Tag: Syracuse

Jim Boeheim’s career getting ended by a team he said was ‘bought’ was too perfect

Boeheim got exactly what he deserved.

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We’re about to start March Madness in earnest, so I know there will be lots of stunning finishes ahead in the coming weeks.

But before we’re consumed by the, uh, madness, I don’t want what happened to Syracuse Men’s head coach Jim Boeheim Wednesday to get lost in the shuffle. Because not only was it perfect poetic justice for an ornery member of college basketball’s “old guard,” it was also really funny!

And I can’t overlook the comedy.

Sorry, sorry, I should say former Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim. Wow, what a sentence to write after all this time.

After 47 years at the helm of the Orange, Boeheim “stepped down” and finally retired with Syracuse’s buzzer-beating loss to Wake Forest. I put stepped down in quotation marks because it didn’t seem like Boeheim was actually intent on walking away until … yesterday.

But it sure looks like Syracuse was done with him based on Boeheim’s strange (hostile?) attitude after the game!

Via the ACC presser transcript:

“REPORTER: You want to come back?

BOEHEIM: I didn’t say that.

REPORTER: So what are you saying? You’re not saying you’re retiring …

BOEHEIM: I just said it don’t know.

REPORTER: So you don’t know?

BOEHEIM: I said this is up to the university.”

If I didn’t know any better, that sounds like the 78-year-old Boeheim is bitter he didn’t have much of a choice. That he thought he somehow deserved better after all these years leading the program?

To that, I say: Sorry, Jim. Not everyone gets to take a hollow “victory lap” like Duke’s past steward Mike Krzyzewski. And let’s be honest: As annoying (and hoo boy, was it annoying) as it was last year, you’re no Coach K in terms of resume. Not even close.

In the end, though, Boeheim probably got what he deserved.

An early February interview with ESPN saw him call the current state of college basketball an “awful place.” Boeheim clearly didn’t appreciate the advent of NIL deals for players and took his critique way too far to insinuate that ACC programs like Wake Forest just flat-out bought their teams. He would later offer a weak non-apology for what he said.

The damage was done.

I would normally make a joke about Abe Simpson yelling at a cloud, but the joke was already made for me. Instead of going on one last hopeful Cinderella run, the Demon Deacons buried Boeheim with a poetic last-second shot. Essentially, one of the teams he maintained didn’t deserve their place in college basketball, got to throw roses on the coffin of his career. Amazing.

If you weren’t a believer in karma before, Wake Forest officially ending Boeheim’s time at Syracuse should change your mind. I, for one, think it’s beautiful.

Quick Hits: NFL free agent forecast … Giannis at Duke … and more. 

Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Unpacking Future Packers: No. 53, Syracuse OL Matthew Bergeron

Up next in the Unpacking Future Packers draft preview series is Syracuse offensive lineman Matthew Bergeron.

The Unpacking Future Packers Countdown is a countdown of 100 prospects that could be selected by the Green Bay Packers in the 2023 NFL draft.

All signs point to David Bakhtiari being back with the Green Bay Packers next season. At this point, it’s a Ray Zalinski guarantee that the veteran left tackle will be back at 1265 Lombardi Avenue next season. 

Zach Tom has proven to be a viable option at right or left tackle, with the versatility to play anywhere along the offensive line. Yosh Nijman will most likely be back. The Packers also have Rasheed Walker and Caleb Jones on the roster. On top of that, Elgton Jenkins is always capable of kicking back outside in a pinch.

It would appear the Packers are set at the tackle position for the upcoming season. What about a year from now?

Will Bakhtiari and Njiman be on the roster after next season? What’s Tom’s best position? With a cloud hanging over the future of the tackle position, it would not be shocking to see the Packers take an offensive tackle during the 2023 NFL Draft.

A player that Brian Gutekunst could target on day two of the upcoming draft is Matthew Bergeron. The Syracuse offensive tackle checks in at No. 53 in the Unpacking Future Packers countdown. 

The No. 2 prospect out of Canada, Bergeron finished his career at Syracuse with 39 career starts under his belt. He started eight games at right tackle and 31 games at left tackle. 

“Bergeron was the most reliable Syracuse offensive lineman,” Kevin Wall, the manager of Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician said. “The team’s protection suffered from the loss of H-back Chris Elmore in the opener but Bergeron helped Syracuse to an improved offensive season. Syracuse got off to a hot start before a tougher schedule and injuries led to a 1-5 finish to the regular season. Bergeron missed the next to last game at Wake Forest but he was the best offensive lineman for the second year in a row.”

Bergeron is a gifted athlete and that athleticism is on full display as a run blocker. He has outstanding range. He’s comfortable getting out in space and shows no restrictions climbing to the second level. The 39-game starter hits his targets when he’s out in space.  He seals outside run lanes and generates push at the point of attack. 

