In this Boeheim’s Army 2019 Player Series we will feature the members of this year’s TBT (The Basketball Tournament) squad, and what’s happened since we saw them last. Up next: Chris McCullough.
Boeheim’s Army is back for the 2019 TBT (The Basketball Tournament) and this may be the best team they’ve ever assembled. Former members Eric Devendorf, John Gillon, Darryl Watkins, Arinze Onuaku, Brandon Triche and Hakim Warrick are joined by new additions Michael Gbinije, BJ Johnson, Jordan Crawford, Andrew White III, and Chris McCullough.
The latter played for Syracuse for one season (a short one, but still one season), before being drafted as the No. 29 overall selection by the Brooklyn Nets in the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft, according to Basketball-Reference.com
McCullough, a 6-foot-10 forward, brings great length and athleticism to the wing and post positions for Boeheim’s Army. He has the ability to make shots from mid-range as well as from three, drive to the rim and hit shots after posting up down low.
On defense, his length makes it easy for him to block shots and make an offensive player think twice about driving past him. This two-way type of player is the type of star Boeheim’s Army needed in years past, and it’s one they have the luxury of having this year.
Though McCullough is not a household name with Orange fans since he only played one season for Syracuse Basketball before getting a knee injury, he did make an immediate impact when he did play for the Orange.
"During the 2014-2015 season, McCullough played in 16 regular season games averaging 9.3 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 1.7 steals, and 2.0 blocks per game, according to Cuse.com."
In his 16 games in Orange, he scored double figures in eight of them and had three double-doubles. He was impressive and was a force to be reckoned with until he got injured against Florida State which ended his career for the Syracuse basketball squad.
After his college days, he played three seasons in the NBA for the Brooklyn Nets and Washington Wizards before trying his luck overseas.
In his brief NBA career, he had lackluster numbers: 3.3 points, and 1.3 rebounds per game in 59 career games, according to Basketball-Reference.com.
After the NBA, McCullough played in the G-League for a time (the NBA’s developmental league), in Puerto Rico, and in the Philippines, according to Syracuse.com.
Lucky for McCullough, The Basketball Tournament gives him another chance to add to his Orange legacy with the Syracuse alumni team Boeheim’s Army. For other members like Gillon and Andrew White III who also only played one year for Syracuse, Boeheim’s Army gives them additional opportunities as well for Orange fans to treasure them even more.
Sure we may not see him play until (and if) the Orange make it to Chicago for the quarterfinals due to his contractual obligations to play for the San Miguel Beermen of the Philippines Basketball Association (a team in the playoffs in the Philippines), according to Syracuse.com, but that doesn’t mean he couldn’t have a huge impact in the final three games that matter in the win or go home tournament.
McCullough’s ability to score and defend could make him one of this year’s best players not only on the team but in the entire TBT tournament. If he can play anything like how he is right in in the Philippines, 33.8 points, 14 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game, according to Fox Sports-Philippines, then any team who faces Boeheim’s Army will have their hands full.
Let’s hope he makes it back and that Boeheim’s Army advances through the first weekend because we could be in for something special when he returns.