NEW YORK — Syracuse star Buddy Boeheim was suspended for the Orange’s Atlantic Coast Convention Event recreation in opposition to Duke after he punched a Florida State participant within the abdomen Wednesday throughout a second-round victory.
The ACC introduced the one-game suspension for a “flagrant act” about 4 hours after ninth-seeded Syracuse beat eighth-seeded Florida State 96-57 to advance to the quarterfinals Thursday at Barclays Middle.
The senior, the son of Orange coach Jim Boeheim, earlier launched an announcement acknowledging he was mistaken.
“Within the warmth of right this moment’s recreation, after some shoving within the lane, I swung my arm whereas turning to return up court docket. It was mistaken to behave out in frustration,” Boeheim said in a statement posted on Syracuse basketball’s Twitter account. “I apologized to Wyatt Wilkes a number of instances within the handshake line. He stated to not fear about it, however I do know it was mistaken.”
If the Orange (16-16) lose to Duke, Boeheim is prone to have performed his final faculty recreation. He has indicated a number of instances this season he didn’t intend to reap the benefits of the additional yr of eligibility the NCAA granted athletes for competing throughout the pandemic-altered 2020-21 season.
Syracuse will not be in rivalry for an at-large bid to the NCAA match and the NIT additionally appears unlikely if the Orange fall beneath .500 with a loss to Duke.
Boeheim was not known as for a foul on the play, which occurred after Syracuse made a basket.
“I noticed the play, the child pushed him twice,” Jim Boeheim stated. “I believe it was inadvertent. It wasn’t a lot of a punch.”
Jim Boeheim dismissed the concept of his son presumably being suspended when requested about it. He stated if officers had seen the play a flagrant 1 foul may need been known as on Buddy Boeheim. The coach did concede Buddy Boeheim had retaliated for being pushed.
Buddy Boeheim leads the ACC in scoring at 19.3 factors per recreation.
Florida State coach Leonard Hamilton subtle the state of affairs throughout his postgame information convention, praising the youthful Boeheim’s character.
“I do not need something to remove from how nicely they performed and what sort of wonderful younger man he’s,” Hamilton stated. “The sport is bodily. We count on guys to exit and bang and be aggressive. If one thing inadvertently occurs typically we need to categorize it in a method or one other.”
“I’ve misplaced my composure typically. I’ve made some errors.”
Wilkes doubled over and squatted for a second after being struck about halfway by means of the primary half. He continued to play.
The 2 gamers have been seen talking to one another after the sport, with Boeheim strolling away smiling.
“I satisfaction myself in respecting the sport and and our opponent,” Boeheim stated. “I can’t react that away once more.”
The state of affairs was paying homage to one other notorious second in ACC historical past, involving a high-profile participant.
In 2005, Wake Forest’s Chris Paul hit North Carolina State’s Julius Hodge beneath the belt throughout the crew’s regular-season finale. No foul was known as, however Wake Forest suspended Paul after consulting with the ACC for its first convention match recreation.
Boeheim has turn into some of the prolific 3-point shooters within the nation whereas taking part in for his Corridor of Fame coach father. For his profession, Boeheim has averaged 14.6 factors per recreation and made 306 3s.
Boeheim helped the Orange attain the NCAA Candy 16 final yr with some sharp taking pictures to again up his “Buddy Buckets” moniker. This yr he was named first-team all-ACC.
Syracuse misplaced each conferences in opposition to No. 7 Duke this season, the primary by 20 factors on the highway after which by 25 factors at residence.