NEW YORK — After news that multiple members of past Syracuse teams in the last decade failed drug tests and continued to play, there was little surprise questions would be asked about the most recent scandal.

Head coach Jim Boeheim addressed the issue after Thursday’s 58-55 win over Connecticut in the Big East tournament quarterfinals in Madison Square Garden.

‘This was reported five years ago, and we’re waiting for them to make — finish the process,’ Boeheim said.

The NCAA is investigating and there are no current players involved in the inquiry, according to a statement released Monday by Kevin Quinn, SU senior vice president for public affairs. But it was a topic of discussion after Syracuse’s first game since the Yahoo! Sports story came out. For a team that has already dealt with the child molestation allegations against former associate head coach Bernie Fine and the ineligibility of center Fab Melo for three games, Boeheim and his players were asked if their focus was affected by the most recent news.

‘Well, first of all, news doesn’t matter. This is a media — this is your people’s thing,’ Boeheim said. ‘This doesn’t bother our players or our team or me. None of this. This is a media thing, period. If things were bothering us we wouldn’t be 31-1. Nothing bothers us.’

Each of Syracuse’s three trips to play in Madison Square Garden this season have come with controversy. Syracuse won the NIT Season Tip-Off in MSG in November and played Virginia Tech six days after the Fine allegations surfaced.

When the Orange came to New York City to play St. John’s Feb. 4, it was Melo’s first game back after missing three games due to an undisclosed academic issue.

Syracuse was back in the Garden and faced more questions about off-the-court situations. But as Boeheim pointed out, SU is 31-1 for its innate ability to remain focused on the court.

‘At the end of the day, all we have to do is go out and play basketball,’ Joseph said. ‘Whatever people say about our team doesn’t really define us. That’s just opinions to us, and we’re ones that go out there and play.’

Dion Waiters said Boeheim told them not to worry about anything, to just play. It’s what Syracuse has continued to do all season.

Syracuse struggled at times against UConn, but it didn’t appear to be a lack of focus. And the Orange did enough late to pull out the win.

‘We come ready to play,’ Boeheim said. ‘That’s what you should do in life. Everybody gets bothered. Everybody has problems. 

‘I’m much more concerned about my wife being mad at me than I am anything else, to tell you the truth.’

mcooperj@syr.edu

Published on March 7, 2012 at 12:00 pm

Contact Mark: mcooperj@syr.edu | @mark_cooperjr