What became the Big East’s signature rivalry resumes this weekend, albeit in a non-conference manner now that the Orange is in the ACC. For fans of a certain age, this was the game you circled on your calendar every year.
The two schools combined to win 8 of the first 10 conference tournaments — often squaring off in Madison Square Garden — and gave the league marquee names like Patrick Ewing, Pearl Washington, Alonzo Mourning and Derrick Coleman.
They faced each other 73 times over 34 years as league opponents. More than a few determined regular and tournament titles. Even Coach John Thompson III has trouble coming up with a short list of memorable games: “Maybe I’m not the best person to ask, because they all felt like that to me.”
Where to begin? Let’s start with a closing…
“Manley Fieldhouse is Officially Closed.”
Feb. 13, 1980. The first Big East conference season is winding down. The Hoyas are a program looking to make back-to-back NCAA Tournaments for the second time in school history. The Orange are just getting used to not playing St. Bonaventure and Canisius twice a winter.
Syracuse is about to move its games into the recently build Carrier Dome—and owns a 57-game winning streak at Manley Field House. They’re ranked No. 2 in the nation while Georgetown remains No. 2 inside the Beltway behind Maryland in many fans’ minds.
The Hoyas rally late and win, crashing a Syracuse celebration while coach John Thompson proclaimed, “Manley Fieldhouse is officially closed.” A rivalry is born…
- “Michael Graham punched my player…”
Referee Dick Paparo at first appears to eject Graham, only to declare that it was just an intentional foul. (YouTube)
March 10, 1984. The two teams meet in the Big East Tournament for the fourth time in its five-year existence. This time it’s for the championship. The scrappy Orange are led by freshman point guard Pearl Washington while the regular-season champ Hoyas boast Patrick Ewing in the pivot (plus a frisky freshman named Michael Graham).
As Graham and Andre Hawkins battle for a rebound, it appears as though the Georgetown forward throws a left-handed punch. Referee Dick Paparo at first appears to eject Graham, only to declare it was just an intentional foul. The Hoyas rally in regulation and win in overtime.
Orangemen coach Jim Boeheim was not pleased in his press conference, claiming “Michael Graham, in front of 19,000 people, punched my player, and the ref had the nerve to call it a two-shot foul. The better team did not win today.” He then got up and threw his chair.
- Thompson gets technicals
March 4, 1990. This game would determine the Big East regular season champion, and the Hoyas led by 3 in the first half when a reach-in foul was called on Dwayne Bryant.
Georgetown coach John Thompson voiced his displeasure and referee Jim Burr gave him a technical foul. Thompson left the coaches box and received his second T from Larry Lembo, only to stomp onto the court and get a third technical foul from the third official Pete Pavia.
The automatic ejection resulted in Derrick Coleman hitting 5 of 6 free throws (for the technical fouls; he also made both free throws for the initial foul).
A Billy Owens three-pointer completed a rare 10-point play. Still, the Hoyas rallied and actually led by two with under 10 seconds left when Sam Jefferson fouled Owens at midcourt. The Orangemen at the time were notoriously awful at the free throw line, but the sophomore sunk both ends of the one-and-one and SU prevailed in overtime.
- End of an era…
March 15, 1992. John Thompson and Jim Boeheim meet for the ninth and final time in the Big East Tournament, fittingly in the finals. Syracuse enters the postseason, stumbling with six losses in their last eight games, including a home loss to the Hoyas.
Georgetown is just beginning to hit its stride with six wins in its final eight regular season games. Alonzo Mourning was part of a Big East Championship team as a freshman, and the senior was averaging a double-double when it appeared he’d wrap up his tenure in gray with another title.
The Orangemen spoiled the celebration, beating the Hoyas in the Big East Finals for the first time in four tries. Senior Dave Johnson hit a shot over Mourning in the game’s final seconds of a 56-54 victory.
Nobody knew it at the time, but the league was transforming from a big city basketball league to an unwieldy collection of schools ranging from Rutgers to Miami.
Connecticut would dominate the next two decades under Jim Calhoun (7 Big East Titles and 3 National Championships). Although both Georgetown and Syracuse would challenge for and win Big East Tournament titles in the future, it was never really the same.
- Three-two-one…
Syracuse announced in the fall of 2011 that they would leave the Big East for the Atlantic Coast Conference. In their final season as league rivals, Georgetown and the Orange (retitled in the previous decade from Orangemen) would face three times over four weekends.
The first saw Otto Porter Jr. play out of his head in a 57-46 win at the Carrier Dome Feb. 23. March 9 saw the Orange visit Verizon Center thinking revenge.
They shot 32 percent while scoring just 39 points in a game that was over early in the second half. Did we mention that the victory delivered the Big East regular season title to Georgetown?
After watching the Hoyas cut down the nets, the reeling Orange (4 losses in 5 games to end the regular season) bounced back to shock the regular season champs in the Big East Semifinals 58-55 in overtime. It wasn’t for the championship, but for many at Madison Square Garden that night, it was much more.
