Vermont and Syracuse, two schools that have grave differences when it comes to traditions came together Friday night and gave basketball fans across the country the madness that always comes with March. The 60-55 overtime victory for the No. 13 seed Catamounts from Burlington, Vt. over the No. 4 seed Orange was the biggest upset up to that point in the tournament as well as the most intriguing game.
Vermont comes from the small mid-major America East Conference compared to Syracuse's much heralded Big East (the best conference in college basketball, Mr. "Duke" Vitale). It was a classic David vs. Goliath match-up and was fitting for the small New England school. This was the last hurrah for head coach Tom Brennan, who announced it would be his final season at the helm prior to the beginning of the year. Brennan has put Vermont on the map following three straight NCAA Tournament appearances - their first three in school history despite 100 plus years of basketball. He also got the marquee win everyone was looking for, one over a power the likes of Syracuse.
It was also one of the final times two superstars would play together as seniors Taylor Coppenrath and T. J. Sorrentine will both move on to bigger and better things following Sunday's loss to No. 5 seed Michigan State. The two roommates that brought success on the court hope to go on and play professionally, Coppenrath in the NBA and Sorrentine looking overseas. Together with Brennan, the trio brought interest from even ESPN, as they chose Vermont, Cincinnati and Wake Forest to highlight in "The Season," a weekly show that followed the teams from the basketball court to the dining halls.
One would have thought that after Hakim Warrick's thunderous dunk late in the second half that gave Syracuse their first lead since the opening minutes the Catamounts would have folded, but that was not the case as they overcame the same 2-3 zone that gave UConn a problem in the Big East Tournament game just one week before. Following Sorrentine's 26-footer that turned out to be the game-winner late in overtime, Brennan could be seen with a huge smile and his arms held above his head as he looked on in utter amazement and joy at what his boys did - something that had to bring a smile to the face of many on this campus.
With two weeks left and many more upsets waiting to happen, one can expect much of the same as the tournament moves closer and closer to St. Louis and the Final Four. Just too bad the Huskies, the ones from Storrs, of course, aren't still in it.
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