Syracuse Basketball: Boeheim’s Army has prophetic new star, DJ Kennedy

Boeheim’s Army, a team of primarily former Syracuse basketball players, won its first game after a huge fourth quarter.

DJ Kennedy, the new starting forward for Boeheim’s Army, a squad of mainly former Syracuse basketball stars, is described by ESPN commentator Seth Greenberg as the “LeBron James of the TBT.”

Maybe, but after Saturday’s, 65-53, first-round win for the predominantly Syracuse Orange alumni team over Forces of Seoul, I think a better comparison for Kennedy would be to Nostradamus.

That’s how prophetic Kennedy’s pre-game sideline interview was.

If you trusted his thoughts on what to expect in the game, you wouldn’t have even had to stick around to watch Saturday’s matchup in Illinois.

“The first game is the hardest, because guys haven’t been playing and it’s our first game together. It’s not going to be pretty, you just have to grind it out and figure out a way to win,” Kennedy said before the contest.

Things happened and checked out just like Kennedy said they would:

Check: It was hard, even though the Army came in heavily favored as a 3 seed vs. No. 14 Forces of Seoul, because there was a lot of rust.  “There is no energy or flow offensively for Boeheim’s Army,” Greenberg said in the first half, when the Army had 8 turnovers and everyone not named Malachi Richardson was a combined 4-for-23 from the field.

Check: It was the first game together for this club and it showed.  “Boeheim’s Army hasn’t found a group with good chemistry. They are all looking for someone else to make a play,” Greenberg said as the team fell behind at the half, 29-23, with only seven 2nd quarter points.

Check: It wasn’t pretty, with dozens of easy missed shots, too many turnovers and allowing Seoul second chances. “Boeheim’s Army isn’t focused offensively, and they’re not rebounding,” Greenberg said.

And CHECKMATE: Boeheim’s Army indeed overcame it all by figuring out a way to grind and to stay alive in the win-or-go-home, $1 million winner-take-all TBT. The club rallied on defense and as Greenberg said, “Boeheim’s Army’s energy is better,” in the most desperate moments.

Just like Kennedy said they would.

After all, Kennedy’s been there before and seen it all, having starred for the 4-time TBT champion Overseas Elite. The St. John’s alum is the top scorer in the history of this tournament. Since Kennedy’s old team did not come back for this year’s TBT, Boeheim’s Army recruited him and teammate Deandre Kane to join the club.

As for the LeBron comparison, well, Kennedy does do a little bit of everything on the court and is a winner, but if LeBron only scored his first points of a game with four minutes to go, Skip Bayless would never let him hear the end of it.

Kennedy did his work outside the box score, again fulfilling his pre-game sideline prophecy.

“The goal is to win, not to care about stats,” Kennedy said before the game even began.

Does this guy know what he’s talking about, or what?

He also said winning in the TBT is all about playing hard, playing together and trusting one another. This year’s team is more a blend of ex-Syracuse and non-Cuse players than any of the previous six years Boeheim’s Army has tried its luck in the TBT. So the trust needs to build quickly.

The tandem of ex-Syracuse star Malachi Richardson (19 points) and another non-Syracuse player, starting point guard Tyrese Rice (20 points), was the best illustration of new teammates feeding off one another.

It was Malachi that kept Boeheim’s Army in the game early, by converting picturesque and timely three-pointers. Rice, who went to Boston College, finished the deal, dominating the fourth quarter and Elam Ending, including the game-clinching shot.

As a Syracuse basketball fan, The Basketball Tournament is a summer treat. It never disappoints.

I loved seeing Malachi, Tyler Lydon and Chris McCollough start for Boeheim’s Army, after each of their Syracuse basketball careers was shorter than most fans wished.

I loved seeing Eric Devendorf wear No. 44, loved seeing him drive the baseline to score, but was surprised in how little used he was. I suspect he’ll gain more playing time as the tournament progresses.

I loved seeing the team start in the famed 2-3 zone, although the team mixed up defenses throughout.

And I loved that classic Syracuse basketball heart-stopping game rhythm of falling behind, looking out of it, then rallying to get the W.

Next game: Monday!