Four plays during the season that helped Syracuse reach the Final Four:
The slam
Play: C.J. Fair threw down a dunk for his 1,000th career point to give the Orange a four-point lead against Georgetown in the last minute of overtime in the semifinals of the Big East tournament. Syracuse won 58-55.
Why it mattered: There are three reasons: No. 1, it was the last conference meeting between the two teams. Syracuse is joining the ACC for next season. No. 2, Fair's slam propelled the Orange to the finals of the Big East tournament. No. 3, it avenged Syracuse's 61-39 loss in the regular-season finale.
Quote: "I just knew everything else I tried, I missed," Fair told Syracuse.com. "So going for the dunk, I converted that. And it was at the right time in the game, where we needed a big bucket."
The slam, part II
Play: Michael Carter-Williams dunked to give the Orange a one-point lead over top-ranked Louisville. He would add a free throw to lead Syracuse to a 70-68 win Jan. 19.
Why it mattered: It was Syracuse's first win over a No. 1 team since 2006, when it defeated Connecticut in the Big East tournament.
Quote: "Everyone talking about the game said we had no chance," Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim told ESPN.com. "You always have a chance."
Fabulous free throws
Play: While not as glamorous as his dunk against Louisville, Carter-Williams made four free throws in the final 30 seconds to help Syracuse hold off Pittsburgh 62-59 in the quarterfinals of the Big East tournament.
Why it mattered: This was a big game for the Orange, who had lost four of their previous five games heading into the Big East tournament. They dispatched overmatched Seton Hall in the tournament's first round, but needed a win against a quality team.
Quote: "We know that this means a lot to us, as a basketball team and as a program," Syracuse's Brandon Triche told the Associated Press. "This can very much jump-start us to the (NCAA) tournament. So we know how important this Big East tournament is."
The power of the 2-3
Play: It wasn't one play so much as the overall play by Syracuse in a 55-39 victory over Marquette in the regional final of the NCAA tournament. The Orange's 2-3 zone suffocated the Golden Eagles, limiting them to 22.6-percent shooting.
Why it mattered: Marquette's 39 points were a record low for a team in a regional final since the shot clock was introduced in 1986, according to ESPN. Michigan will be the next team to try to solve Syracuse's defense.
Quote: "They beat us from start to finish. We collectively tried everything we knew to try," Marquette coach Buzz Williams told ESPN.com. "It is the zone, and it is the players in the zone."
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