First Final Four Team To Reunite

The 1974-75 Syracuse men's basketball team, the first Orange squad to advance to the NCAA Final Four, will reconvene for a 50th anniversary celebration on Saturday, February 8, in the JMA Wireless Dome. The group will be honored at halftime of the Syracuse vs. Boston College game.

First Final Four Run
Syracuse had earned four NCAA Tournament invitations previously, but had never pushed its way into the Final Four. The 1974-75 overcame a challenging stretch during the middle of the campaign and regrouped in time to make a historic run to the national semifinal.

After opening the season with 11 wins in 13 contests, Coach Roy Danforth's crew lost back-to-back road games at Boston College (79-73) and Penn State (88-84). The Orange picked up wins at home against LaSalle (82-78) and at St. Bonaventure (97-89, OT), but dropped home-court decisions to Rutgers (76-75) and West Virginia (84-81). Following a victory against local rival Colgate (85-83), Syracuse fell at Canisius (80-76). The defeat on Feb. 15 in Buffalo put the Orange at 14-7.

A convincing victory at George Washington, 71-64, started Syracuse on a nine-game winning streak. The postseason began with the ECAC Playoffs. Syracuse defeated Niagara, 90-72, and St. Bonaventure, 100-81, to claim the regional title. The victories improved Syracuse's record to 20-7 and secured an NCAA Tournament berth.

The 1975 NCAA Tournament
The Orange opened by edging LaSalle in Philadelphia, 87-83 in overtime. Syracuse converted its last 13 free throws in the triumph and Rudy Hackett had a squad-leading 30 points.

A trip to Providence was up next, where the Orange were paired against Atlantic Coast Conference power North Carolina. Syracuse trailed 76-73 in the final minute but Chris Sease pulled his team within one with a jumper and Jimmy Lee connected from 18 feet for the game winner with five seconds remaining. Lee finished with 24 points in the 78-76 stunner.

An encounter with Kansas City in the regional final was another thriller in which Syracuse prevailed, 95-87, in overtime. Hackett extended the game with a left-handed hook with five ticks on the clock in regulation. He ended up with 28 points and 16 boards in the game that provided Syracuse with its first venture to the Final Four.

Syracuse In San Diego
San Diego served as host of the 1975 Final Four. The Orange went up against Kentucky in the semifinals and the Wildcats ended Syracuse's win streak in a 95-79 decision. Lee tallied 23 points and Orange performers Hackett, Earnie Seibert and Jimmy Williams each fouled out.

At that time, the Final Four included a consolation game, which paired Syracuse with Louisville. The Cardinals emerged with a 96-88 victory despite 28 points from Hackett.

Lee Leads All
Lee finished the NCAA Tournament with a 23.4 point-per-game scoring average, the top mark in the postseason. Lee scored at least 20 points in each outing.

The 1974-75 Team
Syracuse's first Final Four group included: (row 1, l-r) Mark Meadors, Larry Arrington, Larry Kelley, Roy Danforth, head coach, Ross Kindel, Jim Lee, Jimmy Williams, Jim Boeheim, assistant coach; (row 2, l-r) Steve Shaw, Kevin King, Chris Sease, Robert Parker, Rudy Hackett, Earnie Seibert, Bruce DeFord, Marty Byrnes, Bill DeMarle, Kevin James, Donald Degner.

The group last gathered at the Dome in 2016 (see story photo).

Tickets
Syracuse men's basketball tickets for the Boston College contest, and all other home games, are available online (cuse.com/tickets), by phone (1-888-DOMETIX) and at the Dome Box Office (Gate B).

Syracuse University Athletics

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