GAME OF THE YEAR

Syracuse 127 UConn 117. This instant classic went to six...count 'em SIX overtimes becoming the second longest game in Division I basketball history. The game counted for the longest in Big East history, and the game was rebroadcast on ESPN Classic later that same day.

For those who watched the game, when Syracuse guard Devendorf, sending out echoes of Gerry McNamara throughout Madison Sqaure Garden, grabbed a home run pass, tipped by two players, and sank a desperation 3 from NBA range, it was for intents and purposes over. Watching live, the shot looked good, but replay revealed that the ball was on his fingerprints when the clock hit all zeros. To think, if only Devendorf had clipped his fingernails the shot might have been good. To be honest, maybe the ball had physically left his fingers, by the slimmest of margins, but nonetheless the refs made the only call possible by the human eye and instant replay.

It wasn't the clutch shots, or even the big time players making big time plays which made this Big East tournament game "one of the greatest college basketball game EVER". It was that a combined 8 regulars from both teams fouled out. It was Syracuse point guard Johnny Flynn playing 67 minutes. It was everyone on their feet for all 6 OTs and nobody leaving. Or maybe it was Syracuse walk on Justin Thomas coming into a Big East tourney quarterfinal game after not playing a single second. Or perhaps that UConn's interior defense looked like a sieve after Hasheem Thabeet fouled out. It could have been Hall of Fame coaches Jim Boeheim and Jim Calhoun, with 1598 victories and 3 national titles between the two, facing off matching wits with the lowest of the reserves running the court. But most likely it was the heart and passion with which players from both teams displayed in fighting till the final whistle. In a game which ran 3 hours and 46 minutes, and stretched over 6 extra overtimes, none of the players ever gave the indication of giving up. It wasn't for anything of much importance, at least nothing like an NCAA berth at stake. Both squads stood as virtual locks into the field of 65. It was playing basketball for the sake of the game. The game was played to win, pure and simple. For once we saw a group of basketball players playing simply to win the game. Not to win a contract, a big endorsement deal, or anything else other than to WIN.













For those at home, the game served as a sweet reward to those who stayed up to nearly 2 AM to finish out the game. Watching overtime after overtime after overtime. Seeing walk on Justin Thomas come into the 5th overtime waving his arms around on defense, jumping around and infecting the other Syracuse players with a newfound energy was in a word, joy. To see the nation's young players playing with such passion and energy, fighting through fatigue and injury, was enough to bring even the most cynical of sports fans to tears.

So here's to the Orangemen and their future play. Here's to Justin Thomas. Here's to Johnny Flynn. Here's to Devendorf pulling a McNamara in the NCAA Tournament. And here's to basketball, long live the game.