Syracuse basketball could benefit long term from Buddy Boeheim injury

Syracuse basketball could stand to benefit from a recent injury to Buddy Boeheim. Here are all the details and what it could mean.

On Wednesday night Syracuse basketball picked up its 16th victory of the season thanks to a series sweep of the Pittsburgh Panthers 72-49.

For the first time in a while, the Orange cruised to an easy victory on the road. Although not everything was peaches and cream after this one.

In the first half starting guard, Buddy Boeheim had an awkward tumble to the hardwood and he needed some help limping off the court. The official diagnosis from the University said he suffered an ankle sprain.

"“He turned an ankle there’s nothing wrong. Just a sprained ankle” – Jim Boeheim following the team’s victory vs the Panthers."

Despite Buddy only playing 14 minutes and not registering a single point, Syracuse didn’t have any trouble on the road.

As a matter of fact, Syracuse actually benefitted from the Buddy Boeheim injury.

His father, Jim Boeheim, the hall of fame head coach rarely goes to his bench if he has the choice. Just look at recent history and the analytics speak for themselves.

That’s doubly true as it pertains to his son. With Buddy Boeheim as a starter this season he rarely steps foot off the floor.

In 28 games so far this season: Buddy has recorded 40 minutes or more (including overtime) in 11 games, hasn’t played less than 23 minutes in any single game (outside of injury) this year, and in total has been off the court for 134 minutes this season whether due to injury or a game is out of hand.

Jim Boeheim rides his starters and especially his son in regards to minutes played.

Buddy has been a key member of the Syracuse basketball team in 2019-20 thanks to his scoring and ability to hit shots from deep. Although recently he has gotten himself into quite a rut.

In his last five games, Buddy has shot 6-of-28 from deep. That’s a healthy 21 percent from long distance which obviously isn’t good enough.

Since Jim Boeheim is too stubborn to ever take Buddy Boeheim off the floor by choice, it was refreshing to see how he would react when he didn’t have a choice. The results were overwhelmingly positive.

Brycen Goodine played 18 minutes and scored five points including a triple try. Elijah Hughes had one of his best overall games on the year finishing with 25 points, nine boards, three assists, and two steals. Jim, due to the injury, played Elijah Hughes in Buddy Boeheim’s normal spot (the two guard) and that allowed him to have flexibility with his lineup.

Now before this narrative gets out of hand, this Syracuse team wouldn’t be where they’re without Buddy Boeheim. Buddy is the 11th leading scorer in the ACC, owns the 15th highest three-point percentage in the conference, and has been the robin to Elijah Hughes’ batman this season.

Although Brycen Goodine getting reps are going to help him long term and in the short term Hughes playing some two when the situation presents itself can give Jim Boeheim options at the backend of this season and during the ACC Tournament.