Way to Go, Orange Men!

Had to write this today, because you never know......

I liked the men's team right from the start, and then it was cemented at the Bahamas Tournament in November.  These guys were so motivated, so willing to work and work with each other.  It was fun to watch them develop, make their mistakes, and then come back strong.  There seemed to be someone each game who picked it up when others were down.

Coach Hopkins took over for the 9 games of Boeheim's suspension.  It didn't go very well.  

The ACC conference games started during this time....and it continued to not go very well.

Tyler Roberson emerged as a star player with national attention.  Boeheim responded by criticizing him and fans criticized Boeheim for criticizing Roberson so very publicly.  It made little sense....the young man seemed gentle and quiet and simply went out on the court and took care of rebounds.  It was almost magic - and magic is sometimes not always there.

NCAA Tournament time.  Despite all of our bleak projections, Syracuse got in.  At the last possible moment, in the last possible region.  Drama erupted - "They don't belong there..."

And then the games....the Dayton revenge, the gift of Middle Tennessee State (courtesy of Michigan State), Gonzaga, then the miracle of the comeback win over Virginia.  

All, I think, due to the character of the team.  The individual players.  On Syracuse.com today there's a photo of Michael Gbinije comforting a Virginia player.  Tyler Lydon didn't really see the immensity of his blocks when interviewed.  Tyler Roberson quietly has put everything aside and averages 12 rebounds per game through the tournament.  And on the bench the guys go wild for their team...including Kaleb Joseph our point guard who suffered through a horrible year and has played little this year.  He is as thrilled as anyone. Character.

Good luck guys!  We do brackets every year, just a friendly little game.  Only one person of our 22 believed in Syracuse and that it could go all the way..... Our grandson, Liam.  "Out of the mouths of babes!"

So let's hope there is a new banner raised in the Dome for the 2016 Championship Team.  And let's hope this time it doesn't show just three people (Boeheim, Gerry and Carmelo - where's Hakim!?)  It should be everyone...the whole team, all the coaches.

Go, Orange!