The first time is the best time for Syracuse University. The Orangemen (30-5) captured their first NCAA basketball crown ever, on Monday night, defeating the Jayhawks of Kansas (30-8) 81-78.
In front of a rowdy Superdome crowd in New Orleans, the freshman forward sensation Carmelo Anthony led his teammates against the experienced Kansas squad, contributing 20 points to the 'Cuse cause.
Developing a huge 18 point lead early on, Syracuse had to withstand a furious Kansas rally in the second half to hold on for the three point victory that gave Head Coach Jim Boeheim his first national title.
For Kansas, the game was lost on the free throw line as KU missed a stunning 18 shots from the charity stripe.
As for heroics, the game had plenty on both teams. In Kansas' corner was senior center Nick Collison, who finished with 19 points and 21 rebounds.
Meanwhile, on Syracuse's squad sophomore forward Hakim Warrick played the hero, moments after missing two free throws that would have iced the victory, when he swatted a desperation shot from Kansas' sophomore guard Michael Lee.
Freshman guard Gerry McNamara played a big game for the Orangemen with his six of 10 shooting. All six shots were three-pointers and gave McNamara a career high 18 points.
In addition to his 20 points Anthony ended up with 10 rebounds and seven assists, three short of a triple-double. Anthony was awarded the Final Four's Most Valuable Player award.
For Boeheim the victory is even sweeter considering he had lost his previous two championship games. Sixteen years earlier he had lost by one point to Indiana on the same Superdome court.
As sweet as the win was for Syracuse's coach, the loss was just as bitter for Kansas Head Coach Roy Williams. For Williams the loss was another failure in an otherwise complete career. It was his third loss in a championship game.
Williams' focus now turns to the unenviable decision he must make regarding the coaching vacancy at his alma mater the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. Prompted by a reporter in the post-game interview the usually reserved Williams responded with a verbal tirade.
