CHICAGO — This was never supposed to happen, really. Not after Syracuse staggered into the NCAA Tournament. Not after the Orange needed a big rally to eliminate Gonzaga. No way, not after falling behind against mighty Virginia, which beat Syracuse in January.
And yet there was coach Jim Boeheim, cutting down the net. Freshmen Malachi Richardson and Tyler Lydon, celebrating a Texas-sized comeback.
It happened, all right, sending Syracuse to perhaps the most unlikely of the school’s six Final Fours.
“I’ve never been prouder in all my 40 years as coach of a basketball team as I am of this team tonight,” Boeheim said.