Boeheim‚Äôs Army has won its first TBT title. The team representing legendary Syracuse basketball coach Jim Boeheim took down Team 23, 69-67 to take home the $1M prize. Keifer Sykes was tonight’s star, the 27-year-old guard drilled the three that sealed BHA’s huge win. What a moment for the players, coaches, and front office. General Manager Kevin Belbey made a decision to include a significant number of non-SU players on this year‚Äôs roster and it paid off. Without Tyrese Rice, Keifer Sykes, D.J. Kennedy, and DeAndre Kane, Boeheim‚Äôs Army would not be the 2021 TBT champs. Obviously, the mainly SU-built roster was instrumental. Chris McCullough was on a couple of different missions during this tournament. One of course being to win it all, and the second to prove he‚Äôs worth an NBA contract, his performances have proven that. McCullough was great for BHA, showing off offensive skills at all three levels, as well as clutch defense throughout their 6 games.¬†
In tonight’s championship-winning game, Sykes, not Tyrese Rice, was the biggest story. Rice had been far and away this team’s best player all tournament, but in tonight’s contest, he just wasn’t there. The 34-year old guard scored just 8 points on 3-14 shooting. Sykes was the one to show up big time when $1M was on the line. The Green Bay alum scored 21 including the game-winner on the way to the team’s first championship. Oh, and he already agreed to a deal with the Pacers.
Also a huge accomplishment for Boeheim’s Army HC, Jeremy Pope. It was his first year with the team. After years of success coaching high school and AAU, Pope is certainly on the right track toward success. Don’t forget his name, for some reason, it seems like it’s not the last you’ll be hearing from him.
Don’t forget about Eric Devendorf either. The heart and soul of this team since its inception 7 years ago finally got his ring. SU fans were probably just as happy as he was to see him get it. Devo and Belbey have worked toward this for such a long time and finally received the fruits of their labor.
The path this team took to the title wasn’t easy. In the two games leading up to the championship, it seemed multiple times like BHA was going down. There were plenty of times fans thought the team was out of it, they never gave up though. This team clawed their way back into every game, refusing to give up. That’s how you win a championship.
