Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim yells instructions to James Southerland during the first half against Florida in an NCAA college basketball game in Syracuse, N.Y., Friday, Dec. 2, 2011. (AP Photo/Kevin Rivoli)
Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim yells instructions to James Southerland during the first half against Florida in an NCAA college basketball game in Syracuse, N.Y., Friday, Dec. 2, 2011. (AP Photo/Kevin Rivoli)
Syracuse students hold a sign during introductions before tan NCAA college basketball game against Florida in Syracuse, N.Y., Friday, Dec. 2, 2011. (AP Photo/Kevin Rivoli)
Florida's Scottie Rosario, right, drives to the basket against Syracuse's Scoop Jardine during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Syracuse, N.Y., Friday, Dec. 2, 2011. (AP Photo/Kevin Rivoli)
Syracuse's James Southerland grabs a loose ball from Florida's Bradley Beal, left, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Syracuse, N.Y., Friday, Dec. 2, 2011. (AP Photo/Kevin Rivoli)
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) ? A contrite Jim Boeheim apologized again Friday night after another big victory.
The beleaguered Syracuse basketball coach said he had talked to some people in the community and wanted to make three points clear after the No. 4 Orange defeated No. 10 Florida, 72-68.
"I believe I misspoke very badly in my response to the allegations that have been made. I shouldn't have questioned what the accusers expressed or their motives. I am really sorry that I did that, and I regret any harm that I caused," he said.
"It was insensitive for the individuals involved and especially to the overall issue of child abuse."
He also said it was important that he get involved in terms of raising awareness.
"They need to get the message out," he said. "I'm going to do everything I can to do that, whether I'm coaching or not coaching."
This was the second game since the firing of longtime associate head coach Bernie Fine, who has been accused by three men ? including two former Syracuse ballboys ? of molesting them as minors.
Fine, who was fired Sunday, has denied the allegations.
On the bench Friday, as Syracuse remained unbeaten, Boeheim maintained a stoic facade amid the intense federal investigation into his program. Behind the postgame microphone, though, was a different story.
Just as he was in Tuesday's home win over Eastern Michigan, Boeheim was greeted by a nice ovation when he was introduced to a crowd of 24,459. It was the largest on-campus attendance in the nation so far this season, and it included former Syracuse star Carmelo Anthony and former Orange assistant Rob Murphy, in his first year at EMU, in front-row seats.
Syracuse (8-0) breezed to its first seven wins with an average margin of victory of 26 points, but the Gators (5-2), whose only previous loss was by seven at No. 2 Ohio State, figured to provide a stiff challenge and they did in a game that seemed like a midseason encounter in the Big East.
But, once again, the game was secondary on the first Friday of December.
Some sex abuse victims' advocates have said Boeheim should resign or be fired after the accusations, as well as Boeheim's disparaging comments regarding the accusers in defense of his longtime friend.
After initially saying Fine's first two accusers were lying to make money in the wake of the Penn State sex abuse scandal, Boeheim backed off those comments in a statement after Fine's firing was announced Sunday.
Two days later, Syracuse University Chancellor Nancy Cantor supported Boeheim's new stance.
"Coach Boeheim is our coach. ... We're very pleased with what he said Sunday night, and we stand by it."
Boeheim, in his 36th season as head coach, said after Tuesday night's game that he's never been worried about his job throughout his tenure at his alma mater and has not considered resigning.
"When the investigation is done, we will find out what happened on my watch," Boeheim said. "We don't know what's happened on my watch right now."
Meanwhile, federal authorities have searched coaches' and player's lockers in the Carmelo K. Anthony Basketball Center. Authorities declined to say what they were looking for.
Fine's office on campus was searched Tuesday morning, and his suburban home was searched last Friday. The U.S. Attorney's office in northern New York, which is leading the investigation, has not said what it sought or found.
Earlier Thursday, Cantor said the school decided to fire Fine upon hearing an audiotape recorded by Bobby Davis, one of Fine's accusers. ESPN broadcast the 2002 audiotape, recorded by Davis, of a conversation between Davis and a woman ESPN identified as Fine's wife, Laurie, in which she says she knew "everything that went on."
Cantor's comments were in a published response to a USA Today editorial Thursday that calls on Syracuse to release a "full accounting" of what it did and why Fine was kept on the job.
The controversy continues to swirl around those most closely associated with the program.
"It's been crazy," said Matt Roe, a Syracuse star from the late 1980s who does color on radio broadcasts. "Nonstop for 14 days. What am I going to say? I don't know anything. (Boeheim) is a good man."
Judging by the reaction of the crowd and the jammed student section ? two signs were held aloft often that read: "In Boeheim we trust" and "In Jim we trust" ? Boeheim continues to enjoy wide support.
"I think the press and everybody else just wants a story," said Bob Sawken of Vestal, N.Y. "They don't know if anyone's guilty or innocent. They want a story and no answers. (Boeheim's) been a longtime friend.
"I don't see a reason why he wouldn't see that."
Boeheim's spot on the coaching staff of the U.S. basketball team remains secure, though the U.S. Olympic Committee is monitoring the investigation of Fine. Boeheim is the top assistant to Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski on the team that will play at the 2012 London Olympics.
Against the Gators, Boeheim's players responded again.
Brandon Triche had 20 points and Scoop Jardine finished with 16 and seven assists for the Orange. Kenny Boynton led Florida with 22 points and Erving Walker had 17.
Neither team led by more than six points in a first half that was tied six times.
Florida, which entered the game shooting 42.9 percent from beyond the arc and was averaging 12 3-pointers a game, went 3 of 14 from long range in the period ? all by Erving Walker ? while the Orange struggled even more, hitting just 1 of 10.
Syracuse still managed to forge ahead at the break, 31-27, behind seven points each from Kris Joseph, Fab Melo and Triche.
After the Orange built a 39-30 lead early in the second, Boynton led the Gators back with three 3s, the last putting Florida back on top 49-46 with 9:19 to go. Triche tied it for the fourth time in the period 11 seconds later with his first 3 of the game.
Jardine fed Joseph for a one-handed slam to break the tie and Jardine's steal and layup had the Orange up 54-49 with 6:20 to go and the crowd shaking the Carrier Dome.
The roar reached another crescendo when Jardine hit a runner in the lane as the shot clock neared zero, Joseph fed C.J. Fair for a baseline jumper, and Jardine hit a 3 from the left wing in a span of 2:19.
That gave Syracuse a 61-53 lead with 3:52 left and the Gators couldn't rally back.
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