Spring Break
The Daily OrangeMBB | Going Dancin': SU upsets No. 9 Georgetown to likely seal NCAA Tournament bid
By Mark Medina
Posted: 2/27/07, 12:19 AM EST Section: Sports
After Devendorf and Georgetown guard Jonathan Wallace traded technical fouls, Rautins nailed another 3-pointer. Nichols took his turn with a dynamic shot that seems to be falling as of late, as evidenced by his game-winning shot against Providence on Saturday and his 37-point effort against St. John's on Feb. 11.
Rautins looked for an open shot in the right corner but couldn't find it. He passed to Devendorf, who looked for a shot up top but met a double team. Devendorf passed to Nichols in the left corner out of desperation. With four seconds left on the shot clock, Nichols hit an off-balance 3-pointer with the hands of GU guard Jessie Sapp in his face.
On the next possession, Darryl Watkins beat Roy Hibbert to the basket for a 61-46 lead with 5:27 left. SU wouldn't let the momentum or the lead outs of its hands from there.
"All I knew was the time was going down," Nichols said of his shot. "I wanted to at least hit the rim. It went all in. It was a great feeling. I was thinking about making the bucket but I had a small chance because I was off balance. I held my follow through and it went in."
Even though Syracuse limited Georgetown's production by holding Jeff Green and Hibbert to nine and six points, respectively, the Hoyas were just as effective in denying the Orange baskets. SU only shot 38.7 percent in the first half.
Georgetown tried to start a run when it went ahead 25-20 with 5:22 left in the first half - its largest lead in the game. But Syracuse scored seven-straight unanswered points a minute and 18 seconds later, capped off by a Devendorf 3-pointer at the top of the key. SU held a 27-25 advantage, the first time it led since the 15:25 mark.
Boeheim saw his players not forcing shots as much during the second half. But he argues with good reason that SU won because of its defensive play. That's because the defense stayed constant throughout the game.
"Defensively we were all over the place tonight," Rautins said. "We were getting steals. We were contesting shots. We were keeping the ball at the high post. These are things we need to do game in and game out."
It may have been belated, but the performance came in time to stake its case to earn a right to have SU's name on the NCAA Tournament bracket. Boeheim remembers those boos earlier this month and how it compelled his players to change it around. With the Orange's victories now leading to court-rushes, it doesn't want to turn back.
"I'd like us to keep working hard and trying to get better," Boeheim said. "We'll see what can happen. We've come a long way in just two weeks. I'm really proud of this team. I don't think we had any team that was in quite a bad of a position to make this kind of a stretch drive."
Rautins looked for an open shot in the right corner but couldn't find it. He passed to Devendorf, who looked for a shot up top but met a double team. Devendorf passed to Nichols in the left corner out of desperation. With four seconds left on the shot clock, Nichols hit an off-balance 3-pointer with the hands of GU guard Jessie Sapp in his face.
On the next possession, Darryl Watkins beat Roy Hibbert to the basket for a 61-46 lead with 5:27 left. SU wouldn't let the momentum or the lead outs of its hands from there.
"All I knew was the time was going down," Nichols said of his shot. "I wanted to at least hit the rim. It went all in. It was a great feeling. I was thinking about making the bucket but I had a small chance because I was off balance. I held my follow through and it went in."
Even though Syracuse limited Georgetown's production by holding Jeff Green and Hibbert to nine and six points, respectively, the Hoyas were just as effective in denying the Orange baskets. SU only shot 38.7 percent in the first half.
Georgetown tried to start a run when it went ahead 25-20 with 5:22 left in the first half - its largest lead in the game. But Syracuse scored seven-straight unanswered points a minute and 18 seconds later, capped off by a Devendorf 3-pointer at the top of the key. SU held a 27-25 advantage, the first time it led since the 15:25 mark.
Boeheim saw his players not forcing shots as much during the second half. But he argues with good reason that SU won because of its defensive play. That's because the defense stayed constant throughout the game.
"Defensively we were all over the place tonight," Rautins said. "We were getting steals. We were contesting shots. We were keeping the ball at the high post. These are things we need to do game in and game out."
It may have been belated, but the performance came in time to stake its case to earn a right to have SU's name on the NCAA Tournament bracket. Boeheim remembers those boos earlier this month and how it compelled his players to change it around. With the Orange's victories now leading to court-rushes, it doesn't want to turn back.
"I'd like us to keep working hard and trying to get better," Boeheim said. "We'll see what can happen. We've come a long way in just two weeks. I'm really proud of this team. I don't think we had any team that was in quite a bad of a position to make this kind of a stretch drive."
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Joel Cohen
posted 2/27/07 @ 7:56 AM EST
Orangemen- you have made us all proud with your upset. I am thoroughly elated. Everybody stepped up as needed- Rautins, Nichols, Harris, Devendorf, Watkins and Roberts. (Continued…)
chadkersman
Chad
posted 2/27/07 @ 12:53 PM EST
TO ALL FANS IN ATTENDANCE: Great crowd last night! Although the number wasn't huge, the intense atmosphere showed on a national stage. As a 2001 alum, I was glad to see the improved seating alignment. (Continued…)
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