Even In Defeat, It Was Still An Amazing Run

Sometimes even in a loss, there's a victory.

I just finished watching the Big East Championship, a game in which my Syracuse Orange lost to Louisville by ten points. They lead by eight at half time, but fell apart in the second half, committing turnover after turnover to allow the Cardinals to outscore them 46-28 in the last twenty minutes.

But at the end of the game, I wasn't angry. I stood up from the desk chair in my bedroom and clapped.

I clapped for a team that in defeat showed amazing heart and courage. I clapped for a team that played in seven overtimes over the course of the previous two days, but still managed to advance to the Big East Championship. I clapped for a group of players that put forth an incredible effort, but just ran out of gas at the end. I clapped for a team that, over the last few days, played some of the most inspired basketball I have ever watched.

When Jim Boeheim removed Jonny Flynn from the game in the final minute, Flynn basically collapsed on a chair at the Syracuse sideline. His head was down. He was so physically and emotionally spent he couldn't even sit up. As sports fans, you can't help but applaud an effort so great. Sure, Syracuse didn't win the Big East Championship, but their effort was more than extraordinary. What more could you possibly ask for?

So often in sports we see athletes that seem uninspired and seem not to put forth the effort necessary to succeed. I like to believe that the athletes that I watch and admire put forth their best effort at all times. But Syracuse's effort over the four days of the Big East Championship was beyond all expectations.

However they fare in the upcoming NCAA tournament, they have endeared themselves to people who may have doubted them before, myself included. Because while this team is flawed, and may not always play to its talent level, it showed an incredible desire and heart. It demonstrated what it's capable of doing when its talent is realized. And as we saw over the last four days, when Syracuse plays to its potential it's a scary and dangerous team.

So even in defeat, I applaud them. It doesn't even matter that they lost. The last few days have spoken volumes about the character and heart this team possesses. I just hope now they're rewarded with a couple of wins next week in the NCAA Tournament.