Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim touched on a few topics during his postgame press conference following a 99-82 defeat at the Petersen Events Center, but the most pressing topic was his comments made earlier this month regarding that Pitt “bought a team.”
“I was talking, I thought, off the record,” Boeheim said. “The change in college basketball is the transfer portal and NIL money, in some cases, enabled schools, not one or two schools, every school. I wasn’t trying to isolate on schools I was just talking.”
Boeheim pointed to Virginia and NC State as schools that have also benefitted.
“The point I’m making is every school can do that,” Boeheim said. “Throughout the league, if you look at teams that have really improved, they mostly have transfer guys. For the most part… Here, obviously, they’re all transfer guys.
“It was a bad statement, and I apologize for that,” Boeheim said. “A lot of schools who got transfers in the portal used NIL money to do it. I was really talking about schools and it got overlapped [with] Pitt.”
Boeheim mentioned how his comments were made during a walk down the hallway and not in a formal setting. He also noted how someone in the Pittsburgh media interpreted his comments on NIL and the transfer portal.
“Somebody wrote from Pittsburgh that I’m old, I don’t believe in players getting money,” Boeheim said. “All of our players get NIL money. Everyone on our team is getting NIL money. Guys that don’t play are getting NIL money. I believe in it 100%. The transfer portal is here, I believe in that 100%. It’s just going to be different in college basketball. Maybe it will be better. It takes a team that would have had no chance, have a chance to be really good.”
He explained how the transfer portal can be, “good for some, not so good for others,” while the Panthers have been a major beneficiary, now in sole possession of first place in the ACC standings.
“They’ve done a great job getting the right guys,” Boeheim said. “They fit well together. They have a really good team. There is no doubt about that.
Jeff Capel has guided the Panthers to a 21-8 overall record and 14-4 in ACC play, now a game ahead of Virginia (21-6, 13-5) and a half-game in front of Miami (23-6, 14-5), who both lost on Saturday. Boeheim recognized the job Capel has done while reflecting on the opinions of others last season.
“Last year they were trying to get a new coach, weren’t they?” Boeheim said.
Pitt completed the season sweep of Syracuse after defeating the Orange 84-82 on Dec. 20 at the Carrier Dome. Blake Hinson scored a team-high 22 points as six Panthers reached double figures including seniors Greg Elliott (19), Nelly Cummings (14), Jamarius Burton (14), and Nike Sibande (10). Former manager and walk-on Aidan Fisch scored the last Pitt basket of the game to ignite the crowd on senior day.
Nothing beats sending “Baby” Boeheim crying all the way back to Syracuse!!! H2P!!!
Jim Boeheim needs to be fired. Bottom line. It’s not just the losing, or the blowouts. It’s everything. The way he treats the media. The way he throws his players under the bus and refuses to take any responsibility himself. The way he refuses to change up a defense that hasn’t been just bad, but absolutely horrendous. The way he can’t even run an offensive set that doesn’t involve isolation. The way he barely travels for recruiting visits and leaves it all to his assistant coaches. Everything he does is antiquated. He’s a crusty, curmudgeony old man and he needs… Read more »
Whatever tournament Syracuse plays in will have teams unfamiliar with his defense. By the time they “figure” it out the game will be over. Year in, year out. Best way to beat it is to watch a Jamie coached Pitt team.
“I wasn’t trying to isolate on schools”
OK, a-hole.
This guy is a scumbag, and like most college basketball coaches, will do most ANYTHING to land a recruit. Capel included. But, Boeheim is a special level slimeball.
He can try to walk it back all he wants, but everyone is getting tired of his BS.
H2P
Right on, Burton!!!!
Ironic since the NY scum stole Judas Mintz from us.
Jimmy mad, Jeffery put together better team!
Capel is more than Capable of beating oranges all day long.
2002-03
Regardless of the players Pitt has had, HS recruits or transfers……Pitt has won 5 of the last 6 games against the Orangeholes.
Don’t be a hypocrite Boheim especially when Pitt is doing good and Syracuse not!!!!