Syracuse Basketball Adds Two More Deserving Names to Its List of Retired Jerseys
Syracuse University is finally giving long-overdue recognition to center Rudy Hackett and guard Jim Lee, key contributors to the magical 1974–75 Orangemen—the first team in program history to reach the NCAA Final Four.
Last February, during halftime of Syracuse’s eventual triple-overtime victory over Boston College, the university welcomed back many members of that ’74–’75 squad along with head coach Roy Danforth. The ceremony marked the 50th anniversary of one of the most improbable and influential postseason runs in school history.
That team, which featured Jim Boeheim as Danforth’s top assistant, stunned the college basketball world by advancing to the national semifinals in San Diego alongside traditional powerhouses UCLA, Kentucky, and Louisville. Syracuse fell to Kentucky in the semifinal and later dropped an overtime decision to Louisville in the now-defunct third-place game, as UCLA captured the national championship in John Wooden’s final contest on the sidelines.
What made that run so special was the journey itself—something highlighted by Monday’s announcement that Hackett (#45) and Lee (#10) will have their jerseys permanently retired. The ceremony is scheduled for February 21, when Syracuse hosts North Carolina in an afternoon game at the Dome.
Clutch Performances That Defined a Historic Run
Both Hackett and Lee delivered unforgettable moments throughout the 1975 NCAA Tournament. Syracuse narrowly escaped its opening-round matchup, defeating La Salle 87–83 in overtime. Hackett poured in 30 points while grabbing 12 rebounds and hitting key free throws late, while Lee added 20 points, accounting for 50 of the team’s total scoring.
The following game produced one of the defining victories in program history—a 78–76 upset of top-seeded North Carolina. With just five seconds remaining, Lee drilled an 18-foot jumper off a feed from Hackett in the post to seal the win. Lee finished with 24 points in the triumph.
In the regional final against Kansas State, Syracuse again relied on late-game heroics. Trailing by two with five seconds left, guard Jimmy Williams raced the length of the floor and found Hackett in the lane. After briefly fumbling the pass, Hackett converted a short shot at the buzzer to force overtime, where the Orange pulled away. Hackett and Lee combined for 53 points in the 95–87 victory, and Lee was named East Regional Most Outstanding Player.
Lee continued to shine at the Final Four, earning All-Tournament honors despite Syracuse finishing fourth. He scored 23 points in the semifinal loss to Kentucky and followed it up with 27 points while playing all 45 minutes in an overtime defeat to Louisville.
Joining Elite Company in Syracuse History
With Hackett and Lee now honored, Syracuse will have retired the jersey numbers of 19 players—an exclusive group representing the very best in the history of one of college basketball’s most successful programs. Both players were also previously named to the Syracuse All-Century Team during the 1999–2000 season.
They now take their place alongside legends such as Carmelo Anthony, Dave Bing, Derrick Coleman, Dwayne “Pearl” Washington, and many others who helped define Syracuse basketball across generations.
For a program built on tradition and unforgettable moments, retiring the numbers of Rudy Hackett and Jim Lee is a fitting tribute to two players whose performances helped shape Syracuse’s rise on the national stage.
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