“The numbers would say this is his weaker area, but I think Syracuse often loaded up the right side with extra blockers and relied on Bergeron to handle defensive ends by himself,” Wall said. “Syracuse used a zone run scheme the last two seasons and he did an effective job opening holes for Sean Tucker.” 

In pass protection, Bergeron has quick feet and the lateral quickness mirror edge rushers. He has smooth hips. He has good core strength and is able to anchor down against power. 

It’s just a consistency thing for the Syracuse tackle. There are times when everything (feet, hands) is out of sync for Bergeron. According to Pro Football Focus, Bergeron gave up five sacks this past season, including four in the final four games he played in this season.

“His trouble seems to come with speed rushers who get into him before he can get his hands into them,” Wall said. “I’m sure that’s why he was given reps at guard at the Senior Bowl as teams see if there’s a better fit along the interior. Those final four games also had Syracuse playing with either an injured Garrett Shrader or Carlos Del Rio-Wilson making his first career start. He’s still got room for improvement. You’re talking about a player who came to Syracuse from Canada and dealt with multiple coaches and changing philosophies during his college career. Bergeron is one of those players that if given the time to develop could become a long-time NFL starter.”

Fit with the Packers

As it stands right now, the Packers would appear to have their starting offensive tackles for week one on the roster.

Bergeron could use a year to iron out some of his technique in pass protection. He would benefit from a “redshirt” year.

The Syracuse offensive tackle has all the tools to develop into a team’s left or right tackle. Some teams may kick him inside to guard.

“I know character gets overshadowed by production, but opponents talk about the challenge of facing Bergeron while the Syracuse coaches and players talk about the importance he brings to the locker room,” Wall said. “When you want to draft a player who will give 100 percent to their craft and their team, you want players like Bergeron. He’s not going to throw a fit if he’s moved inside or asked to start off as a backup. He’s going to throw himself into doing what it takes to be part of a winning culture.”

Bergeron finished his time at Syracuse with 39 starts. He’s battle-tested, with the ability to play either tackle spot or kick inside to guard. With his experience, athleticism, and versatility, Bergeron could be a potential day-two target for the Packers as they start thinking about life after Bakhtiari. 

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Legendary coach Jim Boeheim done at Syracuse after 47 seasons

Another coaching legend is out the door.

Jim Boeheim, the second-winningest coach in Division I basketball history, has coached his last game for Syracuse. Only a few hours after the Orange were eliminated by Wake Forest in the ACC Tournament, the university announced that Boeheim’s 47th season at the helm was his final one. He will be succeeded by Orange assistant Adrian Autry, who played for Boeheim from 1990 to 1994.

Notre Dame’s first game against Boeheim’s Orange was a 65-62 loss Feb. 9, 1985 at Purcell Pavilion. Most recently, the Orange had a come-from-behind 78-73 victory Jan. 14 in Syracuse. Overall, the Irish went 16-31 in the rivalry during that time. The programs have battled every year as conference rivals since 1996 – first in the Big East with the Irish losing two of three meetings in that conference’s tournament, and then, in the ACC.

Fighting Irish Wire was lucky to be in South Bend for what turned out to be Boeheim’s final trip there. After his team’s 62-61 victory, we were able to sit in on his postgame news conference. We couldn’t pass up the opportunity to snap a photo of the Hall of Famer, which is what you’re seeing at the top of this story.

Much like [autotag]Mike Brey[/autotag], who coached his own final game for an ACC program he has become synonymous with less than 24 hours earlier, Boeheim will be missed, and we wish him well.

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Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Geoffrey on Twitter: @gfclark89

Watch: Kansas gets surprise commitment from 4-star SF Marcus Adams Jr.

Apparently, he was planning to pick UCLA, but a phone call from Kansas coach Bill Self changed his mind.

Marcus Adams Jr. was expected to pick UCLA when he announced his college commitment at Narbonne High School (Calif.) yesterday.

Instead, the four-star small forward threw a curveball, announcing his commitment to the Kansas Jayhawks. Watch:

Adams (6-foot-8, 200 pounds) had offers from 21 different schools. Apparently, he was planning to pick UCLA, but a phone call from Kansas coach Bill Self changed his mind, per the Kansas City Star.

“According to Adams, the staff told him how badly they wanted him to join KU; they felt he had the potential to be great and sought the chance to coach him. The conversation forced Adams to reconsider his choice, he said.”

This is the first commitment of the 2024 cycle for Kansas.

247Sports has Adams ranked No. 11 at his position and No. 4 overall in the state of California.

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Jim Boeheim’s future at Syracuse in doubt after buzzer-beater loss in ACC tournament

What a poetic and ironic potential finish to Boeheim’s time with Syracuse.

What a WONDERFUL way to kick off March Madness!

