Syracuse Basketball: Boeheim’s Army expects deep run, Tyler Ennis says

Former Syracuse basketball star Tyler Ennis believes that Boeheim’s Army is poised to go far in The Basketball Tournament (“TBT”) this summer after cutting down the nets and collecting $1 million a year ago.

Sure, there are a lot of new faces for Boeheim’s Army in 2022, but that can be said about other teams competing in the TBT as well.

This summer, the Boeheim’s Army roster is a relatively equal blend of former Orange players and guys who suited up elsewhere in their collegiate days.

But the roster, in totality, boasts a lot of veteran players with professional track records, along with an experienced head coach in Jeremy Pope.

As such, Ennis said during a Zoom session with media members on Tuesday that he thinks Boeheim’s Army should journey on a deep run in the TBT this summer. Repeating as tourney champion, or at least getting to the final game, is certainly a realistic goal, he says.

Former Syracuse basketball stand-out Tyler Ennis, playing with Boeheim’s Army this summer, discussed his days on the Hill.

We detailed the 2022 Boeheim’s Army roster in another recent column. Tyler Ennis, a stellar point guard who was sensational in his one campaign with the ‘Cuse in the 2013-14 campaign, is one of several new pieces this summer.

He said that he’s been interested in competing for Boeheim’s Army for several years now, but injuries and other factors made that a challenge to happen in the past.

However, Ennis said that everything just came together for him to suit up in the 2022 TBT. Two of his Boeheim’s Army teammates are wing C.J. Fair and big man Rakeem Christmas, both of whom played alongside Tyler Ennis for Syracuse basketball in 2013-14.

That Orange squad was special. The 2013-14 stanza proved the first for the ‘Cuse in the Atlantic Coast Conference after leaving the Big East Conference.

Syracuse basketball raced out to a 25-0 start, its best in program history, and the Orange held the No. 1 national ranking during the regular season.

The ‘Cuse struggled a bit down the stretch, though, finishing up at 28-6 overall and falling to Dayton in the Big Dance’s round of 32.

However, it was a tremendous year for the Orange, and Ennis steered that ship quite well. He would become a first-round pick in the NBA Draft after the 2013-14 term.

Ennis said on the Zoom that he’s excited not only to suit up for Boeheim’s Army, but also to be playing in Syracuse once again.

In the 2022 TBT, SRC Arena in Syracuse is one of eight host regions. Boeheim’s Army, the No. 1 seed in the Syracuse region, will begin the defense of its 2021 crown at 7 pm on Friday, July 22, against No. 8 seed and new TBT squad India Rising. ESPN will televise this battle in the round of 64.

Ennis said that he hasn’t been back in Syracuse for a while now, dating back to 2015. Plus, he’s been playing professionally overseas, so competing for Boeheim’s Army gives him a special opportunity to play in front of family and friends, as well as the Orange fan base that loves him, and he loves back.

Over the past handful of seasons, Ennis says he’s had to deal with various injuries. But during this most recent campaign, he says that he didn’t miss a practice or a game due to injury, and he played well.

Playing with his friends like Christmas and Fair, in Syracuse and on national TV, should be fun. Tyler Ennis is happy to be fully healthy, and the TBT allows him to get game reps in over the summer.

And, naturally, winning $1 million would prove sweet.