Coach Boeheim Postgame
Coach Boeheim Quotes
Syracuse v. St. Bonaventure
December 19, 2009
Carrier Dome - Syracuse, N.Y.
Opening Statement
“St. Bonaventure did a very good job of attacking us early. They really moved the ball well. We were just a step slow on defense and we got out-rebounded the first half. The second half we did a better job on the boards -- we were plus nine -- and a little bit quicker defensively.
“You have to make shots. Brandon [Triche] made two big three’s to give us some space and Andy [Rautins] made two. St. Bonaventure is a good team -- they had one bad game this year but they had a one-point game with St. John’s. They’re a good team -- they played well. [Andrew Nicholson] is a good player. We did a good job of finding [Chris] Matthews -- he’s their best shooter. We wanted to try to stay as close to him as we could -- we did a pretty good job there.
“This game, during exams week, is always difficult. I just don’t think that we had the quickness defensively that we’ve had. Offensively we played well when we didn’t turn it over. We just made some really bad turnovers tonight that we’ve got to get out of there -- unforced turnovers, trying to find something that wasn’t there in a couple cases. We just had really bad turnovers that we’ve got to do a better job with -- that is really the key. There were four or five where we actually had the advantage and we ended up not scoring and they scored on the other end. Those are the kind of turnovers that you really can’t have. They’re a good team. When they played well at the end of the half we made a couple really good plays to get back in control of the game and we just played better defense to start the second half and hit a couple big shots.”
On Brandon Triche’s play
“He can hit big shots. He’s a very good defender. He’s having a very good year -- a very solid year. It was good to see Brandon hit those two shots. He can hit those shots and those are going to be important for us. We played the whole game without Arinze [Onuaku]. He’s got a bruise. I’m not going to be a doctor on this but we hope that it’s not anything that’s too serious and that he’ll be alright. We don’t know. We have to wait and find out, but he’s got some time to heal before conference starts. Rick [Jackson] did a great job in there in the middle -- just a really big-time job there in the middle. DaShonte [Riley] did okay when he got in there and got an opportunity. Hopefully we get Arinze back. That’s all I know about it though.”
On the physicality of St. Bonaventure helping the team down the road
“It’s been physical. We’ve had some games that have been physical, but I think we’re prepared for that.”
On the play of Kris Joseph
“He has played well, he really was good in the first half. He’s really played well for the year. He gambled a few times and [Chris] Matthews got a couple threes. He’s going to the basketball well. Both he and Scoop [Jardine] are playing really well.”
