Boeheim’s Army: Syracuse Basketball Alumni Team Advances to TBT Final Four
By Josh Peelman
Inside The Loud House recaps Boeheim’s Army’s two games Brooklyn and how they advanced to their first TBT Final Four.
Boeheim’s Army is the epitome of what Syracuse Basketball fans like to call a #CardiacCuse team.
They’re a team of Syracuse players who have the talent to blow out games, yet struggle too. Somehow they find ways to win, but just barely.
These teams make our heart race as we fear the worst: losing and going home empty handed. That’s exactly the team that showed up twice this weekend in Brooklyn for The Basketball Tournament.
After #CardiacCuse, aka Boeheim’s Army, who made our teeth chatter in a double overtime victory over Gaelnation in the second round, they replicated a similar performance in the Super 16 versus Team Fancy.
Team Fancy came in as one of the stronger teams in the field, as they were team chock-full of really talented streetballers from the NYC “Summer Circuit“, according to the Basketball Tournament website. They clearly lived up to that reputation, as Team Fancy showed up as the better team for most of the game. Boeheim’s Army still had fight left in them though, and fought back and eventually took the lead via a Brandon Triche corner three with just under two minutes to go in the game.
Clutch free throws by the winningest guard in Syracuse Basketball history, Triche, led Boeheim’s Army to a dramatic and close win, 65-61. The win felt a bit lucky, especially considering Triche had dislocated his pinkie finger earlier in the contest. I think most Syracuse fans would agree though that a win’s a win.
Elite Eight Versus Team FOE:
In the Elite Eight, Boeheim’s Army seemed poised to bounce back after such a bland showing against Team Fancy. However, against Team F.O.E. (Family Over Everything), a team comprised of former Kansas players and Philadelphia area professionals, and coached by current NBA players Marcus & Markieff Morris, Boeheim’s Army came out cold.
In the first half it was a real struggle for the Orange alumni team. They shot only 27% in the first half and shot 8-for-30 from the field. The would trail Team FOE by 16 points at the half, 40-24, according to the TBT website. For many Syracuse fans watching at home and in the stands, the game already looked out of hand and pretty much over.
After about six minutes had passed in the second half, I almost turned the TV off myself. Team FOE was throwing alley-oops and showing off as they felt the game was already over. With Team FOE up by 25 with 11:55 to go, the former Orange players seemed disengaged and unmotivated. I kept watching because I figured this team only plays a couple times a summer, and we’re all lucky to see them play as it is, so I stayed loyal and kept watching. Lucky for me, and all other Orange fans out there, things changed in a hurry and Team FOE had no answer.
A CardiacCuse Comeback Like No Other:
Boeheim’s Army would finally start making shots in bunches. James Southerland would key a huge Orange run on offense making three after three. Meanwhile DaShonte Riley would anchor the Orange inside on defense. Both were huge but welcome surprises in this game after having minimal impact in the last couple games.
When shots started falling, the hometown crowd for Boeheim’s Army got back into it. As a result, the team started being more motivated on both sides of the ball. That motivation, led to multiple steals for easy layups. With 1:50 to go in the game, Boeheim’s Army finally made it all the way back to take the lead, 67-66. That lead was courtesy of an Eric Devendorf layup in which he blew past multiple defenders of Team FOE.
Boeheim’s Army would play solid defense down the stretch and prevail, 72-67. It should be noted that they held the lead thanks in large part to Triche and Eric Devendorf. In those last 11+ minutes, the former Orange alums outscored Team FOE, 40 to 10, according to the ESPN broadcasters on the call. It is now the biggest rally for a win in TBT history.
Syracuse Coach Jim Boeheim, tweeted out afterwards that it was the best comeback he’s ever seen from Syracuse players. That’s saying a lot considering the comebacks the Orange needed to reach the Final Four just a few years ago.
One the best comebacks in Orange history! I didn't even have to speak to the officials once. @BoeheimsArmy on to the TBT Final Four
— Jim Boeheim (@therealboeheim) July 23, 2017
What’s Next:
As a result of the win, Boeheim’s Army advances to The Basketball Tournament Final Four. They will take on the two-time defending champ Overseas Elite who is undefeated in TBT for the last two years.
That team is full of some of the best professional basketball players who play outside the U.S. Hopefully the former Orange alums don’t come out with another #CardiacCuse team and instead come out firing like they did at the end of the Elite Eight matchup versus Team Foe.
That next matchup is scheduled to air on Tuesday, August 1st at 9pm on ESPN. That game will take place at Coppin State University in Baltimore, Carmelo Anthony’s hometown. It may interest some fans to know that Carmelo Anothony hinted on Twitter that he might stop by to watch and root for Boeheim’s Army when they play next week.
Good luck to Cuse. The dream is still alive. Win this one and I'll see you in Baltimore! #TBT2017
— Carmelo Anthony (@carmeloanthony) July 23, 2017
Next: Syracuse Basketball: Top 30 Players in School History
Boeheim’s Army will represent the Northeast region as a #3 seed, while, Overseas Elite will represent the South region as a #1 seed. At this point in the tournament though seeds are just a number. If you can get this far in this competitive field you obviously deserved to make it that far. Boeheim’s Army fits that label to a tee. Let’s hope they continue to impress and move onto the championship game next week.