Syracuse, N.Y. – Quadir Copeland might have been the least likely candidate to make a game-winning 3-pointer for the Syracuse Orange on Saturday.
Syracuse and Miami were tied at 69-apiece after the Orange had come up with a rebound off a Miami miss and called timeout with 18 seconds remaining.
Syracuse coach Adrian Autry called timeout and went over a plan for the final possession.
So who would the first-year coach go to? Judah Mintz, who was close to a triple-double; or JJ Starling, who had a season-high 22 points; or perhaps Chris Bell, who had made four 3-pointers?
Certainly, Copeland wasn’t the primary option. The 6-foot-6 sophomore had taken eight shots on the day and made just one.
Copeland, though, was pumping himself up with positive thoughts.
“When they called the timeout, I said, ‘If I get open, I’m going to shoot it regardless of what’s going on,’ ” he would say later.
That’s exactly what happened.
Mintz dribbled out front as the clock wound down. He began to go at his man with roughly 7 seconds remaining. He went right, toward his strong hand. He spotted Copeland standing all alone on the opposite side of the court.
Mintz jumped in the air and whipped a cross-court pass to Copeland, who caught the ball with 2 seconds remaining. Copeland had no time to think about anything other than getting a shot off.
His 3-pointer swished through the net as the final horn sounded giving Syracuse a heart-pounding 72-69 win over the Miami Hurricanes in front of 20,960 at the Dome.
“I’m happy for our guys,’’ Autry said. “I thought they battled. I thought they stayed with it.
“This is a really big one for us.’’
Before Copeland’s big shot, Syracuse needed a clutch defensive stand. Miami freshman Kyshawn George had scored the Hurricanes’ final seven points. Autry put Kyle Cuffe Jr., a 6-foot-2 defensive stopper, into the game to defend the 6-foot-8 George.
“Kyle’s one of our better defenders,’’ Autry said.
Ironically, Cuffe got switched off of George on what would be Miami’s last possession.
“I tried to corral him and make sure he didn’t get the ball,’’ Cuffe said. But Miami point guard Nijel Pack screened for George. “I told Judah to switch because I saw Pack come to see the screen for George. Judah was on George and I was on Pack now.’’
The switch, however, had forced the ball to Miami guard Bensley Joseph. With 25 seconds left, the reserve guard missed on a baseline jumper with Copeland draped all over him.
In setting up Syracuse’s final possession, Autry did not diagram a set play.
“To me, when you’re in that situation and you try to run some stuff,’’ said Autry, “the ball keeps moving and never gets back to the guy that you want.’’
Autry wanted the ball in Mintz’s hands. The sophomore point guard had put on an all-around performance. He would finish with 10 points, eight rebounds and a career-high 13 assists. It was the final assist that will be remembered.
Autry put his two hottest shooters, Bell and Starling, in opposite corners. Maliq Brown, the athletic center who had 10 points and 11 rebounds, stayed in the lane to where if Mintz drove to the basket he could either receive a pass or be ready to follow a missed shot.
And Copeland?
Autry joked, “I said, ‘Judah, get everybody to leave Quadir and throw it across.’ ”
The play began with Mintz looking to create.
“I just wanted to get it to Judah,’’ Autry said. “He had a really great feel for it. In the middle of the floor, that’s where I wanted him so he could make a play and he did.’’
Mintz patiently waited before getting into his drive. With the game tied, the Orange was either going to win in regulation or settle for overtime. Miami would not get a final chance.
“I just tried to get to my right hand,’’ Mintz said. “Coach called a play to clear out that side. Maliq’s man came over to help then Quad’s man came over to help on Maliq and that left Quad open on the opposite side. And he hit it.’’
Copeland’s 3-pointer defied the odds. Known more for his passing, his defense and his ability to scrap, Copeland is not a pure shooter. He was 5-for-22 (22.7%) from 3-point range this season before his big shot.
“I know I’m not on the team to go get 20 or even 10 points,’’ Copeland said. “I know what my role is. I missed my shots, but I knew I was going to bounce back.’’
Syracuse junior Benny Williams said that while Copeland might not be the best shooter on the team, he is the one player who consistently makes game-winners in practice.
“I was thinking about practice,’’ Copeland said. “I was making those shots in practice, so why not shoot one in the game and see what happens?’’
What happened was bedlam. A shot, a buzzer and a massive roar from the dome crowd.
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Stories by Mike Waters
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