SB Nation New York's College Sports Year In Review

In just a few days, the year 2011 will turn into 2012, and to celebrate a fresh new start SB Nation New York looks back at some of the most important dates in the 2011 college sports scene. You'll be shocked at how many there are.

JANUARY

Jan. 13: Former Syracuse Orange football head coach Paul Pasqualoni was surprisingly named as the new head coach at the University of Connecticut.

Jan. 17: After starting their season with 18 straight victories, the Syracuse Orange men's basketball program, ranked No. 3 in the nation, lost 74-66 to No. 4 Pittsburgh Panthers.

Jan. 25: Behind 28 points from senior forward Jeremy Hazell the Seton Hall Pirates smoked No. 10-ranked Syracuse Orange, 90-68, at the Carrier Dome. The Pirates made 10 of their first 11 shots to take a 26-16 lead with 12:14 to go and never looked back.

Jan. 30: The St. John's Red Storm earned their biggest victory of their 2011-12 campaign, as they defeated the No. 3-ranked Duke Blue Devils, 93-78, at Madison Square Garden. Senior point guard Dwight Hardy netted 14 of his game-best 26 points in the second half to help the Johnnies hang on for their first victory over the Blue Devils in eight tries.

FEBRUARY

Feb. 2: On National Signing Day, the Rutgers Scarlet Knights football program signs freshman running back Savon Huggins and offensive lineman Kaleb Johnson.

Feb. 2-26: After beating Duke, the Red Storm went on a tear in the month of February, winning seven of their next eight games in the month. Two of those victories were against No. 8 Connecticut Huskies and No. 4 Pittsburgh.

Feb. 14: Syracuse's men's basketball head coach Jim Boeheim earns his 850th victory, as Orange down West Virginia, 63-52.

Feb. 22: Former Syracuse basketball star Carmelo Anthony is traded from the Denver Nuggets to New York Knicks -- It's About Time.

MARCH

March 6: St. John's senior guard Dwight Hardy was named to the All-Big East First Team.

March 8: Syracuse senior forward Rick Jackson named Big East Player Of The Year; Meanwhile, St. John's seniors, guard Dwight Hardy (Most Improved Player) and forward Justin Burrell (Sixth Man Of The Year), also earned honors.

On the same day, Seton Hall's senior forward Jeremy Hazell's collegiate playing days end with a 76-70 loss to Rutgers in the first round of the Big East Tournament.

March 9: St. John's edges Rutgers, 65-63, in the second round of the Big East Tournament. Game ends with controversial finish, as Red Storm's Justin Brownlee travels with just under two seconds remaining.

March 11: Glens Falls native and BYU star guard, Jimmer Fredette, nets a NCAA-season best 52 points in a 87-76 victory over New Mexico. Fredette tied Providence Friars senior guard Marshon Brooks, who scored 52 points earlier in the year.

March 13: Kemba Walker and the Connecticut Huskies cap a unforgettable run in the Big East Tournament with a 69-66 victory over Louisville in the championship game. Just a few weeks later, Walker and the Huskies earn the program's second National Championship.

APRIL

April 30th: Syracuse football alum, Delone Cater, was drafted in the fourth round of the NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts. With one game remaining in the NFL season, Carter has run 371 yards and two touchdowns for the Colts this season.

Also, drafted into the NFL was Syracuse linebacker Doug Hogue, who went in the fifth round to the Detroit Lions. Hogue has played in all 15 games for the playoff-bound Lions, but only has tallied five tackles.

MAY

May 29: The St. John's University baseball team was upset by Seton Hall in the Big East Championship game, 4-2. The Pirates lasted just two games in the NCAA Tournament, while the Red Storm lasted three games.

JULY

July 29: Syracuse football senior wide receiver Marcus Sales is arrested with his brother on felony drug charges. The arrest leads to Sales being suspended for the 2011 season and leaves SU without a big-play threat on the outside.

SEPTEMBER

Sept. 1: Trailing by 15 points heading into the fourth quarter, the Syracuse football team rallies to beat the Wake Forest Demon Deacons, 36-29, victory in the season opener. -- 'Dude You Missed It!'

Sept. 17: In a shocking report by CBSSports.com's Brett McMurphy, Syracuse University and the University of Pittsburgh file papers to accept an invitation to join the Atlantic Coast Conference -- Syracuse University To ACC: What Just Happened And What's Next?

Sept. 24: Rutgers senior wide receiver Mohamed Sanu catches Big East Conference record 16 passes in Scarlet Knights' 38-26 victory over Ohio University.

OCTOBER

Oct. 1: In a sloppy double-overtime victory, the Rutgers football program edged Syracuse, 19-16, at the Carrier Dome. Despite the game's terrible execution, it would prove to shed light on a Big East Football season that featured Rutgers earning a bowl berth, while SU did not.

Oct. 6: Texas Christian University, which accepted an invitation to play in the Big East Conference in Nov. 2010, decides that the Big 12 Conference is a better option for it in 2012.

Oct. 8: Syracuse University alum and long-time owners of the Oakland Raiders, Al Davis, dies at the age of 82.

Oct. 22: Syracuse football routs No. 14-ranked West Virginia University, 49-23, in a near flawless performance at the Carrier Dome. The Orange improved to 5-2 overall, but would not win another game the rest of the season.

Oct. 28: West Virginia University announces its plans to leave the Big East Conference and join the Big 12 Conference.

NOVEMBER

Nov. 17: Long-time Syracuse basketball assistant coach, Bernie Fine, is accused of sexual abusing two former ball boys -- Bobby Davis and Mike Lang. The allegations lead to head coach Jim Boeheim calling the accusers, "liars" and "money grabbers". Two weeks, later Boeheim apologizes for his comments in an emotional press conference.

Nov. 12: In a 27-12 victory over Army at Yankee Stadium, Rutgers senior wide receiver Mohamed Sanu surpasses the Big East Conference record for receptions in a season. Sanu, who ended the year with 109 catches, snagged 13 balls and passed the previous record of 94, set by former Pittsburgh wide out and NFL All-Pro Larry Fitzgerald.

Nov. 26: In the first round of the FCS playoffs, the Stony Brook Seawolves overcome a 18-point deficit to defeat the Albany Great Danes, 31-28. A week earlier, both programs earned their first ever FCS postseason invites by winning their respective conferences.

Nov. 27: After allegations of sexual abuse of two former ball boys gain credibility, long-time Syracuse basketball assistant coach, Bernie Fine, is fired.

DECEMBER

Dec. 5: After finishing the regular season with an 8-4 record, Rutgers accepts a postseason invite to play in the Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium.

Dec. 7: The Big East Conference makes an official announcement that Boise State, San Diego State, Houston, SMU and Central Florida will all join the conference in 2013.

Dec. 12: After routing George Washington University and watching Kentucky and Ohio State fall in the same weekend the Syracuse basketball programs becomes the No. 1 team in the nation.

Did we miss something? Please, let us know via e-mail (JaredSmith16@gmail.com) or on Twitter (JaredSmithCNY).