Story Created:
Mar 13, 2010 at 12:07 AM EDT
Story Updated:
Mar 13, 2010 at 1:56 AM EDT
NEW YORK, N.Y. (WKTV) - After being eliminated from the Big East Tournament in their first game, the Syracuse Orange will now focus entirely on the upcoming NCAA Tournament, and winning their second National Title in eight years.
Some experts say that after their 91-84 loss to Georgetown in the Big East Tourney quarterfinals, they will not be one of the four #1 seeds in the Big Dance. But they shouldn’t be any lower than a two seed, and either way the Orange are ready to take the next step.
“This team, this whole year has been so focused and we just know what we have to do to get to the next point. We got two losses (in our last two games), but like coach (Jim Boeheim) said, the time they got to the final four we lost here early,” said Scoop Jardine after the Georgetown loss.
“We work this hard all year just to go to the tournament and have a chance of winning it. We're just going to enjoy it and hopefully we'll have a lot of success,” added Rick Jackson.
Senior guard Andy Rautins said that his team will still be one of the best in the field of 65. “There's no question we're excited and our body of work that we've done all season I think put us in a good position for this tournament and it's the biggest time of the year right now.” When asked about the loss to the rival Hoyas, Rautins added, “Nobody likes to lose for certain, but it's given us the opportunity to get back and get some rest and reenergize and get everybody healthy.”
Wes Johnson, one of SU’s key players, and the Big East Player of the Year, said just getting a whiff of the Big Dance will be a thrill. “The expectations of it, going into the NCAA Tournament, I sat out last year and to see the guys all hyped and everything, get ready to go to the tournament, so I'm excited for it.”
The Orange have struggled over the last seven games, going 4-3 after winning 24 of their first 25. But Coach Jim Boeheim credits their recent woes to the strength of the Big East. “Teams in our league at this stage of the year know how to attack us. We're looking forward to get out and playing somebody that hasn't seen us.”
Syracuse will find out who, when and where they’ll be playing Sunday during the NCAA Basketball Selection Special at 6 p.m.
If the Tournament Selection Committee follows trends of recent years, where higher seeded teams are sent to cities close by for the first two rounds of the Tournament, then the Orange will be playing in either Buffalo, N.Y. or Providence, R.I.
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