The 2008–09 Syracuse Orange men's basketball team represented
Syracuse University
Syracuse University (informally 'Cuse or SU) is a Private university, private research university in Syracuse, New York. Established in 1870 with roots in the Methodist Episcopal Church, the university has been nonsectarian since 1920. Locate ...
in the
2008–09 NCAA Division I men's basketball season
The 2008–09 NCAA Division I men's basketball season began on November 10, 2008, and ended with the 2009 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament's championship game on April 6, 2009, at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. The season saw six dif ...
. The head coach was
Jim Boeheim
James Arthur Boeheim Jr. ( ; born November 17, 1944) is an American college basketball coach who is the head coach of the Syracuse Orange men's team of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). Boeheim has guided the Orange to ten Big East Conference ...
, serving for his 33rd year. The team played its home games at the
Carrier Dome
The JMA Wireless Dome, originally the Carrier Dome (1980–2022) and colloquially called "The Dome," or more recently "The JMA Dome," is a domed sports stadium in Syracuse, New York. Located on the campus of Syracuse University in the University ...
in
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse ( ) is a City (New York), city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, Onondaga County, New York, United States. It is the fifth-most populous city in the state of New York following New York City, Buffalo, New York, Buffa ...
. Key contributors included senior
Kristof Ongenaet, juniors
Eric Devendorf
Eric Michael Devendorf (born April 21, 1987) is an American former professional basketball player. Devendorf played at Syracuse from 2005 to 2009. He averaged 15.7 points per game in his final season at Syracuse. He ranks 14th on the school's all ...
,
Arinze Onuaku
Arinze Christopher Onuaku (born July 13, 1987) is an American former professional basketball player. He played college basketball for Syracuse University.
High school career
Onuaku attended DuVal High School in Lanham, Maryland before transferr ...
,
Andy Rautins
Andrew Jay Rautins (born November 2, 1986) is an American-born Canadian professional basketball player who last played for AEK Athens of the Greek Basket League. He played for Syracuse University and was drafted by the NBA's New York Knicks in ...
and
Paul Harris, sophomores
Rick Jackson
Rick may refer to:
People
*Rick (given name), a list of people with the given name
*Alan Rick (born 1976), Brazilian politician, journalist, pastor and television personality
*Johannes Rick (1869–1946), Austrian-born Brazilian priest and mycol ...
and
Jonny Flynn
Jonny William Flynn (born February 6, 1989) is an American former professional basketball player. A three-year National Basketball Association (NBA) veteran, he last played for the Orlandina Basket of the Lega Basket Serie A and played collegiat ...
and freshman
Kris Joseph
Kristopher Carlos Joseph (born December 17, 1988) is a Canadian professional basketball player for Ottawa Blackjacks of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL). He played for the Syracuse Orange men's basketball team from 2008 to 2012. He ...
.
Preseason
Roster changes
Syracuse lost its leading scorer from the previous season, forward
Donté Greene
Donté Dominic Greene (born February 21, 1988) is an American professional basketball player. He played college basketball for the Syracuse Orange for one year before being selected with the 28th overall pick by the Memphis Grizzlies in the 200 ...
, who declared for the
2008 NBA draft and was taken with the 28th overall pick by the
Memphis Grizzlies
The Memphis Grizzlies (referred to locally as the Grizz) are an American professional basketball team based in Memphis, Tennessee. The Grizzlies compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Western Conference ...
. Greene was then traded to the
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston. The Rockets compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member team of the league's Western Conference Southwest Division. The team plays its ho ...
and again to the
Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings are an American professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California. The Kings compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Western Conference Pacific Division. The Kings are the oldest ...
.
Syracuse used Greene's scholarship to add Iowa State transfer
Wesley Johnson. Johnson averaged 12.4 points per game during his sophomore season with the Cyclones, but must sit out the 2008–09 season. Syracuse will also have lacrosse recruit Kevin Drew, a walk-on.
On the injury front, Syracuse returned juniors Eric Devendorf and Andy Rautins. Both had suffered season ending knee injuries in the 2007–08 season and were granted medical redshirts. However, the Orange also learned before the season started that sophomore
Scoop Jardine
Antonio Stephen "Scoop" Jardine (born August 9, 1988) is an American former professional basketball player who last played for the Niagara River Lions of the NBL Canada. He played college basketball for the Syracuse Orange from 2007–08 to 201 ...
would be out for entire season after suffering a stress fracture in his left leg.
