Jim Boeheim says success measured by NCAA tourney, takes shot at Huge Ten

For Jim Boeheim, the one true barometer of a convention’s success is its file within the NCAA match.

Primarily based on that standards, the longtime Syracuse coach stated the Huge Ten, which completed 9-9 within the NCAA match final 12 months, was inferior to the ACC, which completed 14-5 and despatched three groups to the Elite Eight.

“On the finish of the day, you play for the [NCAA] match,” Boeheim stated Friday at his crew’s media day. “You’ll be able to say what you need in regards to the Huge Ten. They sucked within the match. To me, that is what they did. All of their wins have been of their league. If you cannot play within the [NCAA] match, then you definitely’re not good.”

Final season, the Huge Ten secured 9 NCAA match bids on Choice Sunday however solely Michigan and Purdue reached the second weekend. Each groups have been eradicated within the Candy 16, extending the drought of a league that hasn’t captured the nationwide championship since 2000.

Final 12 months, the ACC had simply 5 bids — its lowest tally because it despatched 4 groups to the NCAA match in 2013 — however North Carolina and Duke matched up within the Remaining 4 in Mike Krzyzewski’s last recreation and Miami made a shock run to the Elite Eight.

Though Syracuse missed the NCAA match final season for the primary time since 2017, Boeheim stated the success of the ACC within the postseason proved its power.

“I am going to take the Candy 16 if we end [sixth in the ACC] total,” Boeheim stated. “Would I love to do higher within the common season and [reach the Sweet 16]? Certain. However I am going to take that yearly. We have been excellent within the match.”

Boeheim, who led Syracuse to the nationwide title 20 years in the past, is getting into his forty seventh season amid ongoing hypothesis that he would possibly retire quickly. Over the summer time, he instructed ESPN he was “shut” to retirement. His 2022-23 squad returns a number of veterans, together with Joe Girard, who averaged 13.8 PPG and linked on 40.3% of his makes an attempt from the 3-point line final season.

Whereas Boeheim expects enchancment from final 12 months, the primary dropping season of his profession, he stated his crew — and all groups — must be judged by its end within the NCAA match, not the common season.

“Kansas was one of the best crew [last year],” Boeheim stated. “However one of the best league? What league gained 14 video games and solely misplaced 5 [in the NCAA tournament]? The ACC. To me, that is one of the best league.”