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Meet Boeheim’s Army 2019: Syracuse’s TBT Squad

The Basketball Tournament. It’s summer basketball purity. 64 teams assemble on their own accord and play a single-elimination tournament for 2 million dollars. Each year since 2015, a team made up of predominantly SU alumni have joined forces on¬†Boeheim’s Army. This year, TBT comes to the Salt City with with Boeheim’s Army as a regional host. Games will take place at the SRC Arena at Onondaga Community College. This is your cheat sheet.

Team History

In four years of play, Boeheim’s Army has proven itself as a contender, but has yet to pass the final hurdles necessary for the 2 million dollar winnings. This is what the rafters would look like in a hypothetical “Madison Square Boeheim’s Army Garden.”

Northeast Regional Finalists: 2015, 2017,  2018

Northeast Regional Champions: 2017

TBT Champions:

In 2017, Boeheim’s Army advanced through the regional to face Overseas Elite¬†in the tournament’s semifinal. The Orange squad nearly upset the one-seed, but lost 81-77. Overseas Elite went on to win the tournament, which they’ve done in each of the last four years. Boeheim’s Army has reached the regional final an impressive three out of four years, but this year it looks to erase its regrettable losing record with nationals on the line.

Roster

Jordan Crawford- SG, Xavier

Played college ball for two teams in two years (Indiana and Xavier), then bounced for the NBA Draft. Crawford was selected 27th overall by the Nets, who traded his rights to the Hawks. From there, he took a stroll around the block, you could say. He’s been under contract with the Hawks, Wizards, Celtics, Warriors and Pelicans. He even made the rounds overseas, playing in China and Israel.

Eric Devendorf- SG, Syracuse

Bleeds Orange as much as anyone and loves the city of Syracuse.

He was a bonafide sharpshooter for Head Coach Jim Boeheim from 2005-2009. Devendorf worked as an Assistant Strength and Conditioning coach on the Orange for a couple years after graduating. The Michigan native recently left CNY to advance his career as Special Assistant at the University of Detroit Mercy.

Per game stats with SU: 14.5 pts, 2.4 rbs, 3.2 ast

Mike Gbinije- SF, Syracuse

A huge part of SU’s cindarella run to the Final Four in 2016. That was Gbinije’s senior season, his best by far. He was drafted in the late second round by the Pistons, but only appeared in nine NBA games. He helped Nigeria qualify for the 2016 summer Olympics.

Per game stats with SU: 11.3 pts, 3.6 rbs, 3.0 ast

John Gillon- PG, Syracuse

Forever a part of Orange lore for his 2017 buzzer-beater with Duke. Gillon was a one-year grad transfer with SU, but left Syracuse fans a healthy share of memories. He has spent his two post-college years in the G-league, where he once dropped 40 for the Erie BayHawks.

Per game stats with SU: 10.5 pts 1.9 rbs 5.4 ast 

BJ Johnson- SF, Syracuse/La Salle

Seemingly made the correct decision transferring from Syracuse to La Salle in 2016. His points per game jumped from 4.2 with the Orange as a sophomore to 17.6 as a junior with the Explorers. Johnson has been able to hang on NBA rosters since going undrafted. He’s currently a free agent.

Chris McCullough- PF, Syracuse

Left a strange legacy at Syracuse, but it really wasn’t his fault. McCullough injured his knee 16 games into his SU career and never played in Orange again. The Nets looked past the knee injury and took McCullough with the 29th pick in 2015. He’s played in 59 NBA games since, and currently playing abroad.

Arinze Onuaku- C, Syracuse

Finished with the highest FG percentage in SU history. Battled injuries over the course of five seasons on campus. If he hadn’t been injured before the tournament in his senior year, the #1 seeded Orange would’ve had a better chance at avoiding a Sweet 16 loss in 2010. Onuaku has been on and off NBA rosters since 2013. Last year he played in China and the Philippines.

Per game stats with SU: 9.2 pts, 6.0 rbs, 0.5 ast

Brandon Triche- SG, Syracuse

Owns one of the most telling records of them all: the most wins in program history. Triche played his high school ball at Jamesville-Dewitt, in Syracuse’s backyard. He went on to start every game in his four years with the Orange. An SU legend who never quite broke the seal of an NBA roster.

Per game stats with SU: 10.6 pts, 2.6 rbs, 3.0 ast

Hakim Warrick- PF, Syracuse 

Well-known for his role on the 2003 Syracuse National Championship team, playing Robin to Carmelo Anthony’s Batman. His performance in his junior and senior season’s post-Carmelo are underrated. Warrick was drafted 19th overall and had some solid seasons in the NBA, including a 12.7 PPG year with the Grizzlies.

Darryl Watkins- C, Syracuse

A swat machine for the Orange as a two-year starter. Watkins recorded three or more blocks 48 times in his collegiate career. He appeared in games for the Kings, but couldn’t extend his stay in The Association.

Per game stats with SU: 6.0 pts, 5.8 rbs, 0.6 ast

Andrew White- SG, Syracuse

The all-time Syracuse leader in three-pointers in a single season (112). White played his post-grad year with the Orange after undergraduate stints with Nebraska and Kansas. Since going undrafted, he’s bounced back and forth between the Hawks and their G-league affiliate Red Claws.

Per game stats with SU: 18.5 pts, 4.6 rbs, 1.1 ast

Kevin Belbey- GM

A former Syracuse basketball student manager. Kevin attended the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications before enrolling in the SU College of Law. He now works as the Director of Sports Broadcasting at a talent agency, The Montag Group His brother, Shaun, is currently a member of the Orange.

Ryan Blackwell- Head Coach

The head coach at Liverpool High School during the academic year. Blackwell had a productive three years for SU basketball starting in 1997-98. He was a 6 foot 5 player who rebounded and defended more like a big man. Blackwell was All Big East Third Team as a a senior and played overseas after college.

Per game stats with SU: 11.8 pts, 2.6 ast

Stay tuned for full coverage of Boeheim’s Army in the Northeast Regional on orangefizz.net and @orangefizz on Twitter!

The Fizz is owned, edited and operated by Damon Amendolara. D.A. is an ’01 Syracuse graduate from the Newhouse School with a degree in Broadcast Journalism.

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