Sadiq White RETURNING

[CaliOtto]

Very happy that Sadiq will be back. He’s tough and actually takes pride in locking people down on defense. Small sample size but a good outside shooter. Decent in the low post and will only get better with AO’s coaching. Liked seeing how he tempered his emotions and was more focused on just playing ball as the season went on.

Having some player continuity also just has to be a plus for the incoming crew. Kiyan, Sadiq and whoever else returns will help acclimate the new players to Cuse and make it easier to hit the ground running on and off the court.

 

[IthacaMatt]

Very happy that Sadiq will be back. He’s tough and actually takes pride in locking people down on defense. Small sample size but a good outside shooter. Decent in the low post and will only get better with AO’s coaching. Liked seeing how he tempered his emotions and was more focused on just playing ball as the season went on.

Having some player continuity also just has to be a plus for the incoming crew. Kiyan, Sadiq and whoever else returns will help acclimate the new players to Cuse and make it easier to hit the ground running on and off the court.

He is this team's Terrence Roberts. I think we don't appreciate him (TR) enough.
You need to have spiky personalities, tough guys, competitors, to have a good team.
Sadiq is that kind of guy. We need those kinds of guys.

 

[PauliePeppas]

Hopefully can gain 15 lbs

 

[donniesyracuse]

For some reason I thought Mookie Watkins came close his senior year, but he never even led the team in rebounding.

Terrible hands!

 

[sdhall01]

I’m glad to see him coming back.

 

[Niastri]

Your quibbling - so maybe he "only" averages 8 or 9 or are you expecting less than that ?

White isn't a good rebounder.

He has plenty of room to improve, and tons of athletic talent, but averaged only 8.7 per 40 minutes and only 15% defensive rebound percentage. For perspective, Freeman as a freshman was 12.4 rebounds per 40 and 31.2% defensive rebound percentage as a freshman. Even his much worse sophomore year, Freeman was at 9.2 r/40 and 22% respectively.

White would need to improve much more than incrementally to be a top rebounder in the ACC.

 

[IthacaMatt]

Hopefully can gain 15 lbs

Just let him play. He'll be fine. We need a big center behind him, but he's perfect for a 4.

 

[IthacaMatt]

White isn't a good rebounder.

He has plenty of room to improve, and tons of athletic talent, but averaged only 8.7 per 40 minutes and only 15% defensive rebound percentage. For perspective, Freeman as a freshman was 12.4 rebounds per 40 and 31.2% defensive rebound percentage as a freshman. Even his much worse sophomore year, Freeman was at 9.2 r/40 and 22% respectively.

White would need to improve much more than incrementally to be a top rebounder in the ACC.

He didn't get a lot of regular run, either. I expect his rebounding numbers to improve with consistent playing time. He's way more physical than Donnie was. The trick will be his ability to stay on the floor and avoid silly fouls.

 

[br801]

If it happens, either Kiyan will have made a meteoric jump in the level of his game (hopefully) to warrant it... or, it's just simply daddy ball pay-to-play... Melo paid, so his son starts...

He doesn't need to make a meteoric leap. He wasn't a tomato can out there, just a freshman who wasn't quite ready or strong enough to produce consistently at a high level, which describes most freshmen.

 

[tptcuse]

He is this team's Terrence Roberts. I think we don't appreciate him (TR) enough.
You need to have spiky personalities, tough guys, competitors, to have a good team.
Sadiq is that kind of guy. We need those kinds of guys.

And with better hops.

 

[SDjohn]

Love Sadiq is back, Our family calls him “spazzy S”. He was just non-stop moving defensively. Sure he fouled every minute or two but let’s agree coaching may not have been up to par in recent years. With this staff it’s quite possible White takes that sophomore leap. Has to get stronger so new S&C regimen, gets stronger, game slows down a bit.

Give me guys with a motor to coach vs. talented guys who refuses to defend EVERYTIME.

 

[Oakland]

Hoping for a Sophomore jump, happy he's back. He's got all the physical tools to become a menace at the D1 level on defense and I think serviceable on offense.

I'd love for him to play a role like I do with my PF on 2K26. A player that prides themselves on defense and does all the dirty work and scores opportunistically.

Welcome back Sadiq!

Sounds like Maliq Brown

 

[Nicknack]

Man - he was no big loss until be decided to come back and be an All-ACC player. This board really covers the spectrum doesn't it?

I've seen 2-3 posts like this in this 12 page thread. Not sure why. Maybe I'm wrong, but I would say 90%+ on this board wanted White back and were conflicted on Donnie (50/50). That said, I don't think our season is lost without him, but he's definitely talent and attitude you want on a GMac team. Just try to be happy dude. Good lord.

