2008-09 Syracuse Orange men's basketball team
Encyclopedia
The 2008–09 Syracuse Orange men's basketball team represented Syracuse University
in the 2008–09 NCAA Division I men's basketball season
. The Head Coach is Jim Boeheim
, serving for his 33rd year. The team played its home games at the Carrier Dome
in Syracuse, New York
. Key contributors included senior Kristof Ongenaet
, juniors Eric Devendorf
, Arinze Onuaku
, Andy Rautins
and Paul Harris
, sophomores Rick Jackson
and Jonny Flynn
and freshman Kris Joseph
.
, who declared for the 2008 NBA draft
and was taken with the 28th overall pick by the Memphis Grizzlies
. Greene was then traded to the Houston Rockets
and again to the Sacramento Kings
.
Syracuse used Greene's scholarship to add Iowa State transfer Wesley Johnson
. Johnson averaged 12.4 points per game during his sophomore season with the Cyclones, but must sit out the 2008–09 season. Syracuse will also have lacrosse recruit Kevin Drew, a walk-on.
On the injury front, Syracuse returned juniors Eric Devendorf and Andy Rautins. Both had suffered season ending knee injuries in the 2007–08 season and were granted medical redshirts. However, the Orange also learned before the season started that sophomore Scoop Jardine
would be out for entire season after suffering a stress fracture in his left leg.
Although Syracuse was coming off two-straight NIT-bound seasons, and despite not having won an NCAA tournament game in four seasons, many experts picked Syracuse as a solid choice for the NCAA Tournament.
, 89–83. Jonny Flynn and Paul Harris led five SU players in double figures with 18 points each. In the finals on November 25, 2008, Syracuse defeated the defending champions, the No. 22/23 Kansas Jayhawks
, 89–81 in overtime, to capture the CBE Classic
. Jonny Flynn had 25 points, including a 3-pointer with 6.4 seconds left in regulation to send the game to overtime. Flynn was named MVP of the tournament.
But the season would hit a low point on December 15, 2008 when then-No. 11 Syracuse lost to unranked Cleveland State University
72–69 as a result of a 60-foot, buzzer-beating shot by Cleveland State's Cedric Jackson.
Syracuse would add another key non-conference win on December 20, 2008, when then-No. 11 Syracuse won a key away game against national runner-up Memphis
as Syracuse's stifling zone held Memphis to just 7-for-33 shooting from 3-point land. Flynn paced the Orange with 24 points and six assists, as Syracuse was able to deal with the loss of Eric Devendorf
to a suspension after he was accused of hitting a female student on Nov. 1.
Perhaps the biggest game of the season happened on March 12–13, 2009, when then-No. 18 Syracuse and No. 4 Connecticut
played the longest game in Big East history, and second longest in NCAA Division I history, as Syracuse won 127–117 in six overtimes. Flynn set a new Syracuse record by playing 67 minutes.
Syracuse would be named a No. 3 seed for the NCAA Tournament and win games over Stephen F. Austin (59–44) and Arizona State
(78–67) to advance to the Sweet 16. But the Orange would be halted by Blake Griffin
and Oklahoma
in an 84–71 loss. The loss would mark the final game for Devendorf, Flynn and Harris, who all left the team following the season for the professional ranks.
Prior to making the finals, Syracuse's performance featured a conference record six-overtime quarterfinals game (the second longest game in NCAA history) in which they defeated third-seeded Connecticut
127–117. A day later, in the semifinals, the Orange were forced into overtime again, where they defeated West Virginia
74–69 in a single extra session.
Jonny Flynn
was named the tournament's most outstanding player, becoming just the fourth player in Big East Tournament history to win the award as a member of the second-place team.
. The Orange won, 59–44. They faced sixth-seeded Arizona State in the second round, winning 78–67. Their season ended in the South regional semifinals when they lost 84–71 to Oklahoma
.
