Syracuse Basketball: Top 3 games at the Carrier Dome

Our hoops guru takes us on a journey through his top Syracuse basketball home games inside the Dome.

Leading up to the 2021-22 Syracuse basketball campaign, it’s a good time for a 10-part series highlighting the best of the Boeheim era (1976-present).

I’ll give my takes, ranking the “Top 3” in many categories, from best free throw shooters to most exciting on a fast break. From top games in the Dome, to top games in the NCAA tourney and everything in between.

I was 7-years-old in 1976 when Jim Boeheim became head coach, and if I haven’t watched (or listened on the radio) intently to every single Syracuse basketball game since then, then it’s close to 98%.

Statistical facts in each Top 3 are fueled by the awesome OrangeHoops.org web site.

Part 1: Top 3 Triple Doubles.

Part 2: Top 3 Free Throw Shooters.

Part 3: Top 3 Most Exciting on Fast Break.

Today, Part 4: My Top 3 Games in the Carrier Dome.

There is nothing like the Carrier Dome as a home court in college basketball. In 1980 it opened to host multiple sports (primarily football and basketball), and has set hoops attendance records along the way (30,000 or more fans have attended games 84 times now).

Still, the Syracuse basketball team moved into the Dome in the wake of barely ever losing for most of the 70s at Manley Field House, its previous home court that couldn’t even squeeze in 10,000. Jim Boeheim at the time was against the idea of moving into a football stadium, when he’d built such a great advantage in the friendly confines of Manley.

Thankfully though, the curtain went up at the 50-yard line at the Dome (and then eventually came down so even more could see) and the move has been spectacular. From a list too long of great Orange games the past 40 years flooding all of our memories and defining one of the most storied programs in the sport, here is my Top 3: