A sampling of some players and coaches from the 1987 national runner-up team that came within five seconds of the national championship.

Rony Seikaly

Then: 23 points and 8.8. rebounds per game in the ’87 NCAA TournamentNow: Private real estate entrepreneur with Quadrant Investment Group in Miami.

Seikaly became the Miami Heat’s first-ever draft pick in 1988. He played 11 seasons in the NBA before retiring in 1999. The Lebanese-born Seikaly has invested money in real estate throughout the country, including a house he sold to Shaquille O’Neal. He also had his No. 4 retired by Syracuse in January.

Stephen Thompson

Then: 5.1 points per game as the freshman sixth manNow: Head coach at California State, Los Angeles

Thompson and Derrick Coleman entered Syracuse both as McDonald’s All-Americans in 1986. Coleman started all 38 games; Thompson zero. Still the flashy dunker appeared in every SU game as the team’s sixth man. He came back to the Dome last season, leading CSULA against the Orange in an exhibition game.

Herman Harried

Then: Bench player who appeared in 33 games during 1986-87 seasonNow: Teacher, athletic director and head basketball coach at Lake Clifton (Md.) High School

Harried started only one game during his four years at Syracuse and was greatly hampered by a knee injury that forced him to redshirt the 1985-86 season. After playing professionally overseas and in the minors for five years, Harried entered the coaching ranks, where he has spent 10 seasons as the head men’s basketball coach.

Ralph Willard

Then: Volunteer assistant coachNow: Head coach at Holy Cross

Willard is a part of the Boeheim coaching tree. Following one year as a volunteer assistant, he has spent eight seasons at Holy Cross and has earned four NCAA Tournament berths, including this past season. He’s also been a head coach at Western Kentucky and Pittsburgh, along with an assistant for Kentucky and the NBA’s New York Knicks. Willard’s son, Kevin, is associate basketball coach for Louisville.

Matt Roe

Then: Freshman guard who played in 13 gamesNow: Real estate agent in Syracuse

Roe left Syracuse as the school’s all-time leading 3-point shooter (the line was instituted in 1986), but his departure was a surprise. Roe transferred to Maryland for his senior season in 1990-91 but never made the NBA.

Bernie Fine

Then: Boeheim’s right hand manNow: Boeheim’s right hand man

Fine has stayed exactly where he started in 1976, as Boeheim’s top assistant and close confidant. He’s the associate head coach and has been involved in discussions for various head coaching jobs throughout the years. Of course, the classic mustache is now sadly gone.

Published on March 28, 2007 at 12:00 pm