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Every great accomplishment needs a pioneer who did it first. Whether the first to run a country like George Washington or the first to land on the moon like Neil Armstrong, someone has to lead the way.

There’s often no proven formula or blueprint for initial success. But once it’s done, it sets a precedent — a foundation for the next generation to follow in hopes of repeating and building on that triumph.

For Syracuse men’s basketball, that team was Roy Danforth’s 1974-75 squad. Led by senior point guard Jim Lee and center Rudy Hackett, that year’s team went 23-9 and made the program’s first Final Four. The run set up a future filled with 36 NCAA Tournament appearances, five more Final Four appearances and a National Championship in 2003.

Despite an illustrious resume and being the first to set a new standard for the program, SU’s 1974-75 team often gets overlooked in history. “Roy’s Runts” will be honored at halftime of the Orange’s game against Boston College Saturday to celebrate their 50th anniversary. But it feels like checking a box on a list, honoring the team just to get the job done.

“The first is supposed to be a team that gets honored and is appreciated for laying the path for everyone else,” Hackett said. “I don’t think this team is understood that way.”

On Danforth’s staff was none other than his successor. The legendary Jim Boeheim was hired in 1969 as an assistant coach, just three years after his college career ended. A 12-12 record in Danforth’s second season at the helm in the 1969-70 campaign began a 52-year streak of SU finishing .500 or better, which ended in 2021-22. The obvious bridge between the seasons was Boeheim. But it all started with Danforth.

Danforth still thinks about his Final Four team every day, even now at 89 years old. While Boeheim eventually found his own success over a much larger span, who says he reached those spots without that initial experience under Danforth?

Lee said Boeheim rarely talks about that team today. When he does, Lee recalls him saying he was just glad to be there. Boeheim isn’t alone in his recollection of the run.

The Orange went 17-7 in the regular season, only losing by double digits once. In the Eastern College Athletic Conference regional tournament, they steamrolled Niagara and St. Bonaventure to claim an automatic NCAA Tournament bid. Still, Syracuse was largely characterized as a Cinderella in the Big Dance.

“We didn’t think of ourselves as Cinderella. We just thought of ourselves as a team on a mission,” Hackett said.

Throughout the season, Danforth said he put a sign on a bulletin board saying, “It’s awfully nice in San Diego.” America’s finest city hosted that year’s Final Four.

The first step toward California came in Philadelphia. The First Round practically was an away game, as the Orange battled La Salle at The Palestra. SU squeaked by the Explorers in overtime, setting the stage for a match with North Carolina.

Lee remembers the headlines entering the game: UNC will face the winner of Boston College and Kansas State. Syracuse wasn’t even mentioned, assuming Phil Ford and the Tar Heels would run straight through it.

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The Orange trailed by one with under 30 seconds left. Then came the greatest shot in program history. Yes, the late great Pearl Washington’s legendary half-court heave in 1984 was one of SU’s top moments ever. But that shot came in January. This one was in late March.

As Hackett received the ball down low, he was instantly surrounded by UNC defenders. He kicked it out to Lee, his roommate of three years, who sank the 18-footer to claim a lead Syracuse never relinquished. The win remains the biggest tournament upset in program history.

SU’s 1974-75 team didn’t have a superstar freshman like Carmelo Anthony. There weren’t any highly touted prospects like Washington or Derrick Coleman. The absence of a recognizable name is likely why it’s often glossed over.

Unlike the modern college sports landscape, Hackett and Lee began their careers on SU’s junior varsity team. They’d often go to the third floor of the Archbold Gymnasium and shoot together. Lee remembers the two battling one-on-one. Hackett said they often ran through Syracuse’s offense, perfecting it to know exactly where each other would be in crunch time — just like the shot against North Carolina.

That year, their last in college, Hackett averaged 22.2 points and 12.7 rebounds. Lee was close behind at 17.2 points. Over their careers, Hackett averaged 17.2 points and 11.4 boards per game while Lee posted 13.4 points per contest. Both still rank in the top 10 in program history. Still, neither have been honored among the 17 others to have their number retired.

“The fact that (Hackett) hasn’t been acknowledged, or (Lee) hasn’t been acknowledged, I think that’s an oversight,” Steve Shaw, a forward on the team, said.

While Lee had his big moment against the Tar Heels, Hackett’s came versus Kansas State with a trip to the Final Four on the line. Down two with five seconds to play, guard Jimmy Williams went the length of the court and dumped the ball off to Hackett.

Hackett flushed a left-handed jump hook at the buzzer to tie it. In overtime, Syracuse clinched its first-ever Final Four appearance as Lee and Hackett combined for 53 points in the victory.

While SU’s run came up short, falling to Kentucky, it instantly set up its future. A then-junior in high school, Roosevelt Bouie wasn’t even thinking about coming to Syracuse, according to Lee. That was until he saw the Orange play in the Final Four and became one of Boeheim’s top recruits when he took over for Danforth.

When Syracuse’s 1974-75 team comes out at halftime Saturday, many fans won’t know who they are. They won’t know of Lee’s clutch jumper. They won’t know of Hackett’s consistency. But they will know of the teams that came after them.

Lee confirmed that at least 13 team members will be in attendance Saturday. Danforth is expected to come from his home in Cape Cod barring poor weather conditions.

To understand the history of a program, you have to understand its origins. Syracuse had legends before that team like Dave Bing. They’ve had superstars and future NBA All-Stars come after it. But through the program’s 125 years, only three teams have made it further than its 1974-75 team.

“If nobody ever says a word, you’ve got a whole team who knows what we did, and nobody can take that away from us,” Lee said. “I think we helped change the trajectory of Syracuse basketball. But nobody ever gives us credit for that.”

The squad must be acknowledged as one of the best to ever play at Syracuse simply because they were. There have been better teams, better finishes, better talent. But all success in SU lore begins with Roy and his Runts.

Aiden Stepansky is the Digital Managing Editor for The Daily Orange, where his column appears occasionally. He can be reached at amstepan@syr.edu or on X @AidenStepansky.

Published on February 5, 2025 at 9:47 pm