The Inside Look at Carmelo Anthony and Syracuse’s 2003 National Championship Run 

when I was 6, my dad put $50 down with 20-1 odds on Syracuse. He went and bought an Xbox, brought it home, and told me if Syracuse won, we could open it. Still one of the greatest memories from my childhood.

Honestly you should've made this a 30min Netflix documentary, brilliant interviews and fantastic footage

This Carmelo kid is going to be a great NBA Player, I can tell.

"Texas Tea Bag" is the name of the Warrick dunk

It's amazing how the Pistons decision to draft Darko impacted Melo. If he went to Detroit he probably would have won multiple Championships and people would talk about him as a Winner who won on every stage he played at ( High school, College, Olympics, NBA). Now, people say he can't win coz he didn't win the Championship and people forget every other title he won.

His skill set as a freshman was remarkable, crazy crazy footwork

If Melo would’ve ended up in Detroit, he would’ve been playing with prime Billups and learned defense and play team ball. He’s still one if my fav players but man. That would’ve been something to watch

20 years later Boeheim retires. So glad he got this one. Thank you to everyone on that 02-03 team.

the greatest 1-and-done of all time. *period*

Stay Melo

1. Hoodie Melo 2. Olympic Melo 3. Syracuse Melo 4. Nuggets Melo --------- Everyone else.

3:10 lethal jab step, still catches them to this day

This video was amazing. I'm also glad to see some love for GMac as well. Everyone forgets how vital he was for that team, he was a 3-point machine.

Carmelo Anthony became my favorite player ever since he led Syracuse to a national title. He is a leader and a WINNER! He just never had an all star supporting cast in the NBA. He played on some solid teams. Every Nuggets team he ever played for made the playoffs in a DEEP western conference. He also led them to the Western Conference finals in 2009 in which he battled Kobe Bryant (The Black Mamba) to six games. Even his first two years in NYC were pretty successful. They just were no match for the Miami Heat or Boston Celtics. In a weird NBA season this year he played very good for the Portland Trailblazers. Showing he was the veteran piece they were desperately in need for. He added a nice third scoring option as well and he thrived from this new role showing he’s selfless and all about winning. All in all he is one of the all time great talents in league history. One of the best pound for pound scorers in league history. From his deadly mid-range game, post spins and shiftiness, three, balls, Jab steps, pull up shots off dribble, etc. Offensively he had no weaknesses. Defensively he showed us this season that when he’s locked in and wants to he can be a willing defender. He is a bonafide first ballot hall of famer. And deserves a lot more respect on his name. He played a big part in his influence to the sport of basketball & the youth of the mid 2000’s and 2010’s. He is a true human being and a basketball lifer. Stay Melo everyone !

honestly yall should do this for all championship teams. Each team's run is so special, and there are so many great stories about them.

Carmelo is one of the most underrated players of all time .

this Cuse run and Kembas run were awesome. Miss the real big east

Now I want OKC to win.

The Pride Of Scranton, PA. Gerry McNamara.

I love when y'all do vids like this

Tremendous. Syracuse is such a special program, and that year was incredible as a fan. Perfect timing BTW, Bleacher Report. Getting everyone ready for our second title, after we beat Duke, Kansas, Villanova, and Michigan

Still gives me chills Syracuse is your national Champion! I grew up in Syracuse went to many games as a kid. Graduated from Syracuse in 2002! One of the best moments of my life. I bleed orange!

I remember this Carmelo took over the tournament

This was when I was a HUGE Melo Fan. So many memories. That '03 Syracuse team was tough!

This awesome glad I was acc online for this..one of the first haha.

Carmelo was an unbelievable talent

Extremely special‼️ Melo & G Mac were extremely confident in their abilities & performed every game. Then they took their performances to the next level in the 2003 NCAA tournament! In the championship game they also played against Two Rose City natives & current Golden State Warriors (NBA) assistant coaches - Aaron Miles & Mike Lee

great tourney that year. i always enjoy going back and watching those syracuse and marquette games in 03. my two fav teams to watch that year

what ever happened to this type of content? this is great. I would produce this for free if BR pays for content. I miss this storytelling

Thanks for the everlasting memories men. God bless you all!!!!

