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BY BRAD GALBREATH

ANCHOR BLAKE HANSON

It was a big win for Syracuse. The No. 3 Orange defeated the No. 9 Florida Gators 72-68. But X’s and O’s weren’t the main press conference talking points for Orange coach Jim Boeheim. ESPN has the video.

“I believe I misspoke very badly in my response to the allegations that have been made… I am really sorry that I did that and I regret any harm that I caused. It was insensitive to the individuals involved and to, especially, the overall issues of child abuse.”

Boeheim was apologizing for comments he made about sex abuse allegations brought against his longtime assistant coach, Bernie Fine. Boeheim claimed the accusers were lying to get money. More victims came forward, and Fine was fired. ESPN’s Dick Vitale thinks Boeheim finally took the right tone.

"JimBoeheim was genuine & sincere in his post game statement. Reacted on impulse due to loyalty @1st & was wrong. Now he did the right thing.”

Yahoo! Sports writer Ryan Greene thinks that Boeheim’s actions can turn the spotlight off him for at least a little while.

“Though the Fine situation will continue to simmer in the background, Boeheim’s delivery at Friday’s postgame press conference will likely keep it from continually resurfacing as the story following every game his team plays moving forward, providing a form of closure on the subject between him and the media for the time being.”

‘I’m sorry’ might be tough words to say, but for some people, like CBSSports’ Gregg Doyel, they’re just not enough.

“You can’t unring the bell he rung. He made it very hard. He verbally intimidated future victims that police are looking into right now about Bernie Fine. You cannot do that. That’s not a mistake you can make. That’s not an apology you can get away with, at least smooth things over. Gotta be fired."

But before the final bell rings, Sports Illustrated writer Jon Wertheim thinks you have to take into account Boeheim’s overall body of work.

“This is a guy who has done decades of good work. No questions this was a regrettable statement, but clearly Jim Boeheim knows it. He’s backtracking right now, and I think the call for his firing is probably excessive.”

What do you think? Does the apology save Boeheim? Comment in our comments section.

Transcript by Newsy.