Syracuse looking to continue Sweet 16 run behind Buddy Boeheim’s hot shooting
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (BVM) — Jim Boeheim is making his 20th appearance in the Sweet 16 this season, but this year’s trip feels a little more special for the long-time Orange coach.
“It’s been great,” Jim Boeheim told ESPN’s First Take crew about experiencing this with his son. “When your son plays for 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 we weren’t winning and he was playing well, but we weren’t winning, and he was crying in his room about, ‘I just want to win.’ That’s nice to have from any player on your team, that kind of attitude.”
Buddy Boeheim has been the engine for the Orange this March. As Syracuse continued its run through the Midwest bracket, Buddy became an integral part in taking down the No. 6-seeded San Diego State Aztecs, tallying 30 points in their first round matchup. The hot shooting streak from the junior guard continued against West Virginia in the second round as Buddy went for 25 points while hitting big shots down the stretch.
“Ever since I got here there’s been some pressure,” Buddy said. “If I have a bad game it’s, ‘he’s only playing because of his dad,’ or this-and-that. I think my freshman year it got to me a little more than usual. I started off slow so that didn’t help. Once I started to prove myself more and more, I felt more comfortable and just felt like I had to go out there and try and win games for us.”
Syracuse’s hot shooting stretch hasn’t only been led by Buddy, who has received some help from sophomore guard Joseph Girard III. In the Orange’s two tournament games, Syracuse has shot 50% from behind the 3-point line.
Along with its high-powered offense, the key to Syracuse’s March Madness run has been defense. The legendary 2-3 zone deployed by Syracuse has been a problem for both opponents the Orange have faced and will look to frustrate the high–powered Houston offense.
With its upcoming matchup against Houston set for Saturday, Syracuse will look to keep a similar routine to the one that has helped them get to this point.
“Just the same way as always,” Buddy said about preparing for the upcoming matchup. “Put my head down and have a great week of practice and workouts. I know that [Houston] is going to be chasing me off screens and always keeping an eye on me. So just moving without the ball, playing with my guys and just trying to go out there and win, and not force anything.
“[I’ll] let the game come to me and I know my teammates will help me out and they’ll make big plays as well. They’ve all contributed and helped us just as much as I have in this run.”
