College basketball schedule: Syracuse survives Pitt’s upset bid

Tyler Ennis is the biggest name in the college basketball world this morning, and with good reason. In what was built up as the “Year of the Freshman,” the Syracuse point guard has outplayed every other member of this ballyhooed rookie class, and been the most important player on an Orange team that sits at 24-0 and atop both major polls.

Wednesday night, Ennis put the biggest feather to date in both his All-American and Freshman of the Year caps by burying a running 30-footer to beat Pittsburgh at the buzzer. There hasn’t been a more exciting play this season, and the entertainment value of the shot will only make the growing legend that is Ennis’ clutch gene that much more of a larger than life entity. Not that the status isn’t deserved.

The scene was set for undefeated Syracuse to drop its first game. The No. 1 team in the country was facing a ranked conference team on the road, Pitt, who played Syracuse tough earlier this year. The Panthers led for most of the evening and had a two-point lead with less than five seconds to play as ‘Cuse inbounded the ball under its own basket.

It was an admirable night for Ennis, who finished 13 points on 3-of-7 shooting. He attacked the hoop relentlessly -- almost too relentlessly -- as a hard foul near the end of the first half left him on the ground long enough to seem like he might have to exit the game. He gingerly got up and finished out the rest of the game. It was a good thing, because Ennis is the most clutch player the Orange have on their squad at the moment.

Ennis ran down the floor as time expired, pulled up and hit a three for the win despite there being a Pittsburgh defender in his face.

The Syracuse defense had Pittsburgh on lockdown, but for just as many players making big plays for Syracuse, Pittsburgh had a response. Zanna finished with 16 points and 14 rebounds, picking up seven important offensive boards in the process. Patterson added 14 for the Panthers.

Syracause was finished. Down by one with just four seconds left and inbounding from under their own basket, it looked like the Orange’s undefeated season was over.

Then freshman point guard Tyler Ennis dribbled the ball down the court and did this:

Who says the B1G can’t jump? Will Sheehy is out here breaking stereotypes.