NEW YORK – Syracuse had run its final play before, John Gillon charging up the court to hoist a desperation 3-pointer from the top of the arc. The first time, that sequence produced arguably the highlight of college basketball’s regular season as a game-winning buzzer-beater against Duke. Two weeks later, the contrary came as the ball deflected softly off the left side of the rim and trickled away from Syracuse as its chances for victory did the same.

Gillon’s shot would’ve sent the game to overtime and granted SU another chance to win and further its spot in the NCAA Tournament. Instead, with four tenths of a second left and Miami trotting to the opposite foul line to bury the Orange, the team quietly waited for its fate to become official.

Syracuse’s NCAA Tournament fate is anything but official following the eighth-seeded Orange’s (18-14, 10-8 Atlantic Coast) 62-57 loss to ninth-seeded Miami (21-10, 10-8) in the second round of the ACC tournament in the Barclays Center. Because of that, Syracuse will wait a lot more before the NCAA releases the field of 68 on Sunday night.

“We’ve done everything we could to put us in a position to be considered for the postseason,” fifth year senior Andrew White said. “Just proud of the way we’ve come, coming from where we started earlier in the year.”

Where Syracuse started is far from where Jim Boeheim’s team is now. This team had no business in any Tournament conversation after a 33-point defeat to St. John’s at home and a 15-point road loss to Boston College, the eventual worst team in the conference, to begin league play. Back-to-back blowout losses spoiled chances for marquee wins against North Carolina and Notre Dame and the Orange showed no potential to turn its season around.

Yet it did just that. Syracuse tacked on wins against Florida State, Virginia and Duke that now serve as the basis of Boeheim’s argument that his team should be one of the 68. Nobody forgets Syracuse’s 2-11 record away from the Carrier Dome, or the lack of a signature non-conference win this season. Now, Orange coaches, players and fans will sweat it out until the end, just as they did a year ago.

“It’s pretty tough, but it’s what we have to do,” freshman Tyus Battle said. “… We definitely fought our way back just into the whole conversation which most teams wouldn’t do.”

The Orange had a chance to all but secure its spot in the NCAA Tournament with a win against a Miami team that’s already a lock. Syracuse entered the half down eight but never disappeared in the second half, clawing back as it has so often this season. Battle even gave Syracuse a one-point lead at 41-40, before SU menace DJ Vasiljevic canned two 3-pointers to put the Hurricanes back in front.

White tried his best to resuscitate Syracuse with a game-high 22 points, but in the end it wasn’t enough. Battle’s blown two-handed dunk that would’ve brought SU within one under three minutes left led to a Kamari Murphy slam at the other end that put Miami up five. Even a Davon Reed missed free throw with Miami up three points with seven seconds remaining left a glimmer of hope for more Gillon heroics. But, just like last year’s last-second Trevor Cooney miss that sent Syracuse packing in its ACC tournament opener, Gillon’s leaner did the same.

The point guard nailed game-saving and game-winning 3s against North Carolina State and Duke this season, but the third time wasn’t the charm.

“Maybe it just wasn’t in the cards to make the third one,” Boeheim said.

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MORE COVERAGE

• The Final Word: Beat writers discuss Syracuse’s 62-57 loss against Miami
• John Gillon can’t pilot Syracuse offense in ACC tournament loss to Miami
• What we learned from Syracuse’s 62-57 ACC tournament loss to Miami
• Jim Boeheim pitches case for Syracuse to make NCAA Tournament
• Gallery: Syracuse loses third straight ACC tournament game

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In Syracuse’s locker room after the game, six coaches sat shielded by a portable white board in the corner. From left to right, director of operations Kip Wellman, assistant coaches Adrian Autry, Gerry McNamara and Mike Hopkins and assistant strength coach Eric Devendorf quietly talked amongst each other.

Boeheim sat before them, his jacket and tie off, his right leg crossed over his left and his hands resting on his knees. Last season, he orchestrated a magical Final Four run after Syracuse squeaked into the field.

The 41-year head coach believes the committee values teams that can win games in the Tournament. That, he said, is what his team offers to deserve squeaking into the field again.

Now, Syracuse can only sit and wait to see if it gets a chance.

Published on March 8, 2017 at 2:14 pm

Contact Matt: mcschnei@syr.edu | @matt_schneidman