1972-1973 Syracuse Orangemen
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Overall 24-5 NCAA Tournament Schedule Results
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Coach: Roy Danforth

Player Cl Pos G GS FG FGA FG% FT FTA FT% Ast Reb Fls DQ Pts Ppg Apg Rpg
Dennis DuVal Jr G
28
28
242
513
47.2%
64
85
75.3%
113
99
69
2
548
19.6
4.0
3.5
Mark Wadach Sr G/F
29
29
101
237
42.6%
21
37
56.8%
96
117
67
2
223
7.7
3.3
4.0
Mike Lee Sr F
29
29
189
366
51.6%
116
155
74.8%
91
173
83
5
494
17.0
3.1
6.0
Rudy Hackett So F
29
29
136
278
48.9%
79
122
64.8%
50
280
75
2
351
12.1
1.7
9.7
Bob Dooms Jr C
29
29
104
196
53.0%
23
44
52.3%
28
193
98
8
231
8.0
1.0
6.7
Jimmy Lee So G
29
1
83
187
44.4%
93
105
88.6%
47
49
51
2
259
8.9
1.6
1.7
Tom Stundis Jr C
28
0
37
77
48.0%
22
36
61.1%
8
60
57
1
96
3.4
0.3
2.1
Scott Stapleton Jr G
16
0
16
36
44.4%
4
8
50.0%
10
4
10
0
36
2.2
0.6
0.3
Chuck Wichman Sr F
20
0
10
24
41.6%
4
10
40.0%
21
27
13
0
24
1.2
1.1
1.4
Bill Suprunowicz Jr G
8
0
6
9
55.5%
3
5
60.0%
3
4
3
0
15
1.9
0.4
0.5
Steve Shaw So F
17
0
5
17
29.4%
2
9
22.2%
8
17
12
0
12
0.7
0.5
1.0
Don Degner So G
6
0
5
11
45.4%
0
0
---
1
6
1
4
10
1.7
0.2
1.0
Lew Cotton So F
4
0
3
11
27.3%
2
2
100.0%
2
6
0
0
8
2.0
0.5
1.5
Bruce Bartholomew Sr F
6
0
2
3
66.7%
2
4
50.0%
1
8
6
1
6
1.0
0.2
1.3
Dave Clark So G
5
0
2
10
20.0%
1
2
50.0%
1
1
0
0
5
1.0
0.2
0.2

The NIT team from the previous season was returning, with the notable exception of perimeter shooter Greg Kohls. In replacing Kohls, Roy's Runts added some height, bringing 6'8" sophomore Rudy Hackett on to the varsity. Roy Danforth would have a healthy roster for most the season, and played a very small rotation of player on a regular basis. The same five started all games but one: the flashy Dennis DuVal at the point, hustling Mark Wadach moving from the forward to guard position, smooth shooting senior Mike Lee at forward, Hackett a the other forward, and Bob Dooms holding down the center position. Sophomore Jimmy Lee played significant time off the bench, and helped to replace the perimeter shooting of Kohls, and junior Tom Stundis provided rebound support up front.

To help build fan support, Danforth encouraged DuVal to display showmanship during the game with fancy passes and dribbling displays. In pre-game warmups the team developed a Globetrotter style routine. This showmanship helped boost attendance and excitement in the game, though it led to the inevitable increase in turnovers. Nevertheless, the Orangemen did very well over the year with strong hustle under the boards, nice perimeter shooting and clutch free throw shooting by DuVal and the brothers Lee. DuVal and Mike Lee would share the scoring honors for most the season.

Syracuse would start the season off 9-2, with two tough losses to Tennessee and Maryland. They would suffer a couple more losses before finishing the regular season on a nine game winning streak, and an impressive record of 22-4. The Orangemen earned their first bid to the NCAA tournament since 1966.

The first round of the tournament saw the Orangemen struggle against an underrated Furman school. Behind Mike Lee's 22 points, the Orangemen would pull out a close 83-82 victory. The second round of the NCAA tournament saw the Orangemen facing the formidable Maryland squad that had easily beaten them earlier in the year. Unfortunately, the results would be nearly the same, and Maryland went on to win easily 91-75. The NCAA had consolation games at that time, and they played a nail bitter against Penn, with Hackett and DuVal leading the way with 20 points each in a one point victory 69-68.

NCAA bylaws changed this year, allowing freshman to play on the varsity.

© RLYoung 2005, 2007