The lead up to this game was a long time coming. With Syracuse leaving the Big East this season to join the Atlantic Coast Conference, the collision between these two juggernauts was an inevitability. When the ACC schedule was released, February 1st was circled by college basketball enthusiasts everywhere as the Syracuse Orange and the Duke Blue Devils would meet as conference rivals for the first time.
The history between the two teams was brief, only four meetings which the teams split. Their lastest matchup was in the 1998 NCAA Tournament, nearly 16 years ago. Despite their sparse history, this was a game with a huge connection. The two winningest coaches in NCAA D-1 Men's Basketball history were set to face off against each other: Mike Krzyzewski with 974 wins and Jim Boeheim with 910, a combined total of 1,914. Both have been coaching at their respective schools longer than I have been alive. In Boeheim's case, by nearly a decade.
Every sports media outlet had pegged this as one of the most anticipated games on the NCAA schedule this season long before conference play even started. Both teams got off to quick starts, and as they continued their strong play, the build up to this game grew. And grew, and before you knew it, the countdown to Duke's first ever visit to the Carrier Dome was on.
I had a personal stake in this game, as it would be the first time a standing bet I have with my best friend would come to fruition. With Syracuse and Duke now in the same conference, this bet will come into play at least once a season, and most likely two or three times for the foreseeable future. It was, in fact, the first sports bet (although the stakes were not money) I had ever made, and after losing $25 when the Blue Jays didn't win the World Series this past season, it might be my last.
Syracuse was coming in undefeated, 20-0, but I was a bit worried. Even though they had not lost all season, there were several scares. Miami, Pittsburgh, and their most recent game against Wake Forest .. it seemed like they were merely surviving these games rather than winning them. Nevertheless, they came in ranked #2 in the country behind only PAC-12 powerhouse Arizona.
Duke on the other hand was playing their best basketball of the season, led by freshman sensation Jabari Parker who had been dominant over the previous five games. Coming off an impressive win on the road against a very tough Pittsburgh team, there was no doubt that Duke was the second best team in the ACC, boasting a 16-4 record and ranked #17 in the country. It was plain to see they were going to give Syracuse a run for their money to keep their undefeated streak alive, and there was a very real possibility that this was where the run would come to an end.
The game opened before a record setting crowd at the Carrier Dome, over 35,000 fans clad in Syracuse Orange. It was an electric atmopshere befitting a game of this magnitude. It's one of those crowds you see on TV and just know that it's a hundred times better in person. Oh what I wouldn't have given to be there.
The game itself was unlike any college basketball game I had ever seen. College basketball is a game of runs, one team will score 10 unanswered points, then a few minutes later the opposing team follows suit. Typically the team that gets hottest and stays hot for the longest generally pulls away at some point and takes control of the game. It can happen in the first five minutes, it can happen in the last five minutes, but more often than not it does happen at some point.
Through the first half, the Orange and the Blue Devils traded baskets and defensive stops, neither team able to build a lead greater than six. An early 12-3 run by the Orange was the only noticeable string of points for either side. Duke quickly countered that with a couple of threes. They were two teams that wanted the game too much to let it get out of hand. Syracuse forced turnovers with their signature 2-3 zone defense while Duke did what they often do and rained three point shots. When the dust settled after the first half ended, Syracuse held a slim 38-35 lead.
The second half was much the same, the Orange kept defending and the Blue Devils kept shooting. There were some dunks, blocked shots, strong drives to the net, fadeaway jumpers, a little bit of everything. Syracuse at one point late in the half built a seven point lead and looked poised to take control of the game, but Duke stayed in it by, you guessed it, hitting three after three after three. It was a see-saw battle if I had ever seen one as they continued to trade baskets and defensive stops.
Duke struggled with fouls the entire game as Syracuse relentlessly attacked the rim. Amile Jefferson and Jabari Parker both fouled out in the closing minutes, and things were looking grim for Duke as the game entered the final minutes. But they never quit. As the game was winding down, Duke looked to take the lead, only to turn the ball over allowing Syracuse to take a three point lead with just 5 seconds left. It was Rasheed Sulaimon who ended up with the ball in his hands in the dying seconds, who threw up an awkward looking three point shot after Syracuse curiously didn't foul him.
It went in. Overtime.
During the final three minutes I was on the edge of my couch, and when that shot went in I couldn't believe it. Further, I didn't know if I could handle five more minutes of this game. But I had no choice, the game was tied 78-78 and there was no way in hell I was missing the end.
With Parker and Jefferson fouled out, Duke was forced to go small which created a huge mismatch on the blocks. The Orange took full advantage, feeding Jerami Grant, who finished with a career high 24 points, four times in a row, three ending with emphatic dunks. The crowd went wild after each one, but Duke kept pace, making up for their lack of size by continuing to hit three point shots. When the final horn sounded, Duke had attempted thirty-six shots from beyond the arc, making fifteen of them.
Heading into the final seconds, Syracuse held a narrow one point lead when Rakeem Christmas, who was an absolute beast under the basket, made a game saving block on what looked like a sure dunk. Free throws were exchanged, and with the Orange holding a two point lead, Duke put up one last shot at the buzzer to again tie the game. Mercilously, this one missed.
Game over. Orange win.
I started watching college basketball when I was in the eighth grade, and I've watched a lot of games over the years. The last two seasons in paticular, I've spent many Saturday and Sunday afternoons watching games on CBS. I have never seen a college game played this well outside of the tournament. Ever.
Neither team led by more than seven points or went on an extended run the entire game. They just played great basketball for forty-five minutes. Syracuse played their 2-3 zone defense and attacked the rim. Duke did what you would expect against the zone and threw the ball to the free throw line and looked to shoot three pointers. I knew if they started heating up from beyond the arc, it would be trouble. It would force the Orange to extend the zone, opening lanes for Parker to get to the rim. And they did heat up, but as Syracuse has been doing all season, they found a way to survive.
No one will believe me when I say this, but regardless of the outcome, I would say that this was, without question, the best college basketball game outside of tourament play that I have ever seen. It was one of those rare games that not only kept me on the edge of my seat and screaming at my TV for a large part of it, but it also lived up to its hype. Between the atmosphere at the Dome and the intensity of the game itself, it really felt like a national title game. The excitement and anticipation was well justified as this game is being touted by college basketball pundits as an instant classic. I'm not about to disagree.
It was truly an incredible game, and if you didn't see it, well, you missed out. Big time.
And the best part is we get do it all over again in three weeks as 'Cuse and Duke meet again at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, North Carolina for a re-match. Circle that one on your calendar, it should be great.
-matt
