Syracuse Player Quotes
Team Nike at Syracuse University
Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2003
Carrier Dome, Syracuse N.Y.
Freshman Terrence Roberts
On this season:
"We’re going to give it our all. We’re just going to go out there and play hard all night."
On his first game at the Dome:
"Exciting. My expectations were exactly what they came to be. I just wanted to come out and give a couple of crowd-pleasers and get the crowd into it. I wanted to get out there and have fun."
On dunking:
"Dunking is a key part of my game. I love to get in there and throw one down. To get my first college dunk was a great thing for me. It felt good."
Freshman Demetris Nichols
On his role:
"The other day me, Hakim Warrick, and Coach Hopkins were shooting before and after practice, so I think that’s where they want me-- at the two or the three."
On being nervous:
"I was very nervous when I first started, but I think when I hit my first shot I got comfortable. I think overall I played really well. I played good defense. I rebounded really well and I made a couple of shots."
On toughest thing about playing at this level: "The lights, actually. I’m so used to watching it on TV, but now I’m really on the court playing. It’s just a blessing."
Junior Hakim Warrick
On the freshmen:
"I think Demetrius was a little nervous at first, but he turned it around and did a really good job of holding down the post. They really did a good job. I know how I was as a freshman and how nervous I was. Just to go out there and perform like they did, they did a good job and didn’t let anybody down."
On three-pointers:
"It won’t be a big part of my game. I won’t be out there like G-Mac, but if the team backs off me and I get an open look, I’m going to have the confidence to try to knock it down. I’ve been working on it all summer, getting my shots and my reps in every day after practice with Coach. It’s building my confidence and I’m becoming a better perimeter shooter."
On areas of practice:
"I’ve been working on ball handling. I’m working with G-Mac and Billy and Josh. Those quick guys on the perimeter are going to make me better in the long run and I’ll be able to go out there and guard those guys."
Sophomore Billy Edelin
On expectations:
"Always in the first game you’re going to find things you can improve on. But as far as effort, I think we put a good effort out there for the first night and we’ll just build on that. Now you can go look at the tapes and see what you did wrong and add onto that. If you go back and look at the tape about a month from now, we’ll be a totally different team. If you look at it in March, we’ll be even a better team. That’s what you gotta do. Take it as a step process."
On his performance and confidence:
"It’s more about being a leader as a point guard. You know you can score, but you gotta get the other guys open. Your points are going to come. If you play enough minutes you’ll get your shots."
Sophomore Gerry McNamara
On difference from last year:
"I’ve been practicing so much better than I was last year. It’s so much different playing in this atmosphere. It takes awhile to get back into the swing of things. When I stepped off the court for the last time I just shook my head because it was so much different."
On his three-pointers:
"It’s funny. It seemed like every shot felt the same, and that’s how it should feel. At that point it was a close game and that gave us a little boost. I was just happy that I did it at the right time."
