Real Bracket Busters

As T.J. Sorrentine’s three-point shot went through the net in overtime Friday night, it’s possible the roar emanating from the DCU Center could be heard all the way to Burlington. Vermont Coach Tom Brennan, who went into the evening contemplating the end of his career, wasn’t sure he would survive the excitement.

“When that went in, I thought I may burst,” Brennan said after the Catamounts’ 60-57 victory. “I thought you might find me in pieces around the arena. There’s nothing in the world that is that feeling. There’s nothing that can make you feel like that except competition.”

Sorrentine’s three-pointer from 28 feet came as the shot clock was about to expire and with 1:10 remaining in overtime. It gave Vermont, seeded No. 13 in the Austin Regional, a 59-55 lead over Syracuse, the 2003 national champion and popular pick to reach this year’s Final Four.

The folks at Ben and Jerry’s should name their next flavor of ice cream after the Catamounts. Sorrentine and his teammates earned it with a victory over the fourth-seeded Orange before 13,009 fans. Vermont (25-6), playing in its third consecutive NCAA tournament, will play Michigan State on Sunday.

Syracuse (27-7), led by senior Hakim Warrick’s 21 points, was held to a season-low scoring output. Junior guard Gerry McNamara was held to 11 points on four-of-18 shooting. He was one for seven from three-point range, including a miss at the end of regulation.

Vermont became the first No. 13 team to win a first-round game since Tulsa upset Dayton in 2003. And the Catamounts are the first America East team to win an NCAA game since Drexel in 1998.

“T.J.’s bomb was like a desperation shot and he knocked it right in,” Brennan said. “It’s a wonderful win for our program and the biggest win in the history of our school without a doubt.”

Germain Mopa Njila scored 20 points and grabbed nine rebounds and Taylor Coppenrath contributed 16 points as the Catamounts won for the first time in 12 attempts against a Big East Conference opponent. But the three-pointer by Sorrentine will be the one that Vermont fans will replay over and over.

Mopa Njila, a native of Cameroon, gave Vermont a 56-55 lead on a three-pointer with 1:58 left. He followed that with a steal on Syracuse’s next possession and Sorrentine worked the shot clock down as he dribbled well beyond the faded image of the NBA three-point line.

“We were just holding the ball,” Sorrentine said. “It got to be about 15 [on the shot clock], I looked over at Coach and he said, ‘Run red, run red.’ I said, ‘No, hold on. Just relax.’ He said OK. I was dribbling and I yelled at our guys to run the play, just to kind of distract [Syracuse]. Then I just pulled up. I knew it was down. I didn’t know how deep I was, but I knew I had one more in me.”

Brennan, who announced Nov. 4 that he would retire after this, his 19th, season at Vermont, got the most out of all his players. Forward Martin Klimes drew the tough defensive assignment on Warrick. Despite 21 points and 12 rebounds, Warrick wasn’t able to control the game because he committed 10 of Syracuse’s 24 turnovers.

“Just a lot of disappointment,” Warrick said when asked to describe his emotions at the end of the game. “I just didn’t want to end my career the way it ended today.”

An offensive foul by Warrick with the score tied at 51-51 gave Vermont a chance to win it in regulation. But Mopa Njila stepped out of bounds as he drove the left baseline with 3.7 seconds left.

Brennan was happy afterward, but not surprised.

“We’re good,” he said. “I’ve been saying that for a long time. This just validates it.”