Syracuse basketball fans paint the hill orange

Gray skies, falling snow and slushy pavement didn't stop Syracuse University students from engaging in pre-game hoopla in anticipation of the SU versus Duke University game on Saturday.

These party-hungry SU students, sporting custom body paint, T-shirts, stickers and more flocked to Castle Court, located on the edge of Walnut park, where outdoor drinking and dancing gave attendees an outlet to partake in Duke-bashing revelry.

Schine Student Center also offered a tailgating opportunity for the more sober-minded, where Syracuse University cheerleaders, band members and alumni performed for and spoke to guests.

Thousands of Orange-enthused fans also attended ESPN Game Day on Saturday morning.

The game that followed these events resulted in an SU victory, witnessed by the 35,446 fans that packed the Carrier Dome. It marked the birth of what promises to be an epic rivalry between the two schools, reinforced by the enthusiasm of SU students and fans before, during and after the game.