The 2003 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship Game was the finals of the 2003 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament and it determined the national champion for the 2002-03 NCAA Division I men's basketball season The 2003 National Title Game was played on April 7, 2003 at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, The 2003 National Title Game was played between the 2003 West Regional Champions, #2-seeded Kansas and the 2003 East Regional Champions, #3-seeded Syracuse.

Things did not start well for Syracuse. Guards DeShaun Williams and James Thues both left the team. Williams transferred to Iona while Thues left for Detroit. Freshman point guard Billy Edelin was suspended for 12 games for participating in a non-sanctioned basketball league. Syracuse then started its season with a loss against Memphis, despite Carmelo Anthony's 27 points, a then-high for a Syracuse freshman debut.

But things turned around, as Syracuse went 13–3 in the Big East, with several memorable wins. Gerry McNamara would establish himself as a clutch player, nailing a game-winning 3-pointer as then-No. 17 Syracuse notched an 82–80 win over then-No. 10 Notre Dame in February. In an upset of then-No. 24 Syracuse over then-No. 2 Pittsburgh, McNeil, a career 49.1% free throw shooter, hit two key free throws, and added a game-winning tip in a 67–65 upset.

The Orangemen would play five Big 12 teams throughout the year, including games against Missouri in the regular season, and against Oklahoma (Elite Eight), Oklahoma State (second round), Texas (National Semifinal) and then Kansas (National Championship game).

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