!colspan=9| Exhibition
|-
!colspan=9| Regular season
|-
!colspan=9| Big East Tournament
|-
!colspan=9| NCAA Tournament
†
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
in the 2008–09 NCAA Division I men's basketball season
2008–09 NCAA Division I men's basketball season
The 2008–09 NCAA Division I men's basketball season began on November 10, 2008 and ended with the 2009 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament's championship game on April 6, 2009 at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. The season saw six different teams achieve the AP #1 ranking during the...
. The Head Coach is Jim Boeheim
Jim Boeheim
James Arthur "Jim" Boeheim is the head coach of the men's basketball team at Syracuse University. Boeheim has guided the Orange to eight Big East regular season championships, five Big East Tournament championships, and 28 NCAA Tournament appearances, including three appearances in the national...
, serving for his 33rd year. The team played its home games at the Carrier Dome
Carrier Dome
The Carrier Dome is a 49,250-seat domed sports stadium located on the campus of Syracuse University in the University Hill neighborhood of Syracuse, New York, USA. It is home to the Syracuse Orange football, basketball, and lacrosse teams. High school football championships are also held in "The...
in Syracuse, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. Key contributors included senior Kristof Ongenaet
Kristof Ongenaet
Kristof Ongenaet is a forward from Ghent, Belgium who is a former player for the Syracuse Orange. He played for Sutor Basket Montegranaro in the Italian based Lega Basket Serie A league.-Team Belgium:...
, juniors Eric Devendorf
Eric Devendorf
Eric Devendorf is an American professional basketball player from Bay City, Michigan who came from Oak Hill Academy and played for the Syracuse University Orange. He currently plays for the Idaho Stampede of the NBA Development League....
, Arinze Onuaku
Arinze Onuaku
Arinze Onuaku is a 6'9", 275lb professional basketball player from Lanham, Maryland who was on the Syracuse Orange basketball team. He went undrafted in the 2010 NBA Draft. He is currently playing with the LKL team, Klaipėdos Neptūnas....
, Andy Rautins
Andy Rautins
Andrew Jay "Andy" Rautins is a , 205 lbs. guard for the New York Knicks of the NBA. He was born in Syracuse, New York. He is a Canadian citizen and played for the Syracuse Orange and Canadian Men's National Basketball team...
and Paul Harris
Paul Harris (basketball)
Paul Harris is an American professional basketball player who recently played for the Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters of the Philippine Basketball Association...
, sophomores Rick Jackson
Rick Jackson
Richard Kadeem Jackson is an American professional basketball forward for Chorale Roanne Basket of the Ligue Nationale de Basketball in France...
and Jonny Flynn
Jonny Flynn
Jonny William Flynn is an American professional basketball player for the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association...
and freshman Kris Joseph
Kris Joseph
Kris Joseph is a Canadian basketball player who currently plays for the Syracuse Orange men's basketball team. Kris is the brother of University of Vermont Catamounts' basketball player, Maurice Joseph.- High school :...
.
Roster changes
Syracuse lost its leading scorer from the previous season, forward Donte GreeneDonté Greene
Donté Dominic Greene is an American professional basketball player for the Sacramento Kings of the NBA...
, who declared for the 2008 NBA draft
2008 NBA Draft
The 2008 NBA Draft was held on June 26, 2008 at the Washington Mutual Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur college basketball players and other first-time eligible players, including...
and was taken with the 28th overall pick by the Memphis Grizzlies
Memphis Grizzlies
The Memphis Grizzlies are a professional basketball team based in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. The team is part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Along with the Toronto Raptors, the Grizzlies were established in 1995 as part of the NBA's...
. Greene was then traded to the Houston Rockets
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being...
and again to the Sacramento Kings
Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, United States. They are currently members of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
.
Syracuse used Greene's scholarship to add Iowa State transfer Wesley Johnson
Wesley Johnson (basketball)
Wesley JaMarr Johnson is an American basketball player for the Minnesota Timberwolves. He played college basketball at Syracuse and Iowa State...
. Johnson averaged 12.4 points per game during his sophomore season with the Cyclones, but must sit out the 2008–09 season. Syracuse will also have lacrosse recruit Kevin Drew, a walk-on.
