Spring Break
The Daily OrangeSB | Syracuse still looking for defining win at Big East tourney
By Didier Morais
Posted: 5/7/08, 7:58 PM EST Section: Sports
In addition to addressing the critics, the coaching staff hopes to send another statement to the rest of the conference. It aspires to utilize the Big East tournament to publicly launch itself into the upper-echelon of the conference.
"We talked before the (Notre Dame game)," associate head coach Kyle Jamieson said. "We said at some point during the year, this program needs to start beating the teams ahead of us, the DePauls, the Lousivilles, the South Floridas.
Throughout the season, Syracuse fared well against most top-tier teams. In early April, top-seeded South Florida barely eclipsed the Orange, winning both games by merely one run. During its last regular-season game, SU erased a 7-3 deficit in the bottom of the seventh inning to upset fourth-seeded Notre Dame, 8-7.
"The win against Notre Dame was huge," senior outfielder Chanel Roehner said. "To end on such a great note gives us huge momentum. We weren't even playing our best. We can take anyone. If we play like we know how to play then there's no stopping us."
Jamieson also appreciates the significance of the upset. He believes it can jumpstart the team's confidence going into the tournament.
"It starts with winning our first game," Jamieson said. "It only takes three games and then you're the Big East champions. It's whatever team gets hot and plays good ball that will come away next weekend going to (NCAA) regionals."
But in the end, Ross and the team have embraced SU's role as the underdog. The last time SU possessed that title, before this season, it defied the odds by securing a sixth seed in the Big East tournament. For now, the Orange will rest its hopes on producing an encore performance.
"Everybody knows that you want to be the underdog," Ross said. "You want to be the team that nobody is looking at. You can play relaxed, and there's no pressure in holding a spot. You're just in there giving it your all. I have a good feeling about it because when we are relaxed, we play really well."
dsmorais@syr.edu
"We talked before the (Notre Dame game)," associate head coach Kyle Jamieson said. "We said at some point during the year, this program needs to start beating the teams ahead of us, the DePauls, the Lousivilles, the South Floridas.
Throughout the season, Syracuse fared well against most top-tier teams. In early April, top-seeded South Florida barely eclipsed the Orange, winning both games by merely one run. During its last regular-season game, SU erased a 7-3 deficit in the bottom of the seventh inning to upset fourth-seeded Notre Dame, 8-7.
"The win against Notre Dame was huge," senior outfielder Chanel Roehner said. "To end on such a great note gives us huge momentum. We weren't even playing our best. We can take anyone. If we play like we know how to play then there's no stopping us."
Jamieson also appreciates the significance of the upset. He believes it can jumpstart the team's confidence going into the tournament.
"It starts with winning our first game," Jamieson said. "It only takes three games and then you're the Big East champions. It's whatever team gets hot and plays good ball that will come away next weekend going to (NCAA) regionals."
But in the end, Ross and the team have embraced SU's role as the underdog. The last time SU possessed that title, before this season, it defied the odds by securing a sixth seed in the Big East tournament. For now, the Orange will rest its hopes on producing an encore performance.
"Everybody knows that you want to be the underdog," Ross said. "You want to be the team that nobody is looking at. You can play relaxed, and there's no pressure in holding a spot. You're just in there giving it your all. I have a good feeling about it because when we are relaxed, we play really well."
dsmorais@syr.edu
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