Recruiting
Coach Boeheim was able to sign three recruits for the 2008–09 season: Kris Joseph, Mookie Jones and James Southerland. However, Southerland did not qualify with his SAT score to attend Syracuse, and returned to Notre Dame Preparatory Academy for an additional season of play.
Preseason outlook
With returning co-Big East Rookie of The Year Jonny Flynn, the Orange was picked to finish eighth in the Big East conference by the Big East coach's poll. Flynn was also a first-team all-Big East selection. Syracuse began the season ranked No. 30 in the Associated Press poll and No. 31 in the ESPN/USA Today poll.
Although Syracuse was coming off two-straight NIT-bound seasons, and despite not having won an NCAA tournament game in four seasons, many experts picked Syracuse as a solid choice for the NCAA Tournament.
Roster
Players
Coaches
Season
Season Recap
Syracuse started the season strong, winning the CBE Classic. In the semifinals on November 24, 2008, the Orange topped No. 17/18
Florida
Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...
, 89–83. Jonny Flynn and Paul Harris led five SU players in double figures with 18 points each. In the finals on November 25, 2008, Syracuse defeated the defending champions, the No. 22/23
Kansas Jayhawks
The Kansas Jayhawks, commonly referred to as simply KU or Kansas, are the athletic teams that represent the University of Kansas. KU is one of three schools in the state of Kansas that participate in NCAA Division I. The Jayhawks are also a mem ...
, 89–81 in overtime, to capture the
CBE Classic The Hall of Fame Classic powered by ShotTracker (formerly known as the College Basketball Experience Classic, Guardians Classic and the CBE Hall of Fame Classic) is an annual season-opening college basketball tournament founded in 2001. The tourname ...
. Jonny Flynn had 25 points, including a 3-pointer with 6.4 seconds left in regulation to send the game to overtime. Flynn was named MVP of the tournament.
But the season would hit a low point on December 15, 2008 when then-No. 11 Syracuse lost to unranked
Cleveland State University
Cleveland State University (CSU) is a public research university in Cleveland, Ohio. It was established in 1964 and opened for classes in 1965 after acquiring the entirety of Fenn College, a private school that had been in operation since 1923. ...
72–69 as a result of a 60-foot, buzzer-beating shot by Cleveland State's Cedric Jackson.
Syracuse would add another key non-conference win on December 20, 2008, when then-No. 11 Syracuse won a key away game against national runner-up
Memphis
Memphis most commonly refers to:
* Memphis, Egypt, a former capital of ancient Egypt
* Memphis, Tennessee, a major American city
Memphis may also refer to:
Places United States
* Memphis, Alabama
* Memphis, Florida
* Memphis, Indiana
* Memp ...
as Syracuse's stifling zone held Memphis to just 7-for-33 shooting from 3-point land. Flynn paced the Orange with 24 points and six assists, as Syracuse was able to deal with the loss of
Eric Devendorf
Eric Michael Devendorf (born April 21, 1987) is an American former professional basketball player. Devendorf played at Syracuse from 2005 to 2009. He averaged 15.7 points per game in his final season at Syracuse. He ranks 14th on the school's all ...
to a suspension after he was accused of hitting a female student on Nov. 1.
Perhaps the biggest game of the season happened on March 12–13, 2009, when then-No. 18 Syracuse and No. 4
Connecticut
Connecticut () is the southernmost state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, New York to the west, and Long Island Sound to the south. Its cap ...
played the
longest game in Big East history, and second longest in NCAA Division I history, as Syracuse won 127–117 in six overtimes. Flynn set a new Syracuse record by playing 67 minutes.
Syracuse would be named a No. 3 seed for the NCAA Tournament and win games over
Stephen F. Austin
Stephen Fuller Austin (November 3, 1793 – December 27, 1836) was an American-born empresario. Known as the "Father of Texas" and the founder of Anglo Texas,Hatch (1999), p. 43. he led the second and, ultimately, the successful colonization ...
(59–44) and
Arizona State
Arizona State University (Arizona State or ASU) is a public research university in the Phoenix metropolitan area. Founded in 1885 by the 13th Arizona Territorial Legislature, ASU is one of the largest public universities by enrollment in the ...
