Syracuse Player Quotes
2004 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship
Pepsi Center
Denver, Colo.
Saturday, March 20, 2004
Sophomore Gerry McNamara
On a different shooting game
“They played tough defense. They were flying. I tried in the second half to get everyone else the ball and pass in the lane. The first three shots I took felt okay. It’s not like I didn’t have it. When you come off a big game, I expected to be pounded. That’s why we have Hakim (Warrick) and Josh (Pace) who are active and carry this team. Today was a team effort. It speaks volume of the type of team we have.”
On Maryland trying to contain McNamara and Warrick
“There is a reason that happens. If they zero in on me, like they did today, Hakim (Warrick) gets more opportunities and visa versus. If they’re coming at him, we all work off him. I think it makes us that much better and that much tougher to beat. If you have two threats, and try to take one of those away, you still have other guys that can hurt you.”
On his passing game
“It’s no secret I like to shoot the ball but I’ll be the first to give it up. I take pride in the fact that today I wasn’t getting good looks and I got in the game another way. Getting Terrence (Roberts) or Hakim (Warrick) easy dunks are the little things that help teams win. That’s what I did today because I wasn’t getting a lot of open looks.”
Junior Hakim Warrick
On getting hit at the end of the game
“I was getting tired. My legs were weary and it was tough. They say the high altitude is overrated but in those last three minutes you start to feel it.”
On the last crucial seconds of the game
“It was the longest couple seconds I’ve had in a long time. We didn’t want to foul and I think we did a good job of contesting shots and not letting them get easy baskets. That’s what it came down to.”
On attacking Maryland’s post players
“I definitely wanted to go out there and attack. They didn’t double team me and I just tried score or get fouled. My team did a good job of getting me the ball and I was able to make some plays.
