Coach Cieplicki Quotes
Syracuse vs. Cincinnati
January 21, 2006
Carrier Dome, Syracuse, N.Y.
Coach Cieplicki Quotes
Opening Statement:
“We’re talking about making shots. Defensively, I think we can be a little bit better – significantly better. The difference today was we went into the half shooting 21 percent and holding them to 39 percent. If you say coming in, we’re going to hold them to 59 and lose by 16, it’s hard for me to imagine how we can do much more defensively. We have to continue to work offensively and make some shots. Hopefully, we can get it done.”
On the defensive effort:
“We broke down a couple of times on the 3-point shooter, and I think that hurt us… Honestly, I’m not sure what else we can do besides what we did today, and that’s just try different people and give everyone opportunities. We were stuck on seven, and I thought we might finish with seven. But I thought our looks were good, and as we said we’re just not good enough, where if we don’t make shots…Defensively, I’m pretty happy with that. (Cincinnati) is a team that scored 89 against South Florida and 80 the other day against St. John’s, so this team has firepower. We have to do a better job ourselves of scoring.”
On point production:
“It showed with both Lina (Lisnere) and Ashley (McMillen) out, those are players we were counting on to obviously be 3-point threats this year. It does put a lot of pressure on Jenny (Eckhart), and she’s doing the best she can. Amanda (Adamson) came in and knocked one down, and hopefully she can do that a little bit more for us.”
On playing through frustration:
“I think it was evident today, and I think we couldn’t really get the crowd into the game. All of us wanted to have something to get excited about, and really I can’t compare it to anything else except kind of hitting your head against the wall. You work hard defensively, then you get the ball into a position where you think you should score and you don’t. That really zaps the energy, but despite that with 31 for the half and 59 for the game, that’s pretty good. Obviously, offensively, we have to be better.”
On the improvement of Brittany Smith:
“She’s showing that she’s a player. She’s going to be a big factor for us. She’s a great rebounder at both ends, she has a nice feel and she makes plays. I think she makes plays for other people and not just herself. I really like her energy. She’s maybe our most mature kid as a freshman, along with Tracy (Harbut). If there’s a bright spot to today, it’s that she’s really going to be a key for us.”
On the play of Jenny Eckhart:
“Poor Jenny, I love Jenny to death. All I want her to do is get 30 (points), stop their best player and get 20 assists, so when she doesn’t do that I give her a lot of crap. Seriously though, Jenny is doing wonderfully and I couldn’t ask any more of her. She listens, maybe sometimes too much to me, but she’s learning how to filter that. Along with Brittany, I think Jenny has established herself as a core for the future. That’s really what this year is all about – getting these pieces. We had Chinny (Nwagbo) and Rochelle (Coleman) last year to carry us through some of these situations, and that’s where sometimes it’s one step back to get two steps ahead. These players just have to go through this and I think as long as we stick with them, the cream always rises to the top. When you talk about Jenny and Brittany, those are certainly a couple of bright spots for us.”
On battling through the BIG EAST schedule:
“Truthfully, we’re 7-11 overall, and we’re getting better every day. We just don’t see it (as a bad thing). For those that just come to the games (it seems like), ‘Oh, it’s just another loss.’ But you have to look at the bigger picture and the development of this team. Despite how much I’ve given them a hard time and looked frustrated at times, I think they’re doing wonderfully. I really do in my heart.”
“When they signed me up here they said, ‘Hey, it’s going to take you five years,’ and I said, ‘Nope, not me. It’s going to happen more quickly than that.’ Well you know what we’re in year three. Especially with the five teams moving into this league…Everywhere I go – the South Florida coach said it to me the other night, this is brutal. Every night is brutal. I was talking to Coach Boeheim about it last night and he said, ‘Keith, there’s not an easy (game) to be found on the schedule.’ And that’s just the reality. We have to cultivate this young group and continue to help them get better and we’ll be fine. We’re just not caught up in all of that.”
On developing as a team:
“Part of this process is (finding out) who’s going to be consistent for us. If nothing else through this part of the season, we have to establish for the future as well as for now who we can count on every night. I think if I asked you, I think you would give me many of the same names I’ve given you. And then there are a few who we’re wondering if they’re going to turn the corner or not. We’re giving them the opportunities to do that and if they do we’ll be better sooner. If they don’t, it’s going to take us that much longer. Life is all about consistency, and that’s what I’m trying to teach these young ladies.”
