Boeheim’s Army adds Demetris Nichols to The Basketball Tournament roster

Boeheim’s Army won’t begin its championship drive in The Basketball Tournament until July 21. But in the meantime, early games are already underway and the team has also manged to add yet another former Syracuse Orange star to its roster.

According to Syracuse.com, Demetris Nichols will be joining Boeheim’s Army this summer, after taking the last couple years off. The 33-year old forward has been playing overseas, most recently for Cedevita Zagrab in Croatia. He averaged over 11 points this past season as well.

Nichols’s addition makes for nine players on the Boeheim’s Army roster now, and it’s a pretty exciting group. Eric Devendorf, John Gillon, James Southerland and Nichols are all quality shooters. And the team has size as well with players like Paul Harris, Kris Joseph Hakim Warrick and Dashonte Riley. Gillon and Brandon Triche can distribute. It’s a well-rounded team that should make for some fun games this summer.

More on that, plus the rest of your Syracuse-related links below (and hope everyone enjoys the Fourth of July tomorrow).

Boeheim’s Army adds one of Syracuse’s top international players to TBT roster (Syracuse.com)

During his annual Jim Boeheim Fantasy Camp, the Syracuse coach suggested to one of the program’s top international stars that he should play in The Basketball Tournament with Boeheim’s Army. Two days later, Demetris Nichols was on the roster as the team’s ninth member. ”Coach Boeheim came up to me and said he thought I should play,” Nichols said. “So I’m playing.”

Summer School: Restocked and reloaded, Syracuse is hoping a little more offense will go a long way (The Athletic)

Everything should be better next season, because Syracuse is returning every player who was part of its rotation. Injuries and attrition left the Orange with precious little depth this year. Three starters – 6-6 sophomore guard Tyus Battle, 6-5 junior point guard Frank Howard and 6-8 freshman forward Oshae Brissett – ranked in the top five nationally in minutes played.

College Basketball Top 25: The pressing question for every team in our preseason rankings (College Basketball Talk)

Will Tyus Battle be their only creative offensive threat again? Syracuse was not a very good basketball team last season, particularly on the offensive end of the floor, but Jim Boeheim is just so damn good at making his zone impenetrable that the Orange were able to win games in the 50s thanks to Tyus Battle finding a way to carry a massive burden offensively.

Ultimate Draft Rank: Which schools produce the most draft talent? (ESPN)

The program, which has won 10 NCAA championships, has one national crown and the second-most MLL draft picks (34) in the past decade. The football program, far from a national power, has had 15 NFL draft picks, while the always competitive men’s basketball team has totaled 14 NBA draft picks.

Foul trouble and risk aversion during the 2018 ACC basketball season (Backing the Pack)

I included bench minutes in this table as well just to give you an idea of what each school was working with (or thought it was working with). Syracuse and Duke both threw caution to the wind when it came to playing guys with foul trouble, but also neither team had much depth to speak of.

Four new schools joined ACC in past five years; what have they brought to the table? (Anderson Independent Mail)

Tyler Lydon is ready to get back to work (Denver Stiffs)

Former Syracuse basketball player Andrew White to play for Minnesota in NBA summer league (Syracuse.com)

Drexel women’s lacrosse hires Jill Batcheller as head coach; Bryant left with vacancy (College Crosse)