BROOKLYN, NY – Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim is an “OG” who holds his tongue for no one. So when asked what he thought about the ACC Tournament being played in New York he let loose, saying there’s no reason for the tourney to be played at its traditional Greensboro site.
I think the big city is where it should be played. I think it should be played here, Washington, Atlanta. That’s where the tournament should be played.
I’m not going to be around much longer to care about it, but I think that’s where the value is. I think there’s a huge value in playing the tournament in those places. There’s no value in playing Greensboro, none. It’s there because the league’s been there and the office is there, and they have 150 people that the ACC needs. That’s why it’s there. It should not be there.
Jim didn’t stop there.
You get in the media centers and the recruiting centers, how many players do they have in Greensboro? I mean, New York, Washington, Atlanta, that’s where the media centers are. Madison Square Garden made the Big East conference. There’s a couple other factors, but made the Big East conference.
And I’m saying all that because I don’t give a shit. I’m just saying what’s right. That’s what’s right. Why do you think the Big Ten is coming into New York? It’s business, good business sense. They all say it’s a business. Well, then, let’s start acting like it’s a business.
Greensboro caught wind of Boeheim’s opinion and responded perfectly.
.@AdamZagoria @ACCSports We kindly disagree. But I guess you can lose in the 1st round anywhere. At least it's a quick ride home.
— City of Greensboro (@greensborocity) March 8, 2017
Not everyone participating in this week’s tournament feels the same way. Clemson’s Shelton Mitchell, a North Carolina native, said he’s rather play in Greensboro.
I’ll be honest. I was kind of disappointed, to be honest with you (smiling). I grew up in North Carolina. I’m just used to always seeing the ACC tournament in Greensboro.
With ACC expansion, this debate won’t end soon. But Mitchell and other North Carolina hoops fans will at least be happy the next couple of years when the tournament returns to the Tar Heel state in Charlotte in 2018 and back in Greensboro in 2019.