Syracuse Orange Avenge Last March's Snub

The Syracuse Orange seem to have recovered from the poor first half play that plagued them in Wednesday's 89-78 loss at the University of South Florida by dismantling No. 8 Georgetown in the Carrier Dome on Saturday afternoon.

Syracuse played in front of 31,327 fans, the largest recorded crowd in Division I hoops so far this year.

The Orange (17-6, 7-6) built up a 21-point lead in the first half, and the Hoyas could never recover.

The bigger story, though, is in Syracuse's NCAA hopes.

After a questionable snub from the big dance last spring, Syracuse looked up after the USF loss and saw six more games in which to prove themselves worthy before the Big East Tournament and Selection Sunday. 

So far so good.

Sophomore guard/forward Paul Harris (Niagara Falls, NY) feels the same way, with a cautious optimism. 

"This is definitely a quality, key win," Harris told reporters after the game. 

Harris' offensive explosion early in the game (eventually leading to a team-high 22 points) utilized his unreal athleticism to exploit the Hoyas in transition and set the tone for the rest of the afternoon. There was a two minute period early on in which he scored eight straight points, including a finish with contact to capitalize on a dish from point guard and high school teammate Jonny Flynn.

Flynn may have the most impressive statistic of any for the Orange of late—40 minutes played.  That makes seven games as such in a row, including a 45 minute showing in December's 64-62 OT loss to Georgetown. 

While one may stop to consider the physical toll taken on his body during his first season in the unusually physical Big East, how can one blame the mastermind Jim Boeheim for keeping him on the floor?

Only time will tell, but as far as the win column goes, the strategy appears to be paying off.  The only alternative—a balanced backcourt—is no longer an option. Andy Rautins and Eric Devendorf's injuries made that clear earlier in the season.

SU students were quick to celebrate the win, storming the court for the first time this season. 

Hopefully this is the first of many to come, driving Syracuse, the program with the fifth highest winning percentage in the history of D-I Men's college hoops, back into the spotlight in March.