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Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim and Kentucky head coach John Calipari both angrily disputed claims today in an NCAA ad running during the NCAA Tournament claiming that most “student-athletes” … “go pro in something other than sports.”

“That is an outright lie, at least when it comes to my program,” said Calipari at press conference. “I don’t want the heads of my potential recruits being filled with lies. I fully intend on making them professional basketball players. In fact, if they do go pro in something other than sports, I feel like I’ve been a failure. That is my promise to them. And you can quote me on that. In fact, please do.”

Boeheim echoed Calipari’s comments in a separate press conference.

“To be honest, there’s nothing I like about that ad,” said the longtime Syracuse coach. “Why are we telling kids to pursue something other than their dreams? Do you think I have any players on this team who want to be chemists? No. At least I better not. I want them focusing on basketball, not … whatever the hell they do in chemistry. Chemicals or something. I don’t know.”

There are only a few days left until the first Saturday of the college football season and SportsPickle is counting down the top stories of 2009. Today: No. 10, Greg Paulus.