Boeheim's Army is gearing up for an exciting summer as they prepare to take on an alumni team from Seton Hall in the opening round of The Basketball Tournament. This highly anticipated match-up promises to be a thrilling display of talent and determination, with the series beginning on July 21st in New Jersey and rotating to Syracuse for the second and potential third games. The Syracuse games will be held at the Oncenter War Memorial, providing a familiar and passionate environment for the players.
The team will be led by none other than Buddy Boeheim, who played last season in the G League for the Oklahoma City franchise. Buddy's enthusiasm for the tournament is palpable, having enjoyed the pro-Syracuse crowds and fan interactions during his debut last summer. Despite not achieving the desired result, he found the experience incredibly rewarding, stating, 'It was so fun last year... after the first game I was like, 'Wow, that was as much fun as I’ve had in a long time playing basketball.''
The opposing team, Hall In, will be captained by Isaiah Whitehead, who led the Pirates to a 2016 Big East Tournament title. Whitehead's team is expected to be a formidable force, having scored 26 points in a two-point win over Villanova. The rivalry between Boeheim's Army and Seton Hall is further intensified by Buddy Boeheim's memories of playing against the Seton Hall teams when his father, Jim Boeheim, was coaching Syracuse. He recalls their physicality and competitiveness, setting the stage for an intense match-up.
The Basketball Tournament has undergone some exciting changes this year, with a $2 million prize pool and a limited 16-team field. Half of the tournament will feature college alumni teams, switching venues between college towns, while the other half will consist of non-alumni teams, all playing in Las Vegas. Boeheim's Army, having won the tournament in 2021, is now more attractive to players transitioning out of the NBA and playing overseas, making it easier for them to participate.
The team's general manager, Shaun Belbey, has been actively recruiting former Syracuse players to join Buddy Boeheim. Despite not being able to publicly name all the players, Belbey is confident in the team's composition, with some players expressing interest in the tournament. Joe Girard, however, will not be participating due to his wedding in July, but Jimmy Boeheim's Portuguese team, Oliveirense, is expected to play in TBT.
The tournament's format is a winner-take-all affair, with teams needing to win five games to claim the $2 million prize. The first-round match-up between Kentucky and Louisville alumni teams sets the tone for an intense and competitive tournament. Boeheim's Army will face the winner of that game in the next round, with the potential for a thrilling championship game on August 2nd.