On the injury front, Syracuse returned juniors Eric Devendorf and Andy Rautins. Both had suffered season ending knee injuries in the 2007–08 season and were granted medical redshirts. However, the Orange also learned before the season started that sophomore Scoop Jardine
Antonio Jardine
Antonio "Scoop" Jardine" is a 6'1", 170 lbs. guard from Philadelphia, PA who plays for the Syracuse Orange.-High school:At Neumann-Goretti High School, Jardine was the teammate of former SU player Rick Jackson....
would be out for entire season after suffering a stress fracture in his left leg.
Recruiting
Coach Boeheim was able to sign three recruits for the 2008–09 season: Kris Joseph, Mookie Jones and James Southerland. However, Southerland did not qualify with his SAT score to attend Syracuse, and returned to Notre Dame Preparatory Academy for an additional season of play.Preseason outlook
With returning co-Big East Rookie of The Year Jonny Flynn, the Orange was picked to finish eighth in the Big East conference by the Big East coach's poll. Flynn was also a first-team all-Big East selection. Syracuse began the season ranked No. 30 in the Associated Press poll and No. 31 in the ESPN/USA Today poll.Although Syracuse was coming off two-straight NIT-bound seasons, and despite not having won an NCAA tournament game in four seasons, many experts picked Syracuse as a solid choice for the NCAA Tournament.
Players
| Syracuse Basketball 2008–09 Roster |
||||
| F/C | 0 | Rick Jackson Rick Jackson Richard Kadeem Jackson is an American professional basketball forward for Chorale Roanne Basket of the Ligue Nationale de Basketball in France... |
SO | Philadelphia, PA (Neumann-Goretti) |
| G | 1 | Andy Rautins Andy Rautins Andrew Jay "Andy" Rautins is a , 205 lbs. guard for the New York Knicks of the NBA. He was born in Syracuse, New York. He is a Canadian citizen and played for the Syracuse Orange and Canadian Men's National Basketball team... |
JR | Jamesville, NY Jamesville, New York Jamesville is a hamlet in De Witt, Onondaga County, New York, United States, part of the greater Syracuse area.The history of the community is documented in the book Water, Wheels and Stone: Heritage of the Little Village by the Creek, Jamesville, New York, written by Jean Schutz Keough, and... (Jamesville-Dewitt) |
| G | 2 | Justin Thomas | SR | Los Angeles, CA Los Ángeles Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants... (Loyola) |
| F | 3 | Mookie Jones Mookie Jones Mookie Jones is a 6'6", 190 lbs. forward who plays for the Syracuse Orange.-High school:In his senior season at Peekskill High School, Jones averaged 17.1 points per game and was named to the 2008 First-Team Journal News Westchester/Putnam All-Star team. The New York State Sportswriters... |
FR | Peekskill, NY Peekskill, New York Peekskill is a city in Westchester County, New York. It is situated on a bay along the east side of the Hudson River, across from Jones Point.This community was known to be an early American industrial center, primarily for its iron plow and stove products... (Peekskill) |
| F | 4 | Wesley Johnson Wesley Johnson (basketball) Wesley JaMarr Johnson is an American basketball player for the Minnesota Timberwolves. He played college basketball at Syracuse and Iowa State... |
JR | Corsicana, TX Corsicana, Texas Corsicana is a city in Navarro County, Texas, United States. It is located on Interstate 45 some fifty-five miles south of downtown Dallas. The population was 24,485 at the 2000 census... Corsicana/(Patterson School (NC)/Eldon Acad.) |
| G | 5 | Jake Presutti | SR | Belmont, NY Belmont, New York Belmont is a village within the Town of Amity which is in Allegany County, New York, USA. Belmont is the county seat of Allegany County. The population was 952 at the 2000 census. The name means beautiful hill.... (Genesee Valley) |
| G | 10 | Jonny Flynn Jonny Flynn Jonny William Flynn is an American professional basketball player for the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association... |
SO | Niagara, NY Niagara, New York Niagara is a town in Niagara County, New York, United States. As of the 2010 census, the town had a total population of 8,378. The town is named after the famous waterfall Niagara Falls.... (Niagara Falls) |
| G/F | 11 | Paul Harris Paul Harris (basketball) Paul Harris is an American professional basketball player who recently played for the Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters of the Philippine Basketball Association... |
