Despite having all the momentum headed into the overtime period, the Orange couldn’t get the win against the Cardinals. SU simply looked to come out flat in the overtime and that led to too big a deficit being built to overcome.

But after the game, Jim Boeheim said something we don’t usually hear unprompted out of Jim Boeheim, that was a high level of praise that seemingly came out of nowhere. To be clear, I’m not saying Jim Boeheim never praises players, it happens quite often, but his comments after the loss at Louisville felt different.

This was an interesting aside to wrap up the night in the Dome. Over the last seven games, the Orange is 5-2, of course winning the first five and losing the last two, but in seemingly each of the games. And Jim Boeheim has recognized that and made his recognition public. Talking about the fight the team has shown. Talking about a Herculean effort to come back against Louisville, not once but twice.

It also felt notable because this may not have necessarily been the case earlier in the year. There were games, most notably the St. John’s game, where the Orange didn’t fight, and didn’t battle back.

But now the Orange has been fighting and battling in every game the last two plus weeks, coming back from down double digits to tie, or take the lead, in every one including the losses to Louisville and Pitt.

It’s a mindset change, and a welcomed one for the Orange. A mindset change that was needed to turn the season around. There’s still plenty of work to be done, but with a newfound philosophy, the Orange must feel like it’s not out of any game it plays and that’s dangerous down the stretch and— potentially— in March.