Scott Garceau: March Madness In Epic February
On our Wednesday show former Loyola, and current Siena basketball coach, Jimmy Patsos made a bold prediction telling us Maryland would upset top ranked and undefeated Syracuse Monday night in College Park. What Jimmy forgot to tell us was that Boston College would beat Maryland to the punch, shocking the Orange and basketball world with a 62-59 overtime win at Syracuse Wednesday night.
Yes, the Boston College team that went into Syracuse with a miserable 6-19 (2-10 ACC) record. The Eagles who were down 13 points to the Orange in the second half. Sure Syracuse had a few of those just getting by wins lately, but the best team in the land, 25-0, losing to a 6-19 team in their own Orange filled Carrier Dome, wow! That's why they play the games.
How rare was this upset? Well if you're a college basketball fan under age 60 it hasn't happened in your lifetime. This is the 3rd time EVER that a team below .500 has defeated the AP No. 1 team on the road. It's the first time since Georgia Tech won at top-ranked Kentucky in 1955. And this epic upset has a heart warming story to go with it.
Boston College had a special 6th man Wednesday night in Syracuse. Longtime basketball media contact and sports information assistant Dick Kelley died last week after a two-year battle with ALS. His funeral was Tuesday, and the Eagles, who often visited his apartment, were wearing "DK" patches on their uniforms.
"The patch on our chests, toward the end of the game, it was like, 'We can't be denied. DK is looking down on us. He's got us," forward Ryan Anderson said. "It's real emotional." Syracuse had won 46 straight at home against unranked opponents until the guys with "DK" on their chests and in there hearts showed up.
The number crunchers say BC's win over the 'Cuse is the equal of a 16 seed beating a 1 seed in the tournament.
With tournament time right around the corner I say let the Madness begin.