2003-04 Syracuse Orange men's basketball team
Encyclopedia
The 2003–04 Syracuse Orangemen basketball team represented Syracuse University
in NCAA men's basketball competition in the 2003–04 Division I season. The Head Coach was Jim Boeheim
, serving for his 28th year. The team played its home games at the Carrier Dome
in Syracuse
, New York
. The team finished with a 23–8 (11–5) record, while making it to the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA tournament
. The team was led by junior Hakim Warrick
and sophomore Gerry McNamara
. Senior Jeremy McNeil
, juniors Craig Forth
and Josh Pace
and sophomore Billy Edelin were also major contributors.
This was the last season for Syracuse men's basketball under the Orangemen nickname. (At that time, women's teams and athletes were known as "Orangewomen".) Effective with the 2004–05 academic year, the school nickname became "Orange" for both men and women.
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
in NCAA men's basketball competition in the 2003–04 Division I season. The Head Coach was Jim Boeheim
Jim Boeheim
James Arthur "Jim" Boeheim is the head coach of the men's basketball team at Syracuse University. Boeheim has guided the Orange to eight Big East regular season championships, five Big East Tournament championships, and 28 NCAA Tournament appearances, including three appearances in the national...
, serving for his 28th year. The team played its home games at the Carrier Dome
Carrier Dome
The Carrier Dome is a 49,250-seat domed sports stadium located on the campus of Syracuse University in the University Hill neighborhood of Syracuse, New York, USA. It is home to the Syracuse Orange football, basketball, and lacrosse teams. High school football championships are also held in "The...
in Syracuse
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. The team finished with a 23–8 (11–5) record, while making it to the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA tournament
2004 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 2004 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 16, 2004, and ended with the championship game on April 5 at the Alamodome in San Antonio,...
. The team was led by junior Hakim Warrick
Hakim Warrick
Hakim Hanif Warrick is an American professional basketball player in the NBA who is currently with the Phoenix Suns. Commonly nicknamed "Helicopter" and "Skinny", the 6'9", 219 lb forward was a major part the Syracuse Orange's run to the 2003 National Championship, often being most remembered...
and sophomore Gerry McNamara
Gerry McNamara
Gerry McNamara Sucks because he did not get drafted into the NBA.Gerry McNamara is a former American basketball player and current graduate assistant coach. He is a former guard for the Syracuse University men's team, from 2002 to 2006...
. Senior Jeremy McNeil
Jeremy McNeil
Jeremy McNeil is an American basketball player who played college basketball for Syracuse University during their first National Championship in 2003. He played 135 games spanning from 1999–2004, which included 21 starts...
, juniors Craig Forth
Craig Forth
Craig Forth is a former college basketball player for the Syracuse Orange from East Greenbush, New York who was a member of Syracuse's 2003 NCAA National Championship team...
and Josh Pace
Josh Pace
Josh Pace is an American professional basketball player. A former college basketball player for the Syracuse Orange, he playes for the Hawke's Bay Hawks in the New Zealand National Basketball League.-High school:...
and sophomore Billy Edelin were also major contributors.
This was the last season for Syracuse men's basketball under the Orangemen nickname. (At that time, women's teams and athletes were known as "Orangewomen".) Effective with the 2004–05 academic year, the school nickname became "Orange" for both men and women.
Key contributors
- Hakim Warrick (19.8 ppg, 8.7 rpg)
- Gerry McNamara (17.2 ppg, 3.8 apg)
- Billy Edelin (13.8 ppg, 5.2 apg)
- Josh Pace (9.5 ppg, 5.3 rpg)
- Craig Forth (5.7 ppg, 5.8 rpg)
- Demetris NicholsDemetris NicholsDemetris Nichols is an American professional basketball player. He played small forward for the Syracuse Orange men's basketball team, and has been a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Chicago Bulls, and New York Knicks.-High school:He was coached by Mike Hart at St...
(4.2 ppg, 2.2 rpg) - Louie McCroskey (3.9 ppg, 2.2 rpg)
- Jeremy McNeil (3.0 ppg, 2.7 rpg)
- Terrence RobertsTerrence Roberts (basketball)Terrence Roberts is a former college basketball player for the Syracuse Orange from Jersey City, New Jersey who currently plays for Universitatea Cluj in Romania.-High school:...
(2.1 ppg, 2.0 rpg)
Developments
- Syracuse would eventually lose in the Sweet 16 round to Alabama.
- McNamara scored 43 points on 11-of-17 shooting from the floor, as Syracuse topped Brigham Young, 80–75, in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
- Syracuse handed Pittsburgh its first ever loss at the Peterson Center, 46–49 (OT), on a buzzer-beater in overtime by McNamara, and also concluded its regular season by topping Connecticut, 67–56, which would go on to win the National Championship.
- Billy Edelin played just 17 games and left the team for undislosed reasons in January.
- Syracuse lost would-be sophomore Carmelo AnthonyCarmelo AnthonyCarmelo Kiyan Anthony , nicknamed "Melo", is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the New York Knicks in the National Basketball Association...
to the NBA Draft (3rd to the Denver NuggetsDenver NuggetsThe Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado. They play in the National Basketball Association . They were founded as the Denver Rockets in 1967 as a charter franchise of the American Basketball Association, and became one of that league's more successful teams...
) and Kueth DuanyKueth DuanyKueth Duany is a Sudanese former college basketball player for the Syracuse Orange who was the captain and lone senior on Syracuse's 2003 NCAA National Championship team.-Early years:...
to graduation.
See also
- Syracuse Orange men's basketballSyracuse Orange men's basketballThe Syracuse Orange men's basketball program is the intercollegiate men's basketball team representing Syracuse University. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I, and the team competes in the Big East Conference...
- 2004 Big East Men's Basketball Tournament2004 Big East Men's Basketball Tournament-Games:*1st round: Wednesday, March 10Noon2PM7PM9PM*Quarterfinals: Thursday, March 11Noon2 PM7 PM9 PM*Semifinals: Friday, March 127 PM9 PM...
- 2004 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament2004 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball TournamentThe 2004 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 16, 2004, and ended with the championship game on April 5 at the Alamodome in San Antonio,...