Closer Look

Ford has awards, but Anthony is real show

Carmelo Anthony played the entire second half with three fouls. AP

By Albert Lin, SI.com

NEW ORLEANS -- As much as T.J. Ford has been lauded this season, he cannot win a game by himself. As a point guard, Ford depends on his teammates to finish plays after he delivers the ball.

On the other hand, Carmelo Anthony can. The Syracuse freshman never was given serious consideration for national player of the year, because of his age, but he proved Saturday night that when it comes to superstars, an elite-level scorer is more important than an elite-level playmaker.

In must-win situations, having a go-to guy who can put the ball in the basket makes all the difference. Syracuse's go-to guy did just that against Texas, scoring 33 points (and pulling down 14 rebounds) in the Orangemen's 95-84 win. More important, the threat posed by Anthony and his willingness to rotate the ball opened up chances for teammates, who responded by making 20 of 37 shots.

"You know what they're going to do. Basically, it always comes down to one-on-one," Ford said of the Syracuse offense. "[Anthony] did a good job reading double teams and passing out of them."

That maturity was evident during a 5 1/2-minute stretch midway through the second half. Anthony came out of the locker room on fire, scoring Syracuse's first 11 points. But then Texas coach Rick Barnes took junior Royal Ivey off Anthony and sent two men at the Baltimore native. Instead of forcing shots, Anthony kept swinging the ball around the perimeter. Syracuse took the lead for good in that span with a 15-8 run that did not include one point from Anthony.

Saturday, April 5, 2003 Tournament Central | Scoreboard

SI.com Coverage

• Mandel: 'Cuse needs no experience

• Closer Look: Kansas-Marquette

• Closer Look: Syracuse-Texas

• Notebook: Will Ford, Wade turn pro?

• Pickoff: Finally, it's Roy's turn

• Brackets: Main | Challenge

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No. 2 Kansas 94, No. 3 Marquette 61

East/South Semifinal

No. 3 Syracuse 95, No. 1 Texas 84

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"We have other guys who are really capable, guys who can step up and make plays," coach Jim Boeheim said. "Defenses look for him so much that we do get some opportunities for other guys."

Just to make sure we hadn't forgotten about him, Anthony punctuated the flurry with a wing jumper and a baseline drive for a reverse jam, giving Syracuse a 78-66 lead.

"We played good defense; he had to work to make his baskets," Ford said. "But he just makes shots."

Ford, Texas' sophomore point guard, also put up good numbers (12 points and 13 assists). But down the stretch, he wasn't able to take over, to seize momentum for his team the way Anthony did. Teammates were not able to convert either in the paint or, after being fouled, at the free-throw line.

"He had his spurts, but he didn't have a game where he controlled the whole game," Syracuse freshman Billy Edelin said. "It wasn't a typical T.J. performance."

Ford wasn't even on the floor when the final buzzer sounded. Coming out of a timeout with 48 seconds remaining and his team down five, Ford, saddled with four fouls, stayed on the bench while Texas tried to put a Syracuse player on the foul line. On the verge of being whistled for a five-second violation, Anthony lobbed the ball in to Hakim Warrick, who gave it right back to a streaking Anthony for an uncontested layup.

The Orangemen added two more buckets, and Texas' best player and acknowledged leader finished his season on the sidelines, standing next to his coach.

Meanwhile, Anthony's presumed one-year college career is extended 48 hours.

"That's what players come to college for, to play in a championship game," Anthony said. "I mean, we lost our first game of the season, and here we are playing the last game."

 

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