

Next time, Part 4: My top 3 games in Carrier Dome history.