Jump to content

2002–03 Syracuse Orangemen basketball team

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

2002–03 Syracuse Orangemen men's basketball
NCAA tournament National Champions
Big East regular season co-champions
National Championship Game,
W 81–78 vs. Kansas
ConferenceBig East Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 1
APNo. 13
Record30–5 (13–3 Big East)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
Home arenaCarrier Dome
Seasons
2002–03 Big East men's basketball standings
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
East
Boston College 10 – 6   .625 19 – 12   .613
No. 23 Connecticut 10 – 6   .625 23 – 10   .697
Providence 8 – 8   .500 18 – 14   .563
Villanova 8 – 8   .500 15 – 16   .484
St. John's# 7 – 9   .438 1 – 13   .071
Miami 4 – 12   .250 11 – 17   .393
Virginia Tech* 4 – 12   .250 11 – 18   .379
West
No. 13 Syracuse 13 – 3   .813 30 – 5   .857
No. 4 Pittsburgh† 13 – 3   .813 28 – 5   .848
Seton Hall 10 – 6   .625 17 – 13   .567
No. 22 Notre Dame 10 – 6   .625 24 – 10   .706
Georgetown 6 – 10   .375 19 – 15   .559
West Virginia 5 – 11   .313 14 – 15   .483
Rutgers* 4 – 12   .250 12 – 16   .429
† 2003 Big East tournament winner
As of March 31, 2003[1]
Rankings from AP Poll
#St. John's had 20 regular-season games vacated due to sanctions against the program; the school′s disputed record was 7–9, 21–13.
*Did not qualify for 2003 Big East tournament.

The 2002–03 Syracuse Orangemen basketball team represented Syracuse University in NCAA men's basketball competition in the 2002–03 Division I season. The head coach was Jim Boeheim, serving for his 27th year. The team played its home games at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, New York. The team finished with a 30–5 (13–3) record, while capturing its first modern-era NCAA Championship.

The team had just one senior, guard Kueth Duany. He was joined in the starting lineup by forwards Hakim Warrick (sophomore), Carmelo Anthony (freshman), center Craig Forth (sophomore), and guard Gerry McNamara (freshman). Other key contributors included guards Josh Pace (sophomore) and Billy Edelin (freshman), and center Jeremy McNeil (junior).

Season recap

[edit]

Things did not start well for Syracuse. Guards DeShaun Williams[2] and James Thues[3] both left the team. Williams transferred to Iona while Thues left for Detroit. Freshman point guard Billy Edelin was suspended for 12 games for participating in a non-sanctioned basketball league. Syracuse then started its season with a loss against Memphis, despite Carmelo Anthony's 27 points, a then-high for a Syracuse freshman debut.[4]

But things turned around, as Syracuse went 13–3 in the Big East, with several memorable wins. McNamara would establish himself as a clutch player, nailing a game-winning 3-pointer as then-No. 17 Syracuse notched an 82–80 win over then-No. 10 Notre Dame in February.[5] In an upset of then-No. 24 Syracuse over then-No. 2 Pittsburgh, McNeil, a career 49.1% free throw shooter, hit two key free throws, and added a game-winning tip in a 67–65 upset.[6]

The Orangemen would play five Big 12 teams throughout the year, including games against Missouri[7] in the regular season, and against Oklahoma (Elite Eight), Oklahoma State (second round), Texas (National Semifinal) and then Kansas (National Championship game).[8]

2003 NCAA Men's Basketball National Championship Trophy.

In the championship game against Kansas, with Syracuse leading by three with under 15 seconds left, Warrick missed two free throws that would've sealed the game with Syracuse hanging on to a three-point lead, 81–78. With 1.5 seconds left and the score still the same, Kansas' Michael Lee was open on the baseline for a potential game-tying 3-pointer. But Warrick used his long arms to block Lee's attempt and Syracuse captured its first-ever national championship.[9]

Coincidentally, the game was played in the Superdome in New Orleans, where Syracuse had lost the National Championship to Indiana in 1987 on a last-second shot by Keith Smart.[10]

