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Jim Boeheim Press Conference (Video): CBS' Gregg Doyel Sparks Spat With Syracuse Head Coach

There's no better way to cheer up after a heartbreaking loss than to watch an epic Jim Boeheim press conference.

By Jared E. Smith
Kevin C. Cox

Need a pick-me-up after witnessing the Syracuse Orange's season come to an end?

Well, here's the beginning exchange and recap of the spat between head coach Jim Boeheim and CBS' Gregg Doyel, who asked the Syracuse head coach, after a 61-56 loss to Michigan, possibly the dumbest post-game press conference question ever -- are you going to be back next year? (H/T The Big Lead.)

After not getting the answer he wanted, Doyel tweeted this.

Of course, that came after Doyel had left the media room and Boeheim said:

If I answer a question, you don't really like it, you don't have to run away.

I mean, shit. I get questions all the time I don't like. I don't get up and run away. You guys are so unbelievable. The thinnest skins of anybody I've ever seen. I thought we were that way.

Golly, just run out.

After taking the usual post-game/season questions, Boeheim did re-address his spat with Doyel, who after leaving the media room apparently came back.

Just to answer the question, so everybody knows, I've answered all the questions, even though I get mad. I have never said I was not going to be back next year at any time ever. I'm frankly tired of being asked that question.

I don't mean to be personal on anybody. Anybody that asked that question I would have been upset because, you know, I just think‑‑ I don't know why. Just 'cause you get old. Because I'm old? I mean, what is it?

Doyel rejoined the discussion and said: "Honestly, my theory with you is you don't want to coach in the ACC because of your Big East loyalty."

Boeheim responded:

I'm sorry, I apologize. It wasn't you. Anybody that asked that question, I would have been mad.

But, no, I've heard this. Roy Williams has got a bet on it, somebody else has got a bet on it.

I love the Big East, but if the Big East was the same as it was, or even remotely the same, I would quit because I wouldn't be happy.

The Big East is not there at all. In fact, there's more Big East teams in the ACC than there are Big East teams in whatever the conference is, American whatever.

So I should be happy because there's more teams that I know in the ACC. I've always thought that the two best leagues in the country were the ACC and the Big East over the last 34 years. I've always thought that. I mean, somebody can prove me wrong in a number of ways, but it's just my opinion. I always thought they were the two best leagues.

For us to be able to stay on the East Coast, and predominantly all our games are an hour and a half, almost all, and in the Big East, without this crazy expansion, we had to go to Florida, we had to go to Marquette, Notre Dame anyway. So we had long trips. We'll have the same long trips that we had. When you're chartering now, it's mostly an hour, most of these trips.

I mean, the ACC has absolutely zero input into whether I would not coach next year. The only reason that I would not coach next year is because I didn't feel I could do a good job or wanted to do it, and I have no feeling at all now that that will be the case. Usually right now I would have that feeling. If I don't have it now, I'm not going to have it in September.

And I don't want anybody to be thinking, like I don't want to ever say, I'll think about it and tell you later. I'll never do that. I'll never do that. I think that's not the way to do it for the program, and I wouldn't do that.
But I've enjoyed this team as much as any team I've ever coached. They've achieved more than I ever thought they could. And I always think they can achieve a lot.

You know, I like where we are. Everything in me intends to be back coaching next year. And I always say this at the end, that's probably why people ask me the question: there's always a chance that somebody might think, you know, you get back into coaching, you get in the thing, you just don't feel it. If that happens, you know, I don't want to ever let it be said that I misled anybody.

As far as I know, I'm 100% coaching next year. You know, that's really kind of where I'm at right now.

This all ends with this Doyel tweet.

Sean's thoughts (with Doyel's response)?

And Doyel's blog post about the exchange, which includes a funny, ending tidbit.

But as I'd waited for Boeheim behind the curtain, a man dressed to the nines had come over.

"I'm the athletics director at Syracuse," Daryl Gross told me, "and I want you to know, he's coming back. No doubt in my mind."

(H/T to ASAPSports.com for the transcript.)

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