"Win it for coach" Probably one of my favorite feelings of all time.

Carmelo was and still is a BEAST!!

It was good to learn more about one of my favorite players in the NBA 💯💯💯💯

Man...what a night. I love Melo & GMac forever

Love these vids

Yessss finally another one of these vids, bleacher report coming thru with the goods

bleacher report keep posting these great basketball stories. really high quality content

Im from Barcelona, so the first ncca final four i saw was in 2002 and i felt in love with Juan Dixon but the next year when I saw Carmelo do his thing he become my favorite player of the 2003 draft ,and back in the day, It was about 2 players, or LBJ or Carmelo, cause dwade wasnt at that hype and Carmelo was my man but when I saw dwade in playoffs with Miami in his rokkie year do what he do he became my favourite player to watch of that draft and until now hes my favorite player of 2003 draft. Second Carmelo and thirt LeBron. Wade and Carmelo are more fun to watch than LeBron.

The only championship my hometown team has.

I'm Canadian and in 2003 for some reason Syracuse was my team I loved Coach, Mcnamera & Melo .. I watch from day 1 and got to see them play in Syracuse against Pitt with chris Bosh ( im a raptor fan) and they won with a buzzer beater not making the clock and rushed the court but had to go back because they had to check the clock and then rushed the court again when it was over.. I had them in my pick for the Championship.. it was the best time in NCAA and I was so happy I was able to appreciate it. today in 2021 I talked to my daughter about it because I was so upset that in this time she didn't even get a chance to play on any teams this year in school and she really loves basketball, soccer and volleyball.

I live right outside syracuse and when this happened, We had the worst snowstorm of my childhood. I watched that game vs kansas in an icestrom with my parents. No power, watching it on a 6 inch black and white tv powered by a single D battery. One of my favorite sports memories.

i have been waiting for one of these for agesss

Melo the best midpost player ever Thats facts!!

Melo was a scoring maestro.

I'm like, why you shooting that far? That's too far...That's my feel good shot lmaooo! what ever happened to McNamara

The only championship we have here in CUSE we should have had more but things havent gone our way. I hope one day for another 🙏

Thank you melo and Mac and rest of the team 315 stand up

One of my absolute favorite teams!!!!! Melo was an awesome college player. So mad Detroit didn’t pick him in that draft 🤬

This is the best 7 and 1/2 minute video I've ever seen

Low key I wanna see Melo in playoffs again. Whenever Melo has a good team, he goes off in the playoffs. For ex: 2009 Nuggets & 2013 Knicks

Melo is always special 💯

I still remember that game. Gerry Mac was on another level that game

We need more of those inside looks @bleacherreport

I was in 7th grade when this happened.... great memories

What a season. I recall going to 5 games that year. I remember then losing the first game of the year to Memphis. Then they reeled off about a dozen before falling to Pitt who was like 1 or 2 at the time. The biggest disappointment of the season was when they lost to an awful Rutgers team who only won like ten games that year. Their two other losses from the 5 came from UCONN and I am glad they didn’t have to play them at NCAAs cause it was an awful matchup for them . They lost once to them in regular season and once in the big east semis (both games lost by around 12-15 pts). I recall those games not even being that close. I remember Manhattan hanging in there tough and the Okla st 16 pt deficit as mentioned in the awesome video. I recall the squeaker over Auburn by 1 point. Then they just absolutely spanked Oklahoma holding them to 47 pts. That was the thing about this team…how impressive was it that they held Oklahoma to 47 pts in a defensive battle, then next game they drop nearly a century mark on Texas!! Melo was their rock all year long. So dependable and consistent with pts, boards and defensively. I think that Mcnamara was for sure the X factor against Kansas though. mellow did so much that year that just built exciting moments for Syracuse fans but I don’t know if I was ever as pumped as I was watching McNamara sink those six threes in the first half. You wanna talk about redemption by the way…Many don’t recall but Warrick was at the free throw line with just seconds left and that 3 point lead and he missed both free throws when just one would have iced the game. People don’t recall that and if they did they certainly don’t care because of the iconic block at the other end. What an athlete what mindset to be able to miss those two free throws, and to make one of the most iconic blocks in final four history . Q does anyone else wonder if that shot would’ve won by the way I’m surprised they haven’t done some kind of analysis on that with the trajectory. 😂. This was one is the best seasons as a fan of my life.

