Duke Basketball: ESPN pulls GameDay from Syracuse after accident
ESPN has removed College GameDay from Saturday’s matchup between the Duke Basketball team and the Syracuse Orange after the fatal accident in Syracuse on Wednesday night.
The mood switched from utter jubilation to complete saddens in matter of hours after the Orange’s dismantling of No. 18 Louisville.
Syracuse Head Coach Jim Boeheim was involved in a fatal accident on his way home from the game.
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Boeheim was driving on I-690 in Syracuse where he was trying to avoid a previous accident and while going around the cars, Boeheim struck a pedestrian, Jorge Jimenez, police say.
Jimenez was rushed to a local hospital, but was pronounced dead soon after.
Syracuse authorities are saying that Boeheim is fully cooperating with police and doing everything he has been asked.
The Orange are scheduled to host the No. 1 Duke Blue Devils at 6:00 pm ET on Saturday night at the Carrier Dome and ESPN’s College GameDay was supposed to be live at 11:00 am ET and then again shortly before tipoff and at halftime of the game.
ESPN has made the decision to pull College GameDay from the Carrier Dome and instead broadcast from its headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut.
College GameDay has been at numerous Duke games this year including the games against Kentucky, both Virginia games, and North Carolina.
Jim Boeheim released a statement on Thursday regarding the indecent saying:
"I am heartbroken that a member of our community died as the result of last night’s accident. Juli (Boeheim) and I extend our deepest sympathies to the Jimenez family. Out of respect for those involved, I will not be providing further comment at this time."
With Duke Head Coach, Mike Krzyzewski being very close friends with Boeheim, it is not known yet whether or not the game will be played or whether or not Boeheim will coach the Orange, nor should it matter at this point.
The Blue Devils and the Orange are scheduled to play Saturday at 6:00 pm ET on ESPN from the Carrier Dome.
The thoughts and prayers of the entire Ball Durham staff are with all those affected by this horrific accident.
Stay tuned to Ball Durham on Twitter, @Ball_Durham, and here at our website, balldurham.com, for complete coverage of the Duke Blue Devils vs. the Syracuse Orange.