Buddy Boeheim survives red-eye flight, shoots lights out for Boeheim’s Army
Boeheim's Army coach Allen Griffin. Boeheims Army face off against the Herkimer Originals in The Basketball Tournament at OCCs SRC Arena July 19, 2025. Dennis Nett | [email protected]
Syracuse, N.Y. – He started the game and played 26 minutes as the Indiana Pacers closed out their NBA Summer League in Las Vegas Friday night.
Then, Buddy Boeheim began his hustle home to play for the family franchise in The Basketball Tournament.
Adam Weitsman right) Boeheims Army face off against the Herkimer Originals in The Basketball Tournament at OCCs SRC Arena July 19, 2025. Dennis Nett | [email protected]
The Pacers game started at 6 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time. By 10:50, he was on a flight bound for Syracuse.
He landed in Detroit, then boarded a 7:45 a.m. connecting flight. By 9:30, he was home.
Adam Weistman (left) watchws Shaun Belbey as he writes notes. Boeheims Army face off against the Herkimer Originals in The Basketball Tournament at OCCs SRC Arena July 19, 2025. Dennis Nett | [email protected]
After a four-hour nap in Fayetteville, he put up a few shots in the home gym.
Boeheim’s Army had a 6 p.m. game at Onondaga Community College against the Herkimer Originals.
Boeheim, making his Boeheim’s Army debut, was in the starting lineup.
When his whirlwind day ended, he pasted a team-high 24 points on the scoreboard on efficient 7-of-9 shooting from the 3-point line. He also grabbed six rebounds and had five assists.
“That banked 3 helped get me going a little,” Boeheim said. “I think I found my legs after that. It was definitely adrenaline that got me going. It was a long couple of days.”
Boeheim’s Army defeated the Herkimer Originals, 97-71 Saturday night to advance in TBT. The team will play We Are D3 Monday at 8 p.m. at OCC. The game will be televised by FS2.
Boeheim's Army forward Jimmy Boeheim (0), Boeheims Army face off against the Herkimer Originals in The Basketball Tournament at OCCs SRC Arena July 19, 2025. Dennis Nett | [email protected]
Boeheim led his team to an 18-of-29 shooting night from the 3-point line. That’s a sizzling 62%.
Boeheim's Army forward Chris McCullough (5). Boeheims Army face off against the Herkimer Originals in The Basketball Tournament at OCCs SRC Arena July 19, 2025. Dennis Nett | [email protected]
Plenty of teammates got into the act.
Elijah Hughes, who played with Buddy Boeheim at SU, scored 21 and was 5-of-8 from 3, including a game-winning corner 3 in the Elam Ending.
Boeheim's Army guard Buddy Boeheim (35). Boeheims Army face off against the Herkimer Originals in The Basketball Tournament at OCCs SRC Arena July 19, 2025. Dennis Nett | [email protected]
Malachi Richardson was 2-of-3; Charles Pride and Frank Mason each went 1-for-1 from that distance. Point guard Jacob Gilyard was 2-of-6.
All of those 3s made for a rollicking night in front of a packed, orange-hued house of (mostly) Boeheim’s Army fans.
“That was the most fun I’ve had playing basketball in a long time,” Buddy Boeheim said, “just because of the environment, the fans, how much Syracuse means to me and (brother) Jimmy. And I think it’s awesome to have all the ‘Cuse guys here. It’s like old times.”
Boeheim's Army forward Chris McCullough (5) Boeheims Army face off against the Herkimer Originals in The Basketball Tournament at OCCs SRC Arena July 19, 2025. Dennis Nett | [email protected]
Jimmy Boeheim scored 10 points Saturday, including a nifty up-and-under on the baseline. Jim Boeheim, officially Boeheim’s Army’s coach emeritus, sat at the end of the bench. Buddy said there were times when he’d come out of the game, slap hands with everyone else on the bench and then reach his dad.
Elijah Hughes slides the team name up the bracket after the teams win. Boeheims Army face off against the Herkimer Originals in The Basketball Tournament at OCCs SRC Arena July 19, 2025. Dennis Nett | [email protected]
It was weird seeing him there.
Boeheim’s Army coach Allen Griffin said he talked with his old coach and mentor before the game.
“He said just give Buddy the ball,” Griffin said.
Griffin characterized that comment as “a joke,” but really, that strategy paid off Saturday night.
Shaun Belbey, the Boeheim’s Army GM, had long wanted Buddy Boeheim and Elijah Hughes on his roster. Those former Orange men stirred nostalgia in the stands and helped attract fans to the game.
Buddy Boeheim decided to play this summer because he was coming off postseason thumb surgery and figured it would be a nice way to continue to play competitive games.
But after his 30-minute effort Saturday, he was ready to call it a day.
“Oh, I’m pretty tired now. I’m definitely gonna need some sleep,” Boeheim said. “But I made it work. When I got here and saw all the fans, it was easy to play and easy to get up for it.”
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Boeheim's Army guard Buddy Boeheim (35). Boeheims Army face off against the Herkimer Originals in The Basketball Tournament at OCCs SRC Arena July 19, 2025. Dennis Nett | [email protected]
Boeheims Army coach Allen Griffin. Boeheims Army face off against the Herkimer Originals in The Basketball Tournament at OCCs SRC Arena July 19, 2025. Dennis Nett | [email protected]