As a lifelong cuse fan from Rochester ny..I remember the yr b4 telling my brother everyday how we had the #2 player in the country coming..man did he live up to the hype..should have won the wooden award..that 1st half from McNamara was amazing.

#STAYMELO #MELOGOAT #BESTISOSCORRER

every team they played from the Big 12

That year was so special for the team and any one living in Syracuse and surrounding areas...they were the talk of Upstate everyday.....I went to boot camp right after man as soon as other provates heard where I was from....ahhhh man no way Melo you guys are the shit....it really was special...not alot of positive things in Syracuse but that year made up for some years!!!

Warrick played that Kenyon Martin's role, GMac played Billups.. How I miss the old Nuggets.

My favorite team of all time and I didn’t get to see them win cause I was in Iraq!! Bitter sweet moment!!! Didn’t find out the cuse won the chip till August !!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️ great video

I’m glad I got recommended this. Go Orange!!

Carmelo was SNAPPING

I remember that. Alot of excitement about Melo out of college & rightfully so. His best shot at an NBA title was with Denver imo. But at that time Kobe & the Lakers were heard to beat. After Denver it was downhill. Still, he was one of the best scorers & a HOF'er for sure.

MELO & RUSS ARE MY FAV PLAYERS EVER! THEY DESERVE A RING

As a kid this season is what made me a Syracuse fan

Jim loves his players more then most a legend

That was beautiful 🤧

really nice documentary good job

Greatest one and done ever

I'm am a big Syracuse fan I live in Syracuse and I remember the first game you played in I now he was going to be good

Great player Melo respect ❤

I definitely love this! I’m huge Carmelo Anthony fam!

Man cuse has fallen so far I can't even watch this year but I'll forever love Carmelo and that 03 team the first and onky time so far I felt victory watching a team ilove and if it never happens again well at least I felt it once.

2003 Championship will never be forgotten. Go CUSE!

Damn this was really good video.

Then ya left Carmelo.....great loyalty

Need more videos like this

MAKE MORE OF THESE PLEASE

Melo and a.i. my favorite players of all time

The best ever!

Amazing story

They year Melo became my favorite player. And still is

MELO THE GOAT SCORER! 🐐

Ok State round of 32, OU Elite 8, Texas Final 4 & Kansas in the Championship game. All Big 12 schools. Damn. I didn't remember the Big 12 being that dominant back then.

My guy Melo. Still my favorite player

That move not even a move a jab step that rocked the shit out of Royal Ivey man serious Melo in my opinion no other freshmen had a freshmen year like Melo none not to mention be had some decent role players on that team and G Mc held his own nice video well put together

Him, Steph, and DRose the greatest tournament performances of my lifetime

i had to guard him in high school in maryland and yeah even in high school this kid had toughness and grit

"That made that year a little bit more special"....yeah I'd say so melo

Great piece!

Melo is a legend!

They need more of these videos

Masterpiece.

Win the NBA chip and prove all the haters wrong!! Stay Melo

This deserves a much longer documentary!

Old melo with that jab step pull up hardest thing to block

Billy Edelin averaged 11 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists per game off the bench as a freshman in the tournament. He had 20 points in the Oklahoma St comeback win. He had 12 points in the championship game - most of them in the second half when Gerry didn’t score and Carmelo was also struggling. It’s too bad they don’t mention him. Because it was 3 freshmen getting it done, not 2. Without Billy, Syracuse loses in round 2, and also blows the lead in the title game.

I still get Chills watching this Bleed ORANGE

Crazy how he talks about “the walks” since he was in SU, and now he talks how those walks still help him.