The Inside the Loud staff is back with another Roundtable to debate and discuss Mike Hopkins departure and what’s next for Syracuse.
Q: Now that Assistant Coach Mike Hopkins, Syracuse Basketball’s Coach Designate (Coach-In-Waiting) has left and taken a 6-year contract with the University of Washington, what does that mean for Jim Boeheim and Syracuse’s future?
Neil Adler- Contributor
Syracuse’s future, at least for the next few years, is with the same guy who has roamed the sidelines for the past 41 – Jim Boeheim. With Mike Hopkins heading to Washington, SU has extended Boeheim’s contract past the 2017-18 campaign. Reportedly his contracts until the 2021-22 season, according to Syracuse.com
First of all, I’m a little surprised that Hopkins has left. He only had one more year until he would take over as head coach; that’s at least what the university has said publicly. Perhaps Boeheim wasn’t going to ride off into the sunset after one more stanza, and Hopkins either knew that, or at least felt it.
A West Coast native, the UW gig came up, and he therefore took it. I can’t blame him. If Boeheim did, in fact, not want to bolt after next season, that could make for an awkward transition, and we all know that Hopkins views JB as a mentor. So, Hopkins gets a chance to make his own legacy, and, ‘Cuse Nation gets a few more terms with JB at the helm.
Josh Peelman- Contributor
Follow: @jnpmessenger
Yeah strangely enough, Neil, I was shocked that Hopkins left too. I mean, I shouldn’t have been because he deserved a chance to make his own legacy. Still, after all the offers he had turned down in the past, I didn’t think he’d take one now. Maybe that’s selfish thinking, but that’s where my head was. He was a great associate head coach for the Orange, and as many know, our best recruiter, according to Syracuse.com.
In terms of impact in the near future, I do believe we will see a dip in recruitment as Hop brought something other don’t. He brought a father figure to a player’s household and the Orange sideline. That’s not something Gerry McNamara really is. Sorry G-Mac. Its just not the vibe he gives off. Don’t get me wrong, I know McNamara is a good recruiter, but it will take awhile for Autry and him to adjust to that larger role.
Also, Neil, I think that because Hopkins respected Boeheim so much as a mentor it made it so hard to leave. Imagine being on the sidelines for 22 years with the same man. That’s almost as long as I’ve been alive, which is crazy to think! Their connection to Syracuse University, the team, and its players is unparalleled.
So I don’t want fans to be mad, but I think he made the right choice by leaving. He had made his legacy here, now he wants to create a similar legacy to JB’s in his own backyard. In my opinion, there is no shame in that. If anything, it now lets Boeheim continue his legacy here at Syracuse without hindrance for awhile. Hindrance may sound harsh, but starting next year it probably would have been, if we’re being honest.
Neil Adler- Contributor
That’s right Josh. Now, it’s entirely possible that Boeheim doesn’t last until 2022, but at least this gives the Orange some time to figure out a new succession plan. Maybe Adrian Autry, the newly anointed top assistant, is the presumed next head coach. Maybe SU goes outside of the ‘Cuse family. It’s all speculation at this point.
However, Boeheim will get to go out on his own terms. How does this impact recruiting? On the one hand, Syracuse targets will get told that they can play for JB for several seasons. I consider that a positive. Then again, like Josh said, it’s widely known that Hopkins has served as the program’s primary recruiter for a while. Maybe, that’s a negative.
In addition, the long-term outlook isn’t entirely clear, and maybe it will remain cloudy for some time. What we do know is that James Arthur Boeheim will continue to flail his arms, complain to refs and act snarky for the foreseeable future. And I’ll take that 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Josh Peelman- Contributor
Follow: @jnpmessenger
Agreed, I mean who doesn’t want to see Boeheim rip his suit off a few more times and loosen that tie? How many times have we loved seeing him freak out in Syracuse’s defense? Too many times to count. The fact that Syracuse has been blessed to have him these last 41 years is incredible. Not many coaches stay this long, and the fact that he’s “enthusiastically agreed” to stay on past next year shows he still loves it.If Boeheim was forcing himself to still coach, he wouldn’t still be out there.
In terms of the future, I believe Syracuse will bounce back. I think the last three years where we have had 13 losses or more each season was just a fluke. Every program who flies high for awhile also has some lows. However, the fact that one of those years we still made a Final Four shows that Syracuse is still a perennial powerhouse. I truly believe if we can land a few more recruits this year and next year with great talent that we can be contenders again.
I see us being back in the Top 25 annually, and playing at a high level. yeah, I know we’re in the ACC and that makes us hard, but that only helps us for March. the more you’re battle-tested, the more you’re battle-ready. I think Syracuse already has so much potential next year. The skies the limit, and with Boeheim staying to ensure stability, Syracuse basketball will be just fine, whomever he hires as an assistant coach for big men.