Syracuse Orangemen Squash the Villanova Wildcats

Jay Wright's program has seen better days.

Days when stars like Randy Foye and Allen Ray graced the court and almost took the team to a Final-Four berth in the NCAA tournament.

Wright should keep reliving.

Syracuse bombarded Nova to win in convincing fashion 87-73.

Paul Harris had a career-high 30 points, and floor general Johnny Flynn added 24 for the Orangemen.

Paul Fisher had 21 and Scottie Reynolds had 13 on a off night for the Wildcats.

Villanova opened the game 11-12 (92%) and then only scored 15 points in the last 33 minutes. 

Paul Harris and Donte Greene abused, manhandled, worked, owned any adjective you want to use referring to complete domination. Nova just did not have the size to prevent Harris or Greene from getting into the paint as the tandem combined for 47 points. 

Greene knocked down a three-pointer midway through the first half to give his team the lead for good.

The game was close at intermission, with Syracuse leading 44-39. The Wildcats turned it up, cutting the deficit to one 50-49 in the second half but the Orangemen went on a 10-1 run to seal it.

With 1:41 left and the game already out if hand, Johnny Flynn delivered a personal message to Nova fans. Flynn drove through the lane and got fouled by Reggie Redding while attempting a teardrop layup—that to no surprise went in for a possible three-point play.

Flynn then stuck his arm in the air and waved bye bye to the Wildcats' fans.

The Orangemen outrebounded the Wildcats, and outshot them, too: 27-43 (62.8%) to 26-59 (44.1%).

It was Syracuse's third straight win and Nova's fourth straight loss.

With this win and their others during the streak, the Orangemen looked extremely impressive and like a big threat in the Big East. When they get back F Eric Devendorf, they will be even harder to stop—and we might be seeing this team come March in the NCAA tournament.