Schedule

[edit]
Date
time, TV 		Rank# Opponent# Result Record High points High rebounds High assists Site (attendance)
city, state
Non-Conference Regular Season
November 14, 2002*
7:00 pm, ESPN2 		vs. Memphis
Coaches vs. Cancer Classic 		L 63–70  0–1
  27 – Anthony   11 – Tied   3 – McNamara  Madison Square Garden (8,826)
New York, New York
November 24, 2002*
 Valparaiso W 81–66  1–1
  28 – Anthony   10 – Tied   6 – Pace  Carrier Dome (18,874)
Syracuse, New York
December 03, 2002*
 Colgate W 98–68  2–1
  27 – Anthony   11 – Anthony   7 – Pace  Carrier Dome (15,615)
Syracuse, New York
December 06, 2002*
 Cornell W 85–62  3–1
  21 – Anthony   10 – Tied   5 – Tied  Carrier Dome (16,384)
Syracuse, New York
December 10, 2003*
 UNC Greensboro W 92–65  4–1
  23 – Warrick   8 – Forth   4 – Anthony  Carrier Dome (16,941)
Syracuse, New York
December 14, 2002*
 Binghamton W 94–58  5–1
  24 – Anthony   11 – Anthony   5 – Anthony  Carrier Dome (19,770)
Syracuse, New York
December 21, 2002*
12:00 pm, ESPN 		Georgia Tech W 92–65  6–1
  25 – McNamara   11 – Tied   10 – McNamara  Carrier Dome (18,804)
Syracuse, New York
December 28, 2002*
 Albany W 109–79  7–1
  28 – Anthony   9 – Tied   9 – McNamara  Carrier Dome (18,683)
Syracuse, New York
December 30, 2002*
 Canisius W 87–69  8–1
  25 – Warrick   14 – Anthony   3 – Tied  Carrier Dome (17,305)
Syracuse, New York
Big East Regular Season
January 08, 2003
7:30 pm, ESPN Plus 		at Seton Hall W 70–66  9–1
(1–0) 		 20 – Duany   7 – Warrick   5 – McNamara  Continental Airlines Arena (8,415)
East Rutherford, New Jersey
January 11, 2003
 Boston College W 82–74  10–1
(2–0) 		 24 – Tied   15 – Warrick   5 – Tied  Carrier Dome (20,692)
Syracuse, New York
January 13, 2003*
7:00 pm, ESPN 		No. 11 Missouri W 76–69  11–1
  20 – Warrick   10 – Anthony   7 – McNamara  Carrier Dome (18,756)
Syracuse, New York
January 18, 2003
12:00 pm, ESPN 		at No. 3 Pittsburgh L 60–73  11–2
(2–1) 		 19 – McNamara   10 – Warrick   3 – McNamara  Petersen Events Center (12,508)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
January 22, 2003
7:00 pm, ESPN Plus 		Seton Hall W 83–65  12–2
(3–1) 		 22 – Warrick   10 – Warrick   6 – Tied  Carrier Dome (17,119)
Syracuse, New York
January 26, 2003
1:00 pm, CBS 		at Miami (FL) W 54–49  13–2
(4–1) 		 18 – Warrick   14 – Anthony   4 – Tied  Miami Convocation Center (5,789)
Coral Gables, Florida
January 29, 2003
7:30 pm, ESPN Plus 		at Rutgers L 65–68  13–3
(4–2) 		 17 – Anthony   11 – Warrick   4 – Edelin  Louis Brown Athletic Center (8,007)
Piscataway, New Jersey
February 01, 2003
7:00 pm, ESPN Plus 		No. 2 Pittsburgh W 67–65  14–3
(5–2) 		 20 – Warrick   13 – Anthony   4 – McNamara  Carrier Dome (30,303)
Syracuse, New York
February 03, 2003
7:00 pm, ESPN 		No. 21 Georgetown W 88–80  15–3
(6–2) 		 22 – Tied   7 – Tied   3 – Tied  Carrier Dome (20,702)
Syracuse, New York
February 08, 2003
4:00 pm, ESPN Plus 		No. 21 at West Virginia W 94–80  16–3
(7–2) 		 29 – Anthony   12 – Anthony   12 – McNamara  WVU Coliseum (13,092)
Morgantown, West Virginia
February 10, 2003
7:00 pm, ESPN 		No. 18 at No. 19 Connecticut L 61–75  16–4
(7–3) 		 29 – Anthony   11 – Anthony   4 – McNamara  Hartford Civic Center (16,294)
Hartford, Connecticut
February 15, 2003
1:00 pm, ESPN 		No. 18 No. 9 Notre Dame W 82–80  17–4
(8–3) 		 26 – Anthony   12 – Warrick   6 – McNamara  Carrier Dome (32,116)
Syracuse, New York
February 18, 2003
7:00 pm, ESPN2 		No. 17 St. John's W 66–60  18–4
(9–3) 		 21 – Anthony   13 – Anthony   5 – McNamara  Carrier Dome (21,044)
Syracuse, New York
February 23, 2003*
2:00 pm, CBS 		No. 17 at Michigan State W 76–75  19–4
  25 – Anthony   8 – Warrick   4 – Anthony  Breslin Center (14,759)
East Lansing, Michigan
February 26, 2003
7:00 pm, ESPN Plus 		No. 15 West Virginia W 89–51  20–4
(10–3) 		 24 – Anthony   10 – Anthony   6 – McNamara  Carrier Dome (19,484)
Syracuse, New York
March 01, 2003
1:00 pm, ABC 		No. 15 at Georgetown W 93–84 OT 21–4
(11–3) 		 30 – Anthony   18 – Warrick   2 – Tied  MCI Center (17,352)
Washington, D.C.
March 04, 2003
7:00 pm, ESPN2 		No. 12 at No. 16 Notre Dame W 92–88  22–4
(12–3) 		 26 – Edelin   13 – Warrick   7 – Warrick  Joyce Center (11,450)
South Bend, Indiana
March 09, 2003
 No. 12 Rutgers W 83–74  23–4
(13–3) 		 30 – Anthony   14 – Anthony   7 – McNamara  Carrier Dome (33,071)
Syracuse, New York
Big East Tournament
March 13, 2003
7:00 pm, ESPN 		(1 W) No. 11 vs. (5 W) Georgetown
Quarterfinals 		W 74–69  24–4
  21 – Anthony   8 – Forth   3 – McNamara  Madison Square Garden (19,528)
New York, New York
March 14, 2003
9:00 pm, ESPN 		(1 W) No. 11 vs. (2 E) Connecticut
Semifinals 		L 67–80  24–5
  29 – Anthony   15 – Anthony   3 – McNamara  Madison Square Garden (19,528)
New York, New York
NCAA Tournament
March 21, 2003*
12:15 pm, CBS 		(3 E) No. 13 vs. (14 E) Manhattan
First Round 		W 76–65  25–5
  17 – Anthony   9 – Anthony   4 – Tied  FleetCenter (18,141)
Boston, Massachusetts
March 23, 2003*
2:40 pm, CBS 		(3 E) No. 13 vs. (6 E) No. 23 Oklahoma State
Second Round 		W 68–56  26–5
  20 – Edelin   8 – Tied   6 – McNamara  FleetCenter (18,389)
Boston, Massachusetts
March 28, 2003*
9:40 pm, CBS 		(3 E) No. 13 vs. (10 E) Auburn
Sweet Sixteen 		W 79–78  27–5
  18 – Anthony   8 – Anthony   4 – Edelin  Pepsi Arena (15,093)
Albany, New York
March 30, 2003*
2:40 pm, CBS 		(3 E) No. 13 vs. (1 E) No. 3 Oklahoma
Elite Eight 		W 63–47  28–5
  20 – Anthony   10 – Anthony   4 – Warrick  Pepsi Arena (15,207)
Albany, New York
April 05, 2003*
8:40 pm, CBS 		(3 E) No. 13 vs. (1 S) No. 5 Texas
Final Four 		W 95–84  29–5
  33 – Anthony   14 – Anthony   4 – Tied  Louisiana Superdome (54,432)
New Orleans, Louisiana
April 07, 2003*
9:20 pm, CBS 		(3 E) No. 13 vs. (2 W) No. 6 Kansas
National Championship 		W 81–78  30–5
  20 – Anthony   10 – Anthony   7 – Anthony  Louisiana Superdome (54,524)
New Orleans, Louisiana
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in Eastern Time. E = East, S = South, W = West.

