Syracuse loses in ACC Tournament; Jim Boeheim won’t return as coach
GREENSBORO, N.C. (Newhouse SMC) – The Orange traveled down to Greensboro with the intent to make a statement, following a sub-par finish to the season. Jim Boeheim, did in fact make a statement, leading the media to believe he was retiring with another longform statement about how thankful he is to have been the head coach at Syracuse.
“As I said from day one when I started working here, the University hired me and it is their choice what they want to do. I always have the choice of retirement, but it is their decision as to whether I coach or not. Always has been. Again, I have been very lucky to be able to coach my college team to play and then be an assistant coach, then be a head coach never having to leave Syracuse. It is a great university. The city has embraced our team. I am amazed that we have been able to draw the fans that we have been able to draw over the years,” Boeheim said.
If this did not sound like a farewell from a longstanding head coach, maybe an extra back and forth between coach and longtime Syracuse.com reporter, Donna Ditota, can help.
Boeheim: “I am just so lucky to have been able to coach this long. I think you missed it. I gave my retirement speech on the court last Saturday and I gave it at the press conference which nobody except William Payne figured it out.”
Ditota: “Are you saying you want to retire?”
Boeheim: “This is up to the university.”
Ditota: “You want to come back.”
Boeheim: “I did not say that.”
Ditota: “So what are you saying? You’re not saying you’re retiring…?”
Boeheim: “I do not know. This is up to the university.”
Ditota: “How will you make a determination on if you are coming back?”
Boeheim: “You are talking to the wrong guy.”
If the New York Sportswriter of the Year cannot get Boeheim to spill the beans directly to the media, no one can.
Jim Boeheim has coached a long 47-year career, winning a national championship in 2003, making three championship game appearances, winning five Big East tournament championships, collecting 10 regular season Big East championships, holds a 1,015-441 record as a head coach and most importantly, is a member National Basketball Hall of Fame.
On Wednesday, March 8, Syracuse University officially announced the end of an era, stating assistant coach Adrian Autry will take over. Jim Boeheim will not return as the head coach of the Orange.
Former head coach Jim Boeheim and his team finished eighth in the ACC in the regular season but could not venture past the second round of the ACC Tournament, falling to Wake Forest in the final seconds 77-74.
Backed by five players in double figures, with four of them scoring 15 or more points, the Demon Deacons rode a last second Damien Williamson three-ball to the finish line.
“I got to the right spot, and I knew he was going to get it to me,” Williamson said on his game-winning three-point shot. “I tried to be ready to knock a shot down and I did.”
“I think Andrew Carr made a great play,” said Head Coach Steve Forbes. “He set the drag ball screen after Ty got it. That got him behind the play a little bit and Ty had the presence to come off of it and throw it to Damien for a big-time shot.”
Despite Syracuse knocking down 10 threes on 17 attempts (59%), Wake Forest was more efficient from the field and hit all 12 shots from the free throw line in the win.
Defensively, its strong suit was forcing the ball out of the hands of Jesse Edwards, who managed to get his 14th double-double of the season. After finishing the first half with two points and five rebounds, the center went 4-5 from the floor in the second with five more rebounds, finishing with 12 points and 10 boards.
Syracuse did have a chance to force Wake Forest to make a play in the final 10 seconds. Joe Girard III fired a step-back, fadeaway jumper from downtown that clanked off the rim and fell into the hands of Williamson.
“We were going to go high-low, [but] Benny could not get it to Jesse,” Boeheim said. “He tried, that was the play. Then we got it to Joe to make a play there. I would have liked to see him drive it, but he thought that was the shot.”
Even though Girard III could not make the critical bucket, he and Mintz combined for 27 points, with the freshman dropping 18 and adding seven assists.
Benny Williams had a very efficient game connecting on the go-ahead three-pointer with under a minute to go; 18 points and 11 rebounds, shooting 7-14 from the floor, and three of five from beyond-the-arc. But even his stat line could not make Williams focus on anything else but what to improve on.
“When it comes down to the end of the game, we have to finish better,” Williams said. “Make defensive plays and get better shots. Obviously, this is not going to sit well for us.”
Another good showing from ‘Cuse’s young core, just not strong enough to overtake the impressive all-around performance from the Deacons’ guards. Still, a good sign that Williams is focused on how to get better considering some run-ins both he and former Head Coach Jim Boeheim had this season.
With the Orange being 17-15 to end the season, they will await a potential bid to a postseason basketball berth. Although, it does not seem likely.