A weekend full of tough defense and tougher shots culminated in Syracuse’s first Final Four berth in ten years.
After a disappointing finish to the regular season and its last Big East tournament, Syracuse looked poise to prove itself on the biggest stage: the NCAA tournament. It wasn’t an easy road for the fourth-seeded Orange, who needed to push its way through Big Ten and Big East powerhouses Indiana (29-7) and Marquette (26-9) before finally re-living the Final Four dream.
SU’s vaulted 2-3 zone stifled the one-seeded Hoosiers, who looked absolutely blind-sided by Orange defenders blocking shots and forcing bad looks. Four minutes into the game, Syracuse took the lead over Indiana and never looked back. The Orange cruised to a surprisingly easy 61-50 victory.
Defense continued to be a presence for the Orange in its Elite Eight match-up against Big East rival Marquette. Syracuse employed a similarly overwhelming defense, leading to a decisive 55-39.
The Orange moves on to Atlanta, where it will face the fourth-seeded Michigan Wolverines, the winner of the South bracket, in Atlanta on Apr. 6.
Here’s a look at fans’ reactions from SU’s weekend victories.
