Could this be the last hoorah for Syracuse Coach Jim Boeheim? The story that is circulating is that he has set up a three-year window for Boeheim to retire. This came after NCAA sanctions in March of last year, when the Syracuse basketball program came under scrutiny for academic violations as well as other infractions. Coach Boeheim was hit with some penalties related to keeping some of his players academically eligible through lack of monitoring the basketball program.
Coach Boeheim's Syracuse Orangemen beat No. 1 seed Virginia on Sunday, March 27 in an incredible comeback at the Midwest Regional final. With the 68-62 win, Syracuse, a No. 10 seed, became just the fourth team seeded that low to reach the Final Four.
It's hard to know what to make of this moment. If you take away the moral policing, it is a testimony to Boeheim’s coaching prowess. This season, Boeheim was suspended for nine games over 32 days, and he was unable to have any contact with his own players. This is in addition to what is described as academic misconduct, as mentioned above. Also, there was a failure to follow drug testing rules and the infraction of giving players extra benefits.
On top of all of this, most people didn't think Syracuse even deserved to get into the tournament based on its 13 losses. So, this was considered an off year and, coupled an embarrassing scandal, it could have been the saddest moment in Boeheim's career.
And yet, "This is the best comeback we've ever had," said Boeheim to a crowd of reporters in a post game interview.
As for Virginia's basketball program, they continue their recent history of never quite reaching the Final Four. They led by as much as 16 points this past Saturday against Syracuse, maybe allowing themselves to feel that they finally were getting their turn. Unfortunately for the Cavaliers, they are continuing to be labeled as a regular-season-only team.
Syracuse slumped during the 32 days Boeheim served out his penalty. The story is that he was a basket case in his home in his exile from the basketball court. Boeheim started feeling better when he came back, and he was far from feeling mushy or sheepish on his return. If you ever thought the Syracuse coach to be soft, then you haven't been paying attention during the past 40 years under his tenure as head coach. The first thing he said when he came back, according to longtime assistant / interim coach Mike Hopkins. "He said, 'we have got to get better - this is what we have to do. We're a young team; these guys are playing out of position. We've got to get better.' It was like nothing happened," Hopkins said. And they got better.
Boeheim is known for his grumpiness and his blatant mopey demeanor – personified by the expression "I don't care what anyone thinks." But during the week at the Midwest Regional, he did open up about his coaching philosophy. He talked about pushing players. He pushes them hard because players 1) really want it, even though they don't know it and 2) have no idea that they really aren't giving 100 percent.
So will the only remaining Number one seed go down? If North Carolina loses, either on Saturday or in the title game, it would be a surprise. The Tar Heels are playing at an extremely high level. It also seems fitting for their coach, Roy Williams, to get another title alongside senior leaders Marcus Paige and Brice Johnson.
How will UNC lose? Even though the Orangemen are a 10 seed, they have put it all together so far in this tournament. North Carolina swept two games against Syracuse in the ACC (Atlantic Coast Conference) regular season, but any coach will tell you that it's not easy to beat a good team three times in a season, and Syracuse only lost by five points in their last meeting with the Tar Heels.
As a coach, I see this game as a battle of determination versus perseverance. The Syracuse zone defense is either a determining factor or a curse for the Orangemen. I also feel that rebounding will be a key factor. UNC will be prepared for the defense, but will they be able to stop the motivation of Syracuse’s mentor? Will we see a storybook ending for Coach Jim Boeheim? We shall see!
The history of March Madness shows that most crowned champions were teams that were number one through four seeds. This could be a record setting Final Four, if the Orangemen prevail as champs. This would be a rare feet, not only for a 10 seed, but for a college program that relies on its staple 2-3 zone defense. I hope the game lives up to the hype!
