Season summary & highlights • Syracuse head coach
Jim Boeheim became the eighth Division I coach to win 800 games, when the Orange defeated
Albany, 75–43, on November 9. • Notre Dame forward
Luke Harangody became the first Fighting Irish player to surpass the
2,000-point and 1,000-rebound mark, during an 80–70 victory over
Idaho State on December 2. • Syracuse won the
2K Sports Coaches vs. Cancer Classic, upsetting #13
California in the semifinals, 95–73, and #6
North Carolina in the finals, 87–71. • Villanova won the
Puerto Rico Tip-Off, defeating
Mississippi, 79–67. • West Virginia won the
76 Classic, defeating
Portland, 84–66. • Connecticut was the runner-up in the
NIT Season Tip-Off, losing to #7
Duke, 68–59. • Pittsburgh was the runner-up in the
CBE Classic, losing to #2
Texas, 78–62. • Marquette was the runner-up in the
Old Spice Classic, losing to
Florida State, 57–56. • On January 11, DePaul head coach
Jerry Wainwright was fired after a 7–8 start, and a 22-game Big East losing streak, becoming the fourth
NCAA Division I coach to leave his position since the
season began. Wainwright, who compiled a 59–80 record in five seasons at the school, was replaced on an interim basis by assistant coach
Tracy Webster, who remained until a national search concluded following the end of the season. • On January 18, Connecticut fell out of the
AP Poll for the first time since January 28, 2008, after losing consecutive games, to Georgetown, Pittsburgh, and
Michigan. • On January 20, it was announced that Connecticut head coach
Jim Calhoun would go on an immediate medical leave of absence, the circumstances of his condition unknown, but unrelated to his previous bouts with cancer and heart issues. UConn athletic director Jeff Hathaway insisted that Calhoun's condition was not career ending, and would not affect the terms of a four-year contract extension, agreed upon in principle in December 2009, but that he did not know when Calhoun would return. Associate head coach
George Blaney took over for Calhoun, and lead the Huskies to wins at home against St. John's, then-No. 1
Texas and DePaul, and four losses at Providence, home vs. Marquette, at Louisville, and at Syracuse. Calhoun returned on February 13 for a home loss against Cincinnati, and has since kept quiet on the circumstances of his leave. • Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim extended his NCAA Division-I record for most 20-win seasons to 32, when then-no. 4 Syracuse rallied from a 14–0 starting deficit to defeat then-no. 7
Georgetown, 73–56, on January 25. • On February 27, then-no. 4 Syracuse clinched its eighth Big East regular season title and a no. 1 seed in the Big East tournament by beating then-no. 8 Villanova, 95–77. The game also set the NCAA on-campus basketball attendance record, with 34,616 spectators packing the
Carrier Dome. • On March 6, Louisville upset no. 1 Syracuse 78–68 in the final game at
Freedom Hall in front of an arena-record crowd of 20,135.
Midseason watchlists On January 4, the Wooden Award midseason watchlist was released, and included six Big East players—more than any other conference. The list was composed of 31 players, reduced from the preseason list of 50. Newcomers included junior forward
Wesley Johnson of Syracuse. In addition, six Big East players who were on the preseason list did not appear at midseason: Devin Ebanks, Corey Fisher, Jeremy Hazell, Samardo Samuels, Deonta Vaughn, and Kemba Walker. The list was reduced to a final national ballot of about 20 players in March.
Rankings Statistical leaders The regular season team, individual, and attendance figures include all conference and non-conference games played from November 9, 2009 through March 6, 2010.
Team Individual Attendance == Postseason ==