Just like that, we thought watching the scene, 34 years in the Big East, 31 years of tournament games at Madison Square Garden was officially over, and we’ve been part, in some way shape or form, of everyone one of them, but it’s ended.
A complete and total meltdown is the easiest way to describe what happened on Saturday night in the Big East Tournament championship game at Madison Square Garden in New York.
Despite Syracuse playing its worst half of basketball in four days, head coach Jim Boeheim still left New York (for the final time) pleased with his team.
Less than eight minutes later, the Cardinals turned that 16 point deficit into a 56-48 lead, thanks to a 27-3 run and a mercilessly attacking full court press. Louisville would go on to a 78-61 win, their third Big East title since 2009.
The Louisville pressure has frustrated opposing offenses all season. It does something very unique by hand checking and bumping with the body consistently down the court.
Syracuse played Louisville in the finals of the Big East tournament at Madison Square Garden. It was Syracuse’s final game as a member of the Big East.