During a second-round ACC tournament game Wednesday, Wake Forest and Syracuse’s Men’s basketball teams traded haymaker after haymaker. And in the final moments, the two squads found themselves knotted up at 74 points apiece.

After Syracuse bumbled around with the ball on their end, Wake Forest quickly charged up the court to get into position for a game-winning shot. A perfect pass would find Daivien Williamson open for three.

It’s the third month of the calendar year — a.k.a. March — so, c’mon now; you already know what happened next. Williamson drained his shot for an incredible 77-74 Wake Forest win.

There are a lot of consequences to what might be the first sweet moment of this year’s March Madness. Let’s focus on two.

The first is that Williamson’s game-winning shot saw Wake Forest cover a pregame -2.5 spread with DraftKings. A relatively even 55 percent of the handle was on Syracuse (+2.5), along with 63 percent of the money. Needless to say, a lot was riding on Williamson hitting nothing but the net.

More importantly for Syracuse fans, Williamson might have just ended longtime Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim’s career, too. Boeheim has been at the helm of the Orange since 1976 but hasn’t provided much clarity on his future lately.

The coach didn’t really provide a concrete answer in the press room after Syracuse’s season officially ended, saying he already gave his “retirement speech”, but that he hasn’t personally decided what’s next:

For what it’s worth, this is what Boeheim told ESPN in an early February interview about what lies ahead:

“Listen, this has been the question of the day for 15 years. This isn’t a new question. It’s just the calendar going, ‘Well, he’s 78,’” he said then. “And I’m not going to retire because it’s the calendar. Anything can happen. Anything, literally. We’ll just see what happens. I don’t say anything because I don’t know.”

Suppose Wednesday was indeed the end of Boeheim at Syracuse. This makes matters a little more poetic. In that same conversation with ESPN, Boeheim ripped the Demon Deacons, among a trio of ACC programs, for buying their team. He would later offer a weak non-apology after receiving backlash for those comments.

Just over a month later, Wake Forest may have pulled the curtains on Boeheim’s 47-year tenure on the Syracuse bench.

ACC men’s basketball leaders as of March 5

No one for Notre Dame is on this list.

The ACC Tournament takes place this week, so all eyes will be on Greensboro, North Carolina. Whatever the standing of your team, this is the perfect opportunity to see the best of what the conference has had to offer this season. Here are the players you particularly will want to see:

Notre Dame to face NC State, recent thorn in side, in ACC Tournament

This might be a bad matchup for the Irish.

Even with the amazing season Notre Dame has had, nothing can be taken for granted. That’s especially true after three-time defending ACC Tournament champion NC State defeated Syracuse, 83-58, for the right to face the top-seeded Irish in the tourney’s quarterfinals. On paper, the Irish should be the favorite, but don’t let the record discrepancy fool you. Lately, the Wolfpack have been one of the few teams to figure the Irish out.

The Irish have lost three of their past four games to the Wolfpack, including a late collapse in the Sweet 16 of last year’s NCAA Tournament. Whether it’s been bad luck or simply a touch matchup, this is the rare program that has owned the Irish. As hard as it is to believe that the Irish could be one-and-done in the ACC Tournament, there’s a real possibility for it to exist, and you only need to look at how these recent games have gone.

As much as we want the Irish to stick around all weekend, it’s time to prepare for the possibility that they won’t and force us to start looking ahead to this year’s NCAA Tournament.

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Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Geoffrey on Twitter: @gfclark89

ACC honors galore for Notre Dame

So many Irish folks won awards that we had to make a listicle out of this story.

When you win the outright ACC regular-season championship, as Notre Dame did, many conference honors are sure to come. That’s exactly what happened when the ACC unveiled its annual honors. The best part is the honors weren’t limited to those who are on the court every game.

All of this is happening ahead of the ACC Tournament, which begins Wednesday in Greensboro, North Carolina. Having earned one of the top four seeds, the Irish received an automatic berth to the quarterfinals, which will take place Friday. As the top seed, they will play the winner of the second-round game between Syracuse and an NC State program that has given them problems over the past year.

Joe Lunardi’s latest Bracketology has the Irish holding steady as the No. 3 seed in the quadrant featuring undefeated and top-ranked South Carolina. Should the Gamecocks draw the Irish in the Elite Eight in that scenario, they’ll have to deal with these heavy hitters that have made the Irish such a force this season:

ACC women’s basketball leaders as of Feb. 26

One Notre Dame player, hopefully a healthy one, is on the list.

The ACC Tournament takes place this week, so all eyes will be on Greensboro, North Carolina. Whatever the standing of your team, this is the perfect opportunity to see the best of what the conference has had to offer this season. Here are the players you particularly will want to see:

ACC men’s basketball leaders as of Feb. 26

No Notre Dame players on the list.

Only one week remains until the ACC Tournament. Now is the time for teams to build confidence and momentum going into the most important week of the season. If a team has one of these players, it most likely is in good shape: