March is Here!
Some slogans, ad campaigns, and catchphrases just get old. I’ve always thought March Madness would be one of those things. Great advertising tool and apt name for a time of the year every sports fan can get into, but it’s so omni-present this time of year from everything from sports shows to used car ads. Every year though, it proves true, and every year something happens that is so out of the ordinary that “madness” takes on a unique meaning. This year, it happened early in the season.
Putting aside the fact that teams like Kansas, Clemson, Pitt, and Oklahoma took early exits last night in their conference tournaments, there was one game that was truly historic. Syracuse and Uconn played one of the best college basketball games I have ever seen. It took six overtimes and six times as many big shots to decide this one, with the Orange coming out on top.
Uconn was down seven with four minutes left and down two when Kemba Walker scored to tie with 1.1 on the clock. Then Devendorf hit a shot that would have made this game amazing by itself. A prayer of a pass ended up with Devenforf hitting a three, but he released it about .01 too late and it went to overtime. Six times.
Syracuse fell behind in each of the first five overtimes, but thanks to great play from Johnny Flynn and excellent free throw shooting, they always managed to come back. Then in the sixth overtime they ran away with it to win by 10.
What is it with Syracuse in the Big East Tournament? They should try and play their home games in the Garden; Knicks fans would love it. For the Orange to suffer the devastating reversal at the end of regulation, then come back like that in the first five overtimes was amazing.
What does all of this action today do to the one seeds? You have to think North Carolina is a lock, and it’s hard to see the Big East getting three with Uconn and Pitt losing tonight. Oklahoma may have played their way out of a one seed with a loss to Oklahoma State. I guess that means Michigan State has a good shot if they can win the Big Ten Tournament. Anyway, it was an amazing night, and we’re just getting started!
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Comment from Player to be named later
Time March 13, 2009 at 12:31 pm
Worst 6th OT ever.