Syracuse basketball, Chris McCullough (Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports)
The close-out jumper by former Syracuse basketball player Chris McCullough that propelled Boeheim’s Army past Team Heartfire, 68-62, and into The Basketball Tournament’s Sweet 16 on Monday was an 18-footer, but it came all the way from the Philippines.
After all, McCullough, the Bronx, N.Y., native who teased the Carrier Dome’s Jim Boeheim Court for an abbreviated time in 2014-15 before injury, had a stretch of success in the Philippines Basketball Association (PBA) in 2019 that would bring lasting confidence to anyone.
When you average 32 points and 16 rebounds a game over a 16-game run upon joining a 2-7 San Miguel Beermen team and lead them to the PBA Commissioner’s Cup title as McCullough did, you can rise up to take a winning shot without hesitation.