UConn won the NCAA tourney in April and Denver won the NBA Finals in June but there is still 1 more basketball champion to be crowned this summer. The Basketball Tournament (aka the TBT) kicks off on July 19th with 8 regions of 8 teams playing in Dayton/Louisville/Lubbock/Syracuse/West Virginia/Wichita 1/Wichita 2/Xavier. Each region will send 1 team to the quarterfinals, with the championship game taking place during the 1st week of August, and the winning team walking away with $1 million in prize money. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel will spend the weeks ahead interviewing as many TBT participants as possible. We continue our coverage with Jimmy Boeheim, who will be playing for Boeheim’s Army after being a 1st-team Academic All-American at Syracuse.
You were born/raised in New York: what made you choose Cornell for college? Cornell was my only offer coming out of prep school. I always took school seriously so it was always my dream to play in the Ivy League. I really loved the coaching staff at Cornell as well as the campus/proximity to home.
In the 1st round of the 2019 CIT you scored a career-high 31 PTS/14-20 FG in a 9-PT loss at Robert Morris: was it just 1 of those scenarios where every shot you put up seemed to go in because you were “in the zone”? Yeah: I remember feeling really good during that game. I made some threes early and was able to score around the basket too: my teammates found me all game long.
As a junior you led the team in PPG/RPG/3PM: how were you able to balance all of the different aspects of your game? During my first two years at Cornell I was really able to grow my game (posting up, 3-PT shooting, having the ball in my hands more, etc.). I think that all of the work I put in and the great belief my coaches/teammates put in me to get me the ball in great spots worked together for that year.
You did not play during your senior year after the Ivy League canceled the season due to COVID-19: what was your reaction when you heard the news, and looking back on it now do you think that it was the right decision? I was really bummed out. I thought we had a great team that year and had spent 4 years building for that season so it was unfortunate.
You transferred to Syracuse where you got to play with your brother Buddy/for your father Jim: even though you did not make the 2022 NCAA tourney, was it still the best year of your life due to the family aspect? It was an incredible year and very surreal. I loved getting to spend the extra time with my brother/father and getting to play for the team I looked up to while growing up.
You graduated magna cum laude from Cornell and then were named 1st-team Academic All-American during your graduate year at Syracuse: how did you balance your work on the court with your work in the classroom? It was a challenge at times, but after my freshman year I started to figure out how to be efficient with my time and make sure I was spending the appropriate amount of time on each.
Since graduating you have played pro basketball in Greece and the Czech Republic: what is the biggest difference between basketball in the US vs. basketball overseas? The game is much more physical overseas.
Your twin sister Jamie played college basketball and your brother became an unrestricted free agent a few weeks ago after playing for the Pistons last season: who is the best athlete in the family? It has been awesome to see all that Buddy has been able to accomplish while playing in NBA games: it has been very surreal to watch.
You are playing for Boeheim’s Army in the TBT for the 2nd straight summer: how is the team looking so far, and what will you do with your share of the $1 million prize money if you win it all? I think we have a good-looking roster and I am excited for the event. I will be heading overseas shortly after the TBT so if we win then I will likely save most of the money and donate the rest of it.
How is your father enjoying retirement, and will we get to see him in attendance at any of your TBT games? He is loving it: just relaxing and enjoying the extra time he has. He has been doing a lot of golfing/fishing and just spending lots of time with our family.