LOTD: Devendorf’s Oh-So-Close Release Leads to Syracuse-UConn 6 OT Instant Classic

I have spent all morning trying to think of a better, more complete, and more compelling basketball game than what I watched last night in the Big East Tournament. Syracuse and UConn put on a show for the ages in a six overtime thriller that defies description.

I didn’t even start watching until the very end of regulation. After following the conference tournaments all day, I decided I needed a basketball break and busted out the new MLB game for the Wii. I had gotten through innings when my girlfriend texted me and told me to turn on the Syracuse-UConn game. I acquiesced, and the first images I saw where the ones displayed in the video below:

Video – Eric Devendorf Shot to End Regulation of Syracuse-UConn 6 OT Game

That has got to be the most razor thin margin for a buzzer-beater not counting that I have ever seen. I think it was Jay Bilas (or Bill Raftery…one of the two) who said later that if Devendorf had just cut his fingernails that morning, the shot would have counted. The crazy thing is, when you watch that video, it doesn’t seem like a ridiculous statement.

After getting sucked in watching whether or not they were going to count the shot, I watched every second of the 6 OTs. I get up at 5:30 every morning to get into work by 7:00, so I knew I would pay for it today — but it was definitely worth it. Paul Harris and Jonny Flynn were sensational in the overtimes. Flynn actually 67 of the 70 minutes in the game! And some of the shots that Andy Rautins hit were just amazing. Talk about a guy with impeccable fundamentals for coming off screens, squaring his shoulders, and shooting off a pass without a dribble.

Amazing.

And while Syracuse is getting tons of pub today for surviving winning the game, UConn was pretty awesome too. Their fatal flaw as far as I’m concerned was poor shot selection when they had opportunities to take the final shot in a couple of the overtimes. They settled for threes when a guy like AJ Price probably could have driven it to the hole, especially considering the weary legs of defenders on both sides.

What I can’t wait to see now is how Syracuse responds tonight. Can they possibly have any energy left to play West Virginia? We’ll see. The game is at 9:00 ET tonight, so Syracuse will have had about 19 hours to recover from playing three full halves and then another ten minutes of high intensity Big East basketball.

Wow.

I don’t know else to say.

That’s why I’ll let David Roth over at the WSJ Daily Fix take it from here. The Fix has a great breakdown of the Syracuse-UConn game, compiling the opinions and observations of sportswriters from around the country, and it is today’s Link of the Day:

LOTD: Breaking Down Syracuse’s 6OT Instant Classic — (WSJ Daily Fix)

It was already a dramatic Thursday in college basketball.

…

ll good games, all brilliant efforts from underdogs and all of them, alas, destined to be overshadowed by one of the wildest, greatest, loooongest games in hoops history. That would be Syracuse’s 127-117 upset victory over fourth-ranked UConn, which unfolded over a history-making six overtimes. Only one college game, ever, has gone longer; no Big East Tournament game has ever gone more than three.

(Note: David is also nice enough to give Midwest Sports Fans a shout-out at the bottom of the post. He links to our recent article on the passing of Dean Towey, the man responsible for bringing One Shining Moment to the NCAA Tournament. It is always exciting when our little operation here can get a blip on the radar screen of one of the titans of the sports blogosphere. We thank the Daily Fix for recognizing MSF.)

And now a few more links from around the sports blogosphere for you on what is a cold and dreary day here in Dallas…but will surely be filled with all kinds of excitement and drama later today when the conference tournaments start up again.

Oldie but a goodie: “One Thighning Moment” Video — (YouTube Video by Sharapova’s Thigh)

LeBron James pleased to hear NBA is reconsidering rules on traveling — (Cleveland.com)

Gastronomic Delights – NBA Power Rankings — (With Malice)

Updated NFL Mock Draft — (My Sports Rumors)

That’s a wrap: Hoosiers fall in opening round of Big Ten Tournament — (Inside the Hall)

Henrick Stenson and his unfortunate whitey-tighties — (BBC.co.uk)

Sorry Pacers, the answer’s no — (IndyStar)

Mark McGwire speaks! — (NY Times)

2009 Culture Tournament voting has begun — (The Big Lead)

OfftheTracks.org has a new location for its Purdue obsession — (Hammer and Rails)

It’s a beautiful day for a ballgame, let’s play two! — (Josh Q. Public)

Why I (and everyone else should) Hate Duke — (Sparty and Friends)

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