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Syracuse Basketball: ESPN labels Boeheim’s Army as a 2019 TBT favorite

ByPaul A. Esden Jr.|
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - FEBRUARY 05: A view of the logo during ESPN The Party on February 5, 2016 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Mike Windle/Getty Images for ESPN)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - FEBRUARY 05: A view of the logo during ESPN The Party on February 5, 2016 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Mike Windle/Getty Images for ESPN)

Boeheim’s Army of Syracuse basketball alum is considered one of the favorites to win the TBT crown in 2019 per ESPN. Here are all the details.

The Basketball Tournament is rapidly approaching in just a few weeks time. Earlier this week TBT released the full bracket for this year’s tournament and we documented the path for Boeheim’s Army here.

Shortly after the bracket was revealed, ESPN released a long feature ranking every single team in TBT from 1 to 64.

According to the experts, Boeheim’s Army is the third best team entering the tournament. Here’s what Carmine Carcieri had to say about the team’s chances:

"“Featuring familiar faces and NBA experience, Boeheim’s Army has one of the most intriguing rosters in the event. Hakim Warrick and Eric Devendorf are back for another run. But adding 2015 NBA first-round pick Chris McCullough and bucket-getter Jordan Crawford makes this team a real threat to Overseas Elite.”"

This is the first time Chris McCullough has played for Boeheim’s Army in the basketball tournament. While the only non-Syracuse alum on the squad is Jordan Crawford. Eric Devendorf was responsible for recruiting Crawford over to the squad this year.

Only two teams earned higher honors in these rankings, here’s more via ESPN:

  1. Overseas Elite, No. 1 seed (Richmond region)
    1. “Seeking its fifth straight TBT title, No. 1 overall seed Overseas Elite returns to the bracket as the heavy favorite to cut down the nets despite the departures of Kyle Fogg and Errick McCollum. Led by two-time tournament MVP D.J. Kennedy and former NBA guard Jeremy Pargo, the roster has the experience and chemistry needed to win another $2 million prize.”
  2. Eberlein Drive, No. 1 seed (Salt Lake region)
    1. “The biggest threat to Overseas Elite’s five-peat is a team led by two former NBA players, James Michael McAdoo and Donald Sloan, and the fourth-leading scorer in the 2018 tournament, Jerome Randle (21.7 points per game). Eberlein Drive reached the title game last summer, and it now adds ex-Miami (Fla.) standout Kenny Kadji to an already loaded roster.”

      2. Boeheim’s Army is intimately familiar with Overseas Elite. While they’ve only had one crack at them in the history of this tournament (back in 2017), Elite has been, well elite and are looking to “five-peat” in 2019. They have lost some key talent, we’ll see if that can make enough of a difference.

      While Eberlein Drive is one of the OGs of this tournament. They’re one of only five squads that have participated in every version of TBT. This squad should not be overlooked they’re stockpiled with NBA and overseas talent galore.

      So in other words, Boeheim’s Army is going to have their hands full if they want to win their first ever TBT championship. But many pundits have suggested that this is Syracuse’s best opportunity at a title.

      With a balanced roster featuring former SU stars like Devendorf, John Gillon, Arinze Onuaku, Brandon Triche, Hakim Warrick, and Darryl ‘Mookie’ Watkins the sky is the limit for this team. It’s the perfect blend of youth, experience, and playmaking ability.

      General manager Kevin Belbey continues to say he likes the roster as currently constructed, but there could be some movement ahead of their first game July 26. Boeheim’s Army is allowed to wait as late as 72 hours prior to tip if they’d like to add a player.

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