SU Achieves Highest NACDA Directors' Cup Winter Ranking in School History
4/8/2010 12:59:54 PM | Men's Basketball, General
The Syracuse athletics program is ranked 53rd in the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) Learfield Sports Directors' Cup standings, which is the highest winter ranking in school history. The 235.5 points the program has scored is Syracuse's highest point total through the winter rankings since the Director's Cup program began in 1993-94.
The Orange men's basketball team scored 64 points for advancing to the 'Sweet 16' round of the 2010 NCAA Tournament. In addition to men's basketball, SU's men's and women's cross country, field hockey and women's track and field teams have scored points this year.
"This is exciting news and another indication of significant progress of our athletics department,” said director of athletics Dr. Daryl Gross. “Though we made history by scoring our highest point total ever last year, we felt the best was yet to come. We are proud of how our teams have performed so far this year and it is supported by the results of our teams. We want to express our gratitude to our fabulous coaches and teams. We look forward to finishing strong in the spring with our remaining teams. We want to continue to strive to become extraordinary.”
Head coach Chris Fox and the Orange women's indoor track & field squad scored 25.5 points, marking the first time in 10 years the program has contributed to SU's scoring total. The Orange women finished 46th at the 2010 NCAA Championship. Senior Uhunoma Osazuwa finished sixth in the pentathlon, becoming Syracuse's first All-American pentathlete.
The women's cross country team, under the direction of Fox, competed at the NCAA Championship for the second time in school history. The Orange garnered its highest ranking in program history when it reached the 10th spot in 2009 and finished the season ranked No. 12th. The men's squad finished the season ranked ninth nationally, which is the highest ranking in school history. Both squads won the NCAA Northeast Region Championship.
Head coach Ange Bradley directed the eighth-ranked field hockey squad to its second consecutive NCAA Tournament. The 2009 BIG EAST Champions advanced to the second round of the national tournament.
