Are We Seeing The (Steady) Decline Of Syracuse Basketball?

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Dec 10, 2016; Syracuse, NY, USA; Syracuse Orange head coach Jim Boeheim reacts to a play against the Boston University Terriers during the first half at the Carrier Dome. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports /

I despise even bringing this topic up, however, it’s imperative. James Arthur Boeheim, unless he changes his mind, will retire after the 2017-18 season. Yuck. Say what you will about the prickly curmudgeon; he’s won almost 1,000 games (hello, NCAA).

I’ve seen a plethora of stories out there regarding Boeheim’s impending foray into full-time golf mode, and how it hasn’t affected recruiting. That’s fine.

I don’t buy it.

Sure, Syracuse has snagged high-level prospects over the years. We should. On the flip side, just

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peruse what’s taken place in recent months, which we’ve documented here at ITLH.

SU has missed out on numerous top-flight targets, such as Quade Green, whom Boeheim and his staff courted for two years, as well as others including Shai Alexander, Hamidou Diallo (likely), Billy Preston, Nick Richards, Jordan Tucker and Lonnie Walker, to name a few.

The Orange has received commitments from Oshae Brissett and Bourama Sidibe, two lower-ranked, yet promising, recruits. It may land one or two more for next year, Boeheim’s last, but overall, this class will prove slightly disappointing, in my opinion.

I guess the true barometer is the 2018 class, the inaugural one during the Mike Hopkins era. If Hopkins, who for years has served as Syracuse’s primary recruiter, cannot land some heavyweight prospects, I’m afraid we may see trouble lurking in the horizon.

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