Ever since its adoption in 2015, Boeheim’s Army, a Syracuse-based team in The Basketball Tournament, has compiled a roster without one key attribute – an actual Boeheim. However, that changed earlier today. Boeheim’s Army announced Jimmy Boeheim as the 11th member of this year’s squad, and an integral part of a team looking to achieve back-to-back TBT crowns.
The chances of an actual Boeheim joining the “Army” seemed slim with Jim’s son Buddy signing a two-way NBA contract with the Detroit Pistons last month and Jimmy inking a summer league deal in the Motor City as well. But when Jimmy’s summer league stint ended over the weekend, an opportunity presented itself for the former Cornell and SU forward that he couldn’t pass up.
Boeheim’s involvement on the team that bears his last name had been rumored since the spring among GM Kevin Belbey and chairman Adam Weitsman, but it was all contingent on Boeheim’s NBA status.
Jimmy flew back to Central New York on Sunday and is officially a part of this year’s TBT squad. He joins SU alums Andrew White, CJ Fair, Tyler Ennis, Marek Dolezaj, and Rakeem Christmas. Plus, Boeheim is set to play alongside DJ Kennedy and Deandre Kane, who have combined for 9 TBT titles in the last 8 years. But that’s not where this stacked roster stops. Former Mississippi State guard Dee Bost, Gonzaga sharpshooter Kyle Wiltjer, and Jimmy’s former Big Red teammate, Matt Morgan, will sport Boeheim’s Army orange as newcomers too.
The TBT started July 16 and has already featured games in Omaha, Xavier, New Mexico and the famed Rucker Park. Fortunately for this Syracuse-heavy squad, last year’s championship garnered the perk of hosting a Syracuse Regional that begins on July 22, giving Jimmy more than enough time to acclimate himself with his future teammates. The squad’s opener kicks off the Round of 64, with Boeheim’s Army taking on Indiana Rising at SRC Arena on July 22 at 7pm on ESPN.
Although the Syracuse-based TBT team is playing for their second crown, it’ll be the first time that SU head coach Jim Boehiem’s last name won’t just be represented on the front of the jersey.
