Final Four loss ends college career of Syracuse's Trevor Cooney

HOUSTON — Trevor Cooney’s last Final Four experience was better than his first in many ways.

Just not in the one that counts most, on the scoreboard.

Syracuse’s improbable run to the national semifinals came to an end Saturday night with an 83-66 loss to North Carolina at NRG Stadium.

Cooney, the senior guard, scored a game-high 22 points in his final outing as a collegian. That he did it in the Final Four was notable given his history as a redshirt freshman.

Three years ago at the Georgia Dome, Cooney was forced into action late in the game by foul trouble. Trailing Michigan by three points, he puzzlingly took and missed a driving runner that made him the subject of fans ire. Some seem unwilling to let it go.

On this night, he did his best to keep the Orange alive. He knocked down 4 of 8 three pointers and shot 9 of 18 from the field overall. He turned the ball over just once. He was a factor defensively with three steals.

The fierce competitor from Wilmington, Del., was not impressed.

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“It doesn’t matter to me,” Cooney said. “You play the game to win. If I play well, it’s fine, if I don’t, it’s fine. I play to win. We couldn’t and that’s what hurts.”

Syracuse (23-14) got within eight points 44 seconds into the second half on a Cooney three.

As the Tar Heels (33-6) built at 57-40 advantage with 12:28 left in the game, Cooney looked disgusted. He promptly raced downcourt on the next possession and drained another three-pointer.

He kept making shots, kept his team in it with defense, took good care of the basketball. In the end, North Carolina was too much.

"It was tough,“ Cooney said, knowing he was wearing the Orange uniform for the last time. "I was very fortunate to be a part of the Syracuse family for five years. I wouldn’t trade it or anything. This was a hell of a run to go out on. It was a really tough game to play because Carolina is a really tough team. It’s really tough right now.”

Cooney and his teammates showed toughness. In a season that saw coach Jim Boeheim suspended nine games for NCAA infractions and three freshmen forced into substantial playing time, somehow Syracuse advanced to the national semifinals. They did it as a 10 seed, one of the last at-large teams to make the field of 68. They faced criticism from around the country.

At this point, Cooney should have shaken any naysayers. He will go down as the third-most prolific three-point shooter in school history. He is 10th all-time at SU in steals. He is one of two players in SU history to play in two Final Fours.

He closed out his college career with grit and class.

“Trevor played unbelievable tonight,” Boeheim said. “He played great. He’s been solid all year. In the tournament, he’s the only guy who has shot well. He’s been consistent, close to 50% from the three-point line. He’s just played really well.”

For the last time.

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