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SYRACUSE, NY – Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim said the accident in which he was involved Wednesday night that had resulted in the death of Jorge Jimenez was "something that will follow me all my life" .
Boeheim appeared in court Saturday night for the first time since Wednesday's tragic accident. He left the locker room with 2 minutes and 33 seconds before the end of the match against Duke. The Carrier Dome's record crowd gave him a huge standing ovation. Boeheim briefly recognized the crowd, then headed to Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski, a longtime friend, and both coaches kissed.
The announcer of the alliance read a message in English and Spanish, acknowledging the people affected by the tragedy and honoring Jimenez's life, followed by a moment of silence.
Syracuse led by five at halftime, but Duke reversed the lead in the second half en route to a 75-65 win.
"First and foremost, I want the Jimenez family to know how devastated I am, because I am involved in the loss of their loved one, Jorge Jimenez." The grief and pain that his family is currently feeling are simply, unimaginable Juli, my family and I are heartbroken.I love this community and see so many members of my community gather around Jimenez family remembers how special the center of New York is ", said Boeheim in a postgame statement.
Boeheim met with his team on Thursday but did not attend the practice. Siracuse Sports Director John Wildhack announced Friday afternoon that Boeheim would resume his coaching duties on Friday and then coach Saturday's match.
"My decision to lead this match, all I can say, is that I felt the responsibility and the obligation towards my players, the members of my basketball team, "he said in his opening remarks at the end of the match. "I recruited these young men to play at Syracuse University, they needed me to try to do my job tonight and they realized that I felt the full weight of the tragic accident and its impact on the Jimenez family will be with me for the rest of my life ".
Boeheim became moved by describing the reception he received when he came out of the locker room on the floor.
"I've been here all my life," he says. "They've always been supportive, and I think they know how bad I feel, I just thought they were there to support our team and myself." And it's a Unimaginable situation I can not describe the feelings I have felt since Wednesday night, I think I can not make clear to anyone who has never been there, it is something that exists forever, it's one of those things … there are a lot of things in there that you have to overcome, but there's nothing, there's nothing like that, when a human life is lost and you are there, I can not, I can not describe it to you. "
Boeheim went on to say that the feeling would never go away.
"It's not going to be better on Tuesday, it's not going to be better next week, it's not going to be better next month, it's not going to be better next year," he said. . "We have contacted the family, I intend to do it as I can in the future.This is not about me and no matter what I feel. They feel and what has happened to them. "
Boeheim and Krzyzewski are very close friends, having coached together in several Olympic teams of the American team. Krzyzewski said he was surprised by Boeheim 's embrace, but he said he was delighted to have decided to train Saturday night.
"The support that the fans, not only gave to the team but also to Jim, was excellent," said Krzyzewski. "A moment so moving because Jim created a program here and a family.Through this situation, the whole family went through and I could feel it, it was so good for him.The emotion was so good I mean, he is my dear friend and I was able to spend a few minutes with him before the game. He looks strong and I am happy that he was coaching. "Is he supposed to do anything else? It's what he does." Pay homage to the family, the moment of silence, everything was beautiful in this environment. "
The Carrier Dome set a campus attendance record for a university basketball game Saturday with 35,642 spectators. He surpassed the previous record, also held by Syracuse in a match against Duke, established in 2015.
"The environment and bringing the community together in this way was really interesting," said the second-year guard. Buddy Boeheim, Jim's son. "It gave me goosebumps."
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