Jonny (not Johnny) Flynn and Eric Devendorf Make Syracuse Basketball Thrilling

It took Syracuse five more minutes instead of six overtimes to win last night's game and clinch the Big East finals.

The capacity crowd at Madison Square Garden couldn't figure why the game ended in a tie. Surely, after the previous night's epic for the history books, the team would finish off the Mountaineers without adding any more time. It may have had to do with superstar Jonny Flynn's last few minutes. He was (understandably) spent. He missed a free throw setting up Devin Ebank's two free throws that sent the game into overtime with 4.8 seconds remaining.

Syracuse fans worried and wondered how much gas was left in the tank. West Virginia suddenly had a new chance! Then the clock started again.

Jonny Flynn may not have the preferred size for today's game but what he lacks in height he makes up in grit and persistence. After Thursday night's game, no one can doubt that he is indomitable on the floor and can go the distance however long it is.

He was so famished after those six overtimes that he wolfed down a double quarter pounder from MacDonald's and enough Gatorade to keep him up all night. At 6AM he called the coaches to see what they were doing. When he found out they were watching films he went over to join them. When asked how he managed to be ready to play again he gave credit to the trainers, icy whirlpools and all those treatments athletes require. While treatments are vital, winning may be more about adrenaline, guts and competitiveness. Jonny Flynn has an abundance of all that!

Then there's Eric Devendorf. He was part of the legendary 2006 Syracuse team that went on to an improbable four-game run to win the tournament. Only a freshman at the time, he has been through some trying times since then. He was sidelined after tearing his ACL during the '07-'08 season and missed so many games that he retained his junior status in eligibility.

In the '08-'09 season Devendorf was suspended indefinitely, pending appeal, from Syracuse University, the result of an incident involving Devendorf and a female student. The situation was resolved and he was back playing the end of December.

At this key time he's showing what he's made of by playing 61 minutes against UConn, then 43 minutes against the Mountaineers and setting the tone for the game with a 55-foot three point bomb with just two seconds left before half-time giving Syracuse a 36-29 lead.

Devendorf, like Flynn, applauded the trainers for preparing the team and getting their legs back. He said, "We're a young team and we're not going to get tired. This is what we've been doing our whole life. We might be a little mentally fatigued but at the end of the day, we're ready to go."

Tonight is at hand and the Orange don't have time to think of anything but winning it all.

In about 9 hours when the game is over I'll post results. Meanwhile all eyes are on Jonny Flynn and Eric Devendorf.