Syracuse Player Quotes
College of St. Rose at Syracuse University
Monday, Nov. 8, 2004
Carrier Dome, Syracuse, N.Y.
Sophomore Demetris Nichols
“(My teammates) got me open shots and I made them- that’s all I can say.”
On the season starting:
“I can’t wait to start on Thursday. We’ve got practice tomorrow. We’re going to work hard at practice to get ready for Thursday.”
On his confidence heading into season:
“My confidence is pretty high right now. I think all of the hard work paid off – before and after practice. It’s going pretty good right now.”
On how the team played:
“We didn’t play as well as we wanted to but at the end we all came together. We tried to find the open man and we played better defense in the second half.”
On the sophomores:
“We all have an opportunity to play this season and play well. I think we’re all a big piece of the puzzle and just need to take things step by step.
Terrence Roberts
On the season starting:
“I can’t wait until Thursday so there are no more exhibitions. I’m so anxious just to get the season started so games count and so that you have a number next to your name after you win a game.”
On seeing the game as a sophomore:
“Personally I see the game a little slower – I take my time when I’m in there and I’m more physical rebounding-wise. I think all of us sophomores just need to come in here and be ready to play. I think (Darryl Watkins) got it done a little bit today. He was a little slow on the defensive end but it’s his birthday so he can get away with that one today.”
Hakim Warrick
On the team’s decision-making:
“I think because they were so small we got into staying in the lane and really didn’t get any movement, and that really hurt our offense. But once we got a couple of transition passes, got a couple of rebounds and got out and moving, I think that really helped us control the game.
On the season starting:
“I’m definitely excited to get to that first game. I know it’s going to be crazy out there – first game of the season. I just can’t wait to get out there. It counts now so you definitely want to get out there and make a mark. We have a really good team coming in and it’s back-to-back games, so you definitely want to go out there and start on a good note.”
Josh Pace
On being ready for the season:
“We’ll be ready. We had a lot of lapses tonight where they had some rebounds they shouldn’t have gotten, some shots they shouldn’t have gotten off, but we’ll be ready when the season starts. We didn’t come out tonight thinking we were going to play bad, but it’s not expected that we’re always going to play perfect. I think we just have to learn how to play through stuff like this. We have to try to get our team chemistry going and play through.”
On the first game:
“I’ll be able to sleep on Wednesday. It’s my fourth year here so it’s nothing new. Maybe some of the younger guys won’t, but I’ll be ready – we’ll be ready as a team.”
