TORONTO — Carmelo Anthony never thought today would be possible when he entered Syracuse as a freshman. Today at the Carrier Dome, at halftime of the Georgetown-Syracuse game, Melo’s No. 15 jersey will be retired. A record sell-out crowd of 35,012 is expected.
“I can’t even put that into words,’’ Anthony told The Post yesterday. “I never thought it was going to happen.
“Ten years ago and I feel like it was yesterday. To me to go back there and get that jersey retired, nobody can take that away from me. ‘’
Anthony, who will practice today in Westchester and later fly to Syracuse, spent one year upstate but won the school’s lone NCAA men’s basketball title in 2003. It’s a fitting day to retire one of Syracuse’s best-ever talents as the game closes out the historic Big East rivalry between Syracuse and Georgetown — one Anthony cherished. Syracuse joins the ACC next season — much to Anthony’s chagrin.
“It was great planning, I can tell you that,’’ Anthony said. “Very thought-out. The last Syracuse-Georgetown game.
“The Carrier Dome will be rocking. I’m excited. I’ll have goose bumps. It will be a great time.’’
Anthony gave Syracuse a multi-million dollar donation to build its new gymnasium that’s called the Melo Center. He took the full tour in October when the Knicks played an exhibition game at the Carrier Dome.
Anthony’s jersey will hang alongside Dave Bing, Pearl Washington, Sherman Douglas, Derrick Coleman, Billy Owens, Billy Gabor, Vic Hanson, Wilmeth Sidat-Singh and Rony Seikaly.