What Siena players, Gerry McNamara said about facing Duke in March Madness
GREENVILLE, S.C. — Siena's Gavin Doty did not shy away at the podium in Bon Secours Wellness Arena ahead of the Saints' Round of 64 meeting against Duke basketball on Thursday, March 19, in the 2026 Men's NCAA Tournament .
" Duke 's a whole different beast," Doty, the Saints' leading scorer and rebounder, said on March 18. "They're probably the best team in the country. We're going to have to be really connected. We're going to have to guard really well, knock down some shots, but got to believe. You really do."
The Saints (23-11) won the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, earning their eighth overall NCAA Tournament bid and first since 2010. They drew the 16 seed in the East Region, where they will play the top-overall seeded Blue Devils (32-2).
Duke enters March Madness as a No. 1 seed for the 16th time in program history.
"When we saw we were on the billboard to play Duke, it was a good feeling to see we were on that board," freshman guard Christian Jones said. "Play against the best."
Saints head coach Gerry McNamara has some familiarity with the Blue Devils' program. Not from his storied Syracuse playing career, where he helped the Orange claim the 2003 NCAA title, but as assistant coach.
"Par for the course, they're terrific every season," McNamara said. "... Year in and year out, you know what you're getting. You're getting a team that the brand speaks for itself. You know what they've done. The accomplishments, the players, the tradition, or as they call it, the Brotherhood."
McNamara will also be going against former player Maliq Brown, whom he recruited to come play for the Orange back in 2021. Brown transferred to Duke ahead of the 2024-25 season.
"He's a great kid," McNamara said. "As good a kid as I've ever been around in my career, player, coach. I'm so happy for him."
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In his second year at Siena, McNamara led the Saints to their eighth NCAA Tournament appearance and first since 2010. He will use his NCAA Tournament experience as the Saints prepare for a "tall task" against the nation's top team in the Blue Devils.
"When I was at Syracuse with Coach Boeheim, we always prepared the same way," McNamara said. "I've talked about what's the biggest thing I've taken from him all these years is how consistent every day was. There was a lot of the same things every day, repetitive, over and over and over. That's what I've done quite a bit."
It's an experience his players won't forget, entering the game with the same they confidence they've had all season despite entering as a 28.5-point underdog.
"(Brendan Coyle), he could be the next white boy who goes in and knocks down a bunch of shots," Doty said. "Francis is a beast. Mulvey is a dog and Zip is on the best point guards in the country. I believe in everybody down the line here."
Tipoff is set for 2:50 p.m. ET on CBS, with the winner set to face the winner between No. 8 Ohio State and No. 9 TCU on Saturday, March 21.
Anna Snyder covers Duke for The Fayetteville Observer as part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at asnyder@usatodayco.com or follow her @annaesnydr on X, formerly known as Twitter.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Siena players, Gerry McNamara on facing Duke in NCAA Tournament
