Throwback Thursday: Gerry Mcnamara's 2006 Big East Tournament

I use to watch this video back in middle school before basketball games to get me pumped. I watched this video before I wrote this blog to amp me up. Yes there's 8 minutes of sub par quality footage but these highlights show why Gerry Mcnamara is one of the greatest competitors in Syracuse Basketball history. First Cincy, then Uconn, and eventually Georgetown: back to back to back game winners all involving Gmac. Then Gerry and Co. took on the Pitt panthers for the Big East Championship. Gerry averaged 16 points and dished out about 8 assists per game in his Senior year Big East tournament quest. Crazy to think how Melo played here for a single year, won a 'ship, and has his jersey in the rafters. Yet Gmac played almost as big a role as Carmelo did that year, and gave us 3 more years filled with magical moments and Jerami Grant is rocking #3. Also he's currently an assistant coach like can the guy do anymore for this program? Seriously, just watch video.


Just for the heads up: Was in attendance for the Providence College vs. Georgetown game last night in Rhode Island. PC won 70-52, it was embarrassing for the Hoyas. Can't defend and can't score. We got out of that conference at the right time.

Throwback Thursday: That One Time Kris Joseph Beat Georgetown

Welcome to our first weekly edition of Throwback Thursday.  This is our way of making sure 'Cuse Nation doesn't forget about the greats of the past, and also just to celebrate our incredible history as one of the greatest college basketball programs of all time.  In today's edition, we go back to the senior season of "The Slasha" a.k.a. Kris Joseph: February 2012.

Kris Joseph hits the biggest
shot of his career, in OT vs. Georgetown
Credit: Kevin Colton, Fingerlakes1.com

John Thompson III can't believe his defense
let Kris Joseph get that wide open.

The Situation:

Second ranked Syracuse is 24-1 (11-1) going into this game against the visiting 12th ranked Georgetown Hoyas at 18-5 (8-4).  Of course as we all know this game would go into overtime where two clutch free throws by Dion Waiters would tie the game at 61.  After an Otto Porter turnover (classic), Syracuse had the ball with under a minute to go in a tie game. And then Scoop Jardine found Kris Joseph...

The Result:
Kris Joseph's 3 holds and Syracuse holds on to beat Georgetown on the back of The Slasha.  He ended the game with a career-high 29 points and a 64-61 victory against the rival Hoyas.  It's often said players' legacies are defined by how they played in the biggest games, and it shouldn't be forgotten that in Kris' last game against Georgetown, he simply could not be denied.  "The Shot" shall never be forgotten among the Syracuse faithful.  Here's some of K-Jo's departing thoughts from his senior season.  Long Live the Big East!

~Ted Gioia