Jim Boeheim says he won’t retire even if the Orange cut down the nets next Monday night at the Georgia Dome.
“I fully intend to coach next year going into the ACC…and win or lose this tournament will have no affect on that decision at all,” Boeheim said on ESPN’s “PTI.”
Syracuse faces Michigan Saturday in the second national semifinal in Atlanta, following the Louisville-Wichita State game.
Boeheim and Louisville coach Rick Pitino could potentially meet in an all-Big East championship game.
Asked if might ride off into the sunset following a potential Syracuse championship, Boeheim offered, “I’ve never thought of riding into the sunset with a win.”
As reported here earlier, Boeheim is openly excited about coaching next year’s recruiting class, which includes St. Benedict’s Prep point guard Tyler Ennis, whose team opens play Thursday in the ESPN NHSI at Georgetown Prep in Maryland. Boeheim is also high on 2014 commit Chris McCullough of New York.
Asked about the Mike Rice scandal, Boeheim said Rice was a good coach and it was a sad situation.
“You draw the line at putting your hands on players and throwing basketballs at players,” Boeheim said.
Pitino also chimed in on Rice.
“It was very difficult to watch,” he told reporters in Louisville. “Very disappointed. I hope Mike gets some issues taken care of. It was very difficult to watch that whole thing.”
