Suspended SU basketball assistant Bernie Fine called sex abuse allegations against him "patently false" and vowed to fight to restore his reputation.

Fine says the allegations have been investigated multiple times in the past and he has been cooperative. He also says he's confident that they will, as in the past, be discredited.

Longtime friend Jim Boeheim also vigorously defended his 35-year assistant in a series of interviews given to local and national newspapers.

Several former SU players also released statements in support of Fine, who was inducted into the Greater Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame last month.