Player Quotes -- Monday, December 20, 2004
Men’s Basketball Player Quotes
SU vs. Cornell
Monday, December 20, 2004
Sophomore forward Terrence Roberts
On Cornell’s 15 three-pointers:
“They couldn’t miss a three tonight. We tried our hardest with that, but they just hit everything. The coaches told us who the shooters were, but they were just hitting them left and right.”
On what coach Boeheim said at halftime:
“He just said that we need to come out and start playing. We were not playing good defense. We played man-to-man five straight possessions and they scored five straight times. He just said we need to go out there and play with some heart and be more physical and play harder.”
On what the difference was in second half for him (all 16 points in the second half):
“I just came out and played hard. I got the ball a lot more in the second half and got a couple more looks. I got in the passing lanes and got some steals. I think the press helped get a lot more easy baskets.”
Senior guard Josh Pace
On his offensive play:
“When Hakim is double teamed it really opens up stuff for other players. They were bringing double teams from the back and the front, so we just had to get to the open spot. That is the main thing when teams play Hakim and it is always going to leave somebody else open. I guess I was able to get open.”
On how close it was in the first half:
“I think we came out in the first and were not really ready to play. We hung in there and had a one-point lead going into the half. It was not a great half. In the second half, we realized we needed to make their shooters do more than just sit there and shoot. We needed to make them dribble and make plays.”
On what SU needs to do in the future to stop all the threes:
“I think we were playing good man-to-man defense in the beginning of the shot clock and then towards the latter part we gave up some shots. We just need to learn to play throughout the whole shot clock.”
Senior forward Hakim Warrick
On the first half:
“We came out a little flat and Cornell did a good job of jumping on us. They just executed and controlled the tempo.”
On what needs to be improved:
“We just have to go out there and play every game 110% and play every game like it is our last. We definitely did not do that tonight.”
On what coach said at halftime:
“He just challenged us to go out there and play defense. He should not have to do that. We should be out there playing hard no matter what. That is something we did not do in the first couple minutes.”
On his concern for Gerry McNamara’s injury:
“I was worried, but it didn’t look too bad. He was able to get up and walk it off. It is unfortunate and hopefully he will be able to come back and play with us.”
On playing with intensity:
“The guys who have been here and I have to go out there and start the game with intensity and I think the guys coming off the bench will follow. That is something we have to do – go out there and set the tempo.”
On if he can take it up another level:
“I think I can take it up another level, but it is pretty tough when you have double and triple teams. I think I can get my team involved and try not to force shots. I think I forced a couple shots in the second half. Coach wants me to go out and be more aggressive. That is something I can definitely do and it is something I work on.”
