Syracuse Player Quotes
Syracuse vs. USF
January 5, 2008
Syracuse, N.Y. - Carrier Dome
Donte Greene, Fr., F
On the balance of the offense:
“Everybody can be a play-maker. Tonight, everyone was. Scoop [Jardine] has had a big game – Arinze [Onuaku] had one. Jonny [Flynn] had one on the first night. I have had a couple. Everyone can produce and tonight everyone was clicking, so it worked out.”
On the development of Scoop Jardine:
“Scoop has come a long way. He has his confidence where it should be. He wasn’t that confident in the beginning. Coach was getting on him in the beginning. But, now he has his confidence and he is ready to roll.
On hitting the road for the first time in BIG EAST play:
“I’m excited. The students are back and it is going to be a hostel environment in Cincinnati and West Virginia. This team is ready for the challenge and if we play like we can, we will come away with two big wins.”
Paul Harris, So., F
On his style of play:
“I go out there and I just play. I don’t get many plays run for me. But Coach knows that I am a scrapper that rebounds and does things other players can’t do. I just play my role and help contribute to the team.”
On the play of the front-court players:
“ Arinze can hold is own against anyone down in the post. He is one of the top big men in the nation if you ask me. He played real good defense today. Our game plan was to start down low. Arinze had to hold his own against Kentrell Gransberry and he did. We fed off that, played hard and came out with the victory.”
On his road experience in the BIG EAST:
“It’s not going to be easy, I will tell you that. Cincinnati just beat Louisville. We have to play our game and we should be fine. I like going on the road. We have been in the Dome a lot. There is no place like home, but I know what to expect on the road and I am ready to get going.”
On not being surprised of Jardine’s play:
“I expected him to do this. Hes not going to do what Eric [Devendorf] does. Nobody can bring what he can, but I just expect him to play his game and have confidence.”
Scoop Jardine, Fr., G
On his role of rebounding in the zone:
“I am responsible for the long rebounds that pop out. Also, when all the big men and bouncing around, you have to be around the hoop, too. That’s what I tried to do today – just being around the hoop.”
On being 2-0 in the BIG EAST:
“We have to win these types of games. We can not drop games at home in the BIG EAST. We can not let any games slip away like we did earlier in the year. We win these games, go on the road, get some wins and we’ll be comfortable in the BIG EAST.”
On the team needing to close out games better:
“That comes with patience. We try to be patient at the end of the game. But, a lot of guys today were looking to go. We have to hold on to the ball a little longer and execute better and we will be fine.”
