LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION congratulating the Syracuse University Men's
Basketball Team upon the occasion of reaching the 2016 National Collegi-
ate Athletic Association (NCAA) Men's Basketball Tournament Final Four

WHEREAS, Excellence and success in competitive sports can be achieved
only through strenuous practice, teamwork and a dedicated coaching
staff; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and pay
tribute to those student athletes within our midst who, by achieving
outstanding success in athletic competition, have inspired and brought
great pride to their college and community; and
WHEREAS, Athletic competition enhances the moral and physical develop-
ment of the young people of this State, preparing them for the future by
instilling in them the value of teamwork, encouraging a standard of
healthy living, imparting a desire for success, and by developing a
sense of fair play and competition; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to congratu-
late and recognize the Syracuse University Men's Basketball Team upon
the occasion of earning an appearance in the National Collegiate Athlet-
ic Association (NCAA) Men's Final Four in 2016; and
WHEREAS, This was the sixth Final Four appearance in program history,
and its 38th invitation to the NCAA Tournament; and
WHEREAS, Coach Jim Boeheim guided the team to the Final Four in his
40th season as Head Coach, earning his fifth Final Four appearance and
32nd NCAA Tournament appearance; and
WHEREAS, The 2015-16 Syracuse University Men's Basketball Team over-
came great adversity and odds to earn their way to the Final Four,
becoming just the fourth team in the history of the NCAA Tournament to
reach the Final Four as a double-digit seed; additionally, they were the
first 10th seed to reach the Final Four; and
WHEREAS, During their "Road to the Final Four", Syracuse defeated the
University of Dayton, Middle Tennessee State University, Gonzaga Univer-
sity and number 1 seed in the Midwest Region, the University of Virgi-
nia; and
WHEREAS, Though the Syracuse University Men's Basketball Program lost
in the National Semifinal to the University of North Carolina, the team
played hard, never gave up, and kept their heads high; and
WHEREAS, The Syracuse University Men's Basketball Program finished
with a 23-14 record and with a ranking of 10th in the final USA TODAY
Coaches Poll; and
WHEREAS, The outstanding athletic talent, teamwork and sportsmanship
displayed by the Syracuse University Men's Basketball Team is due in
great part to the skilled and supportive efforts of Head Coach Jim
Boeheim, Assistant Coach Mike Hopkins, Assistant Coach Adrian Autry,
Assistant Coach Gerry McNamara, Video Coordinator Todd Blumen, Director
of Men's Basketball Operations Kip Wellman, Director of Strength and
Conditioning Ryan Cabiles, Assistant Athletic Director-Sports Medicine
Brad Pike, Associate Director Student-Athlete Development Joe Fields and
Graduate Manager Pete Corasaniti; and
WHEREAS, Throughout the season, the support of fans within both the
Syracuse University and Central New York communities showed great enthu-
siasm; the Syracuse University Men's Basketball Team ranked second in
attendance nationwide with an average of 21,592, and the team attracted
the largest, on-campus, regular-season crowd of 2015-16 with 28,696 in
attendance for a game against the University of Pittsburgh; and

WHEREAS, Members of the Syracuse University Men's Basketball Team
rallied behind one another in establishing a brotherhood of athletic
ability, good sportsmanship, honor and scholarship, while demonstrating
these team players are of the highest caliber, while contributing to the
spirit of excellence that is a tradition of their university; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
congratulate the Syracuse University Men's Basketball Team; its
outstanding members: Doyin Akintobi-Adeyeye, Adrian Autry, Shaun Belbey,
Paschal Chukwu, DaJuan Coleman, Trevor Cooney, Evan Dourdas, Ky Feldman,
Michael Gbinije, Franklin Howard, Kaleb Joseph, Tyler Lydon, Chinonso
Obokoh, Jonathan Radner, Malachi Richardson, Tyler Roberson, Mike
Sutton, Christian White; and Head Coach Jim Boeheim, Assistant Coach
Mike Hopkins, Assistant Coach Adrian Autry, Assistant Coach Gerry McNa-
mara, Video Coordinator Todd Blumen, Director of Men's Basketball Oper-
ations Kip Wellman, Director of Strength and Conditioning Ryan Cabiles,
Assistant Athletic Director-Sports Medicine Brad Pike, Associate Direc-
tor Student-Athlete Development Joe Fields and Graduate Manager Pete
Corasaniti on their outstanding season and overall team record; and be
it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the members of the Syracuse University Men's Basketball Team,
and the aforementioned coaches and staff.