Syracuse Basketball 2009-10 Trivia Quiz

Answer: Unranked

Both the AP and the ESPN polls dramatically underestimated the team's chances. Yes, the team that would go on to reach and remain in the top 10 from week three to the end of the regular season (and reach and remain in the top five from week nine until the end), was at season's start unranked in the AP poll.

The ESPN poll's preseason ranking was marginally better, placing the Orange at 25th. The Orange actually held the coveted number one ranking for one week with about two weeks to go in the regular season.

Answer: Le Moyne College

Le Moyne College is a Jesuit school with a strong student athlete history. They beat the Orange 82-75 in the Carrier Dome, stunning fans and pundits alike. So shocking was the loss, even though it was preseason, it made some national news reports the next day. Sportscaster Warner Wolf mentioned the loss during his report on the next morning's "Imus In The Morning" show.

Answer: He was a transfer player

Wes Johnson transferred to Syracuse in 2008 from Iowa State, and per NCAA rules was forced to sit out the 2008-09 season. Johnson made his debut on Syracuse's home court at the Carrier Dome in an exhibition game against Cal-State, in which he scored 8 points and had 4 blocks with the Orange winning handily 97-54. Wes was drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Answer: Andy Rautins

A so-called "fifth-year senior", Andy Rautins was the son of Leo Rautins. A serious player, Andy was well liked for playing hard and smart, and for being accurate from three-point range. Offseason, he kept in shape playing in a Canadian league. Andy was drafted by the New York Knicks.

Answer: Brandon Triche

Brandon was the nephew of Howard Triche who played for the Orange in the mid-1980s, and was drafted by the New York Knicks in 1987. As a freshman during the 2009-10 season, Brandon started every game at point guard for the Orange.

Answer: Jim Boeheim

Jim Boeheim, a "walk-on" basketball player during his own days as a student at Syracuse, began coaching the Orange as an assistant in 1969, becoming the head coach in 1976. The court in the Carrier Dome is named for him, "Jim Boeheim Court".

Answer: Arinze Onuaku

Admittedly, 'AO' as he was called, spent most of his time under or close to the hoop, and so earning a greater than 65% field goal percentage was not as it might appear, but it was still a staggering statistic. A free throw scoring percentage of 43% was not so good. He was forced to sit out the games of the Orange's NCAA tournament bid with an injured right quadricep leg muscle, possibly costing the team a chance to go further.

Answer: Kris Joseph and Scoop Jardine

For most of the season, and even though he started only one game, Joseph had the third-highest playing time of the entire team (behind only Wes Johnson and Andy Rautins), and earned "Big East Conference Sixth Man of the Year" honors.
For his part, Antonio "Scoop" Jardine was named "Sixth Man of the Year" for the 2009-10 NCAA Men's Division I regular season by "The Sporting News".

Answer: Wes Johnson and Andy Rautins

Junior Wes Johnson went in the first round (fourth overall pick) to the Minnesota Timberwolves (to which 2009s star, Jonny Flynn was drafted the year before). Senior Andy Rautins went to the New York Knicks in round two, as the 38th overall pick.

Answer: Sweet Sixteen

The Orange made it into the so-called Sweet Sixteen after defeating the University of Vermont and Gonzaga University in the first two rounds. The Orange lost in the third round to the Butler University Bulldogs 63-59. Butler would go on all the way to the finals and ultimately lose to Duke University (the tournament champions), 61-59.