Buddy Boeheim releases statement on Florida State cheapshot

Earlier in the Florida State–Syracuse game on Wednesday in the ACC Tournament, Syracuse’s Buddy Boeheim and Florida State’s Wyatt Wilkes were banging bodies and battling for position for a rebound. After Syracuse scored, Boeheim clearly punched Wilkes in the midsection, causing him to drop to the ground. He was on the ground in pain for a few minutes and left the game for several minutes. After the game, Boeheim released an apology on the cheapshot.

“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. It was wrong to act out in frustration. I apologized to Wyatt Wilkes multiple times in the handshake line. He said not to worry about it, but I know it was wrong. I pride myself in respecting the game and our opponent. I will not react that way again.”

While the apology from Boeheim is appropriate, it doesn’t change the fact that he clearly punched an opposing player in a game. The officials during the game completely missed the play and never called a foul.

ACC officials are currently reviewing the play to see whether or not it warrants a suspension for the Syracuse star. A suspension for their upcoming quarterfinal game in the ACC Tournament against Duke, could be costly for the Orange. Buddy Boeheim is one of the purest shooters in college basketball and the Syracuse will need to have all the firepower in the arsenal if they want to dream of an upset.

Syracuse dominated Florida State for most of the game in one of the biggest blowouts in school history. It was Syracuse’s second largest margin of victory in a conference tournament game in program history. The Orange won 96-57 and nearly everyone got involved in the win. Cole Swider continued his hot play for Syracuse, dropping 28 points and corralling 13 rebounds.