What did we learn on Saturday afternoon?
Syracuse ends their first conference road trip with back-to-back wins in Atlanta and Pittsburgh, heading back home after an 83-72 victory over the Pittsburgh Panthers on Saturday afternoon.
Here are some of the takeaways:
Donnie Freeman completes an already talented roster
The roster Syracuse has assembled is a talented one.
The return of Donnie Freeman to the lineup has been especially impactful. While there were questions about how much he would contribute coming back from injury, Freeman has quickly reminded everyone just how significant his absence was.
With Freeman on the floor, teammates can operate in roles that better suit their strengths.
That impact is most evident with William Kyle. Kyle is an effective scorer around the basket, and when defenses are forced to extend and help on Freeman’s ability to attack off the dribble, it creates clean opportunities inside. Kyle took full advantage, finishing with 11 points in 19 minutes, highlighted by one of the most impressive putback dunks in recent memory.
Freeman’s presence also benefits JJ Starling. The senior guard has consistently shown he can score, but when he isn’t the primary offensive option, the game opens up for him. Starling posted 19 points, four rebounds, and four assists, a stat line that feels sustainable and one I expect to see regularly as the season progresses.
Make opponents beat you in the paint
Syracuse ranks second in the nation, averaging 7.1 blocks per game. While defense has been a clear strength all season, it is the team’s interior defense that has truly stood out—and could ultimately be what separates the Orange from their opponents.
There’s no denying Syracuse has had issues surrendering offensive rebounds at times, but part of that can be attributed to the volume of long rebounds created by missed three-point attempts. Of Pitt’s 14 offensive boards, several came off errant shots from beyond the arc.
That concern can be lessened by forcing teams to operate inside the three-point line. With William Kyle anchoring the paint, Syracuse can maintain pressure even when a perimeter defender is beaten off the dribble, knowing there is strong rim protection waiting.
Pitt struggled mightily from deep, shooting just 5-for-26 on Saturday, and many of those attempts were well contested. Syracuse made it a priority to eliminate clean looks from three, and the strategy paid off.
The result was a wire-to-wire victory for the Orange, who trailed only once, at 2–0, early in the game.
Sadiq White needs to play more
The freshman from Charlotte, North Carolina, has experienced his share of ups and downs this season in his first year with Syracuse. Since the return of Freeman to the lineup, however, his role has noticeably changed, with his minutes per game taking a significant dip.
This isn’t to suggest that White needs to reclaim a starting spot as he did during Freeman’s absence. Rather, he is a player the Orange should look to have on the floor more consistently because of the defensive value he brings. Over the course of the season, White has emerged as one of Syracuse’s most impactful defenders, averaging nearly a block per game and ranking among the team leaders in defensive rebounds per 40 minutes.
That defensive presence becomes especially important in high-leverage moments. Late in the second half against Pittsburgh, the Panthers began to chip away at the lead, at one point cutting the deficit to six. In situations like that, the priority has to be getting stops, and White’s length, size, and ability to contest shots make him well-suited for those moments.
White is also a strong rebounder, capable of finishing defensive possessions and limiting second-chance opportunities. For that reason, he should be seeing more than the 15 minutes he logged on Saturday, not because of what he provides offensively, but because of the stability and defensive impact he brings whenever he is on the floor.
Nonetheless, a nice conference win for Syracuse. What were your takeaways?
Category: General Sports