JR | Niagara Falls, NY Niagara Falls, New York Niagara Falls is a city in Niagara County, New York, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 50,193, down from the 55,593 recorded in the 2000 census. It is across the Niagara River from Niagara Falls, Ontario , both named after the famed Niagara Falls which they... (Notre Dame Prep) |
| F | 12 | Kristof Ongenaet Kristof Ongenaet Kristof Ongenaet is a forward from Ghent, Belgium who is a former player for the Syracuse Orange. He played for Sutor Basket Montegranaro in the Italian based Lega Basket Serie A league.-Team Belgium:... |
SR | Ghent Ghent Ghent is a city and a municipality located in the Flemish region of Belgium. It is the capital and biggest city of the East Flanders province. The city started as a settlement at the confluence of the Rivers Scheldt and Lys and in the Middle Ages became one of the largest and richest cities of... , Belgium Belgium Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many... (College Melle/Cuesta C.C.) |
| C | 21 | Arinze Onuaku Arinze Onuaku Arinze Onuaku is a 6'9", 275lb professional basketball player from Lanham, Maryland who was on the Syracuse Orange basketball team. He went undrafted in the 2010 NBA Draft. He is currently playing with the LKL team, Klaipėdos Neptūnas.... |
JR | Lanham, MD Lanham, Maryland Lanham is an unincorporated community in Prince George's County in the State of Maryland in the United States of America. Because it is not formally incorporated, it has no official boundaries, but the United States Census Bureau has defined a census-designated place consisting of Lanham and the... (Epsicopal) |
| G | 23 | Eric Devendorf Eric Devendorf Eric Devendorf is an American professional basketball player from Bay City, Michigan who came from Oak Hill Academy and played for the Syracuse University Orange. He currently plays for the Idaho Stampede of the NBA Development League.... |
JR | Bay City, MI Bay City, Michigan Bay City is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan located near the base of the Saginaw Bay on Lake Huron. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 34,932, and is the principal city of the Bay City Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Saginaw-Bay City-Saginaw Township North... (Oak Hill Academy) |
| G | 24 | Brandon Reese | FR | Davie, FL Davie, Florida Davie is a town in Broward County, Florida, United States. The town's population was 91,992 at the 2010 census.- History :Davie was founded by Jake Tannebaum and Tamara Toussaint. The original name of the town was Zona. In 1909 R.P. Davie assisted then Governor Broward by draining the swamplands... (Pinehurst) |
| G | 25 | Kevin Drew | FR | South Salem, NY South Salem, New York South Salem is a hamlet in Lewisboro, Westchester County, New York. The county ranks second for wealthiest counties in New York State and the seventh wealthiest county nationally. In the town center is a post office, the town hall, a library and a recycling center.Notable residents have included... (John Jay Cross River) |
| F | 32 | Kris Joseph Kris Joseph Kris Joseph is a Canadian basketball player who currently plays for the Syracuse Orange men's basketball team. Kris is the brother of University of Vermont Catamounts' basketball player, Maurice Joseph.- High school :... |
FR | Washington, DC Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution.... (Archbishop Carroll) |
| G | 33 | Scoop Jardine Antonio Jardine Antonio "Scoop" Jardine" is a 6'1", 170 lbs. guard from Philadelphia, PA who plays for the Syracuse Orange.-High school:At Neumann-Goretti High School, Jardine was the teammate of former SU player Rick Jackson.... |
SO | Philadelphia, PA (Neumann-Goretti) |
| C | 45 | Sean Williams | FR | Villa Park, CA Villa Park, California Villa Park is a city in northern Orange County, California, near and surrounded by the City of Orange, and close to Anaheim Hills, that incorporated in 1962. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a population of 5,812, down from 5,999 at the 2000 census, achieving the status of the smallest city in... (Notre Dame Prep) |
Coaches
