When Boeheim’s Army tips off its Super 16 matchup in The Basketball Tournament at 7:00 on Thursday night, the squad will feature a new player.
Earlier this week, General Manager Kevin Belbey and company exercised their right to add a “ringer” to the roster, an opportunity the team earned by receiving 2,000 fan votes online. Boeheim’s Army can keep the ringer’s identity a secret until it takes the floor on Thursday.
Back in June, The Fizz asked Belbey if he had any potential ringers in mind, and the GM offered two names: Hakim Warrick and Dion Waiters. Warrick later joined the team before the tournament began as an original member, so unless he has a clone, he can’t be the mystery addition. Waiters would certainly provide a huge boost to the group, but he’s currently an NBA free agent, and is probably looking to sign a deal that pays him close to $10 million per season (that’s five times the $2 million reward for winning TBT). there’s no chance Waiters’s agent lets him play in this tournament.
So, fans are completely in the dark when it comes to the new member of Boeheim’s Army. That’s why we’re here.
Just like the current Syracuse Orange, Boeheim’s Army’s frontcourt is already loaded, with seven guys who deserve playing time: Donte Greene, CJ Fair, Baye Moussa Keita, Rick Jackson, Hakim Warrick, Terrence Roberts, and Darryl Watkins.
An extra guard would really help the team, which currently features just Brandon Triche, Eric Devendorf, and Willie Deane — all three start — in the backcourt. Some perimeter shooting would do wonders for the Boeheim’s Army offense.
One former SU player who definitely loves to uncork bombs from beyond the arc is Trevor Cooney, and the recently-graduated guard is likely still in great shape. But Belbey said the ringer has wanted to join Boeheim’s Army for the past two years — when Cooney was still playing for the Orange. Cooney’s out.
Gerry McNamara is another notable Syracuse long-range marksman, but he’s currently an assistant to Jim Boeheim, and, while the legend has been supportive of the team that uses his name, he probably won’t let McNamara take time off the recruiting trail. G-Mac’s out.
Jonny Flynn would be perfect, but Roberts reportedly said that Flynn is done with basketball, so it probably won’t happen. The diminutive point guard was arguably the best college player among these potential ringers, so it’s a shame, but Flynn’s out.
Kris Joseph and Andy Rautins both make a lot of sense, but the most likely ringer might be James Southerland. The 26-year-old is available after wrapping up Summer League (he played with the Washington Wizards), and drained 39.8 percent of his treys as a senior in 2012-13. The scoring punch Southerland would bring might make Boeheim’s Army the favorite to take home the cash.
