NCAA Tournament

Trice as nice: Senior leads Michigan State to Final Four
By Tyler Piccotti
March 29, 2015 - 10:06pm
The Michigan State senior scored 17 points to continue what his head coach called a "most improbable" tournament run to the Final Four.

Travis Trice wasn't supposed to have this moment.

He wasn't a sought-after recruit in high school, only gracing the wish list of Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo amid the courting of current teammate Branden Dawson.

Then he had a brain infection... and two concussions... and a number of other dings and dents once he arrived in East Lansing.

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 Friday notebook: Barber hampered by illness
By Tyler Piccotti
March 28, 2015 - 1:13pm
The N.C. State sharpshooter dealt with an ailing stomach, while Michigan State squeezed in a few laughs before the big game.

As Louisville and North Carolina State battled each other on the court, the Wolfpack’s Anthony “Cat” Barber and Louisville’s Terry Rozier were battling their own bodies. 

Both Barber and Rozier were significantly ill the night before and hours leading up to their clash in the East Regional semifinal at the Carrier Dome on Friday night. 

Barber, one of N.C. State’s potent backcourt shooters, showed violent symptoms of a stomach virus according to head coach Mark Gottfried. 

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. 

Broadcaster Verne Lundquist talks March Madness, Syracuse sanctions
By Tyler Piccotti
March 26, 2015 - 9:32pm
Lundquist has been calling NCAA Tournament games for more than 30 years.

Verne Lundquist witnessed the legendary Iron Bowl in 2013 between Alabama and Auburn and famously narrated the rise to fame of an uncontrollable golfer in the 1996 comedy film “Happy Gilmore.” 

Still, the 74-year-old broadcaster said the excitement surrounding the NCAA Tournament beats all other scenes in sports. 

NCAA East Regional open practice: What you need to know
By Tyler Piccotti
March 25, 2015 - 5:17pm
Fans of all ages will be able to see each of the four teams competing at the Carrier Dome during Thursday's fan-friendly event.

Looking to be a part of this weekend's NCAA East Regional without having to break open your piggy bank?

Well then you're in luck.

On Thursday, practice for Friday's Sweet 16 games will be open with free admission at the Carrier Dome to all fans, including those without tickets to the rest of the "Madness." Gates open to the public at 11 a.m., with practices beginning at noon.

Each of the four teams competing (North Carolina State, Louisville, Michigan State and Oklahoma) will take the court for 50 minutes throughout the afternoon. The schedule is as follows:

Women's basketball: Orange's season ends with loss to South Carolina
By Tyler Piccotti
March 23, 2015 - 2:24am
SU struggled from the field and could not overcome a balanced attack from the top-seeded Gamecocks.

For the second-straight season, Syracuse reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament thanks to a tight victory over Nebraska on Friday.

But that would once again be as far as the Orange could surge.

Despite hanging with South Carolina earlier in the season, SU fell behind early and never recovered in a 97-68 drubbing at the hands of the top-seeded Gamecocks. The Orange finishes the 2014-15 season with an overall record of 22-10.

Syracuse announces self-imposed post-season ban for the 2014-15 men's basketball season
By Tyler Piccotti
February 4, 2015 - 7:14pm
The ban stems from violations initially reported to the NCAA in 2007.

Syracuse University has initiated a self-imposed post-season ban for the 2014-15 men’s basketball season as part of its case pending before the NCAA Committee on Infractions, according to a release by Syracuse Athletics on Wednesday afternoon.

The ban includes the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament and all other post-season tournaments, namely the NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Tournament and the National Invitational Tournament (NIT).

Men's soccer: Orange rallies to beat Penn State, advances to third round
By Gabriella Kreuz
November 23, 2014 - 10:27pm
Two second-half tallies help SU overcome rare goalkeeping mistake.

Battling a one-goal deficit early in the second half, No. 4 Syracuse rallied back to defeat Penn State, 2-1, in the second round of the NCAA Men’s Soccer Championship at SU Soccer Stadium on Sunday.

“To come back from behind and win shows a lot of character,” Syracuse head coach Ian McIntyre said. “I’m very, very proud of this group.”

The Orange (16-3-1) controlled the first half, keeping the ball in possession enough to fire eight shots while holding the Nittany Lions (13-6-1) to just one.

Syracuse selected as No. 3 seed in South region
By Tyler Greenawalt
March 16, 2014 - 6:40pm
The Orange play 14-seeded Western Michigan Thursday in Buffalo, N.Y.

The late-season slide pushed Syracuse (27-5, 14-4 ACC) down to a No. 3 seed in the southern region of the NCAA Tournament bracket. Syracuse will play the Western Michigan Broncos (23-9, 14-4 MAC) out of the Mid-Atlantic Conference. The Broncos, who won 12 of its last 13 games, won the MAC title over Toledo Saturday, 98-77.