All I needed was three exhibition games and one regular season game to confirm what I already thought in the summer: Gavin Doty is the leader of the Syracuse Orange men's basketball team.

Does this mean that Doty is the best player? Not necessarily, though that could be true too. But he's certainly the leader, both vocally and in terms of who sets the tone on the floor.

And if you don't believe me, just know that Eric Devendorf said it on the television broadcast during Monday night's season-opening win against New Haven at the JMA Wireless Dome also.

Doty had 14 points on 3-of-7 shooting, and he also went 7-of-8 at the foul line. He pulled down a game-high 13 rebounds and dished out three assists, while also committing zero turnovers.

Any time you turn on the television, Doty stands out. He's got a solid jumpshot and a high basketball IQ, but even beyond that, his motor is relentless. And it's that kind of play style and hustle that will endear him to the fans and his teammates.

Furthermore, as someone who played for new head coach Gerry McNamara at Siena for the last two years, he has a longstanding relationship with the coaching staff. He understands the standards and expectations and knows how to relay them to his players.

For that reason also, he will be critical to the success of the Orange in 2026-27.

A native of nearby Fulton, N.Y., Doty spent the first two years of his career at Siena, blossoming into an All-MAAC selection in 2025-26. He averaged 18.0 ppg last season and helped the Saints to the NCAA Tournament, where they nearly upset No. 1 Duke in the Round of 64. 

When McNamara took the job at Syracuse this March, Doty followed him in the transfer portal. The two have a very clear bond, with Doty saying that he wants to play for McNamara for the entirety of his career even before he officially arrived at Syracuse.

The Orange will be back home again on Thursday night when they take on Central Connecticut State at the JMA Wireless Dome. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. ET and our own Tom Goslowski will have live coverage of the contest. We will have our takeaways immediately following the game, as we do after each game of the season.