Syracuse Orange guard Buddy Boeheim punched Florida State guard Wyatt Wilkes in the first half of Wednesday's game against the Seminoles. Wilkes and Boeheim battled for position under the basket as a shot attempt was headed for the hoop, with Boeheim's fist landing in Wilkes' stomach. Wilkes exited the game, though the referees never called a foul on Boeheim, who certainly looked like he was intending to punch the Florida State guard. Boeheim's father Jim, who just so happens to also be the Orange head coach, spoke out on the incident, as reported by Anthony Dabbundo of Action Network.
Boeheim on the Buddy punch: “I saw the play, the kid pushed him twice, I think it was inadvertent. It wasn’t much of a punch.”
— Anthony Dabbundo (@AnthonyDabbundo) March 9, 2022
Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim said that he thought that Wilkes “pushed” Buddy Boeheim twice, noting that “it wasn't much of a punch.” First of all, what Wilkes was doing under the basket didn't seem like pushing, but instead like a player jockeying for position.
It's understandable that Boeheim will defend his son Buddy through anything. However, to say that “it wasn't much of a punch” is a bad look. Even if the Syracuse head coach actually believes that, he should have kept it to himself. Seeing as Wilkes was doubled over, it seems like the punch, whether intentional or not, had some force behind it, unless the Florida State guard was debuting as an Oscar-winning actor.
At the very least, Boeheim should have acknowledged that what his son Buddy did wasn't a basketball play and probably should have warranted a foul call. However, the Syracuse head coach seemingly failed to hold his son fully accountable here, which is not the greatest look.
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