Syracuse Basketball is part of a wild and whacky March Madness

The Syracuse basketball squad miraculously upset Michigan State for a berth in the Sweet 16. However, plenty more madness has ensued.

College basketball is a sport which I adore, and March is easily the most wonderful time of year.

Especially when the SU hoops outfit gets into the NCAA Tournament.

And wins. And wins. And wins.

The Orange, much criticized and maligned by commentators across the country for its inclusion as the concluding crew to receive an at-large bid in the field of 68, busted brackets galore on Sunday afternoon when the No. 11 seed in the Midwest Region shocked the No. 3 seed, Michigan State, to advance to the Sweet 16.

I viewed this nail-biting contest at an awesome watering hole in Washington, D.C., that serves as the official ‘Cuse bar in our nation’s capital.

Dozens of Syracuse fanatics, clad in a sea of Orange, hung on to their seats as SU (23-13) and the Spartans (30-5) battled down the stretch.

When junior point guard Frank Howard fouled out with more than six minutes remaining in the second half, I figured we might prove done at that juncture.

Nope. Not in the least.

Per the norm, the ‘Cuse kept locked in on defense, its 2-3 zone smothering a high-powered MSU offense, and we did just enough to prevail. The sports tavern where I watched went nuts. I exhaled.

What an unbelievable victory, as well as a masterful coaching job by Jim Boeheim and his assistants. While we got absolutely crushed on the boards, surrendered way too many second-chance points, only connected on one 3-pointer the entire encounter, and had a mere three assists, none of that ultimately changed the result.

Syracuse is still dancing, and Sparty, picked by many experts and fans to capture the national title, is done – despite playing this second-round affair in Detroit before basically a home crowd.

In our tourney defeats of No. 11 seed Arizona State, No. 6 seed TCU and Michigan State, three groups that all average more than 80 points, we held them to 56, 52 and 53, respectively.

That’s while going at it for the third occasion in five days, with basically a five-man rotation and two subs who rarely get in, unless a starter lands in foul trouble.

Stellar.

Boeheim, in his post-game press conference, said that he’s “very proud” of his boys. Me too, JB.

"“This team perseveres through no matter what happens,” he said. “These guys just keep going, keep battling.”"

Indeed.

For the bevy of complaining and whining about the Orange making the 2018 NCAA Tournament, it remains one of 16 still standing.

Furthermore, six out of the past eight instances where Syracuse has gotten into the Big Dance, it

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has reached, at a minimum, the Sweet 16 – along with an Elite Eight in 2012, as well as Final Fours in 2013 and 2016.

Fine, I readily acknowledge that in recent stanzas, dating back to the 2014-15 campaign, SU has performed so-so during the regular season. My response: whatever.

The tourney is what counts.

And, my oh my, what a glorious, nutty version this current NCAA Tournament has entailed.

The No. 1 overall seed, Virginia, stunned in the first round by No. 16 seed UMBC – the inaugural time that has transpired. Simply ridiculous. I will add, however, that Cavaliers head coach Tony Bennett was all-class after his roster’s historic setback.

It’s not just UVA, though.

Fellow No. 1 seed Xavier is out. As are No. 2 seeds Cincinnati and North Carolina, the defending national champions. The Spartans and another No. 3 seed, Tennessee, have gotten the boot.

In the South Region, none of the top four seeds are left, which had never occurred before the Sweet 16 got underway.

This present Sweet 16 also features two No. 11 seeds, the ‘Cuse and Loyola-Chicago, along with four Atlantic Coast Conference members: No. 2 seed Duke, No. 5 seed Clemson, No. 9 seed Florida State and some random program from Central New York.

Speaking of the Blue Devils, they will clash with the Orange in a Sweet 16 showdown on Friday night in Omaha, Neb.

Duke (28-7) handled Syracuse, 60-44, at Cameron Indoor Stadium on Feb. 24, and the Blue Devils are huge favorites in this upcoming match-up.

But that was February, and this is March.

Maybe SU didn’t “deserve” entry into the 2018 NCAA Tournament. Arguments are valid from both sides. However, the ‘Cuse has undeniably exhibited that it now belongs by snaring three triumphs against long odds.

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Remember 2016?

I sure do, and I’m hoping for a repeat run.