It's not going to be an easy feat for the No. 3-ranked Syracuse Orange, however, it can be done because SU fans have seen a season start like this before. Eleven seasons ago, the 1999-'00 Syracuse Orangemen -- yes, it was that long ago -- ripped off 19-straight wins to begin a season and set a program record that hasn't been matched since.
Led by seniors center Etan Thomas, guard Jason Hart, forward Ryan Blackwell, junior forward Damone Brown and sophomore forward Preston Shumpert -- oh, can't forget about freshman guard DeShaun Williams! -- SU earned a No. 4 ranking before losing to the Seton Hall Pirates, 69-67, on Feb. 7, 2000. Oddly enough, SU lost its next game to the Louisville Cardinals, 82-69, to drop to 19-2 overall.
SU collected its 19th-straight victory by beating the Providence Friars, 74-59, on Feb. 5. Thomas posted 19 points and 14 rebounds to propel SU to the record-setting win.
That Syracuse squad went on to post a 26-6 overall record and lost to No. 1-seeded Michigan State Spartans, 75-58, in the NCAA Tournament's "Sweet 16" Round. The fourth-seeded Orangemen advanced to the Sweet 16 by beat the Samford Bulldogs in the opening round then knocked out the Kentucky Wildcats, 52-50, in the second. The Spartans went on to win the national championship.