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Jim Boeheim apologizes for remarks about ACC schools, NIL

IMG_6598by: Nick Kosko02/06/23nickkosko59
gettyimages-1246421346-594x594 (1)
(Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim apologized for recent remarks about fellow ACC schools regarding their NIL practices. Boeheim previously said college basketball was in an awful place.

In the process of making that statement, Boeheim accused other ACC schools of buying their teams via name, image and likeness deals, essentially. The longtime Orange coach criticized the new rules Saturday following a win over Boston College.

However, Boeheim apologized and walked back comments from the weekend.

“I would like to clarify remarks I made in a conversation I had with a media member following our game on Saturday evening,” Boeheim said in a statement. “I apologize to the schools I mentioned. I believe the ACC member institutions are in compliance with NCAA rules governing Name, Image and Likeness (NIL). It was not my intention to imply otherwise.”

Boeheim claimed that college basketball was in an ‘awful place’ because of the recent changes. He also accused multiple schools in the ACC who brought in high-profile players through the portal of buying their teams with NIL deals.

“This is an awful place we’re in in college basketball,” he told ESPN’s Pete Thamel. “Pittsburgh bought a team. OK, fine. My [big donor] talks about it, but he doesn’t give anyone any money. Nothing. Not one guy. Our guys make like $20,000. Wake Forest bought a team. Miami bought a team. … It’s like, ‘Really, this is where we are?’ That’s really where we are, and it’s only going to get worse.”

Boeheim’s reluctance to go to the transfer portal resulted in back-to-back down seasons for Syracuse. The Orange finished 16-17 in the 2021-22 season and are just 14-10 this year. If they miss the NCAA Tournament this season, it will mark the first time they have not participated in back-to-back seasons since 2007 and 2008.

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In spite of his frustrations and struggles, Boeheim told ESPN’s Pete Thamel he intends to return as Syracuse’s coach in 2023-24. Boeheim is 78 and has coached at Syracuse for his entire career, which spans nearly five decades.