Jim Boeheim watched Bob Knight roam the sidelines as an opposing head coach when Boeheim was merely a Syracuse assistant coach and Knight the head coach of Army.

Four decades later, Boeheim stood at the podium after winning his 903rd career game, one more than “The General,” as Knight was known, won in his years at Army, Indiana and Texas Tech.

“He’s always given a lot to the game and we’ve been friends over the years, I think,” Boeheim said. “Never quite sure with Coach Knight.”

Boeheim said Knight wrote him a letter in 2003 when Boeheim won his first national championship. And while Boeheim is not one to put much stock in win totals and record books, he took a softer tone while discussing his recent milestones after Syracuse’s 78-53 win over Rutgers in the Carrier Dome Wednesday.

Boeheim discounted what the number of wins one coach has means, but said he appreciated all of the kind words he has received from former players, colleagues and opponents. In less than a month, he became the third Division-I men’s basketball head coach to reach 900 wins, then passed the coach who did it first, Knight.

The Syracuse head coach said he’s received congratulatory notes and calls from many people in the last few weeks, and some of the most notable were opponents he respects. Chris Mullin, who Boeheim discussed as being perhaps the best player in Big East history, and Butler head coach Brad Stevens have both congratulated Boeheim.

Stevens thanked Boeheim for his contributions to the game in addition to congratulating him on his win.

“If a young coach thinks that, then I’m really happy,” said Boeheim, who lost to Stevens in the 2010 NCAA Tournament. “That meant a lot to me.”

Brandon Triche, who has started every game he has played for Boeheim in the last three-plus years, did not downplay Boeheim’s milestone, but did not play it up as that important, either.

“I think what would be more important is us winning a national championship,” Triche said. “I think he’d go off smoothly with that.”

Published on January 3, 2013 at 12:15 am

Contact Mark: mcooperj@syr.edu | @mark_cooperjr