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Coach Boeheim Quotes
Sunday, Dec. 28, 2003
Carrier Dome, Syracuse, N.Y.
Syracuse Head Coach Jim Boeheim
On SU’s performance:
"I thought the first half we were really focused. We did a really good job defensively. Their big guys are hard to play for our big guys because they shoot the ball from the three-point line real well. I think that it is unusual to play against a team whose four and five guys are perimeter guys. Our guys did not cover that real well in the second half. It is not really a lesson learned because we don’t play anybody who has big players who shoot the ball from out there."
"I thought our defense was good other than that. I thought we helped each other pretty well. They (NC-Asheville) were patient. They did a good job of spreading us out and taking their time. I think that is a good lesson for our guys that you have to play defensively the whole time."
"Offensively we were a little off in the second half. We stood around a little too much, but then we turned it up a little bit. I am disappointed in our transition. We are trying to push the ball better and I think we are doing that better, but we made some real bad turnovers in transition in the first half. But whenever you play numbers of guys, 11 guys, each guy goes in a makes a couple of mistakes, and that is not unusual, you get high turnovers. But today we made some bad decisions in the open court. We had some real good opportunities and just did not cash in on them."
"It is difficult when we have three or four young guys on the court at the same time. It is kind of a good experience for them in a way, but they will not really be out there that much, if at all, the rest of the year. There will be one or two, but that will probably be the limit starting with Canisius, a very good team coming in on Tuesday, and then of course the rest of the year everybody we play is good. I think that is one thing that hurt our freshmen when they are out there all at the same time, it is difficult for them. It is still a good experience getting in the game."
"I think overall we got through these first eight games and everybody has had an opportunity to play a little bit. Our veteran guys know what has to be done and are playing at a pretty good level right now. Our young guys can help us in different spots as we go on."
On the UNC-Asheville game as a confidence builder?
"Every game helps you at some point. I thought they are a much better team than they were earlier this year. They have a lot of younger guys. I thought they moved the ball much better today than they did earlier on the tapes we saw. I thought they did a nice job against us. I thought it was a good game for us."
On the play of Darryl Watkins
"He is an active player. He is going to bring a lot of energy. He still has a lot to learn. He got a couple of quick fouls when he was in there in the first half. He is quick and has great athletic ability. He just has to learn a little more about what we are doing. Part of his problem is that Craig has played well and Jeremy has proven that he can play well for us in big game situations and those guys are still there."
On the veterans
"They are playing well. We need to continue to get the young guys ready to help us, but the veteran guys have played from the beginning at a pretty high level."
On the play of Billy Edelin
"I thought Billy was real good tonight. Whenever we got stuck on offense he got in the lane and made a good play, got people open. He makes good decisions and usually gets the ball up soft on the basket. "
On Syracuse’s offense today
"We did not rebound very well offensively today. I think we are standing around a bit too much. When we do go with the veterans we are not a big team. That is one thing, with our best five guys out there, we are small and we are not probably going to get a lot of rounds so we are going to have to execute well on offense and we have to make shots."
On being concerned with turnovers
"Part of it is a product of playing so many guys and we made some bad decisions in the open court. We want to be in the open court. You can’t get easy baskets if you are not out there running and that is where you will commit most of your turnovers. If you don’t run, you don’t make many turnovers, but you don’t get those opportunities to get easy baskets. It comes with the territory."
On Louis McCroskey
"'Well, he is a month behind or a little more, two months probably. He is improving out there. He is comfortable shooting the ball. He is making some good plays as a good player would, but he is way behind."
On Billy Edelin’s first career three-point field goal "Billy has worked hard on his shooting. When he is open he has the ability to knock that shot down."
On the play of the freshmen
"They have had a pretty fair amount of time. Sometimes they play themselves out of there, they have done that a couple of times. They are getting a little better. They just need some more time. It is going to take a while. It is going to be a struggle with them for a while. They are just not ready."
On Jeremy McNeil’s defensive presence and shot blocking
"Some of Jeremy’s blocks come when we are pressing because we are trying to speed up the game a little. Jeremy is good back there. He is good against most anybody back there. That is what he does best. That is why we press when he is in the game because he can handle that back there and generally does a good job. I thought he was active today. He has been up and down a little bit, but I thought he was active out there. That is important. A lot of that comes in transition."
On NC-Asheville’s game plan
"They are patient. That is their game. They spread you out and they have their big guys outside and they want to use the clock and take the three. When they miss that, they do not score at all. If they can make that shot, which they did today, they shot pretty well out there today, they can hang in there with you for a while."
On SU’s transition game
"It is just to get easier shots. We need to get down the court. We are not as strong in the half court offensive game this year as we were last year, so we have to try to get out and get opportunities for everybody. It is important for us. We are taking some steps."
On the team’s progress and improvement this year
"Some years you can get ready in three or four weeks of practice. This year we needed this time and more to get to where we need to be. We are just fortunate that we have had the schedule that we have. More would be disastrous for this team. This team needs some time. We are going to go through some bumps and bruises as we go on until we get better and improve. That is going to take some time."
