Why would Syracuse not have the "Hop" option in 3-5 years?
This could very easily be the best thing for Cuse. Hop gets experience actually running a power 5 conference team, in a new recruiting area, and could choose to... wait for it... return to his beloved alma mater to coach for the rest of his career. Roy Williams did it. Alford might be about to do it.
I don't get all the odd negativity. Boeheim has been an unbelievable gift to Syracuse for half a century. I too am of the opinion that Hop knew his lifelong mentor had gas in the tank, and a desire to still coach. He did not want to push this hall of famer out before he was really "ready." Hop took the high road and rightly took a great job for big $. A legend gets to continue what he was put on this earth to do.
On the other side, what if Cuse continued the downward trend (going from NCAA bubble fretting to fretting whether we break .500). You would not have thought it could happen to Crum, but it did. Would we want anyone associated with the program to take over? Then we could have egg on our face for not honoring Hop agreement.
Hopefully, in 3-5 successful years, we get a seasoned Hop. Or maybe Autry blossoms as the #2. Or we hire one of the best up and comer outsiders. I for one would love to see if Hop can make it work in the top job on another school's dime and time.
In any event...A highly profitable ACC school, who averages the top 3 crowds in nation, with best in class facilities, with iconic home court, with multiple final fours and a national championship in the last 25 years, will NOT have a problem attracting a great option to head the team when they need to look for one.
Hopefully that will be after the competitive old boy gives us a couple more great tourney runs...