Spring Break
The Daily OrangeGOING FOR 2: Syracuse's quest for back-to-back titles starts with NCAA 1st round
By Meredith Galante
Posted: 5/6/09, 6:25 PM EST Section: Sports
John Desko said it is like déjà vu.
Last season, Syracuse played MAAC champion Canisius in the first round of the NCAA tournament, then looked ahead to Notre Dame in the second round. The Orange advanced, of course, winning each of its four games on the road to becoming the 2008 national champions.
This season, Syracuse, the No. 2 seed, will host 2009 MAAC champion Siena Sunday at 7:30 p.m. at the Carrier Dome. If the Orange defeats the Saints, it could potentially face the Fighting Irish, a matchup head coach Desko sees as more than likely.
Like Desko said, déjà vu.
"It's what we saw a year ago," Desko said. "So we're hoping we are going to have similar success against something that's happened in the past."
Syracuse (12-2) starts its quest to repeat as national champions and earn the program's 11th title Sunday. But even though the Orange's tournament path looks similar to last year's, repeating as national champions is something no team has accomplished in over a decade - since Bill Tierney's Princeton team won three straight rings from 1996-1998.
But Syracuse understands this. After its dismal 2007 season, Desko said he and his team understands the value of making the tournament and not taking it for granted.
"We were talking last night, and I think two years ago when we were 5-8 and on the outside looking in and we weren't not in the playoffs in quite along time," Desko said, "I think it gave ourselves as coaches and the guys on the team now a different outlook, much more of an appreciation.
"I think we used to go into the playoffs almost like it was a given, and I think now we understand that nothing's given to us, we have to work hard and be prepared and take each game one at a time and play along those lines, because anyone can upset you on any given day."
Despite the fact the Orange closed its season out with a win for the first time since 2006, defeating the then-No. 19 Colgate 13-7 on May 2, the Orange has a lot to accomplish in practice this week. Syracuse and Siena have never met before in program history. Desko sent assistant coach Lelan Rogers to scout the Saints last Sunday.
Last season, Syracuse played MAAC champion Canisius in the first round of the NCAA tournament, then looked ahead to Notre Dame in the second round. The Orange advanced, of course, winning each of its four games on the road to becoming the 2008 national champions.
This season, Syracuse, the No. 2 seed, will host 2009 MAAC champion Siena Sunday at 7:30 p.m. at the Carrier Dome. If the Orange defeats the Saints, it could potentially face the Fighting Irish, a matchup head coach Desko sees as more than likely.
Like Desko said, déjà vu.
"It's what we saw a year ago," Desko said. "So we're hoping we are going to have similar success against something that's happened in the past."
Syracuse (12-2) starts its quest to repeat as national champions and earn the program's 11th title Sunday. But even though the Orange's tournament path looks similar to last year's, repeating as national champions is something no team has accomplished in over a decade - since Bill Tierney's Princeton team won three straight rings from 1996-1998.
But Syracuse understands this. After its dismal 2007 season, Desko said he and his team understands the value of making the tournament and not taking it for granted.
"We were talking last night, and I think two years ago when we were 5-8 and on the outside looking in and we weren't not in the playoffs in quite along time," Desko said, "I think it gave ourselves as coaches and the guys on the team now a different outlook, much more of an appreciation.
"I think we used to go into the playoffs almost like it was a given, and I think now we understand that nothing's given to us, we have to work hard and be prepared and take each game one at a time and play along those lines, because anyone can upset you on any given day."
Despite the fact the Orange closed its season out with a win for the first time since 2006, defeating the then-No. 19 Colgate 13-7 on May 2, the Orange has a lot to accomplish in practice this week. Syracuse and Siena have never met before in program history. Desko sent assistant coach Lelan Rogers to scout the Saints last Sunday.
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