Syracuse Basketball: Boeheim’s Army legit shot to win TBT, tough draw

In recent years, the collection of former Syracuse basketball stars, and some non-Orange players, have fared well competing as Boeheim’s Army in the annual The Basketball Tournament (“TBT”), a $1 million, winner-take-all event that transpires over the summer.

Boeheim’s Army has made it to a Final Four, along with other commendable journeys in the TBT, but the team has yet to take home the grand prize.

From my perspective, 2021 could be the year for Boeheim’s Army, although the squad does have a really challenging path ahead toward capturing that massive pot of money.

A year ago, Boeheim’s Army was the No. 3 seed in a scaled-down TBT field, due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. The team fell in the quarterfinals to No. 22 seed Sideline Cancer.

Fast-forward about 12 months, and Boeheim’s Army is once again a No. 3 seed. Situated in the Peoria, Ill., region, Boeheim’s Army will face No. 14 seed Forces of Seoul on July 24.

Syracuse basketball players united as Boeheim’s Army look to cut down the nets later this summer.

The region that includes Boeheim’s Army is stacked. The No. 1 seed, the Golden Eagles, is a Marquette alumni group and won the 2020 TBT.

The No. 2 seed in this region, House of ‘Paign, is an Illinois alumni squad and a dangerous foe. I imagine that House of ‘Paign will get to play in front of a ton of home-state fans.

Other talented teams in this region include an Oregon-based unit, one with Murray State alumni, and also Brotherly Love, which shocked Boeheim’s Army in a regional final two years ago.

This absolutely won’t prove an easy task for Boeheim’s Army, although the team has formed a terrific line-up for the 2021 TBT.

Boeheim’s Army recently added wing Deandre Kane, who previously played for the event’s historically dominant team, Overseas Elite. At the collegiate level, Kane competed for Marshall and Iowa State. Boeheim’s Army has brought on a second member of Overseas Elite, D.J. Kennedy, a wing who has scored the most points in TBT history and went to St. John’s.

Others on the roster include guard Eric Devendorf, a TBT veteran, center Paschal Chukwu, power forward/center Tyler Lydon, power forward/center Chris McCullough, wing Malachi Richardson, small forward Andrew White III, forward C.J. Fair, former Boston College guard Tyrese Rice and point guard Keifer Sykes, who suited up in college for Green Bay.