William Kyle III embodies ‘fight’ SU needs to stay alive in 2OT vs. Cal
In Syracuse’s win over Cal, William Kyle III embodied the fight needed for SU to keep its season alive. Matthew Crisafulli | Staff Photographer
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With black pants rolled halfway up, bags of ice surrounded each of William Kyle III’s calves. He was tired and admitted he was ready to go to bed.
Across 40 minutes and 51 seconds — including double overtime, when he cramped up for the first time in-game — Kyle looked like a warrior. The center admitted he would’ve been “miserable” had the Orange lost.
Luckily for SU, Kyle had a wide smile when he said that out loud.
In Syracuse’s (14-11, 5-7 ACC) 107-100 double-overtime victory over California (17-8, 5-7 ACC), Kyle’s 15 points, 16 rebounds (seven offensive), two steals and two blocks showed why he’s the type of player Adrian Autry wants to build around. In a game the Orange needed every ounce of fight, Kyle went out swinging to help them win their second game across their last eight contests.
“I’m a fighter,” Kyle said. “That’s what coach Autry brought me in to do, and I feel like that’s always been who I am as a player.”
While Autry often talks about “fight,” his team has recently been on the losing end. But the bell on the season hasn’t yet rung.
“One thing you can’t question is this team’s fight,” Autry said. “This team fights every game. They don’t give up. And you know, that’s what we’re gonna keep doing until we can’t fight anymore.”
With each loss, the finish line gets closer and closer. To stop that trajectory, attacking the offensive glass was a key, Kyle said.
William Kyle III recorded 15 points, 16 rebounds (seven offensive), two steals and two blocks in Syracuse’s double-overtime win over Cal. Matthew Crisafulli | Staff Photographer
Kyle added that assistant coach Peter Corasaniti made it a point of emphasis, so he took it as a challenge. His effort on the glass led Cal head coach Mark Madsen to cite it as one of the reasons the Golden Bears fell short.
With Cal among the best 3-point shooting teams in the country and SU among the mediocre, the Orange needed any extra juice to help them offensively. Behind shooting 42 free throws and Kyle tallying seven of Syracuse’s 13 offensive rebounds, it provided enough juice to overcome an 11-6 discrepancy from beyond the arc.
Beyond attacking the glass, Kyle played his role perfectly offensively. While shooting 6-of-8 from the field, three of Kyle’s field goals were off dunks, while the other three were mostly clean looks near the rim.
Because the center doesn’t desperately need the ball in his hands to score, it helps spread the Orange’s offensive opportunities around. On Wednesday, that entailed Nate Kingz (27), J.J. Starling (21), Donnie Freeman (16), Naithan George (14) and Sadiq White Jr. (10) all also scored in double figures.
And as a 95th percentile defender, per EvanMiya’s Defensive Bayesian Performance Rating, Kyle, as he put it, always wants to be “the best defender possible.”
In his head coach’s eyes, Kyle’s impact on Wednesday was vastly apparent.
“Will was a man amongst boys today,” Autry said.
Whether it’s doing the little things, meeting someone at the rim or posting a double-double, Kyle’s role is paramount to Syracuse finding success.
Kyle believes in his role more humbly.
“I don’t like to toot my own horn,” he said. “I just try to go out there and win.”
Beating Cal was step one of what could be the start of SU flipping the switch on its season. And Kyle earned himself a much-needed sleep.
But with Syracuse’s season still hanging in the balance, he won’t be able to rest for long.
