Jim Boeheim doesn’t think it’s smart for the ACC to open up the season with league games.
Photo by Rich Barnes/Getty Images
When it comes to Syracuse Orange men’s basketball head coach Jim Boeheim, there’s no artifice. What you see is what you get and Boeheim has never been afraid to tell you what he actually thinks.
Such was the case last night after Syracuse’s 48-34 loss to Virginia. The conference matchup was part of the new 20-game league schedule and the ACC’s new television network. Given the loss, Boeheim’s indignation should come as no surprise.
“You never want to play the elite games early. It’s stupid. It’s just a money grab,” Boeheim said. “They’ve got scheduled games for TV, for the TV contract so you’ve got to play games early. Somebody had the brilliant idea of opening up the first game with a league game. I just don’t think it’s good. I don’t think it’s smart.”
In truth, the bottom line is that these games are all about the bottom line. The ACCN is looking for exposure and subscribers, so all member schools (except Duke, who played against Kansas on Tuesday night) open with a league game to attract viewers.
This, of course, comes at the expense of the losing teams. But that’s on the coaches to figure out.
“You want to build up the league. The league is the most important thing. So why would you want to play the first game of the year in the league? Makes no sense to me. But that’s just what happens when you go to 20 games and someone wants you to play early,” Boeheim finished.
Maybe it doesn’t make sense, but that’s how it’s done in the sport of college basketball.
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