Syracuse Orange are one of the feel-good stories in the NCAA Tournament this season. The unheralded 11th seed has made an improbable run to the Sweet Sixteen and now await the second-seeded Houston Cougars in their next game on Saturday. However, nothing can slow the roll of Jim and Buddy Boeheim.
Jim Boeheim is the coach, and his star player is his son, Buddy. He had 30 points in Syracuse’s first-round upset of San Diego State, which he followed up with 25 against the West Virginia Mountaineers. Coach Boeheim has opened up on having his son be the star of his team.
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“It’s been great. Obviously, when your son plays with you, you have an extra worry component to what you’re doing. You’re worried about your team, but you’re also worried that your son does well.
“It’s fun to see him playing this way and it’s really more important because it’s helping our team. He’s about winning. I remember during the season when we weren’t winning, but he was playing well, he was crying in his room about I just wanna win. That’s nice to have from any player on your team, that kind of attitude. It’s fun to be around that.”
Syracuse Orange: Can Buddy Boeheim lead them to the Final Four?
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The Syracuse Orange have a tall test ahead of them against the Cougars. However, every game they have had was a tall test, and they have been passing with flying colors. While the flashy damage has been done by Buddy, the Orange have a fantastic supporting cast around him.
Robert Brasswell is an underrated three-and-d forward who has been crucial to this team’s success. Kadary Richmond, Joe Girard, Jesse Edwards have all held up their side of the bargain as well. The Cougars provide some interesting challenges to the Orange but are not too big to be toppled.
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READ MORE: When a 19-Year-Old Carmelo Anthony Led Syracuse Orange to Their Maiden NCAA Division I Championship
If the Orange make a deep run, it will be a massive statement by the school that last won the title in 2003. However, this year may be the resurrection of a former champion. Let’s see how this plays out and how far they go in the tournament.