Miami Basketball bought team per Syracuse HC Jim Boeheim
Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim told ESPN that the Miami basketball program, Pittsburgh and Wake Forest bought their teams. The comments were posted in an article by Pete Thamel on Saturday night. Boeheim followed up with ESPN on Sunday saying he misspoke about Wake Forest and Pittsburgh buying teams.
Boeheim clarified that in his words that the only public usage of Name, Image and Likeness he knew about was the Miami basketball program. Miami had a highly publicized $800,000 two-year NIL deal with John Ruiz of Life Wallet. College athletes have been permitted to earn money off their own NIL since July 1, 2021.
The comments from Boeheim are at least somewhat hypocritical. Syracuse vacated 108 wins from four separate seasons between 2005 and 2012. The Orange also had a scholarship reduction of three per season from 2015 through 2019. The Miami basketball team has not had similar sanctions against it.
Boeheim and Larranaga competing against each other dates back to 1969. Boeheim was an assistant at Syracuse when the Orange defeated Providence and Miami head coach Jim Larranaga 94-83. When Syracuse joined the ACC in 2013, Boeheim and Larranaga began competing against each other annually.
"“This is an awful place we’re in in college basketball…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…It’s crazy. That’s why those guys got out — that’s why Jay [Wright] (former Villanova head coach) got out, Mike [Krzyzewski] (Duke) got out. That’s the reason they got out. The transfer portal and everything is nuts. It really is.”"
Miami defeated Syracuse 82-78 last month after winning both games versus the Orange during the 2021-22 season. Miami and Syracuse are not scheduled to play again this season. There has been no response from Miami regarding the allegations from Boeheim. Steve Forbes of Wake Forest disputed Boeheim.
Miami added Norchad Omier as a transfer from Arkansas State and Pack from Kansas State during the 2022 offseason. Omier is third on Miami averaging 13.7 points per game and leads the Hurricanes posting 10.1 rebounds per game. Pack is fourth on Miami at 12.5 PPG and leads the Hurricanes with 54 three-point field goals.
Pack also leads the Miami regulars making 41 percent of his three-point attempts. Over the last six games, Pack is averaging 15.67 PPG and made 22 three-point goals. Pack scored 17 points during a six-minute stretch in the Miami victory over Virginia Tech on Tuesday night. Pack has gained more importance for Miami offensively.