(78–67) to advance to the Sweet 16. But the Orange would be halted by
Blake Griffin
Blake Austin Griffin (born March 16, 1989) is an American professional basketball player for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Oklahoma Sooners, when he was named the consensu ...
and
Oklahoma
Oklahoma (; Choctaw language, Choctaw: ; chr, ᎣᎧᎳᎰᎹ, ''Okalahoma'' ) is a U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States, bordered by Texas on the south and west, Kansas on the nor ...
in an 84–71 loss.
The loss would mark the final game for Devendorf, Flynn and Harris, who all left the team following the season for the professional ranks.
Big East tournament
Syracuse was seeded sixth and received a bye in the first round. They reached the finals of the 2009 tournament, where they were defeated by the first-seeded
Louisville Cardinals
The Louisville Cardinals (also known as the Cards) are the NCAA athletic teams representing the University of Louisville. The Cardinals teams play in the Atlantic Coast Conference, beginning in the 2014 season. While playing in the Big East Co ...
, 76–66.
It was their fourteenth time making the Big East tournament finals, the most for any team in the conference.
Prior to making the finals, Syracuse's performance featured a conference record six-overtime quarterfinals game (the second longest game in NCAA history) in which they defeated third-seeded
Connecticut
Connecticut () is the southernmost state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, New York to the west, and Long Island Sound to the south. Its cap ...
127–117.
A day later, in the semifinals, the Orange were forced into overtime again, where they defeated
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian, Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States.The Census Bureau and the Association of American Geographers classify West Virginia as part of the Southern United States while the Bur ...
74–69 in a single extra session.
Jonny Flynn
Jonny William Flynn (born February 6, 1989) is an American former professional basketball player. A three-year National Basketball Association (NBA) veteran, he last played for the Orlandina Basket of the Lega Basket Serie A and played collegiat ...
was named the tournament's
most outstanding player The term Most Outstanding Player may refer to:
* The recipient of the CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award
* The NCAA basketball tournament Most Outstanding Player award
* The College World Series Most Outstanding Player in college baseball
* The N ...
, becoming just the fourth player in Big East tournament history to win the award as a member of the second-place team.
NCAA tournament
The Orange were seeded third in the South Region, and played fourteenth-seeded
Stephen F. Austin on Friday, March 20 at
American Airlines Arena in
Miami, Florida
Miami ( ), officially the City of Miami, known as "the 305", "The Magic City", and "Gateway to the Americas", is a East Coast of the United States, coastal metropolis and the County seat, county seat of Miami-Dade County, Florida, Miami-Dade C ...
.
The Orange won, 59–44. They faced sixth-seeded
Arizona State in the second round, winning 78–67.
Their season ended in the South regional semifinals when they lost 84–71 to
Oklahoma
Oklahoma (; Choctaw language, Choctaw: ; chr, ᎣᎧᎳᎰᎹ, ''Okalahoma'' ) is a U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States, bordered by Texas on the south and west, Kansas on the nor ...
.
Schedule
, -
!colspan=12 style=, Exhibition
, -
!colspan=12 style=, Regular Season
, -
!colspan=12 style=,
Big East tournament
, -
!colspan=12 style=,
NCAA Tournament†
Rankings
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:2008-09 Syracuse Orange Men's Basketball Team
Syracuse
Syracuse may refer to:
Places Italy
*Syracuse, Sicily, or spelled as ''Siracusa''
*Province of Syracuse
United States
*Syracuse, New York
**East Syracuse, New York
**North Syracuse, New York
*Syracuse, Indiana
* Syracuse, Kansas
*Syracuse, Miss ...
Syracuse
Syracuse may refer to:
Places Italy
*Syracuse, Sicily, or spelled as ''Siracusa''
*Province of Syracuse
United States
*Syracuse, New York
**East Syracuse, New York
**North Syracuse, New York
*Syracuse, Indiana
* Syracuse, Kansas
*Syracuse, Miss ...
Syracuse Orange men's basketball seasons
Syracuse Orange men's basketball
The Syracuse Orange men's basketball program is an college basketball, intercollegiate men's basketball team representing Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York. The program is classified in the Division I (NCAA), Division I of the National Co ...
Syracuse Orange men's basketball
The Syracuse Orange men's basketball program is an college basketball, intercollegiate men's basketball team representing Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York. The program is classified in the Division I (NCAA), Division I of the National Co ...