Syracuse's Jim Boeheim offers lengthy expansion of earlier remarks made about Pitt

Less than three weeks ago, comments by longtime Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim sent shockwaves through the college basketball world when he accused Pitt, among other ACC programs, of buying players in an interview with ESPN’s Pete Thamel.

Lamenting the changing landscape of college athletics in the Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) era, Boeheim took specific aim at Pitt’s transfer-heavy roster, making insinuations as to why those players joined the Panthers.

After Thamel released his story, Boeheim quickly clarified his remarks about the Panthers in addition to Wake Forest, followed by an apology.

Shortly thereafter, Pitt coach Jeff Capel addressed the situation, offering a response devoid of much emotion.

The coaches exchanged pleasantries before Saturday’s game at Petersen Events Center, but when Boeheim made his way from the visiting team area onto the hardwood, it became glaringly apparent that close to 13,000 Panthers fans in attendance had not forgotten or forgiven him.

As Boeheim came into view of the crowd, he was met with a deafening chorus of boos.

The Petersen Events Center crowd is letting Jim Boeheim have it (wonder why) upon the longtime Syracuse coach’s emergence on the floor. Boeheim and Jeff Capel exchange pleasantries and now it’s time for some basketball. pic.twitter.com/Igt94LQSOd

— Justin Guerriero (@GuerrieroTrib) February 25, 2023

Pitt fans gave Boeheim a similar farewell when he and the Orange left the court after their 99-82 loss.

Capel and his players may not have looked at Saturday’s game as a chance to stick it to Boeheim as much as a key ACC showdown with a regular season league title still very much in play for the Panthers (20-8, 14-3).

With their win and Miami’s loss to Florida State, the Panthers were alone in first place in the ACC as of Saturday evening.

After the game, Boeheim fielded questions from the media about his comments.

In a news conference lasting about 15 minutes — lengthy for a defeated visiting coach after a regular-season game — Boeheim expanded on his statements from early February.

“I was talking, I thought, off the record, but the change in college basketball is the transfer portal and NIL in some cases has enabled people to bring in (players) — when I was talking, I wasn’t trying to isolate schools, I was just talking — and the point I’m making is every school can do that,” Boeheim said.

“Look at the top teams. For the most part, you’ve got a lot of transfer veteran guys. Our freshmen are 17 or 18, playing against 23-year-olds. Is that good? Is that a way to win? But that’s college basketball. That’s the way it’s going to be from now on.”

Confronted specifically over suggesting Pitt “bought a team,” Boeheim began an uninterrupted response that lasted nearly four minutes.

“It was a bad statement, and I apologize for that,” he said. “ … It wasn’t an interview — it was a walk down the hallway that was recorded, so I should know better, but I didn’t, and I apologize for it. But I’m sure every player — and I’m not picking specific teams — but if you look at people in the transfer portal, a lot of them got NIL money. Period. That’s the way I should have left it.”

Boeheim went on to express his own acceptance of the role of NIL and the profits student-athletes are able to make from it, explaining that every player on Syracuse’s team is currently a recipient of NIL money, even “guys that don’t play.”

“I believe in it 100%, and the transfer portal is here,” he said. “I believe in that 100%. It’s just going to be a different college basketball. Maybe it will be better … I don’t know, but that’s just the way it’s going to be.”

He did not hold back in offering praise to Capel and the Panthers.

However, with a smile, he did note that only a season ago, before Pitt brought in its transfer portal reinforcements, the Panthers were navigating through troubled waters.

“Pittsburgh, they’ve done a great job getting the right guys,” he said. “They fit well together, and they have a really good team. There’s no doubt about that … Pitt’s done a great job. Jeff’s done a great job. Last year, they were trying to get a new coach, weren’t they?”