Syracuse, N.Y. – After his team’s win over Miami on Tuesday night, Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim said that the Orange’s two backcourt starters; Buddy Boeheim and Joe Girard, had been sick with the coronavirus during the program’s recent pause.
Syracuse went on an 18-day pause, which started after University of Buffalo players tested positive for Covid following Syracuse’s game against the Bulls on Dec. 19.
Syracuse had to postpone three games during the halt in team activities before returning to the court on Jan. 6 for a game against Pittsburgh. Syracuse had lost three of its four games since coming back from the pause.
Syracuse officials had not confirmed Syracuse player’s positive test, but Boeheim noted both his son and Girard had battled the virus following the Orange’s 83-57 blowout of Miami. Boeheim and Girard both scored 23 points in Tuesday’s win.
“I think Buddy’s just starting to get his rhythm back from all the time out and having the Covid, the whole thing,’' Jim Boeheim said. “Both Buddy and Joe were out with it. They were sick and they were out.”
Girard did not want to use the coronavirus as an excuse for the Orange’s 1-3 record immediately after the team’s Covid-related pause, but he admitted that he suffered from symptoms, including fatigue plus the loss of taste and smell.
Girard also has asthma, which he said was cause for some concern for his parents and the SU staff.
“Buddy and I both don’t like making excuses,’' Girard said. “We like competing. I don’t want to speak for him, but to be honest, I think I’d be lying if we haven’t progressively been feeling better. You’ve just got to be patient and stay positive. Obviously, we’re feeling better as time goes on.’'
Girard said at times he was so tired that even after waking up in the morning, he felt the need to lay back down.
Girard and Boeheim were not the only players to test positive during the team’s December pause. Jim Boeheim has recently said that freshman forward Woody Newton had to remain in isolation longer than some of the other players. Also, freshman center Frank Anselem was not in uniform for any of Syracuse’s four games prior to Tuesday. He was in uniform on Tuesday but did not play.
Earlier in the season, Jim Boeheim and one scholarship player tested positive, forcing the team to halt all activities for nearly two weeks prior to the season-opener. Syracuse got in one practice before playing Bryant on Nov. 27.
In early December, an unidentified walk-on tested positive. At the time, Buddy Boeheim had to go into quarantine as part of the contact tracing protocols. He missed three games.
Testing positive is different than being in quarantine due to contact tracing. Players who test positive can’t work out individually at the Melo Center.
While in isolation, Girard sent a video to Buddy Boeheim, showing him sniffing a bottle of hot sauce and getting absolutely no reaction.
Prior to Tuesday’s game against Miami, Syracuse had played Pittsburgh twice, Georgetown and North Carolina. In those four games, Girard had averaged just 8.5 points and shot 11-for-33 from the field.
Buddy Boeheim had averaged 14.7 points, but his outside shot was off. He made just nine of 33 shots from 3-point range in the four games.
“Everybody knows they were (sick), but then they expect them to come back and play like nothing ever happened. It just doesn’t work that way.’'
Girard said he has spent some of his recovery time taking walks and texting with fellow Glens Falls native Jimmer Fredette, who advised him to work on puzzles and read books.
“I think the walks have been helping,’' he said.
Girard also allowed that he’s still not 100 percent back to normal.
“I’m close,’' he said.
In Tuesday’s game, Girard’s 23 points came on 8-for-15 shooting from the field and 5-of-9 shooting from 3-point range. Buddy Boeheim scored his 23 points while making 9-of-16 field goal attempts, including 4-of-8 from the 3-point line.
“This is the best they’ve both played all year,’' Boeheim said.
More Syracuse basketball:
You grade the Orange after win over Miami
ACC Power Rankings: Just how low can Syracuse men’s basketball go?
Former Syracuse star Rafael Addison joins the Inside Syracuse Basketball podcast
Contact Mike Waters anytime at mwaters@syracuse.com or find him on Twitter at @MikeWatersSYR.
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Syracuse guards Buddy Boeheim and Joe Girard both had coronavirus, according to SU coach Jim Boeheim - syracuse.com
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