Sherwood Boehlert: “Who would have thunk it? The Syracuse Orangemen, not even rated in all the preseason polls, are national champions. And…”

“Who would have thunk it? The Syracuse Orangemen, not even rated in all the preseason polls, are national champions. And they provided a thrill a minute as they made the journey from being out of sight and out of mind to number one. Ever since its first season, the Syracuse University's men's basketball team has been winners. In its inaugural season, Syracuse held opponents to a combined 51 total points and went on to a winning record. That inaugural year was 1900, and the record was two wins and one loss; 103 years and 1,462 wins later, the Syracuse basketball team has reached the promised land: NCAA national champs. Head Coach Jim Boeheim has 653 of those wins over 27 seasons. That kind of record and longevity says something about this superior coach and decent human being. He is a winner; no one can dispute that. As Casey Stengel would say, 'You can look it up.' But most of all he is a teacher, a man with a proven ability to transform raw talent into skilled practitioners of the game. He does it with his measured and methodical and patient and persistent approach. Yes, he is a winner, but that is a team endeavor. More than that, he is an inspired and inspiring teacher. And we all know that is a solo act. And that is what produces champions. Further, he is the embodiment of an upstate New Yorker. He has remained loyal to his school and loyal to his community.”