Photos: Kris Wilson & Rachel Fus Production: Stephen Dockery

It was the capstone on Quentin Hillsman’s dream season. A 22-point trouncing of No. 13 West Virginia at home in Syracuse’s season finale, to secure the team’s 22nd win in resounding fashion.

But the second-year Syracuse head coach isn’t comfortable with his team’s 22-7 record – 10-6 in the conference – a six seed in the Big East tournament and two wins over ranked teams as he looks toward the NCAA Tournament.

No, Hillsman won’t rest easy for at least another 14 days.

‘There’s always a doubt until you look up at that screen on Monday,’ Hillsman said.

If the 73-51 win over the Mountaineers (23-6, 12-4) Monday night in the Carrier Dome in front of 1,308 fans wasn’t enough to put Hillsman at ease, then nothing will. Syracuse dominated from the start, jumping out to a 7-0 lead and never trailing throughout, as it shot 50 percent from behind the arc and 86 percent from the free throw line.

After totaling the most wins in school NCAA history, spending five weeks in the AP poll, Hillsman still won’t admit his team is a tournament lock. Even before the upset, Monday’s ESPN Bracketology had the Orange as a seven seed.

A career-high 25 points from freshman guard Erica Morrow and a 22-point effort from Chandrea Jones paced the Orange. When West Virginia threatened by closing the gap to eight midway through the second, Morrow and Jones scored 12 of SU’s next 15 points to open up a 17-point lead as Syracuse went on cruise control.

On the defensive end, a team effort against WVU’s Olayinka Sanni – who averaged 20 points in her last three outings – held the 6-foot-2 center to nine points and kept her on the bench much of the second half with four fouls.

‘We did everything we could do to win this game, and give them all the credit, they played hard,’ West Virginia coach Mike Carey said. ‘They’re young, energetic and hungry. We weren’t hungry tonight.’

Morrow said the team’s performance reminded her of how SU played in the earlier stages of the season, when it rattled off 12 straight wins en route to a program-best 13-1 start. After going just 4-4 over its last eight, including a 64-49 loss at No. 4 Rutgers Saturday, last night was a win Morrow said the team needed, adding momentum heading into the postseason.

‘I’m not sure if it was the best win, but emotionally, I think it was the best emotional win,’ Morrow said. ‘At the end of the season, we needed this win after the loss from Rutgers. So I think it’s more emotional than anything.’

Even after a resounding win over a West Virginia team that was in last year’s field of 64, there was an air of understandable skepticism among the Syracuse ranks when the tournament topic was brought up. After all, the Orange has made one Tournament appearance in the last 20 years.

‘We’re not on the selection committee, so we’re not 100 percent sure,’ Morrow said. ‘But I think just winning against the No. 13 team in the country in your last game is strong. It’s a good win, so hopefully it will go into consideration.’

First, Syracuse is looking ahead to the Big East tournament, which starts Saturday. With last night’s win, Syracuse secured the sixth seed, and will play South Florida at 8 p.m. Saturday at the XL Center in Hartford, Conn.

Syracuse missed the Big East tournament last season, falling one slot short at 13th. Hillsman made the trip anyway, so forward Nicole Michael could be recognized on the conference’s all-freshman team.

For Hillsman, the best part of that trip was the food (cheesecake, in particular), as his team’s season was over. This year, he’s hoping to leave Hartford with a few more memories.

‘Last time I was there I kind of just ate the meal, let Nicole get her award, and we went home,’ Hillsman said. ‘This time we get to play, so I’m excited.’

Hillsman allowed himself, for only a brief moment, to look past the impending Big East tournament and evaluate his team’s dance chances. When he stopped to think about it, he couldn’t help but be optimistic.

‘Hopefully we’re in,’ he said. ‘I think we have enough quality wins. I think we beat enough good teams on this year, and we beat one of the top three teams in the conference so hopefully that’s enough to get us in.’

kbaustin@syr.edu

Published on March 3, 2008 at 12:00 pm