Syracuse Player Quotes
Dec. 13, 2003
Carrier Dome, Syracuse, N.Y.
Freshman Terrence Roberts:
On Coach Boeheim's challenge to the team
"Basically we have three weeks and he wanted us to step it up and play like he knows we can play. Be effective, don't go out there and be nervous and timid all the time."
On Louie McCroskey's debut
"He definitely did the best out of all of us for his first game."
On his own performance
"I think I played pretty well. I got out there and did the simple things, took my time. I was effective with my minutes. I had fun. I didn't force anything tonight."
On the bench play
"The further we can go on with the bench, the better we can be."
On Jeremy McNeil
"His rebounding and shot blocking is tremendous. He's a big strong guy in there, and of course we get pumped up when he blocks a shot. Who wouldn’t?"
On the second half
"It was a good second half, but I'm pretty sure we're better than that. There will be more to come."
Freshman Louie McCroskey:,br>
On his performance
"I did well, I did what I was supposed to do out there. There were some first game jitters, but that's just natural."
On the freshmen
"All of us did well. Terrence came in and got some tip-in dunks and the momentum starting going our way. That's our job, that's what we're supposed to come in and do."
On being rusty "Of course there's going to be rust, but I think the only thing is picking and choosing what shot to take and what shot not to take. Of course there's going to be some ups and downs."
On outside shooting
"I don’t feel pressure. Any time the coach is encouraging you to shoot, that's what you're supposed to go out there and do. I just think it's more of a dedication factor where you just have to get in the gym and shoot more."
On playing in the Dome
"It's good. When I first got here in the summer I couldn't hit a thing. I was so used to high school with a wall behind the hoop. I just have to get used to it and remember to shoot the shot up. If the shot is long then it's good, but if I leave it short then it's not good most of the time."
Senior Jeremy McNeil:
On getting right into the action
"That's the best thing to do for me. Just get a block or something to get my blood pumping out there. When I'm in there and in the mix that's when I play best. If I don’t get in there and get something going right away, then I'm not as effective."
Junior Hakim Warrick
On team chemistry
"That's one of the major parts coming into last season. Team chemistry was one of the big parts in us winning the national championship. Carrying over to this year, we realize it's going be a team effort."
On improving in practice
"I think we're getting a lot better with every practice and every game. We're making the steps to become a better team, and that's what it's all about. We need to peak at the right time."
On Matt Gorman
"He had a great performance. I saw him dominate a couple times. I know if you get him the ball, most of the time he's going to score."
About the game overall
"We had really balanced scoring and we really attacked the offensive glass. We did a good job of not coming out flat."
On the second half
"That was the best we played so far. If we can go out there and give an effort like that and continue to work hard, then we're heading in the right direction."
On Binghamton controlling the first-half tempo
"They tried to slow the game down. I think we kind of fell into that and slowed down too. Once we started running that's when we really got going. The press sped the game up for us and allowed us to play at the pace we're more comfortable with."
On Manhattan (next game)
"We played them in the tournament, so we know they're a pretty good team. Their leading scorer is coming back and they're going to be coming in hyped up about playing the defending national champs. It's going to be a tough game. They gave us some trouble in the first round last year."
