Story and photos by Nicole Jones
PHILADELPHIA, PA. -- Syracuse fans started filling the stands at Philadelphia University early on Saturday evening, anticipating Boeheim's Army's first win of the summer. The gym's air space filled with whispers about the turnout of fans in orange shirts. The fans and players looked locked, loaded and ready to go.
They were. But it would take a while.
Swagger and Honoring Pearl
From the start of warm-ups, Boeheim's Army established a presence on the court. A presence that gives off a swagger about them like as if the players knew this wouldn't be their last game in The Basketball Tournament (TBT). Each player competing for the $2-million but also playing in remembrance of the life of the late SU basketball alum Dwayne "Pearl" Washington who died in April. The team took the court with orange warm-up shirts decorated with the name "Pearl" in white script.
With a March Madness-style tournament like this in the middle of the summer, you don't get to scout your opponent before going into the first couple of games. “It's more about what we do, not what they do,” coach Ryan Blackwell had said heading into game one. Blackwell was expecting nothing less than a win and that's exactly what he got as Boeheim's Army blew open a game that was tight at halftime for an 87-59 win.Slow start, strong finish
With this team being bigger than last years team, based on Syracuse basketball standards, Boeheim's Army had a slow start in the first half. Leading by 10 early on did not satisfy the Orange fans. Basketball City NYC wasn't going to roll over and die either, coming within three of Boeheim's Army at one point.
Although they never trailed behind their opponent, the fans wanted more. By the time the second half came around more is exactly what they got, Boeheim's Army playing its game and its game only. Great ball movement, high energy, help side defense across the board, alley-oops and dunks. Boeheim's Army won the rebound battle 50-32.
Although they never trailed behind their opponent, the fans wanted more. By the time the second half came around more is exactly what they got, Boeheim's Army playing its game and its game only. Great ball movement, high energy, help side defense across the board, alley-oops and dunks. Boeheim's Army won the rebound battle 50-32.
The final statistics show that this game was played by a team of unselfish alums and the adopted Purdue point guard Willie Deane who led the team with five assists and ten points. Seven players scored in double digits. Hakim Warrick just missed a double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds. Baye Moussa Keita had 13 and eight and C.J. Fair chipped in 13 and seven.
Devendorf speaks
Mic'd up during the game was, Eric Devendorf. He was also the leading scorer with 14 points in 25 minutes of game play. Having stretched the lead to 14, Devendorf told his teammates, "This is where we step on they necks," The Daily Orange's Matt Schneidman reported.
"I think the first win is the hardest win," Devendorf said after the game. "It's a relief to get that over with. Now we can get ready for tomorrow."
Game two will take place at Philadelphia University against a Philadelphia-based team No. 10 seed 20th & Olney at 4:15pm.
Devendorf speaks
Mic'd up during the game was, Eric Devendorf. He was also the leading scorer with 14 points in 25 minutes of game play. Having stretched the lead to 14, Devendorf told his teammates, "This is where we step on they necks," The Daily Orange's Matt Schneidman reported.
"I think the first win is the hardest win," Devendorf said after the game. "It's a relief to get that over with. Now we can get ready for tomorrow."
Game two will take place at Philadelphia University against a Philadelphia-based team No. 10 seed 20th & Olney at 4:15pm.
Game action - click on any photo to start slide show.
No comments:
Post a Comment