Boeheim’s Army is back in The Basketball Tournament after taking a year off and this summer’s roster feels re-loaded and with more of a Syracuse group than ever.
Boeheim’s Army has been one of the most successful teams in the history of TBT. In fact, their 25 all-time wins are the most in this year’s entire bracket. But just because they have a good track record doesn’t guarantee an easy path to victory. They’ve still got to gel with players from multiple eras of Orange hoops – and a few additions from other schools.
Roster:
- Buddy Boeheim (Syracuse)
- Charles Pride (Hofstra & St. Bonaventure)
- Chris McCullough (Syracuse)
- Elijah Hughes (Syracuse)
- Frank Mason (Kansas)
- Jacob Gilyard (Richmond)
- Jamil Wilson (Marquette)
- Jimmy Boeheim (Cornell & Syracuse)
- Malachi Richardson (Syracuse)
- Nick Perkins (Buffalo)
- Noah Starkey (Southern Nazarene University)
- Rakeem Christmas (Syracuse)
Coaching Staff:
- Allen Griffin (Head Coach)
- Eric Devendorf (Asst. Coach)
- Jim Boeheim (Booster)
- Ky Feldman (Asst. Coach)
- Shaun Belbey (GM, Asst. Coach)
Region: Syracuse
All-time Record: 25-8
First Matchup: vs. Herkimer Originals (July 19 at 6 p.m. EST)
Team MVP: Buddy Boeheim
I don’t think we need to overlook the fact that Buddy Boeheim has been playing for the Indiana Pacers in the NBA Summer League and getting minutes at that level should translate to The Basketball Tournament. Boeheim is one of the best shooters in this whole bracket and he is one of the few players that can truly take over a game. It’ll be a cool sight to see him back in some Syracuse orange.
Make-or-break Player: Frank Mason
How will the former Kansas star play on this mostly Syracuse team? Boeheim’s Army needed a guard and was able to convince Mason to join the roster, which will be a strange sight to see. However, he’s got to bring his A-game. With Charles Pride and Jacob Gilyard also there to help handle the ball, Mason should be the leader of the pack. This Boeheim’s Army team is full of frontcourt players but the backcourt is slim and Mason will have the most pressure to keep everything under control.
Team Outlook
Can Boeheim’s Army bring home a second TBT title? They’ve got home court advantage, some true former college stars, and a great blend of Syracuse and non-Syracuse players. The year off may have also help re-set their overall vision for the team, as there seem to be a lot of new faces. Their first game is Saturday at 6 p.m. and it should be an awesome one to watch, as the path to take on Stars of Storrs – a UConn alumni team – is what everyone in this region will be rooting for.