Jim Boeheim is about as straightforward as they come.

So, when it came time for Syracuse University to honor Boeheim on Sunday afternoon by naming the Carrier Dome court after him, the 26-year men’s basketball head coach took it all in stride.

He smiled, albeit briefly. He offered some quick remarks, saying, in essence, ‘thanks.’ And before the 29,215 Orange faithful could shake its collective goose bumps, he closed the pregame festivities by saying, rather matter-of-factly, “Let’s have a great game.’

Unfortunately for Boeheim’s Orangemen, the Georgetown Hoyas nixed the celebrations with a 75-69 win.

‘This was his day,’ SU forward Kueth Duany said. ‘This was a special day. He’ll always remember this day, and it’ll be a sour note because we lost the game.’

Afterward, Boeheim — who originally opposed the court-naming proceedings — reflected on the five-minute ceremony.

‘It’s a great honor,’ Boeheim said. ‘I’m pleased. It’s just difficult during the season because you’re concentrating on the games. But it’s been great seeing all these guys come back.’

Former Syracuse players Dwayne ‘Pearl’ Washington, Marty Byrnes, Tony Bruin and Dave Bing were among those in attendance. While their names flashed on the Carrier Dome message board during the ceremony, the ex-Orangemen stood on the baselines while Boeheim unveiled one of the two blue ‘Jim Boeheim Court’ labels.

Boeheim didn’t join his team on the court for warm-ups and strolled by himself — to a standing ovation — out of the locker room about 10 minutes before the scheduled 2 p.m. tip-off.

Boeheim’s brother-in-law and sister-in-law sang the national anthem, after which Carrier Dome public-address announcer Carl Eilenberg began the ceremony by detailing Boeheim’s contributions to Syracuse as a player in the 1960s and as a full-time coach since 1972.

Eilenberg offered thanks on behalf of Syracuse fans, drawing roars from the packed Dome crowd.

Holding his son, Jack, Boeheim flashed a modest smile and offered a quick wave. Boeheim’s wife, Juli, stood next to him with Jack’s twin sister, Jamie, in her arms. The Boeheims’ other young son, James III, stood next to his mom, sporting a mini-replica of his dad’s No. 35 jersey.

Chancellor Kenneth A. Shaw presented Boeheim with a proclamation from Syracuse Mayor Matt Driscoll, expressing gratitude for Boeheim’s four decades of service and declaring Feb. 24, 2002 as Jim Boeheim Day.

‘This is perhaps the first time ever before a Georgetown game that you’ll see Jim Boeheim smile,’ said Eilenberg, cueing James III to help his dad remove two blue sheets covering the label ‘Jim Boeheim Court’ in front of the visitor’s bench. The other label lies on the opposite side of the court in front of press row.

‘I’d like to thank all the players who made this possible. I’d like to thank all the fans,’ Boeheim said, addressing the crowd and pointing around to the adoring thousands.

The labels themselves are just temporary decals, applied Saturday night by Science Systems of Syracuse. After the NCAA East Regional in March, Carrier Dome officials will ship the entire floor for a permanent redesign, said Pete Sala, assistant director of facility operations.

Starting on Boeheim’s first day as head coach — April 3, 1976 — the foundation was laid for what has become a feared national power. It began with a Rochester player named Roosevelt Bouie, who teamed with Louis Orr to form the Louie and Bouie Show of the late 70s.

‘He really put Syracuse on the map,’ said Bouie, who now does radio color commentary for SU games.

Bouie vividly remembers the first time he saw Boeheim at a basketball camp. The coach had just walked off the golf course and wore a polo shirt and loose-fitting Converse sneakers. Bouie’s first impression: ‘Wow, this is a real relaxed guy.’

Other former players have told stories of Boeheim’s dry-humor side — he’d crack jokes about fellow coaches and offer on-the-money impersonations of his players.

Sunday afternoon, the scream-and-shout side of Boeheim was in true form for a CBS national-television audience. Boeheim worked the referees in vintage fashion, striking his trademark arms-spread-in-disbelief pose dozens of times.

Truth be told, the game was really no different than the other 835 Boeheim has coached. There was no click-your-heels happiness, no stomp-your-feet fury, certainly no eloquent pregame monologue.

‘No, Boeheim is just business,’ Duany said. ‘He came to the locker room and he came out with the same attitude and same stuff that he always does.”

There’s no sense changing what’s worked for so long.

Published on February 24, 2002 at 12:00 pm