Syracuse Basketball: Orange's fight to defeat Notre Dame was entertaining, impressive

It's been the best of times. It's been the worst of times...especially if you follow the Syracuse men's basketball team on social media or at least the fan reactions. And I get it, nobody likes losing and that includes me even if some see my posts and think I don't care or think I am looking to award everyone participation trophies or whatever talking point fits their argument.

But I see the struggles. I see the difficulties and miscues. But I also see there are humans on the other side of it and humans who are talented enough to play well and represent Syracuse well.

And when the Syracuse/Notre Dame game began on January 18, the Irish jumped out to a huge lead as Syracuse kept shooting threes and missing. And I turned to my son at one point while driving down 81 listening to the game on the radio and shouted out of frustration, "Why are they shooting threes instead of just trying to get other shots to go down first!" So see, I am human too.

But after Notre Dame showed utter dominance early, this Syracuse team didn't just give up even though I am sure some Orange fans did or thought they had but instead they pulled off the thrilling comeback win 77-69.

Syracuse basketball notched an impressive comeback win at home against Notre Dame.

Syracuse basketball head coach Adrian Autry, in his post-game press conference, thanked the fans for helping to lift the team and credited the win to some better defense later in the game and playing tough and aggressively.

And to me, this game is actually a great example of why I vent my temporary frustrations in the car and not the public and choose to try to remain optimistic a minute later until it is all said and done. Games and seasons are not over until they are over and I will not give up until it is over. Not when someone on social media says it is over or tags the social media accounts of the teams and tells them to fire coaches or say this is the worst team ever.

Winning matters and is important. But so is being there supporting them through the rough times and not giving up until everything is done and over when change is impossible. JJ Starling was hurt and now he is back.

Donnie Freeman is out and injured and "day to day." Many of these guys are young or new to Syracuse this season and haven't played together much. There are likely things that go on that are not excuses but realities that exist within this team that impact a game's outcome.

But today I hope this team showed enough effort and heart that maybe some fans can back off the ledge a bit at least. And while I understand the odds of making the NCAA tournament right now are very slim, it is not impossible, especially with a little clause in the deal that the winner of the ACC Tournament gets an automatic bid.

And if they can make the tournament, which I think is possible, then anything on any given night can happen and I choose to believe that until that is no longer an absolute, this season is not over. And much like this game and much like the guys who fought to get back into the game and won it, I choose to continue to rally with this team, root for them to continue to battle on to the best of their ability and hope for the best.

Go Orange!