Syracuse Player Quotes
2004 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship
Pepsi Center
Denver, Colo.
Wednesday, March 17, 2004
Sophomore Gerry McNamara
On swagger
“I think we have one. I think the best times we’ve had is when we are in rhythm. We finished the season well and got on a little streak. As far as I’m concerned, it’s ours until someone takes it away from us. We know how good they are, we just have to go out and play hard.”
On the loss of Carmelo Anthony
“Look to my left, Hakim Warrick is one of the best players in the country in our eyes and we get to see it everyday. Carmelo was the best player last year and we think we have another one this year. We’re not worried about that, we just want to win. We’re not worried about who’s not here.”
Junior Hakim Warrick
On being the national defending champions
“We definitely have more confidence, having experience and knowing what it takes to get there. I feel that we’re a confident group that knows what it takes to get back to the final four.”
On changes in Coach Boeheim
“There have not been a lot of changes. It was pretty much back to business ever since practice started. We want to go back there and win another championship. We can’t be satisfied with one championship and I don’t think with winning the championship has changed his coaching philosophy. He was a lot happier afterwards, but once the season started it was right back to business.”
On the zone defense
“I definitely think it becomes a weapon (in the post season), especially last year for us. Teams really struggled trying to find out how to attack it. Against the Big East, right from the start they know what they’re going to do to try and beat it. Last year in the tournament you could see some teams second guessing themselves.”
