On the surface, a 5-2 record looks good. The Orange have had quality, consecutive wins over Virginia, St. John’s and Johns Hopkins, but it’s also had frustrating losses—the season opener at home against Albany and this past Saturday at Villanova.
Jim Nantz forecast a possible Indiana-Syracuse matchup, and the immediate comment about a Sweet 16 matchup between the teams that met for the 1987 NCAA title.
The Orange made only six field goals in the second half, including going through a drought where they did not make a basket for over 12 minutes, and still never led by fewer than six points as they held on for a 66-60 victory to advance to the Sweet Sixteen.
Syracuse got an early lead and never lost it during its 66-60 win over the California Golden Bears Saturday night. The Oregon jumped out to an 11-2 lead and held the Golden Bears to 39 percent shooting. CJ Fair led the Orange with 18 points and James Southerland chipped in 14 points.
Allen Crabbe could not have had a worse night. The reigning Pac 12 player of the year had a critical turnover with 1:44 left when he stepped out of bounds, and was just 3-8 from the field for 8 points.
Syracuse may be wearing their home white uniforms when they play Cal on Saturday night in the third round of the NCAA tournament, but they will only be the home team by name.
Brandon Triche scored 20 points, C.J. Fair added 13 and the fourth-seeded Orange shut down No. 13 seed Montana with their zone defense in an 81-34 victory in the second round Thursday night.
It did not take long for Syracuse to make quick work of the Montana Grizzlies. The Orange got 20 points from Brandon Triche and rolled to an 81-34 win. With the victory, Syracuse advanced to the third round and will play California on Saturday in San Jose, Calif.