Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim said on Tuesday that every game his team played this season was crucial for seasoning a youthful team and making the NCAA Tournament.

The Orange started the season hot, surging to an 11-2 record at the end of nonconference play. SU’s only losses at that point were to then-No. 2 Kansas and in overtime to St. Bonaventure, both NCAA Tournament teams, Boeheim noted. Syracuse also notched wins against Buffalo — also in the field of 68 — Oakland, Maryland and Connecticut.

“Every game was crucial,” Boeheim said.

Boeheim also said that this team never had a bad night, meaning that there wasn’t a performance he felt wasn’t the best Syracuse could give.

Despite how Boeheim feels, SU still found itself uncomfortably on the bubble until Sunday night’s selection show. All the games making up Syracuse’s body of work were enough to sneak the Orange into the field and set up its matchup with Arizona State on Wednesday at 9:10 p.m.

“This team’s done everything they could do,” Boeheim said.