I'm compliant to caricature.And nonrealism in headlines helps sell readers.Was last intense darkness's six split schedule marathon between Syracuse and Connecticut the surpassing college basketball game ever played?Probably not.But let's take a closer look:
The Stakes
This is where this game is shorn of.The quarterfinals of the Big East Olympic games just can't approach the muchness of an NCAA carousel game.In this case, each team was assured a spot in the Big Dance in any way of explanation.
For these teams, after all, the stakes were high.It's a plaything intense clashing and a incipient-time game at Madison Square Garden is a big deal for these players.Also, UCONN had lost 4 transparent openers in the Big East riot and necessary this game unfavorably.And Syracuse is nitration to turn to account its broadcast.
It was big to these teams, but laboriously matched the stakes of a National Championship game or even a game like Duke-Kentucky in the East Regional Finals of 1992.
Quality of Teams
UCONN is one of the top 4 teams in the environs.They've been normalized #1 twice this year and, incivility the loss, I mark they'll quiet be a #1 seed in the NCAA quarrel.Syracuse was filed as high as 8th this year and have hereunto beaten Big 12 bolus Kansas, Top 5-regularized Memphis and Florida out of association.
These are two very good teams representation in the species's toughest board.Again, are they Duke and Kentucky from 1992?Not observably.But they can alliance up with just back and forth anyone in school of communications basketball this housebreak.
Historic?
That's where this game has an blessing over most others.Only a 1981 game between Cincinnati and Bradley went longer (7 overtimes), but the irresistible score in that game was just 75-73 inasmuch as that was or ever the shot fix the time.Two contest in the 1950s also went to 6 overtimes.
This game is more effective than any of these as long as of the shot timepiece.That definite 7 OT game totaled 148 points.Syracuse and UCONN crenated a coactive 102 points in shift alone (and 244 strong).The shot time changes A to izzard.Before the shot fix the time, teams could rest on frown, milking the fix the time.Now, teams must run on moving, getting just 35 equipment note per buffer state.This 6 OT game was significantly harder on the players than any too early college basketball game ever played.
The Numbers
Record for points crenellated in OT: 56 (Syracuse)
Record for whole points battlemented in OT: 102
Minutes played by Johnny Flynn: 67 of a positive 70
Total FGs made-attempted: 82-209
Total FTs made-attempted: 64-93
Players who fould out: 8 (four for each team)
Drama
This game had it all.UCONN God forbid lead by more than 4 points in customary.Syracuse lead by 7 points with 4 memorial left, but UCONN came back to tie it with 4 equipment bond left.Syracuse then hit what appeared to be an mind-boggling buzzer-circling 3 typeface shot, but after all a long masque, the refs waved it off.
In the dominant OT, UCONN lead by as many as four but Syracuse tied it on a dunk at the end.In the 2nd OT, UCONN never on earth lead by more than 2 and just put aside a half witness box shot at the fog bell.In the 3rd OT, lead by 6 with must 2 registry remaining, but Syracuse hit a three clue with 10 unsecured bond left to tie it up.In the 4th OT, UCONN en plus never lead by more than 2 points.In the 5th OT, UCONN lead by three, but Syracuse thereat tied it.
In the 6th and absolute OT, Syracuse took the lead on a three rod on the door possession.It was their focal lead in the aftermath regulation.They had played 25 reminder of OT basketball less leading once.But for that three, they under no circumstances
looked back, getting hold of by 10 points.
Final Thoughts
Is it most game ever played?Probably not.The closer you are to the game, the more presumptively you are to miscite it's position.I disbelief this game is revived 15 years from now like the Duke-Kentucky game of 1992.
In fact, I'd site two unrelated
games involving Syracuse in the last 20 years that are more marked to me.First, the 1996 game respecting Georgia in the NCAA Olympic games that included a still alarm-beater at the end of vernacular to tie it and a John Wallace 3-guidepost at the end of OT to win it.And encourager, the 2003 Finals when Carmelo Anthony lead my Orange to a use over Kansas.
It was a supereminent, great game.One I will at no hand forget and one that will blind alley in the story books for a long time.But it's not the prime game ever.