John Desko said it is like déj vu.

Last season, Syracuse played MAAC champion Canisius in the first round of the NCAA tournament, then looked ahead to Notre Dame in the second round. The Orange advanced, of course, winning each of its four games on the road to becoming the 2008 national champions.

This season, Syracuse, the No. 2 seed, will host 2009 MAAC champion Siena Sunday at 7:30 p.m. at the Carrier Dome. If the Orange defeats the Saints, it could potentially face the Fighting Irish, a matchup head coach Desko sees as more than likely.

Like Desko said, déj vu.

‘It’s what we saw a year ago,’ Desko said. ‘So we’re hoping we are going to have similar success against something that’s happened in the past.’

Syracuse (12-2) starts its quest to repeat as national champions and earn the program’s 11th title Sunday. But even though the Orange’s tournament path looks similar to last year’s, repeating as national champions is something no team has accomplished in over a decade – since Bill Tierney’s Princeton team won three straight rings from 1996-1998.

But Syracuse understands this. After its dismal 2007 season, Desko said he and his team understands the value of making the tournament and not taking it for granted.

‘We were talking last night, and I think two years ago when we were 5-8 and on the outside looking in and we weren’t not in the playoffs in quite along time,’ Desko said, ‘I think it gave ourselves as coaches and the guys on the team now a different outlook, much more of an appreciation.

‘I think we used to go into the playoffs almost like it was a given, and I think now we understand that nothing’s given to us, we have to work hard and be prepared and take each game one at a time and play along those lines, because anyone can upset you on any given day.’

Despite the fact the Orange closed its season out with a win for the first time since 2006, defeating the then-No. 19 Colgate 13-7 on May 2, the Orange has a lot to accomplish in practice this week. Syracuse and Siena have never met before in program history. Desko sent assistant coach Lelan Rogers to scout the Saints last Sunday.

‘The Saints have a guy, Jordan Loftus, who we are pretty familiar with … and a guy that we’ve seen play locally around here,’ John Galloway, the SU goalie, said. ‘I know they have a very talented goalie and very talented defense, second in the country, and they’re a good team that’s excited to be in the tourney. … They’re going to be excited to play Syracuse – the defending national champions – at their place, and I think everyone is excited to come to the Dome.’

As much as the déj vu is in coach Desko’s mind, his Syracuse team may be in better shape than it was in 2008.

Galloway, while his statistics have worsened from last season, is a year older, a year more experienced after proving to be a weak spot for the team in last year’s playoff run.

JUCO-star transfer Cody Jamieson scored his first career goal against Colgate. Working in the left attack spot with Chris Daniello and Tim Desko, Jamieson provides a new dimension to the Syracuse offense.

The team is riding high on the strength of a five-game winning streak. The Orange has not lost since April 4 against Princeton.

For Syracuse, any improvement will aid its attempt at a tournament run. With the two opponents the Orange lost to this season receiving high seeds (Virginia receiving a one-seed and Princeton a No. 4 seed) Syracuse could most likely face both teams in its path to another NCAA title.

‘It’s great this is what you play for, you play to get in the tournament,’ senior Matt Abbott, a Tewaaraton Trophy finalist, said. ‘And once the tournament starts, it’s one game at a time. Sixteen teams left and everybody has a shot to win it all, and it all starts this Sunday against Siena.’

mkgalant@syr.edu

– Asst. sports editor Matthew Ehalt contributed reporting to this article

Published on May 13, 2009 at 12:00 pm