There has been a ton of speculation in recent months regarding the future of the Syracuse Orange’s men’s basketball team and the potential retirement of legendary coach Jim Boeheim. He has been adamant that he will “probably return” next season. However, Syracuse’s struggles this season have some around the college basketball world hoping that he would call it quits after this season.
The Orange struggled yet again on Saturday against the Pittsburgh Panthers. Boeheim’s vaunted 2-3 zone was picked apart in a big way. Pittsburgh finished the game with a dominant 99-82 victory — the most points Syracuse has allowed all season.
When asked about the loss and whether or not he considered switching to man defense, Boeheim insistently said it is something that the team “cannot do”.
“We can not play man defense,” said Boeheim via Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “We’ve tried all summer and all fall. We can’t do it.”
This marks the third straight loss for the Orange. At 16-13 on the year, the losing streak practically ensures that unless they win the upcoming ACC Tournament, they will not be going to the NCAA Tournament.
Many around the college basketball world believe that Boeheim is stuck in his ways and that his time as Syracuse’s head coach should come to an end after another disappointing year.
Jim Boeheim has been Syracuse’s head coach for 46 years and has the second-most coaching wins in NCAA history. He very clearly has nothing left to prove to anyone. That being said, the ever-shifting landscape of college basketball may be passing Boeheim by in a way that is severely harming the Syracuse program.
About Reice Shipley
Reice Shipley is a staff writer for Comeback Media that graduated from Ithaca College with a degree in Sports Media. He previously worked at Barrett Sports Media and is a fan of all things Syracuse sports.