After making the NIT the year before, the Syracuse Orange entered the 2002-2003 season with no national expectations of competing for a National Championship.  Enter Carmelo Anthony.  The freshman superstar paced the Orange all year averaging 22 points and 10 rebounds per game but he wasn't a one man show.  Syracuse also added freshman Gerry McNamara and Billy Edelin to a core group led by sophmore star Hakim Warrick and veteran senior Keuth Duany. 

The 'Cuse were long and deep with Coach Boeheim's 2-3 match up zone impossible to penetrate.  All that added up to a 24-5 record, a share of the Big East West championship and a #3 seed in the East Region of the NCAA Tournament. 

Syracuse cruised into the Sweet 16 with wins over Manhattan and Oklahoma State.  Once there it took a big off the bench effort from Josh Pace (14pts) to escape Auburn 79-78.  The zone ate Oklahoma up in the Elite 8 as Syracuse cruised to New Orleans and the 2003 Final Four.

After defeating T.J. Ford and Texas, 95-84, the Orange were in the National Championship for the third time in school history.  Awaiting them was Roy Williams, Kirk Hinrich, Nick Collison and the #2 seed Kansas Jayhawks.

Led by Anthony's 20 points and McNamara's hot shooting Syracuse clung to a 3 point lead in the final seconds.  With 3 seconds to play Hinrich found Michael Lee in the corner for what seemed like an open 3 to tie the game.  That's when Hakim Warrick came from the post to block the attempt essentially giving the Orange their first national championship.

Features

• Colour: Orange
• Material: Double Ply 100% Pro Aero Mesh
• 19Nine brand
• Modern Standard-Length Fit 
• Hemmed Pockets on Both Sides 
• Elastic Waistband with Drawstring 
• Sublimated Team Graphics 
• Officially Licensed 
• Product SKU/code: SYR-03