Winner From Start: Boeheim Boasts Positive Record Each of 42 Campaigns

Whether or not he belonged in this year's tourney, the most illuminating item about Jim Boeheim ranking among the nation's all-time winningest coaches is the bespectacled "Baron of Upstate New York" assembled a stunning streak of nothing but winning records in his first 42 seasons with Syracuse. En route to more than 1,000 career wins, Boeheim's worst worksheet was 16-13 in 1981-82 when the NIT-bound Orange dropped four of its last five outings.

Adolph Rupp never had a losing record in 41 campaigns but did post one breakeven mark with Kentucky (13-13 in 1966-67). When assessing this topic, keep in mind the following mentors among the all-time biggest winners each had multiple non-winning seasons: Phog Allen (four non-winning records), Jim Calhoun (six), Lefty Driesell (four), Lou Henson (eight), Hank Iba (eight), Bob Knight (two), Mike Krzyzewski (four), Lute Olson (three), Dean Smith (two) and Eddie Sutton (two).

Boeheim boasts the best record among active coaches in close contests, winning more than 60% of games decided by fewer than six points. For now, he is atop the list of five major-college coaches in history with winning marks every year in college careers spanning more than 20 years.

Coach	Seasons	Campaign Closest to Non-Winning Record
Jim Boeheim	42	16-13 (Syracuse in sixth season in 1981-82)
*Jerry Tarkanian	31	16-12 (UNLV in eighth of 19 seasons with Rebels in 1980-81) and 19-15 (Fresno State in seventh of seven seasons with Bulldogs in 2001-02)
John Wooden	29	14-12 (UCLA in 12th of 27 seasons with Bruins in 1959-60)
Lou Carnesecca	24	17-12 (St. John's in 20th season in 1987-88)
Peck Hickman	23	13-12 (Louisville in 14th season in 1957-58)

*Tarkanian also compiled seven more winning records in as many seasons for two community colleges in California, where he won five consecutive state championships after notching a 14-13 mark in 1961-62 at Riverside City College to begin his coaching odyssey.