The NCAA Infractions Appeal Committee issued a ruling today on the nine-game suspension which was imposed on Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim back in March.  The appeal of the suspension was denied, but the NCAA did rule that Boeheim can begin serving the suspension immediately instead of waiting for the start of ACC conference play.

In a statement released by Syracuse senior vice president Kevin Quinn, he said, “The Appeals Committee determined that the NCAA Committee on Infractions ‘abused its discretion’ by directing the suspension be served during conference play, because Coach Boeheim was not directly involved in the underlying violations of the case”

“The University is pleased the Appeals Committee recognized that the initial sanction imposed on Coach Boeheim was too harsh. Nevertheless, we supported Coach Boeheim’s argument made during his hearing that any nine-game suspension would be too severe based on previous cases, and his lack of involvement in the underlying conduct, which the Appeals Committee recognized.”

Boeheim will now begin his suspension on Saturday when the Orange visit Georgetown.  In addition to the six non-conference games, Boeheim will miss Atlantic Coast Conference games at Pitt, at Miami, and home vs. Clemson during his suspension.  Also during this period, Boeheim is banned from all contact with team members and staff.