| Name | Position | Year at Syracuse | Alma Mater Alma mater Alma mater , pronounced ), was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele, and in Christianity for the Virgin Mary.-General term:... (Year) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jim Boeheim Jim Boeheim James Arthur "Jim" Boeheim is the head coach of the men's basketball team at Syracuse University. Boeheim has guided the Orange to eight Big East regular season championships, five Big East Tournament championships, and 28 NCAA Tournament appearances, including three appearances in the national... |
Head coach | 33rd | Syracuse Syracuse University Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College... (1966) |
| Bernie Fine Bernie Fine Bernie Fine is a former associate head basketball coach for the Syracuse Orange men's basketball team.-Early coaching career:... |
Associate head coach | 33rd | Syracuse Syracuse University Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College... (1967) |
| Mike Hopkins Mike Hopkins (basketball) Mike Hopkins is an American former college basketball player and current assistant coach for the Syracuse Orange from Laguna Hills, California. The 6-foot-5 Hopkins was a fan favorite, known for his all-out hustle and general scrappy play.-High school:... |
Assistant coach | 13th | Syracuse Syracuse University Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College... (1993) |
| Rob Murphy Rob Murphy (basketball) Rob Murphy is a head coach for the Eastern Michigan Eagles who has been with Eastern Michigan since the spring of 2011.-College:Murphy played on Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio from 1992–96 and was a two-time team captain for the NAIA program... |
Assistant coach | 5th | Central State Central State University Central State University, commonly referred to as "C-State", is a historically black university located in Wilberforce, Ohio, United States. It is the only public HBCU in Ohio.-History:... (1996) |
Season Recap
Syracuse started the season strong, winning the CBE Classic. In the semifinals on November 24, 2008, the Orange topped No. 17/18 FloridaFlorida Gators
The Florida Gators are the intercollegiate sports teams that represent the University of Florida located in Gainesville, Florida. The "Lady Gators" is an alternative nickname sometimes used by the Gators women's teams...
, 89–83. Jonny Flynn and Paul Harris led five SU players in double figures with 18 points each. In the finals on November 25, 2008, Syracuse defeated the defending champions, the No. 22/23 Kansas Jayhawks
Kansas Jayhawks
The sports teams at the University of Kansas are known as the Jayhawks. They are one of three schools in the state of Kansas that participate in NCAA Division I. The Jayhawks are also a member of the Big 12 Conference...
, 89–81 in overtime, to capture the CBE Classic
College Basketball Experience Classic
The College Basketball Experience Classic is an annual season-opening college basketball tournament founded in 2001. The tournament is currently sponsored by Progressive and is held in mid-November...
. Jonny Flynn had 25 points, including a 3-pointer with 6.4 seconds left in regulation to send the game to overtime. Flynn was named MVP of the tournament.
But the season would hit a low point on December 15, 2008 when then-No. 11 Syracuse lost to unranked Cleveland State University
Cleveland State University
Cleveland State University is a public university located in downtown Cleveland, Ohio. It was established in 1964 when the state of Ohio assumed control of Fenn College, and it absorbed the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law in 1969...
72–69 as a result of a 60-foot, buzzer-beating shot by Cleveland State's Cedric Jackson.
Syracuse would add another key non-conference win on December 20, 2008, when then-No. 11 Syracuse won a key away game against national runner-up Memphis
Memphis Tigers
The Memphis Tigers represent the University of Memphis in Division I of the NCAA. They are members of C-USA and currently feature nine women's sports and nine men's sports...
as Syracuse's stifling zone held Memphis to just 7-for-33 shooting from 3-point land. Flynn paced the Orange with 24 points and six assists, as Syracuse was able to deal with the loss of Eric Devendorf
Eric Devendorf
Eric Devendorf is an American professional basketball player from Bay City, Michigan who came from Oak Hill Academy and played for the Syracuse University Orange. He currently plays for the Idaho Stampede of the NBA Development League....
to a suspension after he was accused of hitting a female student on Nov. 1.
