‘Heim Time: Jim Boeheim won’t be going home Saturday if sons Jimmy and Buddy don’t play in Syracuse vs. Cornell game

Columbus, OH — After picking up a win against Ohio State on Wednesday, Syracuse Orange men’s basketball head coach Jim Boeheim was asked (okay fine, it was me) if he’d speak with his two sons — Buddy and Jimmy — before the Syracuse/Cornell game this Saturday.

Jimmy Boeheim of course is a sophomore at Cornell. He’s averaging 12.2 points per game and shooting a solid 45.8 percent from the floor. Last year he knocked down his first shot in his college career right in front of his dad in the Carrier Dome.

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As we all know, Buddy Boeheim is a freshman at Syracuse this year and while we know he can shoot it, he hasn’t quite gotten his shots to fall just yet. The two brothers are set to square off against each other in the Carrier Dome for the first official time in their collegiate careers.

“They both better play or I’m not going home, that’s all I can tell you. I can get away with one game but I don’t think I can get away with two,” Jim Boeheim said after the Ohio State game.

Jimmy Boeheim has played at least 20 minutes in all but one game for Cornell this season while Buddy Boeheim didn’t play for the first time all season against Ohio State on Wednesday. You can bet he’ll be getting some run against Cornell this Saturday. While it’s an all-business approach on the court for Jim and Buddy, the latter should have an opportunity to step into the game and not just because Jim has to answer to Juli.

“They’ve been playing good this year both of them but Buddy hasn’t made any shots. He will. Jimmy’s been playing real good. It’s a tough game. It’s an emotional game,” Boehiem finished.

Emotions will certainly be high, but being able to compartmentalize the emotion and treat the game and the opponent as any other will be key. As for Buddy, he’ll be playing to win.

“Buddy is a replica of coach (Boeheim) so he’s locked in. He’s competitive. I know he wants to beat his brother,” Frank Howard said of his teammate.

The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Like father, like son.

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