From the desk of Steve D:
Inspired by what’s become a hot button topic in the CNY why area, I got that itch this morning to dust off my Manual Buzzer keyboard, to address coach Boehiem’s post game remarks, and general state of the SU team. The moderators on Syracuse.com have been kept busy the last twenty four hours, as a whopping 370 comments (many of which were deleted, and is now down around 330)have come in less than a day following an article regarding Jim’s comments following Syracuse’s 74-71 loss to Marquette Monday in Milwaukee. For any who may have missed it, Jim issued the following responses to questions from reporters about the issue of team leadership, and if he considered playing Dejuan Coleman:
“"We're the same team we've been all year. I don't even understand that. ... You think because you come to Marquette and lose a two- or three-point game you need a new guy? I don't."
“Our two best defensive players were in the game…You should try coaching, maybe, because that's what you think you are. Maybe you should try that."
Of course Jim would go on to vent about his frustration with the Big East, among other things, before finishing up the presser with this gem:
"any more coaches here? Want to ask another coaching question? I'd be happy to take it. I've only been doing this 37 years, I'm sure you've got more ideas of who we should play or we shouldn't play or who should lead? What do I know…go get your Pulitzer someplace else.”
I have to admit, I did not realize that this topic would become such a polarizing topic locally. The message board of syracuse.com-while usually being full of ignorant trolls-does give a decent snap shot as to how the community at large feels, especially when you get so many comments. Typically it has been a place where the fans have blindly defended Boeheim, regardless of whether his actions warranted questioning. That’s why what I’ve seen on the message boards, and social media have been so surprising. I’d say that the majority are bashing Jim for the above comments. Was Jim way off base with his comments? Were the questions raised by the reporters valid? I’ll start with the validity of the questions.
Michael Cohen of the Daily Orange-a university newspaper-asked Jim if he thought the 6-10, 250+ lb freshman center Dejuan Coleman, could have helped to offset the second half defensive rebounding problems that Syracuse had with Marquette big Davante Gardner, who torched the Orange. On the surface that seems like a valid question. Look deeper though, what is Cohen really doing here? That’s not a question, as much as it is a statement that Cohen himself thought Jim should have played DC. It would have to be, because otherwise it would be the dumbest question in the history of reporting. Taking that question at face value, is essentially either
a)implying that Jim thought Coleman could help the team, and decided not to play him anyways, or
b)Jim forgot that he had Coleman on the bench, and didn’t play him for that reason
Coleman’s question was worded poorly, and put Jim on the defense, a place that any reporter who’s been in a press conference with Jim before, like Cohen has, should know is not the place to put Jim. As far as the basketball side to Cohen’s question, contrary to what a lot of people think, Jim was right in not playing Coleman. Coleman was the team’s most suspect defender BEFORE knee surgery. A likely somewhat out of shape Coleman would have been inserted into a game in the second half, and had a very tall order ahead of him.
Those watching the game would notice that during Marquette’s key second half run, they placed Gardner out near the top of the circle, a good 18 feet from the basket. Being not only a skilled passer, but also excellent shooter, whoever was playing center of the zone has to respect his jumper. Is an out of shape Coleman really the guy you want defending that? Keita actually did a great job defending that initial shot. Gardner was able to crash hard on his shots, or whoever he made a quick pass to from the top of the key. The rebounds that SU missed were, in theory missed by the forwards-CJ and James-as Keita was hardly in position to box out Gardner on the move from the top of the key. Assuming that Coleman would have been a disaster defending Gardner out that far from the basket, would you have Coleman over James or CJ, far and away the two best offensive players on SU right now? No way.
To add to that, Jim sees Coleman every day in practice. He knows how he’s moving. How bad must Coleman look in practice to not get time over Rakheem and Baye? Think hard, do you really think throwing Coleman into that game helps SU’s chances at stopping Marquette’s run? If you think so, watch a game tape of the last time Coleman was thrust into a similar situation-overtime of the game at Villanova-and tell me if you still feel that way, because he was an absolute train wreck that day.
As to the question of leadership? It may be a valid question. It’s clear to everyone that Brandon Triche is not a leader, neither vocally or on the court. I’ve written him off. He WILL have a disappointing game in whatever round SU gets eliminated in the first two weekends of the tourney. Has Brandon ever put three consistent games together in his career against cupcakes, let alone four to six in a row that a run would require in the tournament. I posted this to my facebook, but here are the raw numbers the last nine games-the biggest games of the year-for a player in his FOURTH year of starting.
@Villanova-7-18 from the field…3/8 from 3
@Pitt- 4-14 from the field…0/5 from 3
Home ND- 2/9 from the field…0/5 from 3
Home St. Johns- 5/10 from the field…2/6 from 3
@ UCONN- 3/15 from the field…0/7 from 3
@SHU- 10/18 from the field…4/7 from 3
Home PC- 5/11 from the field…1/3 from 3
Home GU- 4/13 from the field…1/7 from 3
@Marquette- 4/10 from the field…0/3 from 3
Take out a blistering game against the laughably inept Seton Hall Pirates, and you have a player shooting 34% from the field, and 16% from 3 in the biggest stretch of your season. Almost hard to believe that those numbers are real. Beyond the raw numbers that speak for themselves, his lack of emotion and intensity set the tone for a team of guys who are mostly in new roles. Yes MCW has been equally dreadful, but the guy is still in his first year running a team, and has been handed a very limited, inconsistent group to work with. Beyond that, I think most of the guys are fairly vocal on this team, but who wouldn’t have their mood dragged down just by looking and Brandon’s melancholy face all game. Honestly he can’t graduate fast enough in my eyes.
Goodman’s question about leadership is a valid one to ask in regards to this team. How is Jim supposed to answer that question though? Jim did exactly what he needed to do, and don’t believe for a second that it wasn’t calculated. He took a potentially flammable question, that could have easily been a distraction to the players, and deflected the attention to himself. Instead of everyone in the media, and in town talking about how poorly the guys on the team are playing, the focus is on Jim, who couldn’t care less about what you, me, or people on Twitter are saying about him.
For everyone crying about Jim’s conduct in these press conferences, give it up. Have you watched a Gregg Popovich press conference, or in game interview lately? How about a vintage Phil Jackson press conference? When you are at the top of your profession, and have been doing something for 37 years, to me at least, you’re allowed to get cranky when some kid from a school newspaper starts questioning personnel decisions you made after a tough loss, or some fat slob in a Hawaiian shirt who hasn’t touched a basketball in ten years (if ever) asks a question that could splinter or divide your team. Jim’s cranky, but to me his honesty and candor are refreshing when compared to the majority of the candy coated, politically correct answers you see from 99% of College Basketball coaches.
Most important, despite the whining of local hack beat reporters Mike Waters and Bud Poloquin, Jim did what was right by the players. Should any of us really care what Jim said to a reporter who would trash Jim in a second if given the opportunity to sell a story? To me a fan, great job protecting your players Jim. Michael Cohen can go get a hug from Coach K if he needs one.
