SU Player Quotes Versus TCU
Syracuse Player Quotes
Syracuse vs. Texas Christian University
December 3, 2005
Carrier Dome, Syracuse, N.Y.
Syracuse Player Quotes
Freshman Guard Eric Devendorf
On how he improved his game from Wednesday…
“I let the game just come to me so I could get my shots. Then when they came out I went to the basket, penetrated, kicked it and got some assists, so I felt pretty confident.”
On the team’s three point shooting…
“If we’re open, we’re going to shoot, no matter how many shots we take. Today, a lot of them went in.”
On fan support…
“It’s good. It’s good to know that the fans appreciate me playing. I’m just going to keep going out and playing like I did tonight.”
On the defensive effort…
“I think our defense in the first half was great, our man-to-man defense. We got in the passing lanes and got some steals, some turnovers….We rebounded the ball pretty well. I think we played really well.”
On the shooting of Demetris Nichols…
“If you leave him open, it’s automatic and when you do get on him, he still makes those shots. It was a big game for him, hitting all those three pointers.”
On putting games away…
“We kind of let them get back into it, letting the lead get to ten. I think we’re going to get that as the season goes on. We just have to keep playing hard and finish out the game strong.”
On starting verses coming off the bench…
“Whatever Coach Boeheim has me do, that’s what I’m going to do.”
On how to handle a seven-day break between games…
“We have tomorrow off, so I think we’re going to relax a little bit. We have practice this whole week, so we’re just going to work hard in practice and get ready for Colgate on Saturday.”
Freshman Guard Josh Wright
On waiting a week between games…
“A lot of guys are beat up, so this will be a good time for them to get some rest. It’s another opportunity to get some weight training in. We’re glad to have the time to get ready for the next game.”
On gaining confidence…
“I always do what I can do. Coach knows what I can do and it’s really not a matter of me playing a lot more. It’s just the situation. Tonight, another guy stepped it up and that’s the way this team is. I’m just motivated to keep getting better.”
On playing a smaller, three-guard line-up…
“If it’s a smaller team out there on the court, we have to go smaller. I feel with we three (himself, Gerry McNamara and Eric Devendorf), we’re better than the other team.”
Junior Forward Demetris Nichols
On playing with emotion…
“I always feel emotional. I just felt good. I guess the hard work is paying off.”
On developing a versatile game…
“I’m still working on my game, both before and after practice, because I want to get better. It’s coming along pretty well.”
On playing as an upperclassman…
“Freshman and sophomore year when there are guys in front of you, you have a short leash. It feels good to know I can make a mistake. Of course, Coach will say something to me, but he has confidence in me to make the big plays. It feels good.”
On adjusting in the second half…
“They did get better in the second half. We didn’t come out sluggishly. We are going to work on that in practice on Monday. Coach stressed that, so we’re going to try to work on it in practice, and then do it on a game.”
On tying his career high 25 points…
“I felt good. My teammates found me, I found a hot hand, and I knocked down my shots. I’m going to continue shooting.”
On the play of Eric Devendorf…
“He’s one of the hardest workers on the team, so I expect that from him. He did a great job and he has so much confidence in himself, and we have confidence in him. He played great.”
Senior Guard Gerry McNamara
On working through an off-night…
“Every great player has had times when he’s played badly. Everyone has those night. I’m sure by this point, they’re mature enough to bounce back, and to have the confidence in themselves to go out the next game and take it up a notch.”
On playing 40 minutes…
”I said it and Coach Boeheim said it during the game, we all got excited in the first half. He came over and I said, ‘We did this in the Manhattan game.’ It seemed like deja vous in the first few minutes of the second half, but I think we did a pretty good job defensively. We started off early by giving up two easy lay-ups, but when it came down to it, we played pretty good defense and made good decisions on the offensive end.”
”I said it and Coach Boeheim said it during the game, we all got excited in the first half. He came over and I said, ‘We did this in the Manhattan game.’ It seemed like deja vous in the first few minutes of the second half, but I think we did a pretty good job defensively. We started off early by giving up two easy lay-ups, but when it came down to it, we played pretty good defense and made good decisions on the offensive end.”
On offensive options…
“We have a lot of difference line-ups where we have four shooters on the floor. I think that can be an advantage for us. I think if he feels we can go four out and get a couple of looks, we’re going to be dangerous. Andy (Rautins) came in and hit one right away, Josh and Eric can hit them, Demetris obviously can hit them. So we have a lot of guys who can play four out, one in. I think Coach is leaning toward that a little bit.”
