Jim Boeheim apparently didn’t develop any respect for NC State during his ACC days.
The Syracuse coach absolutely buried the Wolfpack during the first round of the ACC Tournament on Tuesday afternoon when asked to analyze a player’s celebration.
“I don’t know why anybody that’s got the recent history of these guys are celebrating — anything, except I guess being here,” Boeheim said during NC State’s 94-85 win over Louisville. “That’s all I can see.”
Boeheim is known for being ornery and not afraid to tell it like it is, and it’s clear he’s not worried about speaking honestly as a brodcaster.
Others may be worried about how a comment may be taken the wrong way or affect a future job, but Boeheim doesn’t need to worry about that since he’s retired from coaching.
Boeheim dropped the mic on the Wolfpack when he was asked to describe a player’s “3 goggles celebration” late in the second half of the first-round matchup against a Louisville team that finished last at 3-17 in the ACC and is has fired coach Kenny Payne.
When his broadcast partner described the celebration, Boeheim doubled down.
“I know what they are,” Boeheim said of the goggles. “Let’s not celebrate until we win a game or two.”
Boeheim was then asked how he would react had Carmelo Anthony done the same type of celebration and he again snuck in another shot at the Wolfpack.
“It’s OK because we probably won eight or nine games in a row,” Boeheim said. “The celebration when you’re down 20 like some of those guys do in football games or whatever .. wait until you win.”
While Boeheim’s comments were certainly harsh, he’s not wrong about NC State’s mediocrity.
The Wolfpack are set to miss the NCAA Tournament for the fifth time in six years, and they have not won an NCAA Tournament game since 2015.
NC State has been a No. 8 seed or worse in all eight of its tournament appearances since 2004.
This year’s squad, the No. 10 seed in the ACC Tournament, is 18-14 entering Wednesday’s second-round matchup against No. 7 Syracuse.
Syracuse went 12-6 against NC State in Boeheim’s tenure, including five straight wins, and has won seven straight overall against the Wolfpack.
A win Wednesday would give the Orange a perfect 3-0 record against NC State this season.
