Jim Boeheim and Syracuse Basketball learned Sunday night they would not be playing in the NCAA Tournament this year. Like many experts, Boeheim assumed we had enough quality wins to get in. Inside the Loud House examines Boeheim’s displeasure with the Selection Committee snubbing Syracuse.
It was evident in the post NCAA bracket selection press conference that Jim Boeheim was displeased. Look at his face in the video below and tell me that’s a happy camper. It’s not, and the reason is because Syracuse was snubbed.
There were a lot of decent teams this year, but with a weaker bubble than in most years it was almost unfathomable they would not be a part of the tournament. The Orange’s resume had three top 10 wins, and six Top-50 wins (albeit at Home in the Dome), something no other bubble team had.
To get a better Idea what I’m talking about, check out the tone and dialogue Boeheim used in his interview with Rece Davis according to ESPN.com:
"“Well, the biggest problem I have is…. we had three Top-10 wins, and nobody on the bubble had (that). Last year, we had the same number losses [14] and the committee chose to go with teams that had the wins. This year, virtually the same committee, not many changes, and they’re emphasizing the losses you had. And when you look at the bubble teams, the teams that beat, had their big wins, they had them at home: just like we did. So, I think its difficult to understand the change from one year to next. We finished ahead of Wake Forest in our league, and usually when its that close, and I think we all agree it was pretty close between us and Wake Forest. The committee says, well, we have to look at the head-to-head,…. well we beat Wake Forest, so. Difficult to accept. I thought we would just squeak into the tournament, but we have to accept it and move on.”"
What the Experts are Saying:
Some College Basketball experts have voiced their displeasure with the snub as well. ESPN analysts Jay Bilas, Dick Vitale, and Jay Williams all disagreed with Syracuse’s exclusion from the field according to Syracuse.com. Then again, Syracuse fans sort of expected empathy from ESPN. We all know why.
Others though like USA Today, Fox Sports, and CBSSports all agreed leaving Syracuse out was the right call, but they understand the reasons to like their resume.
I am not happy either, like Jim Boeheim. I think Syracuse Basketball deserved to be in. Bad losses happen, but top 10 wins don’t happen a lot, let alone three times. I don’t think Syracuse was less deserving than USC or Wake, but it is what it is.
Next: Tournament’s Inconsistencies Kept SU Out Of March Madness
Like Jim Boeheim said in his ESPN interview, “we have to move on”. The NIT starts tonight and nobody is going to pity you.
You’ve got to go out and play regardless of how you disappointing you are. If for no other reason, Syracuse needs to be ready to play to prove the committee was wrong. We proved the haters wrong last year with the run to the Final Four. It makes you wonder what Syracuse Basketball has in store to end this year.