In Syracuse's 74-58 victory over the New Haven Chargers on Monday, the Orange received a major boost from a pair of double-double performances. Gavin Doty (14 points, 13 rebounds) and Sadiq White (14 points, 10 rebounds) each made their presence felt on both ends of the floor, helping lead Syracuse's flow on offense while dominating the glass. Their efforts helped propel the Orange to a 16-point victory and secure the first win of the Gerry McNamara era.
While a win over New Haven may not move the needle in any direction for this team moving forward, it is interesting to see how each player is slotting into their roles as the first official game action gets underway.
Rebounding was one of Syracuse's biggest weaknesses last season, as the Orange ranked dead last among the 18 ACC teams in total rebounds collected. While a lack of size certainly played a role, another concern was the apparent lack of players willing to consistently fight for the basketball falling off the rim outside of William Kyle and Donnie Freeman.
If last season taught Syracuse anything, it is that rebounding cannot be left solely to the big men on the roster. While Luke Wilson and Abdramane Siby can provide a presence on the glass when they are on the floor, there will inevitably be stretches when the Orange look to prioritize offense and utilize smaller lineups, potentially with Sadiq White playing the five. Seeing White demonstrate an ability to crash the glass and consistently secure rebounds in those situations would give Syracuse much more confidence in its ability to compete on the boards, regardless of which lineup it puts on the floor.
Despite often being one of the tallest players on the floor, although in a much different role, White averaged just 3.3 rebounds per game last season. If Monday's performance is any indication, getting more production from him on the glass could be a significant positive sign for the Orange this year.
Then there was Gavin Doty, who pulled down three more rebounds than White despite standing just 6-foot-5. Having a guard who consistently looks to crash the glass and compete for rebounds would be a tremendous asset for Syracuse this upcoming season. Doty may not have a size advantage against every opponent the Orange face, but his willingness to fight for positioning and simply just go get the basketball is exactly the type of mentality this team needs.
Regardless of the opponent, double-doubles are significant in college basketball, and it will be extremely interesting to see if White and Doty can replicate that performance again on Thursday when Central Connecticut State comes to town.
What are your takeaways on the rebounding from the Orange and the performances from Doty and White overall?