Perhaps the biggest game of the season happened on March 12–13, 2009, when then-No. 18 Syracuse and No. 4 Connecticut
Connecticut Huskies
The Connecticut Huskies, also known as the UConn Huskies, are the athletic teams of the University of Connecticut in the United States. The school is a member of National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I and the Big East Conference for all sports except Men's Ice Hockey and Women's Ice...
played the longest game in Big East history, and second longest in NCAA Division I history, as Syracuse won 127–117 in six overtimes. Flynn set a new Syracuse record by playing 67 minutes.
Syracuse would be named a No. 3 seed for the NCAA Tournament and win games over Stephen F. Austin (59–44) and Arizona State
Arizona State University
Arizona State University is a public research university located in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area of the State of Arizona...
(78–67) to advance to the Sweet 16. But the Orange would be halted by Blake Griffin
Blake Griffin
Blake Austin Griffin is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association . Griffin had a renowned high school career at Oklahoma Christian School, winning state titles each of his four years under his father, Tommy Griffin, who was the...
and Oklahoma
Oklahoma Sooners
The University of Oklahoma features 19 varsity sports teams. Both men's and women's teams are called the Sooners, a nickname given to the early participants in the land rushes which initially opened the Oklahoma Indian Territory to non-native settlement. They participate in the NCAA's Division I-A,...
in an 84–71 loss. The loss would mark the final game for Devendorf, Flynn and Harris, who all left the team following the season for the professional ranks.
Final Conference Standings
| 2008–09 Big East Final Standings | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seed | Team | Conf. Record (Overall) | Seed | Team | Conf. Record (Overall) |
||
| 1 | #5 Louisville | 16–2 (25–5) | 9 | Cincinnati University of Cincinnati The University of Cincinnati is a comprehensive public research university in Cincinnati, Ohio, and a part of the University System of Ohio.... |
8–10 (18–13) | ||
| 2 | #2 Pittsburgh | 15–3 (28–3) | 10 | Notre Dame | 8–10 (17–13) | ||
| 3 | #3 Connecticut Connecticut Huskies men's basketball The Connecticut Huskies is the name of the men's college basketball team representing the University of Connecticut, in Storrs, Connecticut, USA. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I, and the team competes in the Big East Conference... |
15–3 (27–3) | 11 | Seton Hall Seton Hall Pirates men's basketball The Seton Hall Pirates men's basketball program is the NCAA Division I intercollegiate men's basketball program of Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey... |
7–11 (16–14) | ||
| 4 | #10 Villanova 2008–09 Villanova Wildcats men's basketball team The Villanova Wildcats had a 22–13 record in the 2008 season. Their season resulted in a trip to the Final Four, with their last second win over the Pittsburgh Panthers in the Elite 8.For the 2008–09 season, Villanova returned all but one from their entire roster that made it to the Sweet 16 of... |
13–5 (25–6) | 12 | Georgetown | 7–11 (16–13) | ||
| 5 | #21 Marquette Marquette Golden Eagles men's basketball The Marquette Golden Eagles Basketball team is the basketball team that represents Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The school's 1977 team, coached by Al McGuire, won the NCAA championship. Currently the team competes in the Big East Conference. It last played in the NCAA Division I... |
12–6 (23–8) | 13 | St. John's St. John's Red Storm men's basketball The St. John's Red Storm men's basketball team represents the St. John's University in Queens, New York. The team participates in the Big East Conference. The men’s coach Norm Roberts was fired on March 19, 2010... |
6–12 (15–16) | ||
| 6 | #18 Syracuse 2008-09 Syracuse Orange men's basketball team The 2008–09 Syracuse Orange men's basketball team represented Syracuse University in the 2008–09 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Head Coach is Jim Boeheim, serving for his 33rd year. The team played its home games at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, New York... |
11–7 (23–8) | 14 | South Florida South Florida Bulls The South Florida Bulls are the athletic teams for the University of South Florida. The university competes in NCAA Division I, USF is a member of the Big East Conference, and has been since 2005... |
4–14 (9–21) | ||
| 7 | West Virginia | 10–8 (21–10) | 15 | Rutgers | 2–16 (11–20) | ||
| 8 | Providence Providence College Providence College is a private, coeducational, Catholic university located about two miles west of downtown Providence, Rhode Island, United States, the state's capital city. With a 2010–2011 enrollment of 3,850 undergraduate students and 735 graduate students, the College specializes in academic... |
10–8 (18–12) | 16 | DePaul DePaul Blue Demons men's basketball The DePaul Blue Demons Men's Basketball program is the NCAA Division I intercollegiate men's basketball program of DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois... |
0–18 (8–23) | ||
Big East Tournament
Syracuse was seeded sixth and received a bye in the first round. They reached the finals of the 2009 tournament, where they were defeated by the first-seeded Louisville Cardinals, 76–66. It was their fourteenth time making the Big East Tournament Finals, the most for any team in the conference.Prior to making the finals, Syracuse's performance featured a conference record six-overtime quarterfinals game (the second longest game in NCAA history) in which they defeated third-seeded Connecticut
Connecticut Huskies men's basketball
The Connecticut Huskies is the name of the men's college basketball team representing the University of Connecticut, in Storrs, Connecticut, USA. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I, and the team competes in the Big East Conference...
