Brooklyn, N.Y. ― In a two-sentence statement, the ACC has announced that Buddy Boeheim has been suspended for Syracuse’s ACC tournament quarterfinal game against Duke for punching a Florida State player in the Orange’s 96-57 win on Wednesday.
“The Atlantic Coast Conference today announced a one-game suspension for Syracuse men’s basketball student-athlete Buddy Boeheim as a result of a flagrant act committed during the first half of the Syracuse-Florida State game,’’ the release read. “Boeheim will miss Syracuse’s Thursday ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament game versus Duke.’’
Should Syracuse pull off an upset without its leading scorer, Boeheim would be able to return for the semifinals.
However, if Syracuse loses, this could be the end of Boeheim’s college career.
In the first half of Wednesday’s game, Boeheim and Florida State’s Wyatt Wilkes were following a Joe Girard 3-point shot. The shot was good. Then, as Boeheim turned to go back downcourt, he hit Wilkes in the midsection. Wilkes crumpled and went down for a few minutes.
No foul was called on the play, but video of the play quickly circulated on social media.
After the game, ACC officials met to review the play and determined that Boeheim deserved to be suspended.
Following the game, Buddy Boeheim issued a statement through the Syracuse Basketball official Twitter account.
“In the heat of today’s game, after some shoving in the lane, I swung my arm while turning to go back up the court,” Boeheim wrote. “It was wrong to act out in frustration.”
The suspension could end Boeheim’s college basketball career. Syracuse (16-16) is well out of contention for an NCAA bid unless it wins the ACC tournament. According to NIT bracketologists, the Orange would need to beat Duke to keep alive its hopes for an NIT bid.
Boeheim led the ACC in scoring this season with 19.3 points per game. He ranks 13th on SU’s all-time scoring list with 1,765 points.
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