D.O. Sports’ 10 most-newsworthy stories of spring 2019

The Daily Orange has worked to keep you covered on all the biggest news in Syracuse sports this spring, from breaking the link between Frank Howard’s suspension in the NCAA Tournament and a failed drug test to an obituary of Jorge Jimenez, the man Jim Boeheim struck and killed in February. We’ve also covered Syracuse men’s basketball toppling then-No. 1 Duke in Durham, North Carolina to ice hockey winning its first College Hockey America championship in program history.

As spring comes to a close, here’s our list of the 10 most-newsworthy sports stories from the past few months.

Max Freund | Staff Photographer

Syracuse season ends in historic upset to South Dakota State in second round of NCAA tournament

As a No. 3 seed, Syracuse women’s basketball would host the first two games of its side of the NCAA tournament pool. The team was dominant all season and beat Fordham by 21 points in the first round.

Yet, South Dakota State proved to be a different test. SDSU tallied nine 3-pointers and crushed Syracuse down the stretch. A 16-2 fourth quarter run ended SU’s season earlier than expected.

Courtesy of SU Athletics

Syracuse captures 1st-ever conference title over Robert Morris behind 4-goal second period

In Buffalo, Syracuse’s ice hockey team secured its first College Hockey America championship by exploding for four goals in the second period against rival Robert Morris. Prior to this year, the Orange were 0-6 in CHA final games. SU head coach Paul Flanagan has experienced each heartbreaking loss, as he’s coached the team since its first season in 2008.

“To see Paul (Flanagan) raise the trophy was unreal,” defender Kristen Siermachesky said. “This guy’s put every single thing, every second of his life into this team and truly believes in us.”

Alexandra Moreo | Senior Staff Photographer

Syracuse senior Frank Howard suspended for failed drug test, 3 familiar with situation say

Before Syracuse opened the NCAA Tournament as a No. 8 seed against Baylor, senior point guard Frank Howard was suspended indefinitely by Syracuse. Howard had traveled with the team and was coming off his best performance of the season, a 28-point outing against Duke.

But three people familiar to the situation said Howard had failed a drug test in between the ACC and NCAA tournament. The Orange lost to Baylor in the first round.

Alexandra Moreo | Senior Staff Photographer

Tyus Battle to reportedly leave Syracuse for the NBA Draft

Battle, who averaged nearly 17 points per game in his junior season, decided to leave Syracuse for the NBA Draft in April.

In his three years at SU, Battle amassed the 16th-most points in school history. Many experts peg the shooting guard as a late-second round draft pick.

Courtesy of Brian Hernandez

Friends, family remember Jorge Jimenez, victim of I-690 crash involving Jim Boeheim

Jorge Jimenez, 51, was known as “the life of the party.” SU head coach Jim Boeheim struck and killed Jimenez on Interstate-690 east on Feb. 20.

Jimenez is survived by his four children. He loved cooking, fishing and the New York Yankees. The Jimenez family created a GoFundMe for his funeral expenses that reached its $15,000 goal within a week of his death.

Alexandra Moreo | Senior Staff Photographer

‘Nothing like this’: Jim Boeheim returns to sideline less than 72 hours after tragic crash

Jim Boeheim walked out to a standing ovation in the Carrier Dome less than 72 hours after he struck and killed 51-year-old Jorge Jimenez in a tragic car accident.

He met for an embrace with Duke head coach and longtime friend Mike Krzyzewski at mid-court in front of the largest home crowd to ever witness a college basketball game. Syracuse lost to Duke that night, but Boeheim still coached the Orange after the tragic accident.

Josh Schafer | Senior Staff Writer

‘The Met Effect’: For Syracuse baseball, an introduction to the major leagues

This is year one for the Syracuse Mets, who were introduced as the New York Mets’ Triple-A team. The team has a new owner after the Washington Nationals sold the rights to the New York Mets.

They changed their name from the Chiefs to the Mets. Tim Tebow, former collegiate football superstar, moved to baseball after a short career in the NFL and plays for the Mets.

Alexandra Moreo | Senior Staff Photographer

Syracuse pulls off monumental, resume-boosting upset road win over No. 1 Duke

Coming off four nonconference losses, unranked Syracuse men’s basketball wasn’t in position to compete for a NCAA Tournament spot. The season prior, it was the last team in. In January, Syracuse would take on the No. 1 team in the nation — Duke.

The Orange shot 44% from deep and Tyus Battle slashed the Blue Devils defense for 32 points. And after going to overtime, Syracuse pulled away and picked up the monumental win it needed to earn another tournament berth.

Paul Schlesinger | Staff Photographer

Seniors Paige Stoner and Iliass Aouani break school records as outdoor season kicks off

As Syracuse kicked off its outdoor track & field season, seniors Paige Stoner and Iliass Aouani set a record-breaking pace.

In the men’s 10-kilometer, Aouani (28:25.36) broke Martin Hehir’s record by two seconds on his way to a ninth place finish. At the Stanford Invitational, competing against professional and collegiate runners, Stoner (32:07.36) beat the 10k record previously held by Margo Malone on her way to a fourth place finish overall, and second among collegiate runners.

Josh Shub-Seltzer | Staff Photographer

Brendan Curry’s overtime winner lifts No. 12 Syracuse over No. 2 Duke, 9-8

In a rare outdoor Syracuse lacrosse game, midfielder Brendan Curry lifted the Orange to an upset over No. 2 Duke with an overtime goal. Though he missed his first 11 shots, Curry buried his 12th attempt off senior Nate Solomon’s assist for the game-winner.

The Blue Devils finished second in the Atlantic Coast Conference standings, and represented a high point for Syracuse, who lost in the first round of the ACC tournament in the last week of April.