Jim Boeheim Rips NIL Rules; Says Pittsburgh, Wake Forest, Miami 'Bought' Teams

Syracuse men's basketball coach Jim Boeheim provided a harsh assessment of the sport as a result of name, image and likeness deals.

"This is an awful place we're in in college basketball," he told reporters Saturday. "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."

He also argued it's the reason longtime Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski and Villanova coach Jay Wright "got out."

"The transfer portal and everything is nuts," Boeheim added.

Boeheim did later tell ESPN's Pete Thamel that he "absolutely misspoke" in regard to Wake Forest and Pittsburgh:

His comments came after a 77-68 win over Boston College on Saturday, which helped the Orange snap a three-game losing streak. The team is still just 7-6 in the ACC and outside projected brackets for the NCAA tournament.

NIL deals have undoubtedly made a significant impact in college sports over the past two years, and the landscape is certainly different than when Boeheim started in his role in 1976. However, other coaches won't agree with the assessment that they "bought" teams.

"I don't have one player on my team that got NIL money to come here," Wake Forest coach Steve Forbes said in response to Boeheim's comments.

Tyree Appleby has been a key addition for the Demon Deacons this season, but the guard was hardly a household name when he transferred as Florida's third-leading scorer.

Boeheim failed to take advantage of the transfer portal, only adding reserve center Mounir Hima. It seems the 78-year-old coach better adjust with the times or be left behind.