Spring Break
The Daily OrangeWBB | Syracuse looks to solidify resume at Big East tourney
By Michael Bonner
Posted: 3/6/08, 1:03 AM EST Section: Sports
Last year, Syracuse went into its final game needing a win to reach the Big East tournament, but came up five points short in a 59-54 loss against Cincinnati. The loss placed the Orange 13th in the Big East, resulting in no postseason play and an offseason of frustration.
"I didn't watch (the Big East tournament) at all. You don't want to watch stuff like that," senior Fantasia Goodwin said. "I mean, because we knew the opportunity we had that last game. If we would have won that last game we would have been in it; it was really depressing to watch."
This season ended much differently for the Orange as it devoured No. 13 West Virginia, 73-51, in its final game on Monday. Goodwin won't be watching the tournament because she and her team will be participating in it. Syracuse, the sixth seed in the Big East tournament will play Saturday night at 8 p.m. when it faces the 11th seed South Florida at Hartford, Conn.
It's the first time in three years the Orange has made the tournament. Last year Nicole Michael got a taste of the tournament when she went to Hartford to receive regular- season awards. She sat with head coach Quentin Hillsman on the sideline, but it just didn't feel right.
"It was cool to hang out with coach, but it was just weird seeing other teams there with their teammates, I was missing my teammates and wishing they were there," Michael said. "I saw some of my friends play; I felt like I was more of a supporter instead of being a player there."
Michael will make the trip this year with her team, to play with a young Syracuse team tasting its first postseason. Only seniors Vaida Sipaviciute and Tracy Harbut have ever stepped on the court for a postseason game.
When a team hasn't qualified for the tournament in a while, a common trap is it becomes content with just making the tournament. This is not a worry for Hillsman, though.
"Our goal has always been to win every tournament that we have been in," Hillsman said. "So we're not going to be satisfied with just being there. We understand what it means to be there, we understand what it took to get there but we aren't going to be satisfied unless we win the thing."
"I didn't watch (the Big East tournament) at all. You don't want to watch stuff like that," senior Fantasia Goodwin said. "I mean, because we knew the opportunity we had that last game. If we would have won that last game we would have been in it; it was really depressing to watch."
This season ended much differently for the Orange as it devoured No. 13 West Virginia, 73-51, in its final game on Monday. Goodwin won't be watching the tournament because she and her team will be participating in it. Syracuse, the sixth seed in the Big East tournament will play Saturday night at 8 p.m. when it faces the 11th seed South Florida at Hartford, Conn.
It's the first time in three years the Orange has made the tournament. Last year Nicole Michael got a taste of the tournament when she went to Hartford to receive regular- season awards. She sat with head coach Quentin Hillsman on the sideline, but it just didn't feel right.
"It was cool to hang out with coach, but it was just weird seeing other teams there with their teammates, I was missing my teammates and wishing they were there," Michael said. "I saw some of my friends play; I felt like I was more of a supporter instead of being a player there."
Michael will make the trip this year with her team, to play with a young Syracuse team tasting its first postseason. Only seniors Vaida Sipaviciute and Tracy Harbut have ever stepped on the court for a postseason game.
When a team hasn't qualified for the tournament in a while, a common trap is it becomes content with just making the tournament. This is not a worry for Hillsman, though.
"Our goal has always been to win every tournament that we have been in," Hillsman said. "So we're not going to be satisfied with just being there. We understand what it means to be there, we understand what it took to get there but we aren't going to be satisfied unless we win the thing."
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