Jim Boeheim strikes out after Syracuse’s latest loss

College Basketball

Of Noah Concordia

31 January 2023 | 17:41

Syracuse fell to sixth-ranked Virginia, 67-62, at home Monday night in a hard-fought game from the Orange. This easy type of loss has been an ongoing trend for Syracuse lately, losing games to Miami and North Carolina by four points earlier this month.

In typical Jim Boeheim fashion, the legendary coach wasn’t exactly thrilled during the postgame press conference — and definitely wasn’t cheered by a reporter asking about the status of starting point guard Benny Williams, who didn’t even attend the game.

“Is that your question?” Boeheim snapped. “That is the most important question you have?”

He went on to insult the reporter’s attitude before answering the question with some added snarl.

“Benny took a personal day, he’ll be back at practice on Wednesday,” Boeheim said before concluding. “That’s it? We have that question, is that all we have? Typical in Syracuse.”

This continues an ongoing feud with the Syracuse media, which has seen a cranky Boeheim take the podium more than once this month.

After the team suffered a heartbreaking loss to North Carolina last Tuesday, in which they had the lead with 19 seconds left, Boeheim was in no mood to meet with reporters.

“Uh, we’re done,” he said with a sarcastic smile and walked out after being asked why his team can’t close out big games.

It’s the latest example Syracuse fans have of the Hall of Fame coach’s brazen behavior. The end of his tenure nears, although Boeheim played handsomely last March, only telling ESPN Radio in Syracuse that “there is a plan” for his retirement, but he has yet to reveal what it is.