Student-Athlete Quotes
Syracuse Student-Athlete Quotes
Syracuse vs. LeMoyne
November 3, 2009
Carrier Dome – Syracuse, N.Y.
Junior Forward Wesley Johnson
On the execution of Le Moyne’s offense and the use of the backdoor cuts:
That was a real problem on the defensive end. I think we just gambled too much, were not disciplined on the defensive end and it cost us.
On what they will take out of this game:
It is a learning experience, so a lot of stuff. Other teams probably do like to play like this, with a lot of cutting. Learning from this will move us in the right direction.
On his last shot to tie the game:
I was a little bit (surprised), but that is how the game was going. I missed it. It should not have come down to that though.
On what changes they need to make defensively:
Intensity -- that is one thing that needs to change. We need to talk and have good communication. I think that is another key.
Senior Guard Andy Rautins
On tonight’s performance:
It is inexcusable. A couple of guys stepped up tonight. We need support from the rest of the guys and we have to come to play every night. That’s what we have to do. Our schedule does not get any easier from here on out. We have to make a lot of changes and we have a lot of work to do.
On the mood of the locker room after the game:
There is nothing you can say after a loss like this. We are just going to have to go back to the drawing board and work extremely hard. They just beat us outright tonight. We did not bring our A-game.
Freshman Guard Brandon Triche
On the game-winning shot by Le Moyne:
We knew they were trying to get the ball to him (Christopher Johnson). We did not want him to shoot. I got picked off a little bit and I got there a little late. He hit the shot over me. Next time, I have to get over the pick and get there a little earlier so he can pass the ball and someone else can try to make it.
On the feeling that it would be a good loss, since it was an exhibition game:
I think we were a little over ourselves, a little cocky coming into it. We have to be more humble. I think we definitely overlooked them, thinking we were going to beat them by 30 or 40 points easily. But that was not the case. We know now that playing against any team, we can be beat. We are also a great team who can beat anybody. We have to mature and come together as a team.
On what this team needs to do to come together and mature:
We just have to hold it together. Everybody has to pick each other up. We have to stay positive when bad things happen. Everybody has to say positive things and do positive things.
Senior Forward Arinze Onauku:
On what the next five days of practice will be like:
I think the next five days are going to be an intense five days. After we look at the tapes and learn from our mistakes, you have to go out there and try to execute. I think defense is going to be a big part of practice.
On being over-confident in today’s game:
We were never over-confident in a game like this. We just seemed lost out there, especially on the defensive end. They are the type of team that runs a lot of plays and a lot of sets. It got the best of us. We have to go and break it down.
On the expectations for the opener vs. Albany:
You have to put it behind you. Right now, it is tough for us as a team. We have been working pretty hard and now we feel like we are not even close to where we need to be. Practice is going to be key for us.
