The Atlantic Coast Conference has suspended Syracuse guard Buddy Boeheim one game for striking Florida State's Wyatt Wilkes, ESPN's Jeff Borzello announced on Wednesday.
As a result, Boeheim will not play in Thursday's ACC Tournament quarterfinal against Duke.
After fighting for position with Wilkes under the basket during a made Florida State three, Boeheim appeared to deliberately punch the Seminoles guard in the stomach as he ran back on defense.
Syracuse's Buddy Boeheim appears to take a dirty shot at #FSU's Wyatt Wilkes, who left the game in pain. Nothing called and no review. pic.twitter.com/UBxBsT7Mbd
— Carter Karels (@CarterKarels) March 9, 2022
Following Syracuse's 96-57 win, Boeheim acknowledged the incident in a statement and said it happened in a moment of frustration.
"In the heat of today's game, after some shoving in the lane, I swung my arm while turning to go back up the court," he said. "It was wrong to act out in frustration.
"I apologized to Wyatt Wilkes multiple times in the handshake line. He said not to worry about it, but I know it was wrong. I pride myself on respecting the game and our opponent. I will not react that way again."
Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim, also the father of Buddy Boeheim, defended his son postgame.
"I saw the play, the kid pushed him twice," Jim Boeheim said, courtesy of The Associated Press. "I think it was inadvertent. It wasn't much of a punch."
Buddy Boeheim, the ACC's scoring leader this season at 19.3 points per game, was not punished for the strike during the game. He finished with 14 points in the victory.
