We've had a lot of fun at DePaul's expense over the last few years. Saying that they don't belong in the Big East. Saying that they're unnecessary and don't deserve to be here. Saying they're a waste of space in an over-crowded conference that doesn't need them. Saying that they ultimately bring nothing to the table.
Well, Saturday's 107-59 win over DePaul did nothing to change all of that. Sorry, DePaul, but that was awful.
The 48-point victory was Syracuse’s largest margin of victory in a Big East game ever. The 107 points was the most Syracuse had scored against a Big East opponent since a 108-95 win over Connecticut in the 1993-94 season.
The game was such a blowout that Boeheim had all five of his starters out with over 10 minutes still remaining in the game. He put Jackson back in the game at the 4:27 mark to give Jackson a few more minutes on the Dome court and then a proper send-off when he took the senior forward back out of the game to a standing ovation with 3:32 on the clock.
It works out great for the Orange. They close out the season with their most-dominant win in months. They ended the year on a five-game winning streak. They clinch the double-bye in the Big East Tournament, providing the team with an extra day of rest.
Then there was all of the crazy stats:
- Syracuse scored a season highs in point (107) and FGs made (45).
- Syracuse’s 71.4 field goal percentage (45-for-63) was the highest of the season, tied for the 3rd-highest mark
- Syracuse shot a season-best 77.8 percent (7-of-9) from three-point range.
- 107 points is the most Syracuse has scored against a Big East opponent since scoring 108 against UConn in the '94.
- Fab Melo scored ten points. Let me repeat that, Fab Melo scored TEN POINTS.
- Mookie Jones scored nine points and hit two 3-pointers and got the chance to say, "That’s what I do...No other explanation. That’s what I do."
And C.J. Fair did this:
And so the season ends. 25-6 (12-6). For everything this up and down season has given us, I'm pretty sure you take that and you run. Now it's all about NCAA Tournament seeding. Win the Big East Tournament and you can make a case for a No. 2. Lose the first game and it's probably a discussion of No. 3/4.
This should be fun.
Blowout win over DePaul allows bench guys to seize the moment, have some fun...Donna Ditota
SU locker room brims with pre-game energy; plus that C.J. Fair dunk...Donna Ditota
Syracuse Basketball Recap vs DePaul The Sunny Side: Blowout City...Brent Axe
SU notes: Rick Jackson closes out his Syracuse career in typical workman-like style; Reese lobs to Southerland and Jason Hart's return...Mike Waters
SU embarrasses DePaul, 107-59, in worst loss in Big East history...Daily Orange
In Dome send-off, Jackson shows season-long consistency with 14 points in win over DePaul...Daily Orange
For this Syracuse basketball team (and with DePaul having been rubbed out), the future has arrived...Bud Poliquin
DePaul - Syracuse Postgame Reactions OR Despicable Demons...Orange44
Orange clinches double-bye, downs DePaul...The Juice Online
Rick Jackson Goes Out a Winner, Syracuse Flattens DePaul...Three Idiots on Sports
Syracuse Looks to Lock Up Double-Bye With Win Over Hapless DePaul...Otto's Army