Source:[11]

Roster

[edit]

[12]

Name Number Position Height Weight Year Hometown PPG APG RPG
Hakim Warrick 1 F 6–9 219 Sophomore Philadelphia, PA 14.8 1.6 8.5
Gerry McNamara 3 G 6–2 182 Freshman Scranton, PA 13.3 4.4 2.3
Josh Pace 5 G/F 6–5 190 Sophomore Griffin, GA 4.3 1.9 2.7
Kueth Duany 13 G/F 6–6 190 Senior Sudan/Bloomington, IN 11.0 2.0 3.7
Billy Edelin 14 G 6–4 195 Freshman Silver Spring, MD 9.0 2.5 3.4
Carmelo Anthony 15 F 6–8 230 Freshman Baltimore, MD 22.2 2.2 10.0
Matt Gorman 24 F/C 6–9 235 Freshman Watertown, NY 2.3 0.1 2.1
Jeremy McNeil 34 C 6–8 257 Junior San Antonio, TX 3.3 0.2 4.2
Craig Forth 51 C 7–1 255 Sophomore Albany, NY 3.8 0.9 3.3
Andrew Kouwe 10 PG 6–0 170 Junior Tampa, FL 1.7 0.3 0.3
Ronneil Herron 11 G 5–11 158 Senior Warner Robins, GA 1.2 0.0 1.0
Tyrone Albright 2 G 5–11 165 Junior Syracuse, NY 0.0 0.1 0.3
Gary Hall 23 F 6–6 230 Junior Tully, NY 0.4 0.4 0.4
Josh Brooks 21 F 6–5 180 Junior Saranac, NY 0.0 0.0 0.2

References

[edit]
  1. ^ https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/conferences/big-east/2003.html
  2. ^ Williams to leave Orangemen – News
  3. ^ Thues transfers to Detroit Mercy – Sports
  4. ^ Memphis Holds Off Syracuse, 70–63 Archived 2009-11-26 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ The Daily Orange Archived 2009-02-05 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ USATODAY.com – Syracuse blocks Pittsburgh from first coronation at No. 1
  7. ^ NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball – Missouri vs. Syracuse
  8. ^ Fresh-squeezed orangeman: Carmelo Anthony carries Syracuse to its first NCAA championship and proves to have the juiciest game of any college freshman—ever | Sporting News, Th... Archived 2007-02-22 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ The Daily Orange Archived 2007-11-09 at the Wayback Machine
  10. ^ ESPN.com – ESPN 25 – 60: Smart's jumper wins NCAA title for Indiana
  11. ^ "2002-03 Men's Basketball Schedule". cuse.com. Syracuse University Athletics. Retrieved May 8, 2025.
  12. ^ "2002-03 Men's Basketball Roster". Syracuse Orange. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2002–03_Syracuse_Orangemen_basketball_team&oldid=1289524590"