Syracuse Basketball: Boeheims playing together, for their dad, was special

A lot of Syracuse basketball fans will remember the 2021-22 campaign as one where the Orange put forth its worst record on the court in head coach Jim Boeheim’s 46 years leading the ‘Cuse program.

That’s fair. It has proven a frustrating stanza for sure, as the Orange has fought tough but come up short in an abundance of games, particularly in Atlantic Coast Conference competition.

For me, though, 2021-22 will forever have a different sort of meaning. I’ve been an Orange hoops fanatic since the late 1990s, when I was a student at Syracuse University.

And while 2021-22 did usher in a new low for the ‘Cuse as it pertains to wins and losses, Boeheim having the opportunity to coach his sons for a season was truly a sight to see.

Maybe I’m a purist. Maybe I’m naïve. Maybe I’m overly optimistic and positive when it comes to Syracuse basketball. Honestly, whatever. Seeing senior shooting guard Buddy Boeheim and graduate student forward Jimmy Boeheim compete alongside one another, and for their dad, was poignant. It was special.

As a father to a darling 5-year-old son myself, I can only imagine what it would be like to coach him at the collegiate level. After the ‘Cuse (16-17, 9-11) fell by nine points to Duke in the 2022 ACC Tournament on Thursday afternoon, the Boeheim brothers and their dad reflected on what 2021-22 meant to them.

Syracuse basketball boss Jim Boeheim was succinct when talking about coaching his sons.

In their post-game press conference following the setback to the Blue Devils, Jim Boeheim said in part of the 2021-22 campaign, “It’s the best season I’ve ever had in coaching. That says it all. Sometimes, you don’t have to say a lot.”

In recent days and weeks, I’ve read comments by some of my fellow Orange fans on social media and in chat rooms, in which they opine that Jim Boeheim sacrificed the team’s success to coach his sons.

While I respect the opinions of my fellow ‘Cuse fans, I adamantly disagree with this assessment. Buddy Boeheim led the ACC in scoring during the 2021-22 regular season and was named to the All-ACC first squad. He’s also a top-15 scorer in the history of the Orange program.

Jimmy Boeheim, a transfer from Cornell, had a solid year, and he tallied an impressive 28 points against a top-10 Duke team on Thursday.

Both of the Boeheim brothers, in their post-game presser, acknowledged that Syracuse basketball didn’t perform as they had hoped in 2021-22, and that will stay with them for the rest of their lives.

But from my perspective, Jim Boeheim, Buddy Boeheim and Jimmy Boeheim don’t have to apologize for anything. Let’s be real, it’s not like the ‘Cuse was blown off the court in every game this stanza.

Buddy Boeheim had to sit out against the Blue Devils due to a one-contest suspension from the ACC, and his older brother played a huge role in Syracuse basketball nearly stunning Duke.

Yes, this season’s Orange roster was poor in closing out games, but it was also right there in so many encounters. Miami home and away. At Wake Forest. At Virginia Tech. At North Carolina. At Notre Dame. At Georgetown (yuck). Home versus Virginia and Florida State. And in the ACC Tournament against the Blue Devils.

That’s 10 close games. If Syracuse basketball won five of them, it would be 21-12 rather than 16-17, and the Orange could have been eyeing a Big Dance at-large berth. I know, I know. Coulda, shoulda, woulda.

Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski, in the post-game press conference, said if a few breaks went in favor of the ‘Cuse throughout 2021-22, the Orange is likely an NCAA Tournament group.

So, yeah, this season has proven a total bummer for Syracuse basketball. But in the larger context, Jim Boeheim roaming the sidelines in 2021-22 with Buddy and Jimmy in the line-up is something that I’ll always treasure.