NEW ORLEANS — So much for the new, mellower Jim Boeheim who’s been written about so much this week.

Yesterday, Boeheim marched into the interview room for his morning press conference and harrumphed, “Not to start on a negative note, but coming in, I realize this will be the last one of these this year. Thank the Lord. Praise God.”

Next, he barked at a reporter’s remarks.

“Is that a question or a statement?” Boeheim asked a writer who suggested similarities between Texas and Kansas. “As a statement, it sucks. As a question, I would just tell you, it sucks there, too.”

So a question came up: If Boeheim, the 27-year Syracuse men’s basketball team’s head coach, were to claim his first national championship with a win over Kansas tonight at the Louisiana Superdome, might it improve his disposition?

“I don’t think so,” SU senior guard Kueth Duany deadpanned.

Even so, Boeheim and the Orangemen would like to spend tonight in celebration. So would Kansas head coach Roy Williams, who’s also yet to win a national championship.

All weekend, Boeheim has downplayed his national-championship enthusiasm, preferring to talk basketball. Rarely has he given hints of emotion.

“I’d like to win it,” Boeheim said. “I hope nobody misunderstands that. What I’ve said is ‘It’s not going to be the end of the world for me if it doesn’t happen.’ I’ll feel bad, but I’ll feel worse for the players.”

Boeheim’s players have seen past his stoic facade.

“Even though he doesn’t say it, I know he wants to win it,” SU center Craig Forth said. “He told me when he recruited me that he liked me because I wanted to win. He picks guys who want to win. This year, he picked a good cast.”

Said SU guard Gerry McNamara: “I don’t have to hear him say anything or notice any strange behaviors to know he wants it. He’s just not outspoken about it. He probably doesn’t want to put any added pressure on the team.”

Tonight will be Boeheim’s third chance at a national title. He lost to Indiana, 74-73, in the 1987 championship game on a now infamous shot from Keith Smart. In 1996, Syracuse fell, 76-67, to Kentucky.

Williams has Kansas in its second consecutive Final Four. In his 15 seasons with the Jayhawks, he’s led them to the Final Four four times and lost the national championship game once, in 1991.

“If Syracuse wins, I’m going to be just crushed,” Williams said. “But if you see somebody on top of one of these buildings, with everybody on the pavement saying, ‘That’s Roy,’ it isn’t Roy. It isn’t me. It’s an imposter.”

Although the national championship has eluded them, Boeheim and Williams have been pillars of college basketball coaching. Consider that among active coaches, they rank Nos. 1 and 2 in winning percentage, with Williams’ at .807 and Boeheim’s at .742.

But, for all their similar accolades, the two couldn’t be more different personality- and strategy-wise.

Williams has a sharp sense of humor and entertained the media with his anecdotes and wit yesterday. Boeheim has been more straightforward, exercising a dry sense of humor at times and openly showing disdain at others.

Williams said he’s yelled at seniors Nick Collison and Kirk Hinrich five times. Boeheim yells at Duany every five minutes.

As for philosophies, Boeheim has become a grandfather of the 2-3 zone defense. Williams prefers man-to-man, admitting, “I’m not a very good zone coach.”

Both men have faced doubters over the years. Tonight, one coach will silence them for good.

“I think maybe the first time you think getting here, that’s it,” Boeheim said. “After you’ve gotten here, you realize it doesn’t really matter unless you win.”

Published on April 6, 2003 at 12:00 pm