[URL='http://insider.espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/10435818/why-syracuse-orange-coach-jim-boeheim-deserves-coach-year-cbb']Jim Boeheim, Syracuse Orange[/URL]
Syracuse was 11-7 in the Big East last season, and that was with a rotation that featured
Michael Carter-Williams, James Southerland and Brandon Triche. Those guys all left, and while
Tyler Ennis arrived this season as a big-name recruit
he wasn't as highly ranked as players such as
Dakari Johnson,
Kasey Hill or Jarrell Martin. Oh, and Ennis was slated to be joined in the starting backcourt by
Trevor Cooney, he of the 27 percent 3-point shooting last season.
Take a bow if you looked at that set of facts in October and said to yourself: "Undefeated and No. 1 in the nation in February." I think it may be somewhat more appropriate, however, if Boeheim takes the bow. He has piloted a team that actually doesn't shoot all that well from the field to the pinnacle of Division I.
C.J. Fair has proven to be a rock-solid (and tireless) featured scorer, and the offensive rebounding supplied by
Jerami Grant and
Rakeem Christmas has been crucial.
No wonder Boeheim
thinks college basketball's better than it's ever been. You'd think that too if you were 23-0! Anyway, congratulations, Coach. I share your contentment with the state of the game, and I admire what you've done with your team this season. You, sir, are my Coach of the Year So Far.
