Syracuse makes improbable run into Final Four

It is finally here; the Final Four. Collegiate basketball teams across the nation have been competing the entire month of March in the annual NCAA tournament, better known as “March Madness.” The madness comes from all the upset victories by lower seeds. This year has seen 13 lower seeded teams and 19 higher seeded teams win first round games. Among the lower seeded teams that won in the Syracuse Orange, who have continued and improbable run and advanced to the Final Four. The confidence felt by Syracuse is at an all time high for the season and there is nothing that will stop them.

The No. 10 Orangemen started off their tournament run with a 19 point win over the No. 7 Dayton Flyers. Up next they expected to be playing the No. 2 Michigan State Spartans led by senior, Denzel Valentine. To the nations surprise the No. 15 Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders upset the Spartans to advance into the second round and play the Orangemen. Syracuse ended the Blue Raiders cinderella story in the round of 32 with 25 point victory advancing into the Sweet 16. Next up for Syracuse was the No. 11 Gonzaga Bulldogs who were also in the headlines with their impressive and unexpected victories over No. 6 Seton Hall and No. 3 Utah.

They know what to expect and they have tons of confidence coming into this game. They just defeated an impressive Virginia team who defeated the Tar Heels earlier in the season. Syracuse has a stout 2-3 defense under coach Jim Boeheim and has confidence in Richardson to carry his offense into the next game. –Phillip Christopher

In the Sweet 16 matchup against Gonzaga things were not looking up for the Orangemen as they found themselves down by 11 points halfway through the first half. They clawed their way back into the game and only trailed by one point at halftime. Despite keeping it close in the first half they were down late in the second half with about six minutes by nine. With about 30 seconds left Michael Gbinije had the ball in his hands as the Orangemen were down by one.

Gbinije took a shot, missed, grabbed his own rebound, and put it in with 21 seconds left. Gonzaga had one last chance and had an open shot until Tyler Lydon came out of no where and blocked the shot securing the victory for Syracuse. The Orangemen advanced to the Elite 8 to play the No. 1 seed, the Virginia Cavaliers.

Once again in this game the Orangemen found themselves down by more than 10 points in the first half. In the second half Syracuse was down by 16 but found offense from freshman, Malachi Richardson. Richardson had 3 three pointers and scored 23 points as they went on a 29-8 run to defeat the Cavaliers. The last time the Orangemen went to the Final Four was in 2013.

Next up for the Orange is the No. 1 seed in the East, the North Carolina Tar Heels. The Tar Heels have a long history of winning championships and dominating teams but this year that will not be the case. The Orangemen are in the ACC with the Tar Heels and have squared off before this season. They know what to expect and they have tons of confidence coming into this game. They just defeated an impressive Virginia team who defeated the Tar Heels earlier in the season.

Syracuse has a stout 2-3 defense under coach Jim Boeheim and has confidence in Richardson to carry his offense into the next game. Syracuse also knows how to finish games. They outscored Dayton 40-23 and Middle Tennessee State 44-23 in the second half. In the next two games they were down by double digits and were able to stay calm and get themselves back into the game. This Syracuse team will not go away easily.

Another reason to have confidence in the Orange’s ability to be cutting down the nets in Houston is that this is the first time in school history that the men’s and women’s teams have both made it to the Final Four. So its all the more reason that they have to win it. Be sure to watch the semi-final game against the North Carolina Tar Heels on April 2 right after the first game between No. 2 Villanova and No. 2 Oklahoma at 3 p.m.

For the last edition of World of Sports, read World of Sports: March Madness brackets revealed.

This writer can be reached via Twitter: @Phillip11499 and via email: Phillip Christopher