Syracuse Men's basketball team was considered the last team in to the NCAA tournament but the committee that chooses the teams that don't make automatic bids. Few people gave them much chance against 3-seed Michigan State Sunday, one of the best teams all season, and with one of the country's best players in Miles Bridges.
Sweet 16: SU v Duke Mar. 23 Pre-game ~9:00 pm @ 88.3 FM
None of that mattered to the gritty Orange who shocked many onlookers with a 55-53 victory, propelling them to the Sweet-16.
Meanwhile the Syracuse Women's team had a different outcome from the weekend. As the 8th seed, hey faced 9-seed Oklahoma State in a game that appeared to be an even match. But hot-shooting OK State sent the Orange women home 84-57 in the opening round game Saturday.
The story in the men's upset win was defense. Michigan State was averaging 81 points-per-game coming into the contest. SU held them to 28 points below that average. It was the third game in a row in which the team's hustle on defense held a team that averaged over 80-points-a-game to scores down in the 50s.
Guard Tyus Battle led the Orange with 17 points, while forward Oshae Brissett tallied 15 points and 9 rebounds. Battle wasn't affected by the team's underdog status.
"We don't listen to what people say. We expect to win every time we step on the floor. We're not afraid of anyone."
That confidence will be put to the test when the Orange play their next tournament game, Friday night against Duke. Tip-off is scheduled for 9:37.
SU WOMEN RUN INTO HOT SHOOTING OPPONENT
The Orange women ran into the wrong team at the wrong time. Oklahoma State hit 12 of 23 3-point shots, with the Cowgirls' Jaden Hobbs going 8-9 from 3-point range, a school record. SU couldn't overcome the barrage, losing 84-57, despite being down by only 8 at halftime.
The one bright spot for the Orange was Miranda Drummond's 24 points. Coach Quentin Hillsman was able to focus on a silver lining after the game. His entire starting five on a team that went 22-9 is back for next year. That includes Drummond, who's a junior, sophomores Tiana Mangakhia and Gabrielle Cooper, and freshmen Amaya Finklea-Guity and Digna Strautmane
