Halfway through the season, we've got a losing record

[althea]

“Our defense was a disgrace and that's me. I'm the coach. I'm responsible for that.”

Jim Boeheim on Syracuse's Defense: 'It's 100% Responsible For Our Record' | Sports Illustrated Syracuse Orange News, Analysis and More

 

[DoctorBombay]

“Our defense was a disgrace and that's me. I'm the coach. I'm responsible for that.”

Jim Boeheim on Syracuse's Defense: 'It's 100% Responsible For Our Record' | Sports Illustrated Syracuse Orange News, Analysis and More

First time I’m seeing this and it’s from 1/3. My initial reaction is why wouldn’t he say something like this at the postgame presser, rather than selectively calling out certain players by name, while omitting others?
Ultimately he IS the one responsible, we all know that. Good to see him finally express it…..I guess?

 

[RF2044]

Does the fact that we currently have a nice class (top 15) signed affect this analysis at all? We’ve had a perfect storm of bad things happen and we’ve still managed to stay relevant. I get that this year sux but I don’t think people realize how hard it is to win at this level. I’m not calling you this but we seem to have quite a few bad mind readers on this forum that think that JB doesn’t mind losing as long as it is with his preferred players. That’s just crazy.

There's also a contingent of fans who are congenitally incapable of tolerating any criticism against the head coach, even in the face of overwhelming objective evidence that things are swirling down the drain, and have been getting worse for several seasons.

Frankly, it's annoying, and indefensible given the tangible slippage.

And I'm at a loss to understand how anyone can attempt to play the blind faith card at this point.
To badly paraphrase that cartoon, this is NOT fine.

 

[althea]

There's also a contingent of fans who are congenitally incapable of tolerating any criticism against the head coach, even in the face of overwhelming objective evidence that things are swirling down the drain, and have been getting worse for several seasons.

Frankly, it's annoying, and indefensible given the tangible slippage.

And I'm at a loss to understand how anyone can attempt to play the blind faith card at this point.
To badly paraphrase that cartoon, this is NOT fine.

I am not disagreeing with you. I don’t like like the trajectory any more than you do. All I can say is yeah, I feel your pain. Real life is always a little more complicated and nuanced than what this forum displays. JB is a real person that deserves a certain amount of respect before we kick him to the curb. I say this as someone that wanted him gone years ago, but as of this moment, he’s never had a losing season. How do you justify that mentality without sounding crazy?

 

[hoopsupstate]

Boy have times changed. Instead of winning 25-30 games now we’re just hoping for a winning season.

 

[Sherman20]

We are trying to turn role players into stars and it’s not going to work. We lack one special player from being really good. You have these players with the players that left last year and we could win the ACC this year.

What a difference KR, Braswell and Q would have made.

 

[CousCuse]

What a difference KR, Braswell and Q would have made.

The opening of the portal was like the siren song to to half the players in the NCAA. Are those guys happier where they're at? Maybe Boeheim could have gotten better guys to fill their spots, but I feel and believe and think the coaches felt like Benny was going to be an high impact player. I'm not trying to get on Benny because he is a bright guy and he is doubling his efforts, but at this point he is the missing ingredient.

 

[ORANGE OATH]

Wow!
The problem is a coach in his late 70’s who will not change for anyone, or anything.
A blind man can see this !
Jim should get the big send off at the end of this season !

 

[RF2044]

I am not disagreeing with you. I don’t like like the trajectory any more than you do. All I can say is yeah, I feel your pain. Real life is always a little more complicated and nuanced than what this forum displays. JB is a real person that deserves a certain amount of respect before we kick him to the curb. I say this as someone that wanted him gone years ago, but as of this moment, he’s never had a losing season. How do you justify that mentality without sounding crazy?

JB deserves a tremendous amount of respect -- and every bit of deferential reverence the fanbase can muster.

But he's not beyond reproach. He's not above criticism. And he is not infallible.

As described above, it's possible to regard the man as coaching royalty for all his accomplishments and to simultaneously hold him accountable for / point out the multitude of ways he's responsible for the program's decline.

Both things can be true at the same time, despite what some fans want to pretend. There was a time when I think he was above this kind of criticism, but that time is far behind in the rear view mirror. This is a results-driven profession, and his results haven't been up to snuff, for ~7 years.

 

[Scooch]

Does the fact that we currently have a nice class (top 15) signed affect this analysis at all? We’ve had a perfect storm of bad things happen and we’ve still managed to stay relevant. I get that this year sux but I don’t think people realize how hard it is to win at this level. I’m not calling you this but we seem to have quite a few bad mind readers on this forum that think that JB doesn’t mind losing as long as it is with his preferred players. That’s just crazy.

Recent history suggests that 2-3 of next years recruits won’t see any meaningful conference minutes. And the couple others who do will underachieve expectations. I hope I’m wrong, but we’ve been seeing the same thing for a while now.

 

[007]

Recent history suggests that 2-3 of next years recruits won’t see any meaningful conference minutes. And the couple others who do will underachieve expectations. I hope I’m wrong, but we’ve been seeing the same thing for a while now.

If next year's team plays out the way JB hopes (JG, BB, JB, and JE return), there will be no room for more than 1 of the incoming guys to get meaningful minutes.

But I'm with you, even if 3-4 of the starters move on, I will have to see it to believe that more than 1 or 2 of the 5 recruits will be anywhere near ready to meaningfully contribute next season.

 

[FrancoPizza]

as of this moment, he’s never had a losing season. How do you justify that mentality without sounding crazy?

Having 1 losing season is not the reason people want change. In the last 8 years we have not been relevant. We have only been solidly in the NCAA field ONCE in the last 8 years. The blind nepotism is just the cherry on top. The fanbase has been more than patient. At any other top 10 program he would have been forced to step down behind the scenes.

 

[miamicuse]

Next year class is questionable in terms of minutes if Buddy, Jimmy, Joe, Cole are going to be back. If this is true I won't be surprised if some of them run to the portal.

Doesn't JB always stress to practice well to earn real game minutes? With the current team I don't think they can field a competitive practice squad to play 5 on 5.

 

[44cuse]

JB is a real person that deserves a certain amount of respect before we kick him to the curb. I say this as someone that wanted him gone years ago, but as of this moment, he’s never had a losing season.

I think the point is...he's received that respect from the University, the AD, the fans.

IMO, the frustration that is boiling over is that there isn't a plan to deal with it that anyone knows or understands. All people know is this: 1) the program is and has been in decline, 2) we have not had success (as defined by SU hoops expectation) in the ACC, 3) it appears as if JB is doing whatever it takes to coach his kids again next year (and expecting different results?), and 4) the AD and university are silent on anything.

Now, I'm not saying the University should or even would come out and say: "Hey, this guy built SU basketball and we are going to let him go out on his own terms." Or some reference to him coaching his kids next year. Whatever it is. But they aren't going to do it. Right now, it's a vacuum that JB and the AD are allowing to happen.

But I don't think the question or statement that JB deserves any more respect than he has received is warranted. He has been respected. A lot.

44cuse