Jim Boeheim Guides Orangemen Into Unfamiliar Territory

Jim Boeheim has his Syracuse Orangeman at #1 in the regular season for the first time since 1989-90. After knocking off Villanova last week in front of a record crowd at the Carrier Dome, Syracuse has claimed the top spot.

The master of the zone defense can proudly hold his index finger in the air considering he’s accomplished this with ZERO top 50 recruits in his seven-man playing rotation.

Syracuse was not even in the top 40 at season’s start after losing three starters from their Sweet Sixteen team a year ago. With a 27-2 record playing in arguably the toughest conference in basketball, this is quite a feat.

Boeheim has proved to be one of the best coaches of his generation. A National Title in 2003 with the likes of Carmelo Anthony, Hakim Warrick, and Gerry McNamara highlights his career.

Remember those exciting Syracuse teams Boeheim constructed in the 80′s? Sherman Douglas, Derrick Coleman, Rony Seikaly, Billy Owens…any of these names ring a bell?

Douglas brought the excitement with alley-oops that he seemed to launch from anywhere on the court. Seikaly and Coleman were dominators of the post, and Owens could play inside and out with the best of them.

Boeheim has been a consistent winner throughout his career at Syracuse and now finds himself in an unfamiliar position at #1. If teams continue to look lost in “The Zone,” then “Mr. Zone” may have himself another National Title.