Detroit -- Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim spent a good portion of his press conference the day before his team plays Michigan State in the second round of the NCAA Tournament taking up for two of his peers in the coaching profession, including his upcoming opponent.
Boeheim defended Michigan State coach Tom Izzo and then, in a length answer, defended Virginia coach Tony Bennett, both of whom have come under criticism over the course of this season.
The criticism of Bennett is fresh, stemming from overreactions to Virginia becoming the first No. 1 seed in NCAA Tournament history to lose to a No.