CHICAGO – Jim Boeheim’s pre-Elite Eight press conference lasted over 40 minutes and some of his answers seemed like they’d never end, one even cutting off the moderator following a pause for thought. Boeheim has been more talkative in the past three days than he has all season and with good reason, as 10th-seeded Syracuse (22-13, 9-9 Atlantic Coast) is still dancing ahead of an Elite Eight matchup with No. 1 seed Virginia (29-7, 13-5) on Sunday.

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Here are three things Boeheim said during Saturday’s media availability.

On coaches not being allowed to call timeouts

Boeheim waited for a fitting time to go off about one of college basketball’s most recent rule changes. With just over 11 seconds left in Friday’s game against Gonzaga, Trevor Cooney tried calling a timeout while inching toward the end line amidst a chaotic scrum in a one-point game. It wasn’t granted, and the Bulldogs were awarded possession with a chance to tie or take the lead.

“There’s a horrific rule change that was made, now that I’ve been nice, taking the timeouts away from the coaches,” Boeheim said Saturday. “…When Trevor caught that ball, I’d have been calling timeout.”

In the end, it didn’t matter as Syracuse escaped with a 63-60 win to advance to the Elite Eight. But a seemingly endless review to determine the right time on the clock followed a steal and subsequent timeout Cooney is forced to try and call that Boeheim wholeheartedly opposes.

“When he made that steal that unfortunate thing wouldn’t have happened because I would’ve got the ref’s attention at half court who made that call and gotten a timeout,” Boeheim said. “Players are fighting to get a steal, they’re fighting to get the pressure, get the ball up the court. That’s what their job is.

“My job is to call a timeout and if five guys are doing their job, they are sure as hell not looking over at me to call a timeout.”

On recent consistency of Tyler Roberson

After Roberson’s 18-rebound showcase against Dayton in Syracuse’s NCAA Tournament opener, Boeheim wasn’t satisfied. He stressed the need for the junior’s consistency on the boards, citing earlier in the season when Roberson would follow up a dominant performance on the glass with a dud.

In the past three games, Roberson has 39 rebounds and forced Boeheim to trace back to the criticism – that Roberson wouldn’t play a minute if SU had anyone else to put in his spot – of Roberson’s performance after a scoreless performance against Pittsburgh on Feb. 20.

“I didn’t call him out,” Boeheim said smirking. “I made a comment. He can answer that question, though, I’m sure. It’ll be the first time we’ve heard him answer a question, but it’ll be good.”

“I mean at this point, I’m not too worried about that,” a straight-faced Roberson said. “I’m just focused on Virginia and trying to win tomorrow.”

“He doesn’t listen to too much to what I say anyway,” Boeheim said, smirking again, “so it doesn’t really matter.”

On Virginia head coach Tony Bennett

After Friday night’s win against Gonzaga, when Syracuse already knew its Elite Eight opponent, Boeheim said Bennett was one of the best coaches he’s ever seen.

On Saturday, he was asked if Bennett will join him in the Hall of Fame one day.

“I don’t predict that, but I think he will certainly have an opportunity to do that,” Boeheim said.

The Cavaliers have won the ACC regular season title in two of the last three seasons, the most recent being the exception, but Virginia still averages 71 points per game while allowing the second fewest points per game in the country (59.8).

“His last three years he’s had, I think, the best coaching record in the NCAA in terms of winning the ACC two years, and this year they had a couple glitches very early in the year or they would have won it again this year,” Boeheim said. “…He’s a great defensive coach, and he’s also, I think, I believe a great offensive coach.”

Published on March 26, 2016 at 7:48 pm

Contact Matt: mcschnei@syr.edu | @matt_schneidman