# 1997–98 Syracuse Orangemen basketball team

The 1997–98 Syracuse Orangemen basketball team represented Syracuse University as a member of the Big East Conference during the 1997–98 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The head coach was Jim Boeheim, serving for his 22nd year. The team played its home games at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, New York. The team finished with a 26–9 (12–6) record, while making it to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA tournament.
The team was led by senior Todd Burgan and sophomores Ryan Blackwell, Etan Thomas and Jason Hart.

## Schedule and results

| Date time, TV | Rank$^#$ | Opponent$^#$ | Result | Record | Site city, state |
| Regular season ||||||
| Nov 15, 1997* | | UNC Asheville | W 60–57 | 1–0 | Carrier Dome Syracuse, New York |
| Nov 22, 1997* | | UNC Greensboro | W 83–53 | 2–0 | Carrier Dome Syracuse, New York |
| Nov 30, 1997* | | Colgate | W 78–74 | 3–0 | Carrier Dome Syracuse, New York |
| Dec 3, 1997 | | at St. John's | W 80–73 | 4–0 (1–0) | Madison Square Garden New York, New York |
| Dec 6, 1997 | | at Boston College | W 70–52 | 5–0 (2–0) | Silvio O. Conte Forum Boston, Massachusetts |
| Dec 12, 1997* | | Texas Southern | W 85–73 | 6–0 | Carrier Dome Syracuse, New York |
| Dec 13, 1997* | | Miami (OH) | W 72–53 | 7–0 | Carrier Dome Syracuse, New York |
| Dec 18, 1997* | No. 25 | Buffalo | W 82–70 | 8–0 | Carrier Dome Syracuse, New York |
| Dec 20, 1997* | No. 25 | at UNLV | W 71–64 | 9–0 | Thomas & Mack Center Las Vegas, Nevada |
| Dec 24, 1997* | No. 19 | vs. Saint Louis Puerto Rico Holiday Classic | W 67–64 | 10–0 | Eugene Guerra Sports Complex San Juan, Puerto Rico |
| Dec 25, 1997* | No. 19 | vs. No. 25 TCU Puerto Rico Holiday Classic | W 82–78 | 11–0 | Eugene Guerra Sports Complex San Juan, Puerto Rico |
| Dec 26, 1997* | No. 19 | vs. Michigan Puerto Rico Holiday Classic | L 61–93 | 11–1 | Eugene Guerra Sports Complex San Juan, Puerto Rico |
| Jan 4, 1998 | No. 19 | Rutgers | W 71–68 | 12–1 (3–0) | Carrier Dome Syracuse, New York |
| Jan 7, 1998 | No. 18 | at Providence | W 77–59 | 13–1 (4–0) | Providence Civic Center Providence, Rhode Island |
| Jan 10, 1998* | No. 18 | Louisville | W 69–65 | 14–1 | Carrier Dome Syracuse, New York |
| Jan 13, 1998 | No. 16 | Providence | L 64–76 | 14–2 (4–1) | Carrier Dome Syracuse, New York |
| Jan 18, 1998 | No. 16 | Miami (FL) | W 85–67 | 15–2 (5–1) | Carrier Dome Syracuse, New York |
| Big East Tournament ||||||
| Mar 5, 1998* | No. 22 | vs. Villanova Quarterfinals | W 69–66 | 23–7 | Madison Square Garden New York, New York |
| Mar 6, 1998* | No. 22 | at St. John's Semifinals | W 69–67 $^{OT}$ | 24–7 | Madison Square Garden New York, New York |
| Mar 7, 1998* | No. 22 | vs. No. 6 Connecticut Championship Game | L 64–69 | 24–8 | Madison Square Garden New York, New York |
| NCAA Tournament ||||||
| Mar 13, 1998* | (5 S) No. 21 | vs. (12 S) Iona Second Round | W 63–61 | 25–8 | Rupp Arena Lexington, Kentucky |
| Mar 15, 1998* | (5 S) No. 21 | vs. (4 S) No. 18 New Mexico Second Round | W 56–46 | 26–8 | Rupp Arena Lexington, Kentucky |
| Mar 20, 1998* | (5 S) No. 21 | vs. (1 S) No. 3 Duke South Regional semifinal – Sweet Sixteen | L 67–80 | 26–9 | Tropicana Field St. Petersburg, Florida |
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. S=South. ||||||