The Daily Orange

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Gerry McNamara has been the barometer for the Syracuse men's basketball this season, and for much of his time with the Orange. He proved just how valuable he is in the 2006 Big East tournament, making clutch shots in all four games en route to most outstanding player honors and leading SU to the title.

By Zach Berman Asst. Sports Editor BALTIMORE - It only took 15 minutes. Not even a full half. Just a quarter. Syracuse is almost six hours from Baltimore, but the fate of the SU men's lacrosse team trip to Johns Hopkins was determined in 15 minutes.

There were only four people in the locker room - one player and three reporters. Still, Gerry McNamara was barely audible after Syracuse lost to DePaul by 39 points nine days ago. Now, McNamara and SU can be heard loud and clear. Seconds away from playing in the wasteland of the NIT thanks to that awful loss to the Blue Demons, the Orange completed one of the greatest four-day turnarounds in college basketball history and earned a No.

NEW YORK - Going into the second half of the Big East Championship final against Pittsburgh, Syracuse held the momentum and a nine-point lead. As the final half went along and the Panthers continued to chip away at SU's lead, it was apparent the Orange wouldn't cruise to a second-straight Big East tournament title.

NEW YORK -- It was a week ago, last Sunday, when Jim Boeheim stood behind the block "S"-crested wooden lectern and told the media members who had just watched Syracuse lose to Villanova for its ninth loss in 12 games that SU needed a West Virginia-like run in the Big East tournament if it was going to make the NCAA Tournament.

By Zach Berman Asst. Sports Editor NEW YORK -- Calling Terrence Roberts emotional is like calling New York crowded or Marshall Street fun. Been there, done that. Let's here something we don't know. Roberts' emotion seeps through on a big dunk. Or at a big game.

By Zach Berman Asst. Sports Editor NEW YORK - Six points usually doesn't even merit a mention in a postgame press conference, much less an entire answer. But considering the source and timing of the points, it became noteworthy. Syracuse forward Matt Gorman scored six points in Friday's 58-57 upset of Georgetown.

NEW YORK - Eat, sleep, breathe and prove clutch in the final minute. It's become second nature for Gerry McNamara and it continued on Friday. McNamara provided end-of-game heroics for the third straight day in the Big East tournament, hitting a 3-pointer with 48 seconds remaining and assisting backcourt mate Eric Devendorf for the eventual game-winning lay-up.

NEW YORK - Gerry McNamara isn't healthy; hasn't been for a while. Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim described it as playing on a "half a leg." McNamara wouldn't specify - could be the charley horse he suffered on Feb. 1 - but it's suddenly an issue now because the Big East tournament requires back-to-back games.

Following Syracuse's 86-84 overtime win over No. 1 Connecticut on Thursday, Syracuse men's basketball head coach Jim Boeheim began his press conference with an apology. He apologized for using three expletives during his now-famous tirade on Wednesday that was played on endless loops on television and radio shows across the country.

With Syracuse trailing by two goals with a minute remaining, Georgetown midfielder Garrett Wilson was called for a slashing penalty. It created a man-up opportunity. But Joe Yevoli's high shot above the bar, Pat Perritt's wide-right attempt and Brett Bucktooth's sling at goalie Miles Kass resulted in nothing.

NEW YORK - The fourth and fifth-graders of "McNamara's band" from Bridgeport Elementary performed so splendidly last Sunday, it would've been considered prodding to ask for an encore. Now, thanks to their hero, there's a better chance that won't be necessary.

As much as Gerry McNamara would like to cherish his final days at SU - and especially his game-winning 3-pointer to beat Cincinnati on Wednesday - that isn't possible. Less than 24 hours after burying the Bearcats, McNamara and his team must face the No.1 team the nation, Connecticut, today at noon at Madison Square Garden in the second round of the Big East tournament.

NEW YORK - Syracuse has proved it cannot play close to a 40-minute game this season. But shorten that to a one or two-minute game, and the Orange has it made. That isn't a good thing. Gerry McNamara's game-winning 3-pointer on Wednesday was just the latest example.

Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim waited until he was before a national audience to go off on an expletive-ridden rant combating claims in various newspapers and magazines that his four-year golden boy, Gerry McNamara, isn't as talented as some say. The latest charge came from assistant coaches in the Big East, who anonymously participated in a widespread poll in Tuesday's edition of The Post-Standard.

Greg Rommel knew at Media Day that suffering injuries is inevitable. But with this year's depth, the senior midfielder was confident if any player were to fall to injury, there would be someone ready to take his place. That is the case early in the season at midfield.

For Gaddy Fortune silence truly is golden. "All I did last year was yell at her," said SU head coach Lisa Miller of her junior midfielder. But things have changed. Fortune, who finished last season with 10 goals, is now the leading scorer for the Orange (3-1) with 15 points.

Syracuse ace Erin Downey decided she had enough. For her third consecutive start, the Orange stumbled out of the gate to begin a game. This time, against Georgia State in the first round of elimination play at the Atlanta Marriot Buzz Classic played last weekend, Syracuse fell behind 5-1 with no outs in the second inning, through a combination of Downey's wildness and sloppy fielding behind her.

Radford men's basketball coach Byron Samuels tried to get his leading scorer Whit Holcomb-Faye off the court. He pleaded with him to miss some practice time. With a deep thigh contusion, Samuels said Holcomb-Faye could barely bend his leg.