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.”
Boeheim: "We can not play man (defense). …We've tried all summer and all fall. We can't do it."
— Noah Hiles (@_NoahHiles) February 26, 2023
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.
After losing to Colgate and Bryant at home earlier this season, Jim Boeheim smugly told the media to relax. Said the team will be fine.
How’s that working out?
About as well as his outdated 2-3 zone that’s given up 267 points in the last 3 games.
— Thomas Casale (@TheTomCasale) February 26, 2023
Back to back games giving up 90+ points. Boeheim won’t change a thing. Fire the old man
— Eric Hubbs (@BarstoolHubbs) February 26, 2023
It’s time for Boeheim to retire.
— Andrew Fillipponi (@ThePoniExpress) February 26, 2023
I’m sure that Jim Boeheim was a great coach in the 2000s. But he’s got to realize that teams know how to shoot threes now, and are pretty good at it!
— Alec Sturm (@Alec_Sturm) February 25, 2023
Maybe Jim Boeheim just wanted to make Pitt look like a team that was so good it had to have been bought?
— Dan Sostek (@dan_sostek) February 26, 2023
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.
