I offered thoughts on this thread's questions a couple of weeks ago. I figured that I would just link that here rather than typing the same response again:
http://syracusefan.com/threads/is-jab-our-dave-winfield.71952/page-2#post-986524 That said, certain patterns are pretty clear in terms of the program at this point. Some of these patterns allow the program to be as successful as it is, while others limit how successful it can be. The ones that potentially limit include: [*]The lack of recruiting players with sound basketball fundamentals. [*]The lack of recruiting players with complimentary offensive skill sets. [*]The lack of team development throughout individual seasons. [*]The inconsistent player development results. [*]The tactical stubbornness. [*]The commitment to playing exclusively zone defense (which is also part of the program's success) with the occasional desperate 1-2-1-1 press thrown in. [*]The "nepotism" of the coaching staff at this time. Ultimately, in terms of potential program limitations, it is worth considering that Boeheim has one title in 38 years. This is the same total as coaches like Rollie Massimino, Steve Fisher, Jerry Tarkanian, Nolan Richardson, Jim Harrick, Lute Olson, Tubby Smith, Tom Izzo (more Final Fours than Boeheim), Gary Williams, and John Calipari (more Final Fours than Boeheim). For those who defend Boeheim by using the "Keith Smart" argument, Calipari should likewise be granted the "Mario Chalmers" defense. Does racking up more victories, many of them in the regular season against the Cornells and Colgates, really make Boeheim a better coach than some of the others listed above? One could easily contend that Boeheim's championship was earned solely because he had arguably the best college basketball player of the last 20+ years for that magical season. Though no coach wins without good talent, Boeheim detractors could claim that he has not shown the ability to win without the college game's most elite talent--once-in-a-generation talent. This argument would also then explain the once-a-decade visit to the Final Four--transcendent talents don't enter the Melo Center every day. If one accepts that premise as true, one then has to question how "elite" Boeheim's coaching (especially in terms of player development) really is. Let me make it clear that I am an admirer of Boeheim's coaching. I certainly can make a list of patterns that have led to the program's current level of success, and why these items should continue to produce similar results. Along with this, I can list the reasons we are lucky as a fans to have Coach Boeheim at the helm. I'll save that list for another post. However, asking critical questions and identifying areas for improvement are important keys to enhancing success. No one should have a "lifetime pass" from such professional (or personal) development, no matter how many "successes" he or she has on his or her resume. I would hope that Coach Boeheim encourages these vital development tools behind closed doors with his staff and players in order to improve the likelihood of future tournament success; he certainly doesn't accept critical questions or constructive comments from others well. The minute Boeheim stops asking the types of questions and making the sorts of observations that many posters here have offered over the last week or so and, more importantly, the minute he stops trying to improve and correct said issues, is the minute I no longer want him as the head coach of the Syracuse Orange. Would you?
