End of an era? Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim hints at retirement after Orange fall in ACC tournament

Jim Boeheim didn’t come right out and say it, but the long-time Syracuse coach hinted that Wednesday’s loss to Wake Forest might have been his ACC swan song.

The 77-74 loss at the buzzer to the Demon Deacons ended the Orange’s run in the ACC tournament and, at 17-15, squelched any faint hopes they might have had of playing in the NCAA tourney. Syracuse could still accept a bid to the NIT, so there may still be at least one more game for Boeheim if this his final season.

But when asked a question about his future, he strongly suggested that this, his 47th season helming the Orange, would be his last.

"I've just been lucky to be able to coach this long. .. I gave my retirement speech on the court last Saturday and I gave it in the press conference afterwards and nobody figured it out," Boeheim said at the conclusion of his lengthy answer.

POSTSEASON LINEUP: Conference tournament schedules, scores

BRACKETOLOGY: Penn State gives Big Ten its 10th team in tournament

TICKETS PUNCHED: Which team has secured NCAA tournament spots?

In a back-and-forth with a Syracuse beat writer after his comment, Boeheim implied the school would ultimately decide his future.

Reporter: "Are you saying right now, you're going to retire?"

Boeheim: "This is up to the university."

Reporter: "You want to come back?

Boeheim: "I didn't say that."

Reporter: "So what are you saying?"

Boeheim: "I don't know."

Reporter: "So you don't know?"

Boeheim: "I just said this is up to the university."

Reporter: "How will you make a determination about when you will come back?"

Boeheim: "You're talking to the wrong guy."

Unofficially, Boeheim won a total of 1,116 career games in nearly a half century coaching his alma mater. Officially, his record is 1,015-441 due to a series of NCAA sanctions due to rules violations that vacated a total of 101 of those wins. Whatever number you acknowledge, Boeheim ranks second overall behind Mike Kryzewski for career Division I wins among men's coaches.

Boeheim spent almost all his professional life at Syracuse after playing for the Orange from 1963-66. He became an assistant coach in 1969 before assuming the lead job in 1976. During his coaching tenure, Boeheim became synonymous with Syracuse program that made five Final Four trips, two appearances in the national title game and won the 2003 national championship while he was on the bench.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jim Boeheim hints at retirement after Syracuse loss in ACC tournament