Syracuse men’s basketball rolls New Haven in McNamara’s debut

The JMA Wireless Dome erupted in applause to welcome back Gerry McNamara as he walked out of the tunnel on Monday, surrounded by Syracuse University athletic director Bryan Blair and chancellor Mike Haynie. Jerseys of the former Syracuse University guard filled the crowd. He tapped his heart as a thank you. 

The crowd’s support for GMac was doubly needed. McNamara’s Syracuse coaching debut was a special occasion, not just because he had played for the Orange for four years- including on the 2003 national championship winning team, but also because these are trying times for the McNamara family. 

On Saturday, GMac suffered the loss of his father, Gerard McNamara, who died at 78 after a battle with cancer. 

Gerard McNamara, alongside his wife Joyce, famously attended every single one of their son’s games while he donned the Orange jersey. Tonight, there was no doubt in McNamara’s mind that the streak would have been extended, had life permitted.

“It’s been a tough week for our family, and you know, the first person that would be here tonight would be my father,” McNamara said post-game. “I think everyone that knows me knows that.”

The Syracuse head coach had the support of multiple family members in attendance tonight, as well as former teammates and coaches, including Carmelo Anthony and Jim Boeheim. He also had backing on the court from his players, who set out to honor his father. 

The Orange dominated the visiting New Haven Chargers from wire-to-wire, starting the game with an unanswered 12 points, and never looking back. The Orange led by as many as 28 points in the second half. When the final buzzer sounded, the final score was 74-58. 

Junior guard Gavin Doty and sophomore forward Sadiq White led the way with a double-double each, while sophomore Kiyan Anthony poured on an additional 17 points off the bench.

“When that video went on before the game, it kind of gave all of us chills and kind of set us up to play great and to go out there and play hard for him,” Anthony said. 

Doty, who previously played for McNamara at Siena University before transferring to Syracuse this fall, echoed the locker room’s support for the coach going into the contest.

“We were together as a group, saying: ‘Hey, man, this game is more than just our first game as a team, this game isn’t just the coach’s first, but we honor his father tonight’,” Doty said.

The Orange will be back in the JMA Wireless Dome on Thursday night when they host Central Connecticut State.