http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/ncaa/men/recaps/2006/03/16/37583_recap.html JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) - Maybe the Big East was overrated. It would be hard to argue against that after the opening day of the NCAA tournament. Acie Law scored 23 points, including a dozen in the final 2:25, and helped 12th-seeded Texas A&M upset fifth-seeded Syracuse 66-58 Thursday night in the Atlanta Regional. It was the third loss in as many games for the powerhouse Big East Conference. Wichita State pounded Seton Hall 86-66 in Greensboro, N.C., and Marquette was knocked off by Alabama, 90-85 in San Diego. It also ended an improbably run for the Orange and senior Gerry McNamara . The star guard carried Syracuse through the Big East tournament last weekend and helped the team secure an automatic berth in the NCAA field. Before the conference tournament, the Orange seemed destined to be left out of the NCAAs. But the Aggies (22-8) had better fortune in this one - thanks to Law. The left-hander scored 14 points in the final eight minutes, almost single-handily delivering Texas A&M into the second round. He finished 7-of-17 from the field and had seven rebounds and five assists. In the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1987, the Aggies advanced to face fourth-seeded LSU on Saturday in Jacksonville. The Tigers beat Iona earlier Thursday. McNamara was held to two points - tying his career low - and the Texas A&M section was chanting ''overrated, overrated'' at him on several occasions. He was 0-for-6 from the field and missed all five shot from behind the 3-point line. McNamara received significant attention leading up to the Big East tournament after he was called the conference's ''most overrated'' player by unidentified Big East assistants in a Syracuse area newspaper, and also was called overrated by a columnist from the school newspaper. McNamara was scoreless most of first half, until he sank two free throws with 36 seconds remaining. But he didn't score again. Terrence Roberts led the Orange (21-12) with 16 points. McNamara was much better in the Big East tournament. Against Cincinnati in the opening round, he hit a running 3-pointer in the final second to lift the Orange to a 74-73 victory. He made another clutch 3 the next night with 5 seconds left to tie top-ranked Connecticut in a game the Orange won in overtime. He made a 3-pointer the following night against Georgetown that got Syracuse within one, assisted on the go-ahead basket and caused a turnover that sealed the win. McNamara finished with 14 points and six assists in the Orange's 65-61 win over Pittsburgh in the championship game. He also had three 3-pointers against the Panthers, giving him a Big East tournament-record 16. A&M defeating a very hot Syracuse team that rolled in their tournament. They've had some big games the last few weeks and some big wins. Only lost by 4 to Texas in the Big 12 tourney in Austin. Wow. The A&M basketball has come a long way in the couple of years they've had Gillispie. Give that guy whatever he wants to keep him long term. He did a great job at UTEP. I'm sure glad the Aggies stole him away.
Probably should be merged with the "tourney" or "Gig'em Aggies" thread... http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?t=110420
I couldn't believe all the people who bought into the Syracuse hype. They played so many games in a short period of time that they had dead legs. LSU will bounce A@M next but I appreciate their 12 points and them killing half of the brackets with people who had Cuse beating Duke (yes those people do exist)
