This will put Mike Hopkins both on display and on-the-spot. Many people don't seem to realize that, to keep Hopkins from interviewing too much, Syracuse has named him the coach-in-waiting. If Syracuse does well in those 9 games, it will likely accelerate his promotion to the top. If not, there might be some interesting debates about his future.
Hopkins came to Syracuse as a very low-regarded recruit from southern California in the late 80s, who has never left the city or program. At the time it was rumoured that he came paritally to entice LeRon Ellis to transfer from Kentucky to Syracuse (which he did) because they both attended the same high school in Calfornia.