127–117. A day later, in the semifinals, the Orange were forced into overtime again, where they defeated West Virginia
2008–09 West Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball team
The 2008–09 West Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball team represents West Virginia University in the 2008-09 NCAA Division I men's basketball season...
74–69 in a single extra session.
Jonny Flynn
Jonny Flynn
Jonny William Flynn is an American professional basketball player for the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association...
was named the tournament's most outstanding player, becoming just the fourth player in Big East Tournament history to win the award as a member of the second-place team.
NCAA Tournament
The Orange were seeded third in the South Region, and played fourteenth-seeded Stephen F. Austin on Friday, March 20 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, FloridaMiami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
. The Orange won, 59–44. They faced sixth-seeded Arizona State in the second round, winning 78–67. Their season ended in the South regional semifinals when they lost 84–71 to Oklahoma
2008–09 Oklahoma Sooners men's basketball team
The 2008–09 Oklahoma Sooners men's basketball team represented the University of Oklahoma in the 2008–09 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The head coach is Jeff Capel, who was in his third year with the team...
.
Schedule
|-!colspan=9| Exhibition
|-
!colspan=9| Regular season
|-
!colspan=9| Big East Tournament
2009 Big East Men's Basketball Tournament
- Championship Game :- Syracuse vs. Connecticut :The quarterfinal game on Thursday, March 12 between Syracuse and Connecticut lasted for six overtime periods, the second-longest game in NCAA Division I Men's Basketball history...
|-
!colspan=9| NCAA Tournament
2009 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The first and second round games were played at the following sites:First and Second Rounds: Thursday and Saturday, March 19 and 21, 2009-Qualifying teams:-Brackets:Results to date * – Denotes overtime periodAll times in U.S. EDT....
†
Rankings
| Poll | Pre | Wk 1 | Wk 2 | Wk 3 | Wk 4 | Wk 5 | Wk 6 | Wk 7 | Wk 8 | Wk 9 | Wk 10 | Wk 11 | Wk 12 | Wk 13 | Wk 14 | Wk 15 | Wk 16 | Wk 17 | Wk 18 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP | 30 | 30 | 27 | 16 | 13 | 11 | 17 | 13 | 11 | 8 | 8 | 15 | 20 | 23 | 24 | 28 | 25 | 18 | 13 | 13 |
| Coaches | 31 | 31 | 32 | 20 | 16 | 11 | 14 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 15 | 20 | 22 | 25 | 29 | 25 | 20 | 15 | 12 |
See also
- Syracuse Orange men's basketballSyracuse Orange men's basketballThe Syracuse Orange men's basketball program is the intercollegiate men's basketball team representing Syracuse University. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I, and the team competes in the Big East Conference...
- 2008-09 NCAA Division I men's basketball season
- 2009 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament2009 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball TournamentThe first and second round games were played at the following sites:First and Second Rounds: Thursday and Saturday, March 19 and 21, 2009-Qualifying teams:-Brackets:Results to date * – Denotes overtime periodAll times in U.S. EDT....
- 2008-09 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings