Syracuse, NY – Syracuse men’s basketball coach Jim Boeheim said he thinks this off-season could be one of big transitions for both the Orange and non-Orange program.
During his weekly coach show with Matt Park at TK-99 on Thursday, Boeheim mentioned the possibility that Quincy Guerrier and Alan Griffin could explore their options for professional basketball, while the potential loosening of NCAA transfer layoffs could do with that programs across the country had to deal with unexpected departures.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen,” said Boeheim. “This off-season, I think, will be one of the most dramatic changes for the guard and staff in our history and in the history of college basketball. I think there may be a lot of guys coming out of just about any program and you have no idea. In the past, if you were a little unhappy, which a lot of guys are, without enough doses or something, you never thought about transferring because you didn’t want to be left out. Now I can transfer here and get a lot more pictures. “
Boeheim said he believed pivot Bourama Sidibe would like to return to Syracuse next year, as long as he is healthy and confident he can play an entire season. Sidibe recently told Syracuse.com that he felt it would be a good plan.
“I think Bourama has already made his decision,” said Boeheim. “I think he would like to come back. He doesn’t want to go back and sit for a year like this. We’re doing more research on your knee, some more tests. He indicated that he would do it if he were healthy. “
Boeheim said Marek Dolezaj was not planning to return when the season started, although they haven’t discussed his decision recently and he can always change his mind. Dolezaj told Syracuse.com recently that he is not thinking about that choice right now.
Boeheim also mentioned the professional aspirations of Quincy Guerrier and Alan Griffin, two players who were open about their hopes for the future, but do not appear to have brought together seasons that would make them strong contenders for the NBA Draft right away.
Still, that hasn’t stopped college players from pursuing professional dreams in other ways in recent years.
“(We will) see the status of what Quincy wants to do in terms of going into the league, trying, going that route,” said Boeheim. “Alan Griffin, if he wanted to work out in the NBA, go to the NBA, those things are all options.”
Boeheim also said that he does not know what to expect in relation to the transfers. Syracuse generally loses one or two players each offseason due to attrition. He said he hopes Orange will also try to bring transfers in this off-season.
The off-season is expected to bring many more transfers than usual if the NCAA passes legislation that allows athletes to transfer once without being left out during a season. The organization currently faces significant pressure on how much control schools can exercise over players while maintaining its rules of amateurism.
“Guys who aren’t playing a lot can easily decide to look elsewhere,” said Boeheim. “There can be a lot of movement. We have some good young players that I think will come back. We have a good recruit coming. Let’s look at the clipboard for sure. Everything is in flux until we get another month or two and see what decisions the guys want to make. I think there are going to be a lot of things going on this summer. I think there will be movement. Enough movement. “
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