Syracuse Basketball: Boeheim’s Army fought tough, won’t earn $1 million

Boeheim’s Army, that collection of former Syracuse basketball players and others, will not repeat as The Basketball Tournament (“TBT”) champions.

The team, which went on a magical run last summer to claim the TBT title and collect $1 million, got bounced in the round of 32 at the 2022 TBT on Saturday afternoon in Syracuse, N.Y., after trailing the entire encounter.

The top-seed in the Syracuse region, which is taking place at the SRC Arena, Boeheim’s Army boasted a massive home-court advantage before a flock of Orange-clad ‘Cuse fans.

However, in this second-round TBT battle, the No. 4 seed The Nerd Team stunned Boeheim’s Army and its fan base, 81-74, although things got interesting toward the affair’s conclusion.

https://twitter.com/BoeheimsArmy/status/1550936139208527872?cxt=HHwWgMC47fGMhIYrAAAA

Boeheim’s Army, with its former Syracuse basketball guys and others, saw its 2022 TBT run cut short.

With Orange head coach Jim Boeheim and numerous former Syracuse basketball stars in attendance on Saturday afternoon, Boeheim’s Army went up against a group that showed no fear and proved sensational from beyond the arc.

In this contest, The Nerd Team connected on an impressive 16-of-29 from deep, which equates to 55 percent. Boeheim’s Army, conversely, hit on just 6-of-26 from 3-point land, or 23 percent.

That 30-point differential from beyond the arc, frankly, was too much for Boeheim’s Army to overcome. Former Cornell star Matt Morgan, a prolific-scoring guard, paced Boeheim’s Army with 19 points.

Boeheim’s Army point guard Dee Bost, who played at Mississippi State in college, tallied 17 points, while former Syracuse basketball big man Rakeem Christmas, who was an All-American for the ‘Cuse in the 2014-15 campaign, produced 16 points.

Versus The Nerd Team, Boeheim’s Army didn’t have point guard Tyler Ennis, a former Orange stand-out, available. That was a huge loss.

Additionally, and unfortunately, veteran TBT wing DeAndre Kane barely played. Kane, who helped guide Boeheim’s Army to the 2021 TBT crown, competed at the collegiate level for Iowa State and Marshall.

From the opening tip, The Nerd Team held the lead, with its biggest advantage checking in at 22 points. The Nerd Team was up 73-61 when the Elam Ending target score got set to 81 points.

Boeheim’s Army mounted a furious comeback attempt, closing to within 77-73. The Orange crowd was going nuts.

However, The Nerd Team ultimately hoisted up a prayer 3-pointer as the shot clock was expiring that somehow connected, and Boeheim’s Army was out of the 2022 TBT.

I love The Basketball Tournament. Summer hoops is super fun. It’s disappointing that Boeheim’s Army didn’t manage a deep TBT ride, but I credit the squad for not throwing in the towel on Saturday afternoon when its deficit ballooned.