Gerry McNamara didn’t waste time softening the edges after Syracuse opened the season with a win over New Haven. The new Orange head coach had praise for one young piece of the roster and a blunt message for another, offering a clear snapshot of how he sees both Sadiq White and Ryan Moesch.
On White, McNamara was encouraged by what he saw Monday night at the JMA Wireless Dome. “I think we saw the guy we were looking for tonight.”
White backed that up with production. The 6-foot-8 sophomore from North Carolina finished with 14 points, which tied him for second on the team behind Kiyan Anthony’s 17, and added 10 rebounds and two blocks in the season-opener against the Chargers.
That rebound total stood out even more considering how little he had on the glass in the exhibition slate. White’s 10 boards were more than double his total from Syracuse’s three exhibition games. After the first one, against UConn, he called his one-rebound showing “unacceptable,” but the issue carried over through the next two outings.
For Syracuse, White’s value is obvious when he leans into what makes him different. He may not be able to “out-athlete” everybody every night, but his athleticism gives him a chance to swing games if he brings it consistently. Monday was a step in that direction, and McNamara’s comments made it clear the next challenge is repeating it.
Moesch got a much different review.
“I think he played terrible.... He had 5 assists.... I think he could be one of the best point guards in the country, that’s why I’m so hard on him.”
The freshman point guard from nearby Chittenango, N.Y., came to Syracuse after originally committing to McNamara at Siena, then de-committing once McNamara took the Syracuse job in March. He flashed his speed with the ball during exhibition play, but McNamara has already shown he expects a lot from his point guards, and that standard is not going away once the games count.
Moesch should still be in line for solid minutes, but the bar is high. If he doesn’t clear it, McNamara has made it clear he won’t hold back. The hope around him is that the tough coaching helps push him toward the All-ACC level McNamara believes he can reach.
In Other News...
Syracuse Heads Into Clemson Week With One Big Concern Growing
With Clemson coming to town for homecoming, Syracuse is trying to turn the week into more than just another ACC date on the schedule. Athletic director Brian Blair made the case for a stronger showing at the Dome, a reminder that the atmosphere around a marquee game matters as much as the matchup itself. It comes at a time when the Orange are also managing the usual midseason mix of roster updates and injury questions, with head coach Fran Brown offering a few notes on where things stand.
Brown said quarterback Malachi Nelson is dealing with an ankle injury, while also confirming that Steve Angeli plans to return to college football next season. He also pointed to the addition of Quinn Olcott and kept steering the conversation back to the programs process-oriented growth, which has become a familiar theme in his weekly updates. For Syracuse, the challenge now is less about the noise around the game and more about whether the team can keep building while the stakes around it keep rising. [Read more 🡒]
Syracuse May Have Found The Rebounding Help It Desperately Needed
Syracuses 74-58 win over New Haven offered a much-needed look at what the Orange have been missing on the glass. Gavin Doty and Sadiq White each turned in double-doubles, with Doty finishing with 14 points and 13 rebounds and White adding 14 points and 10 rebounds, a strong showing for a team that has been looking for more consistency in the rebounding department.
Doty and White gave Syracuse a different kind of edge, one built on extra possessions and control around the rim. If that kind of production holds up, it could go a long way toward easing one of the Oranges biggest early concerns, even if the bigger question is whether this was a one-game answer or the start of something more reliable. [Read more 🡒]
Syracuses Turnaround May Hinge On One New Offensive Constant
Syracuses recent surge has come with plenty of moving parts, but the biggest difference may be the one thing the offense can now count on: steadier quarterback play. After injuries forced both Amari Odom and Malachi Nelson to the sideline for surgery, Steve Angeli stepped in and settled the unit, helping the Orange extend their winning streak and knock off a ranked opponent for the first time since November 2024.
The ripple effect has been just as important for the rest of the offense, especially for Calvin Russell III, who has emerged as a reliable playmaker during this run. For a team that spent much of the year dealing with uncertainty under center, the question now is whether this new rhythm can hold as Syracuse tries to turn a strong stretch into something more lasting. [Read more 🡒]