After punching a Florida State player in his stomach during Wednesday’s second round victory, Buddy Boeheim, Syracuse star was kicked out of the Orange’s Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament match against Duke.
Four hours after Syracuse beat eighth-seeded Florida State 96 to 57, the ACC announced a one-game suspension to a “flagrant” act. This allowed the ACC to move to the quarterfinals at Barclays Center on Thursday.
The Orange coach’s son, Jim Boeheim’s senior, released an earlier statement admitting that he was wrong.
“In the heat today’s game, after some pushing in the lane I swung my arms while turning to go up court. Boeheim posted a statement on Twitter stating that it was wrong to act in frustration. Wyatt Wilkes was the one I apologized to multiple times during the handshake. He told me not to worry, but I knew it was wrong.
Boeheim will likely have played his final college game if the Orange (16-16), loses to Duke. Boeheim has stated several times this year that he didn’t intend to use the additional year of eligibility granted by the NCAA to athletes for the 2020-21 pandemic-altered season.
Syracuse is not eligible for an at-large bid in the NCAA Tournament. The NIT seems unlikely if Syracuse falls below.500 after a loss to Duke.
Boeheim was not fouled on the play. This happened after Syracuse had made a basket.
Jim Boeheim stated, “I saw the play and the kid pushed him twice.” It was accidental, I believe. It didn’t pack a lot of punch.
Jim Boeheim denied that his son might have been suspended. According to him, if officials had seen the play, a flagrant 1 foul could have been called against Buddy Boeheim. He did admit that Buddy Boeheim had reacted to being pushed.
Buddy Boeheim is the leader in scoring with 19.3 points per match.
Florida State coach Leonard Hamilton, who was praising the character of the younger Boeheim, diffused the situation after the game’s news conference.
Hamilton stated, “I don’t want anything to diminish how they played and the fine young man that he is.” The game is physically demanding. “We expect men to get out there and bang and be aggressive. Sometimes, we need to categorize something that happens inadvertently.
“I lose my composure at times. “I’ve made some errors.”
After being struck midway through the first period, Wilkes doubled over. He played on.
After the game, Boeheim was seen smiling and chatting with Boeheim.
Boeheim stated, “I take pride in respecting the opponent and the game.” “I won’t react that way again.”
This was a reminiscence of another infamous moment from ACC history that involved a prominent player.
In 2005, Chris Paul from Wake Forest slapped Julius Hodge of North Carolina State below the belt in the team’s regular season finale. After consulting with the ACC, Wake Forest suspended Paul for his first conference tournament match.
Boeheim, who played for his Hall of Fame father, has been one of the most prolific 3-point shooters across the country. Boeheim averaged 14.6 points per match and made 306 3s over his entire career.
Boeheim was instrumental in helping the Orange to the NCAA Sweet 16 last season with his sharp shooting and support for his nickname “Buddy Buckets”. He was named to the first team all-ACC this year.
Both meetings against No. 7 Duke in this season’s championship, first by 20 points away and then at home by 25 points.
