Jim Boeheim says college basketball is in an 'awful place,' accuses ACC schools of buying their teams

With NIL and the transfer portal drastically changing the world of college sports, some coaches have adapted quickly while others have been reluctant. Syracuse basketball coach Jim Boeheim certainly falls into the latter category, and hurled heavy criticism against the new rules Saturday.

Following a 77-68 victory against Boston College, Boeheim claimed the 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.”

Miami is perhaps the most obvious example of what Boeheim is referencing. The Hurricanes brought in guard Nigel Pack from Kansas State, signing him to a massive NIL deal worth $800,000 over two seasons. Wake Forest brought in four players from the portal, including leading scorer Tyree Appleby (18.1 points per game).

Syracuse brought in just one transfer this offseason in Mounir Hima out of Duquesne. The season prior in 2021, the Orange signed three transfers including Boeheim’s son, Jimmy. Jim Boeheim pointed to the recent retirements of Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski and Villanova coach Jay Wright, saying the transfer portal pushed them to leave the game.

“That’s the reason they got out,” Boeheim said. “The transfer portal and everything is nuts. It really is. …We didn’t take [many] transfer portal guys. If we did do it and did whatever we had to do, I wouldn’t feel that good about that. These other [coaches], it doesn’t bother them.”

Boeheim’s reluctancy to go to the portal has resulted in back-to-back down seasons for Syracuse. The Orange finished 16-17 in the 2021-22 season and are just 13-10 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.

In spite of his frustrations and struggles, Boeheim told 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.