March 17, 2006
unhappy ending
If this were a movie script, the writer would be fired immediately upon its submission. Then, after terminating the author, the studio responsible for producing the film would make the pre-game training montage longer, cut the feature to 88 minutes instead of the original 118, and end it on a high note with some smiles and a trophy in Madison Square Garden - just the way we like it.
This was not how it was supposed to go, even for Cuse fans who watched this game with a certain amount of caution, knowing just how frustrating the Aggies can be when they're at they're best. The Orange were supposed to go out in style - perhaps in a thrilling overtime loss to Duke or even a last-second nail-biter against Texas. A second first round defeat in two years, though? Maybe that was somewhat foreseeable, however unpleasant to the audience. A first round loss in which the team's clutch player is completely unable to perform? Unthinkable. Utterly impossible to cope with effectively.
The last thing I was prepared for in this game was Gerry McNamara's stat line: 23 minutes, 2 pts on 0% FG, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 rebound, 3 turnovers. McNamazing just didn't have it tonight, whether it was a bum leg or bird flu - he simply couldn't lead his team in the manner in which we are accustomed to.
During the post-game press conference - while desperately restraining himself from jumping the press table and strangling every reporter dumb enough to ask the same "disappointment" and "injury" questions three times over - Gerry was a player who had just seen his worst case scenario come true. He had finally encountered a game in which he believed he'd done more harm than good for his teammates, and no amount of reassurance or reminders of past heroics were going to make him feel any better. McNamara wanted nothing to do with post-game questions or analysis - if anything, he wanted more time on the clock. He left his last collegiate players' press conference angry and despondent. Even in defeat, Gerry's heart got the best of him.
Although G-Mac and Boeheim refused to talk about anything that happened before tonight, (with exception to Boeheim skillfully summarizing his star player's exceptional career in a few sentences, forcing the tunnel-thinking reporters to find a new line of questioning) it should be noted that this team need not be remembered for another early exit. These 2005-06 Syracuse Orange should be celebrated as Champions. Sure, the NCAA Tournament is the annual measuring stick against which all programs are evaluated, but these players wouldn't even have had the chance to play this evening without the most memorable four days in all of basketball this season.
It's been said a million times, but it really can't be stressed enough: the Syracuse Orange basketball team would have been left to the National Invitational Tournament committe members if not for some serious drama and excitement last weekend. Just eight days ago, it was considered common knowledge that the Cuse had just finished a sub-par season and Gerry McNamara's best days were well behind him. Barring any miracles, the Orange were going to play another game or two in the Carrier Dome, sporting a couple nifty-lookin' NIT banners on the scorer's table. Then, to the dismay of each and every professional analyst, this team proved that they were capable of beating the top programs in the country, doing it on a big stage when it mattered most.
Unfortunately for the team, (and us) they just couldn't keep their momentum. At this point, though, we can still look back and realize just how special that four-game run really was. Cincinnati. Connecticut. Georgetown. Pittsburgh. I'd be willing to bet your life savings that this year's NCAA Champion won't see a four game stretch that difficult, let alone having to do it on consecutive days (the Huskies can't play themselves, you see). These 2006 Orangemen captivated every single basketball fan in the nation and their best player will always be remembered for doing so, whether he likes it or not.
Winning back-to-back Big East Tournament championships is something to be proud of, and an accomplishment that this team will be able to build upon next year. There isn't a program yet that's won three in a row, and the Cuse looks to me like they might have the talent and experience to pull it off - the first true Big East Dynasty. All in all, this team had a highly successful season - their only true disappointment comes in the form of one departing senior. The problem is, that particular detachment is the loss that hurts the most.
Comments:
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Well put.
As a matter of my own personal preferences, this is how I rank achievements for the Syracuse baskeball season, in terms of importance:
1) National Championship
2) National Runner Up
3) Final Four
4) Big East Tournament Championship
5) Elite Eight
6) Sweet Sixteen
7) NCAA Appearance
The first three are no brainers. I put the BET Championship next because you have accomplished something, and frankly, you'll remember it.
Elite Eights? They come and go, and nobody remembers... basically you fall short of reaching an impressive accomplishment, the Final Four.
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As a matter of my own personal preferences, this is how I rank achievements for the Syracuse baskeball season, in terms of importance:
1) National Championship
2) National Runner Up
3) Final Four
4) Big East Tournament Championship
5) Elite Eight
6) Sweet Sixteen
7) NCAA Appearance
The first three are no brainers. I put the BET Championship next because you have accomplished something, and frankly, you'll remember it.
Elite Eights? They come and go, and nobody remembers... basically you fall short of reaching an impressive accomplishment, the Final Four.
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