Syracuse Vermont Connection

After an exciting first day of the tournament, I was excited for the second day, particularly for the chance to watch Syracuse in their opener against Vermont. It was a relief to see them win. Ranked 1st in their bracket, Syracuse stood little chance of losing, however this game has a special importance for both fans and players of the team.
For starters, Syracuse fans hold a grudge against Vermont from way back during the 2005 tournament. During that year, Syracuse had just won the Big East Tournament, and star player and crowd favorite, Gerry McNamara was headed to his final NCAA tournament. Their first match was against Vermont, a team ranked much lower, an easy game right? Unfortunately not because after a grueling game that went into overtime, Syracuse lost by a slim margin, ending the team, and Gerry McNamara's run in the tournament. For that reason, Syracuse fans were glad to see Vermont beaten this year.
The game is also notable because it is uniting brothers Kris and Maurice Joseph on the court. Kris plays for Syracuse and his older brother Maurice plays for Vermont. The two haven't played each other in a game in years and the opportunity was one you could tell both players appreciated. The two embraced before the game and took photos with their mother as well. Although Syracuse won comfortably, the tie between the two players added an element of interest to the game, as they clearly competed with each other.