 

[Scotch]

Idk man. Doty is a better all around player than Anthony right now. Would need a big jump from Anthony. I guess if you start Anthony at the 2 and Doty at the 3. But if we bring in Wilkins and Wilkinson. Anthony is not starting. Even a player like Wagner would really push Anthony. Or what if we bring in the Mingo brothers? All these are very possible and all these players are already better than Anthony or at least on par with Anthony. Now you could be right, Anthony could gain 5-10 pounds of muscle this off season. He has full off season in the college program and his dad is obviously Melo…..so a big freshman to Sophmore jump is certainly possible. But he needs biggggg improvements defensively, foot speed and strength. He’s going to be fine offensively but those other parts of his game he needs big improvements. Doty is already better than him in most aspects of his game. But if we bring in some other players that I mentioned….

Shooting guard seems crowded. Maybe Doty/Anthony can play the three but I’d love to see more focus on the beef down low. I know it’s coming.

 

[br801]

He is this team's Terrence Roberts. I think we don't appreciate him (TR) enough.
You need to have spiky personalities, tough guys, competitors, to have a good team.
Sadiq is that kind of guy. We need those kinds of guys.

I saw flashes of offensive and defensive talent from freshman White that reminded me more of Hakim Warrick than Terrence Roberts.

 

[721Comstock]

Shooting guard seems crowded. Maybe Doty/Anthony can play the three but I’d love to see more focus on the beef down low. I know it’s coming.

 

[SuFTW]

I just can’t see it and I don’t think it’s necessarily nepotism. I think there would be a bigger locker room problem if Kiyan doesn’t start. He’s by far our best known player nationally. I could be completely misreading things though. Doty would seem more to fit the nepotism vibes, even though he’s not related to Gerry. I think Kiyan, Doty, and White at the 2,3, and 4 would work. Again, this is mere speculation on my part.

I don’t follow this logic that Kiyan not starting would cause locker room problems.

 

[kingtidge]

He doesn't need to make a meteoric leap. He wasn't a tomato can out there, just a freshman who wasn't quite ready or strong enough to produce consistently at a high level, which describes most freshmen.

He didn't really put any effort forth on defense. That can't happen again, or he will see the pine... but yes, freshmen are gonna frosh... The realization that everyone you face is gonna be good and your effort has to match that reality in D1 hoops doesn't come until year 2 for a lot of players, and some of that is natural expected progression.

I won't harp on the offensive problems as they were as much systemic and Red's inability to get the team rowing in a coherent direction with real sets...

 

[Jasoncuse]

At least we’ll have one guy with above average athleticism.

 

[Jasoncuse]

Kiyan was pretty good when he started in place of Donnie. When he no longer started, he seemed more lost. I think he has a huge upside still. He is not Melo, and will not be. Melo understands that Kiyan might not be starting. His money doesn't come with those type of strings attached. But we do have to appreciate what Melo brings to the table, and handle Kiyan fairly and maybe with the slightest benefit of the doubt. I think we have to consider he could be a starter if he shows certain things to Gerry. May not play a ton of minutes though.

Kiyan started 2 games when JJ was out, Delaware St and Drexel. I wouldn’t read too much into his performance afterwards because he wasn’t starting. I think as the competition ramped up, Kiyan couldn’t build off his early success.

 

[IthacaMatt]

I saw flashes of offensive and defensive talent from freshman White that reminded me more of Hakim Warrick than Terrence Roberts.

Hakim Warrick was Go-Go Gadget, with hyper extending arms, stretching to the rim for improbable dunks.
Terrence Roberts was a more emotional player, better defensively and as a rebounder than Warrick.

 

[FireballPhil]

Of all the players from this year, he’s the guy I wanted back most.

2nd for me after kingz. With structure he has the higher limit though.

 

[FireballPhil]

Yeah, so, uhm, I get what you're saying but... Kiyan's gonna start.

Dont think that is guaranteed...

 

[GHLF]

I just can’t see it and I don’t think it’s necessarily nepotism. I think there would be a bigger locker room problem if Kiyan doesn’t start. He’s by far our best known player nationally. I could be completely misreading things though. Doty would seem more to fit the nepotism vibes, even though he’s not related to Gerry. I think Kiyan, Doty, and White at the 2,3, and 4 would work. Again, this is mere speculation on my part.

That is just crazy talk, Whoever is the best player is gonna play the most minutes. Otherwise the ship will sink

 

[OttoinGrotto]

Terrible hands!

Eh, they were good enough to get him a cup of coffee in the NBA.