ATLANTA — A roar of cheers emanated from within the Georgia Dome just past 11:30 p.m. Saturday night — cheers that signaled a possible championship for one team and a devastating loss for the other.

Five minutes later, a quiet stream of Orange fans trickled from the exits of the Dome. With heads hung low, they faced a harsh reality: A remarkable run through the NCAA Tournament for the men’s basketball team ended with a 61-56 loss to Michigan on the greatest stage in college basketball — the Final Four.

The somber faces and silence that followed — except for the occasional Michigan fight song — said it all. Some fans declined comment, too disappointed to formulate words.

Mental mistakes, coupled with horrific rebounding, turnovers and foul calls, rounded out a list of weaknesses that plagued the Orange. But one of the most common problems, noted by multiple fans, was the absence of the team’s players.

For David Suntup, a 2012 alumnus, the last play of the game sealed in the frustration. With 15 seconds to go and the Orange down by three, Trevor Cooney had a chance to make a 3 to tie it up, and didn’t.

“That’s just not thinking out there,” he said. “It’s a basketball game where, down the stretch, you have to think situation.”

Multiple people said Michael Carter-Williams and James Southerland did not rise to the occasion. Carter-Williams, who had been a consistent contributor for much of the tournament, scored only two points against the Wolverines.

“I’m disappointed that a couple guys didn’t show up to the game, it seems like,” said Christine Beckett, a 2007 alumna. “I feel like we needed Michael Carter-Williams and James Southerland to be there a little bit more. They kind of disappointed in the end.”

“Our seniors didn’t score,” said Jim Anderson, who grew up in Syracuse. “We needed our seniors tonight and they just didn’t do it.”

Bruce Gudenberg said the Orange fought hard, but it was Michigan’s ability to make three-pointers that sealed the deal for the Wolverines.

Logan Eisenberg, who traveled 2,700 miles from Los Angeles to watch his alma mater lose, agreed Michigan did what it needed to defeat Syracuse’s confounding zone defense.

And even though he’ll have to return to the West Coast without an Orange victory, he said he’s pleased with what the team has accomplished.

“I’m happy with what we did this year, other than a loss tonight, but I think they’re a great team and the zone was awesome this year, it was really cool to see.”

Other fans agreed — they couldn’t be mad at the progress the team made in the last month. After a rough end to the regular season, the Orange came back to make the finals of the Big East tournament and the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament.

Most fans said the team’s success proves it can overcome adversity and that sometimes, what happens in the regular season doesn’t matter come tournament time.

“Syracuse had some downs with some tough losses in Big East play but they showed toughness, they showed the resiliency in the Big East tournament and then the NCAA tournament,” said Suntup, the 2012 alumnus. “So keep fighting, one play at a time, one game at a time.”

Published on April 7, 2013 at 3:40 pm

Contact Maddy: mjberner@syr.edu