First Round Recap – Phoenix Region
by Jim Woods
No. 5 Syracuse 80 vs. No. 12 BYU 75
I got two words for you: Gerry McNamara! He is the only reason why the Orangemen have lived to see another day in this dance. He single-handedly kept Syracuse in the game in the first half scoring 28 points before the break. And he needed to, because he got no help from his mates. Hakim Warrick picked up his third foul with 7:01 remaining in the first half so it was even more imperative that McNamara carry the load. BYU was playing some great offense of their own throughout the half and their long range shooting, led by Mike Hall and Luis Lemez, forced the Orangemen out of their 2-3 zone. These outside marksmen drew the defensive attention away from star big man Rafael Araujo. At the half the score was knotted at 42, and the Cuse knew they had dodged a major bullet.
McNamara was once again on a roll in the second half, but this time he had some more help from Warrick. Warrick scored nine straight Syracuse points midway though the half to give the Orange a seemingly comfortable 69-60 lead. But the Cougars would not go away. Seniors Mark Bigelow and Araujo did not want this to be their final game. They finally grabbed a one-point lead 73-72 with 3:22 remaining. A Warrick layup and (what else) a McNamara three (his ninth of the contest) pushed the Orange lead back to four. A Bigelow layup got the margin back to two and after an offensive foul on Syracuse’s Demtris Nichols, the Cougars had their chance to tie at the foul line. Jake Shoff missed the front end of the one-and-one, but BYU grabbed the offensive rebound. Bigelow and Araujo each missed shots and Syracuse had the ball back with 1:12 remaining. The Cougars got the defensive stop they needed, but Bigelow could not knock down a go-ahead three from the top of the key. Syracuse then clinched the game at the foul line.
We said in the preview that to stop Syracuse you have to guard two guys, McNamara and Warrick. Well, BYU couldn’t do that and they go home. Syracuse can not rely on another 43 point effort Saturday, or else they may find themselves heading home.
