What’s Going On With Syracuse Basketball!?

Posted on March 16, 2020

 

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – JANUARY 9: Head coach Jim Boeheim of the Syracuse Orange gestures in the first half during a game against the Virginia Cavaliers at John Paul Jones Arena on January 9, 2018 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images)

 

While the sports world and life itself has hit the pause button due to the virus, Syracuse basketball had a major shakeup this weekend with a handful of players announcing they were leaving the program. It started out Friday night when we learned freshman guard Brycen Goodnie announced he was transferring.

 

We also learned today that Goodine is heading home to Rhode Island and will play for Providence.

 

The news however did not stop with Goodine this weekend. On Saturday night the program received another blow as it was announced that sophomore guard Jalen Carey and junior guard Howard Washington also put their names in the transfer portal.

 

Three players in the matter of two days all have left the program? To make matters worse freshman forward Robert Braswell is considering transferring according to the Athletic. So the question begs to be asked, what the hell is going on with this program?

On one hand, you could say that these players are just simply going elsewhere for more playing time. When Jalen Carey lost his starting job to Joe Girard, we were talking back in November if Carey was going to transfer so he’s not really that much of a surprise.

Brycen Goodine is and isn’t that much of a surprise. Coming into this season he was the highest rated recruit not Joe Girard. So Orange fans like myself thought there might be a good chance he gets some playing time. He only averaged 8.7 minutes per game in 23 contests. So while disappointing, I can’t say I’m all that surprised he would want to leave.

Howard Washington was the player I was most surprised with in terms of leaving the program. While yes he was a role player, we saw Washington get more playing time and it looked like he could be that rotational point guard going into next season. Then again, if you only had one year left would you rather come off the bench or have a chance to start? So I can’t really even blame Washington for wanting to leave.

If I’m going to cut straight to the chase, the real gossip around town about these transfers is did all of these guys leave because of Jim Boeheim? Did the Hall of Fame coach do or say anything that forced these players out? This is all just speculation really. The question many might have is do players still want to play for Jim Boeheim?

I mean, maybe? I mean you can’t say he can’t recruit because Class of 2022 5 star recruit Dior Johnson (for now) is coming to Syracuse. Joe Girard had an offer from Duke and he still picked Syracuse. So you can’t say nobody wants to play for him.

With that being said, I think it is time for Syracuse to start getting serious about finding a replacement for Jim Boeheim. Whenever I bring this up, I have people clutching their pearls saying “HOW DARE YOU GOOD SIR TO SAY YOU WANT TO REPLACE KING BOEHEIM!!! YOU ARE FOREVER BANNED FROM WEGMANS!!!” But I mean come on, the program has been stagnant ever since the Orange joined the ACC. Yes I know Final Four 2016 great, but one Final Four trip does not justify years of mediocre play. As much as people don’t want to hear this, the end is near for Boeheim coaching at Syracuse. The time has come for conversations about who will take over this program.

Are players leaving the program because of Jim Boeheim? We may never know the answer. Do changes need to at least start being considered? Absolutely. It’s time to really start thinking about the future. A future where Jim Boeheim ins’t the head coach at Syracuse University.

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