syracuse
South Orange, N.J.
- Cole Swiders memories of his one season at Syracuse just never sat right.
He came to the Orange after three seasons at Villanova and had a statistically significant year with Syracuse.
After inconsistent playing time with the Wildcats, Swider averaged 13.9 points, 6.8 rebounds and shot 41.1% from the 3-point line in nearly 35 minutes at SU.
He credits Syracuse for rejuvenating his career.
But the Orange went 16-17 that season, the first losing record in Jim Boeheims lengthy, decorated coaching career.
Swider on Tuesday night in Walsh Gymnasium recalled the day Jesse Edwards went down with a season-ending injury in February and how that crippled the Orange the rest of the way.
One of the reasons Swider agreed to play for Boeheims Army this summer was because Gerry McNamara called and asked him to do it.
And then, I wanted to right the ship on my Syracuse career, he said.
And coming back and being able to do this in front of the Syracuse community I think could right the ship for us.
Swider, with big help from center Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu, steered Boeheims Army to an easy 82-52 win over Hall In Tuesday night on the campus of Seton Hall.
He scored 28 points on 10-of-15 shooting (4-of-8 from 3) and grabbed eight rebounds.
Swider said it was fun to play again with Buddy and Jimmy Boeheim, two of my closest friends in life.
He reunited with plenty of other former teammates in Las Vegas during the NBA Summer League.
Swider did not play, but since hed been on five NBA squads and more G League teams since leaving SU, he had ample reason to visit.
Swider, 27, made no secret Tuesday night of his desire to one day return to the NBA.
He played abroad for the first time in his professional career last season, landing in Turkey, where the basketball is among the best in Europe.
On Tuesday, he was methodical about his approach.
He stretched and worked out pregame as if he were preparing for the most impactful pro game of his life.
I told Shaun (Belbey) that if Im going to play in this, Im going to prepare like Im preparing for the playoffs, Swider said.
So leading up to this has been the same off-season protocol but trying to rev myself back into shape a little bit sooner than I would.
Im used to playing in Summer League, so its been good.
Its been good to get back out here and play with something a little bit more on the line in terms of dollar-wise.
Boeheims Army took one step closer to the TBT $2 million with its utter dominance of Hall In.
The action now shifts to Syracuse, where Boeheims Army will try to sweep the series Thursday at 7 p.m.
at the Onondaga War Memorial.
After the first round, the rest of the TBT games are single-elimination.
The winner of Boeheims Army-Hall In travels to the winner of the Louisville and Kentucky alumni matchup.
That game takes place on Sunday.
There were roster situations here Tuesday night.
Hall Ins best player, Isaiah Whitehead, did not play.
He supposedly has a hand injury, though there was no official word on him or whether he would be available going forward.
Myles Cole and Terry Roberts were among the Hall In scratches.
Wes Johnson was a no-show for Boeheims Army.
He is also playing in the Big 3 tournament, had a conflict on Tuesday and apparently will not be available in Syracuse on Thursday, either.
JaCorey Williams, a Boeheims Army big man, was also missing in New Jersey.
Chris McCullough was added to the team Monday from the reserve list, but he was always unlikely for Tuesdays game.
Belbey, the Boeheims Army GM, said the team will likely have either Williams or McCullough for Thursday.
Hell know more, he said, once he gets back to Syracuse.
The team drove back to Syracuse immediately after Tuesday nights win.