The Syracuse Orange men’s basketball season is upon us. As we move into the start of non-conference play next week, we still have some media day leftovers to dish out beforehand.
Considering the dignified nature of our work around here as regular gumshoes (keep up, Dick Tracy), we talked with most of the members of the Syracuse basketball team on their favorite professional teams, players, food and best Jim Boeheim moments they’ve experienced since being on the team, among other things.
There are challenges when it comes to being a one-man credential army that is TNIAAM: we attempted in vain to get every player’s responses but fell just a few shy. Such is life.
Of the players we were able to speak to, here are their answers.
Sorry to the others we missed. We’re sure you’re entirely devastated.
Buddy Boeheim:
NBA Team: Lakers
NBA Player: Melo
NFL Team: Bucs (Tom Brady fan)
Food: Buffalo chicken pizza
Best place to eat in Syracuse: Santangelo’s
TV Show/movie: The Office/Space Jam (original)
Pre game songs: Anything by Drake, Meek Mill or Lil Baby
Favorite former Syracuse player: Melo or GMAC.
Not Jim?
Nah! Not him. He’s gonna get mad at me for that. He says he’s a better player than me so I can’t agree with that.
Best about Cuse: Just the family culture. Playing for my dad, playing with my brother. These coaches that I grew up with and this fan base.
Best Jim Boeheim moment: Probably him falling out of the chair last year was really funny against NC State. That’s the one.
Cole Swider:
NBA Player: LeBron James
NFL Team: Patriots
Food: Salmon
Best place to eat in Syracuse: CoreLife Eatery
TV Show/movie: Friday Night Lights/Hoosiers
Pre game songs: Drake, Lil Durk
Favorite former Syracuse player: Gerry McNamara
Best thing about Cuse: The overall support
Best Jim Boeheim moment: Just going over to his house and seeing him in that atmosphere has been hilarious. Seeing the Hall of Famer at home is so funny.
Joe Girard:
NBA Team: Miami Heat
NBA Player: Steph Curry/Dwyane Wade
NFL Team: Dallas Cowboys
Food: Chicken wings
Best place to eat in Syracuse: Pastabilities/Varsity
TV Show/movie: Ozark/The Blindside
Pre game songs: Drake, Lil Baby
Favorite former Syracuse player: G-Mac
Best thing about Cuse: That I’m home and everybody can come watch me play
Best Jim Boeheim moment: There’s a lot of ‘em. The way he interacts with John Bol [Ajak]. Any interactions with John Bol.
Chaz Owens:
NBA Team: Lakers
NBA Player: Kevin Durant
NFL Team: Baltimore Ravens
Food: Caesar Salad
Best place to eat in Syracuse: Prime Steakhouse
TV Show/movie: Stranger Things/Scarface
Pre game songs: Travis Scott
Favorite former Syracuse player: Billy Owens
Best thing about Cuse: My teammates
Best Jim Boeheim moment: When he’s screaming at us in the locker room. About to throw chairs, things like that.
Any particular moment stand out?
I can’t think of one. There’s too many.
Benny Williams:
NBA Team: Nets
NBA Player: Paul George (Wears No. 13 because of him)
NFL Team: Don’t have one
Food: Chicken wings
Best place to eat in Syracuse: Tully’s or Varsity
Pre game songs: Anything Lil Baby
Best Jim Boeheim story: His love for Jerry West. He loves Jerry West. One time we were at the house for a recruit and Sy [Symir Torrence] was saying how Giannis is top-25 all-time and he was like nah, Jerry West! Jerry West!
Jesse Edwards:
NBA Team: N/A
NFL Team: N/A
Food: Sushi
Best place to eat in Syracuse: Not one in particular
Movie: Gladiator
Favorite former Syracuse player: Carmelo Anthony
Best thing about Cuse: The dome and coach
Best Jim Boeheim moment: Just coming in and seeing what it’s like when he’s coaching the team. It’s like laser-focus.
Symir Torrence:
NBA Team: Lakers
NBA Player: Russell Westbrook
NFL Team: Giants
Food: Pasta
Best Jim Boeheim moment: I would just say when I committed on the phone I heard Juli Boeheim and him. Juli Boeheim said, ‘You better had came here!’ And Buddy and Jimmy were laughing and coach was laughing as well. That’s a moment I’m going to cherish forever.