Final Four Fever!

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Syracuse University is the center of the college basketball universe this week. Both the men's and women's teams have advanced to Final Four, making Syracuse the ninth school to send both its basketball teams to the national semifinals in the same year.

With the excitement for this weekends games building, more than 2,500 Syracuse students and fans came together Wednesday for a pep rally in Manley Field House. They gathered to celebrate the historic accomplishment and wish the teams well as they depart for Houston and Indianapolis, respectively.

By now you know the story. Jim Boeheim's squad erased a 16-point deficit in the second half Sunday to upset top-seeded Virginia 68-62 and become just the fourth double-digit seed in tournament history to make it to the Final Four. A few hours earlier, the Orange women's team handled perennial power Tennessee, beating the Lady Vols 89-67 in the finals of the Sioux Falls Regional to advance to the Final Four for the first time in the history of the program.

While certainly a great story, Boeheim told the crowd this is no fairy tale.

"There are no Cinderellas here," the Hall of Fame coach said to a loud round of applause. "These two teams up here deserve to be here and they are both capable of winning two more games."

During the festivities, county executive Joanie Mahoney proclaimed March 30, 2016 "Syracuse Basketball Day" in Onondaga County and the city of Syracuse. New York State Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul and Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner also addressed the audience, passing along messages of encouragement to the Orange men and women as their journeys toward national championships continue.

Hochul, a 1980 Syracuse graduate, recounted how when she was a freshman she would come to Manley Field House to cheer on the 1975-76 Orange men's basketball team. She recited that squad's starting lineup, including legends Roosevelt Bouie and Louis Orr.

"I don't tell you that to show you how old I am," Hochul joked. "In 40 years, the people, the students here before today who adore you, will remember your names," she told the two teams. "You are part of the Syracuse story. You will go down in history for what you've accomplished here."

For guard Brittney Sykes, who has battled back from two serious knee injuries, Wednesday was a reminder of just how special the 2015-16 season has been for both teams.

"We appreciate seeing your faces out here right now, sending us off to the Final Four," Sykes said. "Nobody thought we would be here except our fans. We thank you so much."

The Orange men's team (23-13) will take the court first this weekend. Syracuse plays ACC rival North Carolina (32-6) in the national semifinals Saturday, April 2 at Houston's NRG Stadium. Tipoff is 30 minutes after the conclusion of the 6:09 p.m. ET game between Oklahoma and Villanova on TBS.

On Sunday, April 3, the Syracuse women (29-7) square off against Washington (26-10) at 8:30 p.m. ET at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The game will be televised live on ESPN2.

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