Sports: Multimedia Belt

East Regional: Trice's clutch shooting leads Michigan State past Oklahoma
By Tyler Piccotti
March 28, 2015 - 5:12pm
The senior nailed four clutch foul shots as the Spartans fought off an athletic Sooner team.

With 14 seconds left and seventh-seeded Michigan State clinging to a slim two-point lead in Friday’s East Regional semifinal game against third-seeded Oklahoma, Spartans guard Travis Trice took a long look at the rim and walked to the free-throw line. 

With the game on the line, Trice cleared his mind and didn’t ponder the magnitude of the moment. 

“To be honest with you, I’m just thinking knock them down,” Trice said. “I just want to win the game. That’s all. Really.” 

It worked. 

East Regional: Gill's surprising spurt powers Louisville to Elite Eight
By Tyler Piccotti
March 27, 2015 - 11:58pm
After not scoring for nearly a month, the sophomore helped the Cardinals pull away in the second half.

Louisville head coach Rick Pitino said he had a conversation with reserve guard Anton Gill earlier this week and told the sophomore he was “mentally in a funk.” 

But instead of giving Pitino lip service, Gill responded with a promise that he would be ready to play. So when Pitino was forced to go to his bench in the second half of Friday’s East Regional at the Carrier Dome against North Carolina State, he chose Gill over Shaqquan Aaron at the three-spot. 

Then Gill delivered on his promise in the biggest way. 

East Regional notebook: An apology for Obama
By Tyler Piccotti
March 27, 2015 - 11:08am
One N.C. State player reached out to the president, while coaches reflected on their own friendships and relationship with Jim Boeheim.

N.C. State guard Anthony “Cat” Barber is locked in for Friday night’s Sweet 16 matchup against Louisville. 

But only after reaching out to the leader of the free world during the week. 

After the Wolfpack upset top-seeded Villanova in the third round, television cameras caught Barber asking, “The f--- wrong with Barack Obama?” The obscenity was an obvious reference to the president’s bracket, which had the Wildcats advancing to the next round. 

Men's lacrosse: Syracuse scorches Myles Jones, Duke defense in win
By Ryan Raigrodski
March 23, 2015 - 1:34am
Three Orange players netted hat tricks in a romp over the two-time defending national champions.

After being destroyed in Durham last year, Syracuse exacted its revenge on Sunday by dominating Duke and shutting down arguably the country’s best player, midfielder Myles Jones. 

Now the only remaining undefeated team in the country, No. 1 Syracuse (7-0, 2-0 ACC) defeated the two-time defending national champion, 19-7, at the Carrier Dome. 

Jim Boeheim will appeal NCAA sanctions, confirms plan to retire in three years
By Owen Gotimer
March 19, 2015 - 11:44am
The SU head coach emphasized the cleanliness of his team and expressed displeasure with the NCAA's rulings two weeks ago.

For those who have always thought or wondered, SU men’s basketball coach Jim Boeheim made it abundantly clear Thursday morning. 

He does not run Syracuse University, and his time with the program is running out. 

During a press conference at the Carrier Dome, Boeheim addressed his intention to file an appeal with the NCAA regarding his nine-game suspension, handed down March 6 following an investigation into multiple violations by the program, as well as the claim that he plans to retire in three seasons. 

NCAA announces penalties resulting from investigation into Syracuse athletic program
By Tyler Piccotti
March 6, 2015 - 12:28pm
Head coach Jim Boeheim will be suspended for 9 ACC games, and the team will lose 12 scholarships over the next four years.

On Friday, the NCAA announced penalties against the Syracuse men's basketball and football teams resulting from infractions by both programs over the past 14 years.

Head basketball coach Jim Boeheim has been suspended for nine Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) games, and the team will lose three scholarships over each of the next four seasons, according to a 94-page report by the NCAA that can be read in full below. The violations occurred over the past eight years. 

Men's basketball: Orange offense goes cold in loss to Virginia
By Josh Carney
March 5, 2015 - 12:29pm
Rakeem Christmas struggled in his final home game at SU against the top-ranked Cavalier defense.

Syracuse started strong defensively in Monday’s matchup with No. 2 Virginia, but it was the Atlantic Coast Conference regular-season-champion Cavaliers that eventually dominated both ends en route to a 59-47 victory on Syracuse’s senior night at the Carrier Dome.

With the win, the Cavaliers clinched their second-straight ACC regular-season title, becoming the first program other than Duke or North Carolina to do so since North Carolina State in 1974.

Men's lacrosse: Orange blitzes Virginia early, cruises to win
By Ryan Raigrodski
March 2, 2015 - 11:25am
With the University of Denver's loss, Syracuse takes over the No. 1 ranking this week.

In a matchup of two top-five teams, No. 2 Syracuse dominated No. 5 Virginia in the first half, building a 8-1 lead that would never be in danger. 

The Orange was able to cruise to an easy 15-9 victory at the Carrier Dome on Sunday behind attackman Kevin Rice’s seven points and hat tricks from Dylan Donahue and Nicky Galasso. 

Men's basketball: Christmas delivers Orange to upset of shorthanded Louisville
By Matthew Alexander
February 19, 2015 - 1:51pm
The big man capitalized on the Cardinals' lack of depth to give SU its first win over a ranked opponent this season.

Rakeem Christmas said he felt sick to his stomach and didn’t want to do anything or go anywhere after his underwhelming game in a loss to No. 4 Duke last Saturday. 

A resurgent performance against No. 12 Louisville (20-6, 8-5 Atlantic Coast) Wednesday night turned out to be exactly what the doctor prescribed.

Diaper Dandy: Freshman Okafor overpowers Syracuse in loss to Duke
By Tyler Piccotti
February 15, 2015 - 11:02pm
The future NBA Draft lottery pick overcame a sluggish first half to lead the Blue Devils to a comeback victory.

According to Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim, Jahlil Okafor will be the No. 1 pick in the upcoming NBA Draft should he declare. 

But before embarking to the professional ranks, the star freshman showed a record-tying 35,446 fans on Saturday evening why he merits such high praise. 

Okafor bolstered his résumé for ACC Player of the Year by pouring in 23 points and 13 rebounds to help No. 4 Duke rally for a hard-fought 80-72 victory over the Orange in the Carrier Dome.