After the game, and good heavens what a disaster that was, both Jim Boeheim and Leonard Hamilton were asked about Buddy Boeheim's punch on Wyatt Wilkes in the first half.
Boeheim said he had just watched a replay of it and that he thought it was "inadvertent." He said Wilkes had pushed his son twice and "you can't let people push you around," so his son retaliated.
But he said he didn't think it was an intentional punch to Wilkes' chest/stomach.
A reporter - you gotta love New Yorkers! - immediately challenged Boeheim. He said everyone had seen it and it was obviously an intentional punch. There was nothing inadvertent about it.
Boeheim said he disagreed, and the reporter kind of kept going at him. Eventually Boeheim said that they are allowed to disagree. That's what the media room is for anyway.
Later on, Boeheim kind of seemed to change his stance slightly. He said "the kid pushed him twice" and his son retaliated. That he shouldn't have done it, and if the refs had seen it, it probably would have been a flagrant 1. Meaning a technical but Buddy Boeheim stays in the game.
That, of course, probably isn't true. A punch seems like an automatic ejection and I think there's a very good chance Buddy is suspended for the Duke game tomorrow.
Anywho, later on Hamilton was asked about the play. If he had seen it, what he thought of it, etc.
Hamilton: "First of all, let me say this: There is not a better kid in the ACC than Buddy Boeheim." He praised his character, his sportsmanship, his competitiveness, said he has a good relationship with the family. And he said sometimes basketball can be a physical game and sometimes you can lose your composure. Then he asked everyone in the media room to raise their hand if they had never lost their composure before. He then said he didn't want to talk anymore about it, he wanted to "move on," because he didn't want to take away from how well Syracuse played - and frankly how horrible his team played.
It was classic Hamilton.
Anyway. Other than that: It was a gross game. Not much to talk about after that one. Leonard did say that he hopes the season will continue, so that sounds like they'd definitely accept an NIT bid if offered one. Not sure they will get one though. We'll find out on Sunday night.
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