Niagara head coach Patrick Beilein says talks are ongoing with Syracuse basketball. Plus provides details on John Beilein picking the NBA.
There are still a few months until the Syracuse basketball season tips off, which means there are a few t’s to cross and i’s to dot before the schedule is complete.
It was reported last week by Steve Infanti, Sports Director of News Channel 9, that Syracuse basketball and Niagara were working towards finalizing a matchup for the upcoming season in late December.
We spoke with Patrick Beilein, new men’s basketball head coach at Niagara on The Manchild Show with Boy Green and he confirmed that talks were ongoing between the two Universities:
"“Nothing is official yet. We’re talking with Syracuse and we hope we can make something happen with them. Anytime that we (Niagara) can go up against an ACC school like Syracuse with Jim Boeheim would be great for our conference and Niagara overall. I’m hopeful and positive that we’ll work something out. We look forward to making that trip, hopefully.”"
Not only would that potential game be a homecoming of sorts for Patrick, but it would also be a homecoming for former Syracuse football player and current Niagara assistant Greg Paulus. He played quarterback during his final season in 2009 for the Orange.
But before playing at Syracuse, he was the point guard of Duke, which Patrick Beilein said he had some initial beef with:
"“I’ve known Greg for a long time. Our families would run into each other on vacation. Although when I reached out to him initially, I’ll be honest I had to get over the whole “Duke point guard” thing. That was a little bit of a snag for me, but I put the ego aside. His D1 experience is going to be huge for me having that on my coaching staff. We’re extremely lucky to have him at Niagara. There’s no doubt he’ll be a head coach in the very near future.”"
Of course, Patrick was only able to enjoy the headline news for around 30 days he said before his dad dropped the biggest bomb possible: John Beilein was headed to the NBA with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
While that certainly surprised a lot of people considering John’s age and no prior experience at the professional level, it didn’t surprise Patrick. He always knew this was in the back of his dad’s head ever since Patrick spent time with the Utah Jazz in the NBA as an assistant for a few years back in 2014-15.:
"“There was definitely a meeting of the minds both ways. My dad talked to me about me taking the Niagara job, he got his Masters from Niagara. During my time with the Utah Jazz, John Beilein reached out to me and picked my brain about how it was like and the atmosphere. When I coached with the Jazz I knew that my dad could do it. He asked me about what I thought and if I could ever do this? And I gave him my feedback and said absolutely.”"
We wish Patrick and his father John all the best in their endeavors in the NBA and at Niagara respectively! It’s so awesome to have two local guys who coached with the Le Moyne Dolphins now having so much success!