![President Todd Pfannestiel poses with Jeremy Thurston chairperson Board of Trustees [left] and former chairperson Robert Brvenik [right] after accepting the universitys institutional charter.](https://uticatangerine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/unnamed.jpeg)
Jacquelyn White, staff writer
The Syracuse women’s basketball team has been in the NCAA tournament eight times since 1985. Unlike any other year for the Orange, they haven’t lost a game so far in this tournament. 2016 is the first time the Orange women have been in the Sweet Sixteen, the Elite Eight, and the Final Four. Syracuse beat Army in the first round, Albany in the second round, South Carolina in the third round, and Tennessee in the third round.
The Syracuse men have also made it to the Final Four in the most recent NCAA tournament. The men’s team have made the NCAA tournament 38 time since 1957, though four of the appearances have been vacated by the NCAA related to Jim Boeheim’s suspension during the early part of this season. The Orange have made it to the Sweet Sixteen 22 times, the Elite Eight 10 times and the Final Four six times. They have won the NCAA tournament once, in 2003.
Syracuse made history this year, as both the men and women’s teams have made it to the Final Four. The women’s team shocked everyone when they beat the third seed team, South Carolina, on March 25. Most people had pegged South Carolina as the shoo-in winnners that would be going to the final game. The Syracuse men’s team also shocked viewers and fans alike when they beat the fourth seed Virginia team on March 27. The women have continued their success, beating Washington on Sunday April 3, 80-59.
Shantia Hunt watched the men’s basketball game in South Hall lounge. In the first half, Hunt felt that the men’s team was trying to keep up defensively with North Carolina’s offense, even though they were down by 11 points. Toward the end of the game, Hunt thought the team got sloppy with their defense.
She also felt that they lost their confidence. Hunt felt the game was intriguing to watch, but didn’t think they were going to make a comeback due to their lack of confidence toward the end of the game. The Orange lost 83-66 to North Carolina. Despite this, their journey to the Final Four can still be marked as a success, making them the fourth double-digit seeded team to play in the Final Four in NCAA tournament history.
