Syracuse Basketball: Jimmy Boeheim candor on SU struggles is admirable

Understandably, Syracuse basketball fans are frustrated with the team’s 2021-22 season to date, as the Orange sat in unchartered territory, two games under the .500 mark, heading into a home date with Wake Forest on Saturday night.

Some ‘Cuse fans are taking it an unfortunate step further, outwardly wishing that the Orange (9-11, 3-6) will lose games moving forward, and that the Carrier Dome will be sparse for future contests, as this, they believe, will “spark change.”

I’ve gone on record in saying that I think such a mentality is disappointing, sad and could hurt recruiting efforts. Regardless, as a Syracuse basketball nut myself, and a proud SU alum, I’m bummed about the state of the ‘Cuse in 2021-22.

However, if any Orange fan out there doesn’t think that this team’s current struggles aren’t weighing on Syracuse basketball players, coaches, and staff members, let me take a second to fill you in. They are taking this hard, and they’re busting their tails off to improve their on-court play.

Syracuse basketball forward Jimmy Boeheim opens up about the ‘Cuse this season.

Graduate student forward Jimmy Boeheim discussed the team in a recent interview with Brent Axe on ESPN Radio Syracuse. Among other things, Boeheim said that “no one is taking this harder than we are,” while adding that “no one wants to win more than we do.”

"“It just kind of looms over us. It’s really all we think about. All day. It’s tough,” Boeheim continued. “But I promise we’re going to keep going. Keep giving you guys everything we have, because that’s what you deserve.”"

How can you not admire these sorts of candid comments from a young man who, frankly, gets personally attacked over and over again – and often unfairly, in my opinion – by some Orange fans on social media?

Look, the ‘Cuse at present isn’t a good team. But maybe Syracuse basketball can turn things around, perhaps starting with a win over the Demon Deacons on Saturday evening.

Even if the Orange ends up with a losing mark for the first time in head coach Jim Boeheim’s more than four decades at the helm on the Hill, I’ll never, ever say that this Syracuse basketball roster isn’t trying its best.

Putting the last two losses, at Duke and at Pittsburgh, to the side, the ‘Cuse has been right there with a lot of Atlantic Coast Conference opponents of late, but our beloved boys in Orange just can’t seem to close these encounters out.

Is the team not athletic enough? Maybe. Is the team not talented enough? Got me. Should certain guys be playing less, while others on the bench should be playing more? Perhaps. But perhaps not.

The point here is that I really appreciate, admire and respect how Jimmy Boeheim opened up in his talk with Brent Axe, who is also a wonderful columnist for Syracuse.com. Boeheim was honest, and I fear that some ‘Cuse fans will see what he said and trash him even more.

Not me. I’ll continue to root hard for Jimmy and the rest of the team for the remainder of this season, even if the Orange piles up more losses than wins the rest of the way.