Syracuse a Late NCAA Tournament Addition After Booster Slips Committee Chairman $50,000

COLUMBUS — Jim Boeheim’s Syracuse Orangemen are a late addition to the NCAA Tournament field thanks to some last-minute efforts by a wealthy booster.

NCAA Tournament Selection Committee chairman Scott Barnes announced this morning that Syracuse would be added to the East region and would be playing as a No. 3 seed in Columbus, Ohio, bumping Oklahoma out of the field. According to sources, the announcement was made after Barnes took an early meeting with a prominent and wealthy Syracuse alum.

“After further deliberation, I have taken it upon myself, as the chairman, to add Syracuse to the field,” said Barnes. “Their 18–13 record is a reflection of the intense scrutiny they played under this season due to looming NCAA sanctions. We shouldn’t punish the kids for things adults may have done.”

When asked, Barnes did not openly admit that he had taken a bribe in order to reach his decision, but did say: “Have you seen the cost of college these days? I have kids and I want to be able to afford to send them to good schools. Sometimes you do what’s best for your family.”

He also then said it was a relief to know that “according to the booster I just met with, my kids have full rides at Syracuse waiting for them, if they decide to go there after high school.”

Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim said he is excited to be in the field, “where we rightfully belong.”

“We haven’t been practicing and we don’t have a lot of time to prepare for our first game,” he said. “So I’ve asked our boosters to speak to the referees assigned to our opening matchup to work out an arrangement that levels the playing field.”