Jim Boeheim has built Syracuse into one of the most recognized college basketball programs in the country. That said, it’s a different sport than it was a decade ago.
With NIL (name, image and likeness) now front and center, college athletes have the opportunity to cash in on their success. Additionally, these opportunities can play a role in motivating a player to transfer to a new school.
Count Boeheim as one name on a long list of college coaches who aren’t on board with the current climate, as the Syracuse head coach detailed to ESPN how other ACC schools have deceptively used NIL to create their lists.
“This is a horrible place we’re in in college basketball,” Boeheim said. “Pittsburgh bought a team. Okay, fine [big donor] he talks about it, but he doesn’t give money to anyone. Nothing. Not even a guy. Ours make $20,000. Wake Forest bought a team. Miami bought a team… It’s like, ‘Really, we’re here?’ It’s really where we are, and it’s only going to get worse.”
Boeheim also claimed that the NIL and the transfer window were the reason veteran coaches Jay Wright (Villanova) and Mike Krzyzewski (Duke) retired after the 2021-22 season.
Wake Forest head coach Steve Forbes vehemently denied Boeheim’s allegations against his school, and Boeheim later walked back some of his statements.
While he acknowledges that Syracuse has used the transfer portal in recent memory (for example, Symir Torrence and Jimmy Boeheim), Boeheim believes that most schools are not operating in good faith.
“We didn’t catch [many] transfer portal guys,” Boeheim said. “If we did it and did what we had to do, I wouldn’t feel so good about it. These others [coaches]it doesn’t bother them.”
Syracuse is 14-10 overall and 7-6 in ACC play this season, good for ninth in the conference. Mike DeCourcy, the prognosticator for FOX Sports, does not have the Orange making the NCAA Tournament in his latest projection.
Boeheim enters his 47th season at Syracuse, where he has a record of 1,113-436 (71.9% winning percentage).
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