Syracuse men’s basketball protected the paint in win over Mercyhurst

After a tough upset against Hofstra, Syracuse men’s basketball found a way to bounce back. SU topped Mercyhurst 76-62 on Wednesday, but the game was not as much of an offensive showcase. 

One of the main factors that contributed to this victory was the Orange’s presence underneath the rim; specifically, William Kyle III. 

The big man notched 15 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 blocks. Syracuse head coach Adrian Autry was starstruck with how Kyle evolved into his new role.

“He is a unique talent defensively,” Autry said postgame. “He really impacts the game for us, he is key for how we try to be aggressive and get after people. You need someone back there that can kind of guard the low post, protect the rim, and rebound. Offensively, he puts a lot of pressure on our rim, and he is relentless.”

Relentless was an understatement. Over the course of the game, Kyle put maximum effort into every opportunity he had to disrupt the paint. He also had two “and-one” chances by using his body to create space around the rim, and his athleticism to rise up over multiple defenders. With there being no timetable for sophomore forward Donnie Freeman’s return, Kyle had more control of the paint than in previous games. He also had more chances to find his counterpart, forward Sadiq White Jr.

The freshman also put up a solid performance tonight, with 13 points and 9 rebounds. In one of his best outings of the young season, White displayed his abilities to create lobs from anywhere.

Over multiple instances, the former five-star prospect received alley-oops off of pick and rolls, backdoor cuts, and simply being positioned underneath the rim. White was a different player when he was at IMG Academy for high school. However, he enjoys his new role on Autry’s squad, and is willing to do whatever it takes to contribute.

“When you got guys like big Will Kyle out there setting up big boy screens, you have to account for him on the roll,” said White. “It gives me time to play the weak side a little bit. I trust Nait George, J.J., Kiyan and those guys to put me in the best predicament possible as a lob threat, and as an overall player.”

As for the rest of the game, Syracuse started off with a huge lead, and did not look back. The backcourt unit looked impressive.. Senior Captain J.J. Starling finished with 15 points on 6-9 from the field. Freshman guard Kiyan Anthony had another great performance off the bench. The former LuHi standout had 12 points, including two “and-one” situations.

As the non-conference slate wraps up, SU needs all the wins it can get before January. Its upcoming challenger is Northeastern, which takes place Saturday at The Dome.

Tonight’s victory was much-needed for the Orange after Saturday’s result. The real question is, can this team play the same way for the remainder of the season, and ultimately secure an NCAA Tournament?