The NCAA tournament is finally here and the excitement can be felt across the SU campus. Our Candace Hopkins spoke with students, who say despite some ups and downs to the season, they think SU has what it takes to win it all.

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SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- To the casual observer it looks like a normal day at SU, but beneath the surface the excitement is brewing.

"Everyone's just so hyped up for the games, and everyone's in Orange, it's just crazy," said SU freshman Kim Piwko.

"Going to Syracuse, it's one of the things we're very proud of, and if we have a good team we have a good time," said SU junior Eric Margulies.

That good time arrives each year with the NCAA Tournament. This year, SU's first game is just three days before the school's 143rd birthday. To help celebrate both, Thursday students were treated to a birthday party of sorts, complete with cupcakes, balloons, and entertainment.

"We just want to pump people up and get them out to love Syracuse and love the Orange, as much as Syracuse students seem to do, which is always important," said Traditions Commission Member Regina King.

This season so far has had its ups and downs, but students say the support for the team hasn't wavered.

"Win or lose we're still gonna love the Syracuse Orange, and we're still gonna love Jim Boeheim," said King.

It appears nothing can ruin the fun, not even reports of an NCAA investigation into the team.

"I don't think anybody is gonna care until after the tournament is over, right now, it's just, let's win," said Margulies.

And winning is something these fans expect to see a lot of.

"We're kinda a clutch team, so I think we can pull it off, and in my pool I have us going all the way to the championship, so they'd better make it," said Piwko.