Jim Boeheim: 'I don't give a s---' what Syracuse critics think
Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim said after Saturday's loss to Pittsburgh that "I don't give a s--- what those people think" when asked about public perception of his program after the Orange self-imposed a postseason ban for this season earlier this week.
Pitt rallied for an 83-77 home win, and in Boeheim's post-game press conference, he initially said he wouldn't talk about the NCAA investigation.
The investigation is first brought up at the 2:16 mark in the video below:
After refusing to talk about the investigation and then answering another question, Boeheim returned to the reporter who asked about it and offered his sharp rebuke of Syracuse's critics.
"I know what I've done and I know what we do and I'm proud of it," he said afterward.
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Syracuse announced on Wednesday that it had informed the NCAA of its self-imposed postseason ban. The ban is in response to an NCAA investigation of the program, which the school said was initiated when it self-reported potential violations within the athletics department in 2007.
Syracuse's release said no current player is involved in the investigation and "much of the conduct involved in the case occurred long ago and none occurred after 2012."
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In October 2014, Boeheim and other Syracuse officials attended a NCAA Committee of Infractions hearing after the NCAA concluded its investigation. Former player Fab Melo's academics reportedly comprised the bulk of Syracuse's alleged infractions from 2010-12. Melo left the Orange in 2012 for the NBA draft after he was suspended during the 2011-12 season due to academic violations.
The NCAA also reportedly examined the use of Syracuse athletes as interns at an Oneida, N.Y., YMCA.
- Mike Fiammetta