Spring Break
The Daily OrangeOrangemen earn 5th-seed, date with BYU in Denver
By Adam Kilgore
Posted: 3/16/04, 2:13 AM EST Section: Sports
Flanked by Syracuse men's basketball teammates and a slice of pizza in hand, Hakim Warrick watched the team names flash, one by one, on the big-screen television.
Never mind that the Orangemen had seemingly locked up a spot in the tournament with late-season wins over Connecticut and Pittsburgh. Warrick waited with bated breath - not to see when his team's name would come, but if it would pop up at all.
"This year it took a lot longer," Warrick said, comparing this year's viewing of the NCAA Tournament Selection Show to last year's. "I didn't know what was going on. I was just hoping that they didn't miss our name or something and hopefully we weren't going to the NIT. I was a little nervous. It was more relief once I saw the name up there."
Warrick stopped worrying once he saw Syracuse had received a No. 5 seed and will open its national title defense against 12th seeded Brigham Young, which earned an at-large bid from the Mountain West Conference, at the Pepsi Center in Denver.
Should the Orangemen win that game, which tips at 3:10 p.m. on Thursday, they'll advance to face the winner of No. 4 Maryland and No. 13 Texas-El Paso on Saturday.
Syracuse (21-7, 11-6 Big East) is playing in the Phoenix Region of the NCAA Tournament, which changed the way it names regions of the bracket. Instead of distinct regions like East or Midwest, the brackets are named for the city in which each regional will be played.
By any name, SU is happy with its spot in the tournament. Just one month ago, it appeared the Orangemen would be in danger of fighting for a spot in the Big Dance. Instead, despite Warrick's late concern, the Orangemen comfortably fit into the bracket.
"From where we were two or three weeks ago and everything that's happened, we're thrilled to be in the tournament and to get a five seed," Boeheim said. "For a little bit longer, we're going to be the defending national champions. We're not ready to give it up, and I think somebody's going to have to take it away from us."
Never mind that the Orangemen had seemingly locked up a spot in the tournament with late-season wins over Connecticut and Pittsburgh. Warrick waited with bated breath - not to see when his team's name would come, but if it would pop up at all.
"This year it took a lot longer," Warrick said, comparing this year's viewing of the NCAA Tournament Selection Show to last year's. "I didn't know what was going on. I was just hoping that they didn't miss our name or something and hopefully we weren't going to the NIT. I was a little nervous. It was more relief once I saw the name up there."
Warrick stopped worrying once he saw Syracuse had received a No. 5 seed and will open its national title defense against 12th seeded Brigham Young, which earned an at-large bid from the Mountain West Conference, at the Pepsi Center in Denver.
Should the Orangemen win that game, which tips at 3:10 p.m. on Thursday, they'll advance to face the winner of No. 4 Maryland and No. 13 Texas-El Paso on Saturday.
Syracuse (21-7, 11-6 Big East) is playing in the Phoenix Region of the NCAA Tournament, which changed the way it names regions of the bracket. Instead of distinct regions like East or Midwest, the brackets are named for the city in which each regional will be played.
By any name, SU is happy with its spot in the tournament. Just one month ago, it appeared the Orangemen would be in danger of fighting for a spot in the Big Dance. Instead, despite Warrick's late concern, the Orangemen comfortably fit into the bracket.
"From where we were two or three weeks ago and everything that's happened, we're thrilled to be in the tournament and to get a five seed," Boeheim said. "For a little bit longer, we're going to be the defending national champions. We're not ready to give it up, and I think somebody's going to have to take it away from us."
