Saturday’s 56-55 comeback win over NC State was Syracuse’s 10th win decided by single digits, and six of those have come in conference play.

We can all complain that the ACC is a mediocre league beyond the top five teams in the standings, but Syracuse has gotten every team’s best shot because it entered league play unbeaten. And it has turned away all 12 opponents to date.

In those six ACC games decided by single-digits, Syracuse has needed some clutch baskets to win the games, but most impressive has been the team’s defense. Take a look at what the Orange have done to close out those close games.

Jan. 4 vs. Miami: Trailed 40-35 with 6:11 left before ending the game on a 14-4 run. Interestingly, five different Orange players scored in that decisive stretch. Team win.

Jan. 18 vs. Pitt: Led by as much as 10 points in the second half, but the Panthers came back to take a 52-49 lead with 4:41 left. Tyler Ennis was clutch down the stretch, scoring six of the team’s final 10 points as the Orange closed the game on a 10-2 run.

Feb. 1 vs. Duke: Pushed to overtime by a hot-shooting Duke team and faced an 87-84 deficit with 1:23 left in the extra session. The Orange scored seven of the game’s last nine points, going 7-of-8 from the line.

Feb. 3 vs. Notre Dame: Opened the second half with a 13-point lead, but saw that cut to three with just under nine minutes left. Trevor Cooney scored nine of the team’s next 11 points and did just enough from there on to keep the Irish at bay.

Feb. 12 at Pitt: Trailed 54-48 with 1:54 left and finished on a 10-2 run, started by C.J. Fair’s 3-point shot and another jumper, and finished by two free throws from Tyler Ennis and his prayer at the buzzer.

Even against NC State, the Orange trailed 50-45 before storming back and winning with Rakeem Christmas’ great steal and C.J. Fair’s layup on the other end.

If you’re picking a national champion right now, Syracuse is that team because of its terrific play on both ends of the floor. But Kansas, Michigan State, Florida, Kentucky and Wichita State will all factor into the mix.