Boeheim’s Army survives tough first game of TBT (Donna Ditota’s quick takes)

Peoria, Illinois -- The Basketball Tournament started early for Boeheim’s Army, the collection of mostly former Syracuse players attempting to win $1 million in the winner-take-all summer event. The game was the first on the schedule in the Illinois region Saturday morning here.

It took Boeheim’s Army a while to wake up.

No. 3 seed Boeheim’s Army defeated No. 14 Forces of Seoul 65-53 in front of a small, Syracuse-dominated crowd in the Peoria Civic Center. The Army had to claw its way back from a 50-43 deficit after three quarters to advance.

>> Box score

Boeheim’s Army now plays Team Heartfire on Monday at 7 p.m. Heartfire is coached by former Notre Dame star LaPhonso Ellis and features former Syracuse opponents Jared Wilson-Frame (Pittsburgh), Gary McGhee (Pitt) and Tevin Mack (Clemson).

Here’s what happened:

Brutal first half: Boeheim’s Army shot 29% overall and 27% from the 3-point line in the first half. To say it was an ugly offensive effort would be an understatement.

They could not finish at the rim. They couldn’t make a 3-point shot. They couldn’t make a free throw. Forces of Seoul was not much better on the offensive end. But it didn’t take much. The No. 14 seed took a 29-23 advantage into the locker room.

The big problem (and there were several) on the offensive end was the lack of quality shots and the lack of makes once guys got free for open looks. Forces of Seoul played man defense and Boeheim’s Army simply could not score against it. The Army offense consisted to a large degree on the dribble handoff, but that simple offensive philosophy did not result in many open looks at the rim or at the 3-point line.

Boeheim’s Army recruited two point guards from outside the Syracuse fraternity and both of them struggled to get much going in the first half. Tyrese Rice, the starter, and Keifer Sykes combined to shoot 2-for-8 from the floor in the first half. Rice was 0-for-3 from the 3-point line and committed three turnovers.

Point guard play had long been an issue for Boeheim’s Army. That, and the inability to make enough 3-point shots. The team struggled in both of those areas in the first half.

Rice, though, came out for the second half with purpose, making a three, making a steal that led to a 3-point play. He added necessary energy for a Boeheim’s Army team desperate to make something happen. He was terrific for the rest of the half, at one point making a big 3 to give Boeheim’s Army a fourth-quarter lead.

He also banked in a three during the Elam Ending portion of the game to get his team within two points of advancing and won the game on a corner 3. He finished with a team-high 20 points.

Boeheim’s Army played zone defense for most of the game. But trailing midway through the fourth quarter, the team switched to man defense and it paid off.

The defensive intensity lifted and Boeheim’s Army got inspired defensive play from Deandre Kane, who was a pivotal player late in Saturday’s game. Kane, one of two former Overseas Elite mainstays, scored seven points, but he had eight big rebounds and was a tough, energetic presence for a team that needed both.

Torian Graham was the perfect Forces of Seoul player against the zone. The 6-5 guard could make 3s. He finished in the midrange. And he made free throws.

He finished with a silky-smooth 22 points to lead Seoul.

Iconic 44: Eric Devendorf wore No. 44 in the game. Devendorf, who is synonymous with the No. 23 he wore while starring at Syracuse, for the second summer in a row surrendered the number to Malachi Richardson, also an SU 23. Devendorf said he wore 44 in high school; the number, too, has Syracuse panache even in basketball, with John Wallace and Derrick Coleman each making it famous. Both Wallace and Coleman have had that number retired at Syracuse.

Tyler Lydon’s statement tee:

This and that: The Boeheim’s Army starting lineup: Chris McCullough, Tyler Lydon, Malachi Richardson, DJ Kennedy, Tyrese Rice. ... Malachi Richardson played well for Boeheim’s Army. He drained his first two 3-point shots and was aggressive with the ball. He scored 19 for Boeheim’s Army (6-11, 4-7). ... The crowd Saturday was almost exclusively wearing orange or other Syracuse gear. They did not have much to cheer about in that first half. ... DJ Kennedy might be the all-time leading scorer in TBT, but he really struggled to produce points Saturday. He was 1-for-6 from the field but led the team in rebounding with nine boards.

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