Remembering when Albany was home away from home for Syracuse men's basketball

Carmelo Anthony was a freshman, one of the best college basketball players in the country.

That was enough to say that Syracuse was one of the best college basketball teams in the land in 2003. Seventeen years ago. Has it really been that long?

During that magical run of 2003, one that ended with the first — and only — national championship for the Orange, Syracuse made a pit stop in Albany. Before getting to the Final Four, the Orange had to win two games at Pepsi Arena (now known as Times Union Center).

Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim knew he had a talented team even though he was starting just one senior (Keith Duany) to go along with two sophomores (Hakim Warrick and Craig Forth) and two freshmen (Anthony and Gerry McNamara).

"The last four or five games (of the regular season) we were playing really well," Boeheim said recently. "We had wins at Notre Dame and Michigan State. They were tough kids."