Syracuse Postgame Quotes
vs. Cornell
Syracuse 86, Cornell 45
November 15, 2010
Carrier Dome - Syracuse, N.Y.
Head Coach Quentin Hillsman Press Conference
“It was a better night from the last time we were here doing this postgame press conference. I’m very happy that we took care of some deficiencies; we were able to take care of the job a little bit better. Down the stretch we did a good job of closing the game out. All we really wanted to do was to come out in the second half, close the game out so we could get some distance in between us which would allow us to get up and down the floor, play in transition and get some easy baskets. Overall, the turnovers are down from last game, we need to get them down around 12, that is our game goal. We came out in the second half and rebounded the ball really well. We didn’t get them in 1-and-1 in the second half and that was key. The first half we fouled too much and gave them easy baskets. We don’t want to put teams in a position where we’re fouling and giving them points from the line.
“Overall I’m happy, Kayla (Alexander) is obviously playing well for us. Iasia (Hemingway) was really strong, 10 and eight in 19 minutes. La’Shay Taft off the bench shooting the ball, she really has range and can shoot the ball in transition. Those are things that we need to continue to do so we can be competitive and win some BIG EAST games.”
On the 28 second –chance points:
“It is easy baskets. Second chance meaning that we’re getting on the glass, getting physical and getting points in the paint. We always talk about getting in the paint and getting easy baskets so that was huge for us to get on the glass and get put backs, get kick outs and get three’s off that stuff.”
On the 18 steals and the full court press:
“We got back in the gym and really sat down and talked about what is important in that pressure defense. We went and made an adjustment and obviously it worked really well, the girls really responded to what we asked them to do tonight, so the press was really effective.”
On the adjustments after Cornell took a one-point lead:
“They were getting the same three in the same spot every position so we had to get our guard to play out a little bit further when the ball got to the high post. First of all we don’t want the ball to get to the high post, because that is very dangerous. When the ball goes high post they can see people on wings and turn around and throw the ball back up top. The high post pass was really hurting us and the second half we took that away and they didn’t get the ball to the high post as much so they weren’t getting those kick out three’s.”
On the performance of the freshmen:
“La’Shay (Taft) is a very good shooter and that is why we brought her here, to take shots. If she is going to shoot 40 percent from behind the arc then she can shoot as many as she wants. Phylesha Bullard came in and played really well. The hardest position in the country to come in as a freshman and play is point guard and I thought Rachel Coffey coming in and playing 20 minutes with three assists, four steals, three points and two rebounds, that was a pretty good game for her to have the ball in her hands for 20 minutes and have one turnover. She did a very good job of handling the ball, Shakeya Leary played some good minutes for us and played well. We just want to continue to get our young kids experience and we have a very good core of young kids, it was the eighth-best class in the country – so we have to get them on the floor, get them minutes and get them integrated into our system.”
On Cornell connecting from behind the three-point arc:
“It is what we do, we have to hit a whole bunch of threes so everybody can stay and not go home. It is one of those things where you have the same player getting the same look every time, it is a simple adjustment and the adjustment is go get her. It wasn’t a scheme thing, it was she is in front of you, go get her because she is making shots. Sometimes the zone will give up shots, we just want to keep the three’s under 10, that is our goal. If we hold teams to under 10 three’s then we should be in good shape because our goal is to go to 70. In the zone people will take between 25 and 30 three’s a game and they took 23. Second half we started to shut them down in the perimeter.”
On whether the team worked on stepping out on three’s at practice:
“We did definitely address that. That is big to just be playing up the floor some and getting close to the shooters. That was definitely something we worked on in practice.”
On how much it helps to have three players overpowering opponents down low:
“We want to score at the basket and it is so huge to throw the ball to the high post, go high-low and get the ball to the rim. Obviously when you can get high-percentage shots and play at the rim you’re going to be successful. That is a big part of our offense.”
On how comfortable he is with the team two games into the season:
“The first game was more of the situation, playing later in the evening and having to do some things to get ready to play. It is a learning experience for me for our next doubleheader with a few things we need to do to get our players in more of a comfort zone. We enjoyed playing the doubleheader, we thought it was big for our fans and the fans who usually attend the men’s game that stayed and supported us. We love the opportunity to come in and play after the men play and next game we’ll make some adjustments to what we do pregame to have a better outcome and play a little bit better.”
On what changed offensively on the 21-0 run:
“We just pushed the ball, attacked the rim, played physical, played at the backboard and didn’t take a lot of jump shots. When we get down the floor and get into transition we’re in good shape. We took 21 three’s and obviously for us that is a big number but La’Shay (Taft) took 10 of them and we’re okay with that. As a team we took 11 threes and La’Shay can shoot it all she wants, I don’t mind, she is very good shooter. I wanted to pick up her confidence because one of these games she is going to shoot 10 and be seven or eight for 10. That is going to be a problem for the other team so we want her to shoot the ball with confidence and to have free reign to shoot.”
On 25 points from the free throw line:
“It is very good for us, I thought mostly they came off the offensive rebounds and the more offensive rebounds you get the more fouls you get. That is a big reason why we play at the rim so much and get a lot of free throws.”
Junior Guard Iasia Hemingway
On pushing the ball, getting inside and to the free throw line:
"Coach (Hillsman) always tells us to play at the rim. We do what we have to do. When he says, “Play at the rim,” we do it. We did this a lot, which gave us a good look and a good outcome."
On tonight’s energy:
"We always come to the next game prepared, making up for the stuff we didn’t do last game. He (Coach Hillsman) said we had to get a lot of 50-50 balls because we didn’t get them last game. So that’s what we did. La’Shay (Taft), Carmen (Tyson-Thomas), and the rest of the team played their hearts out."
On playing for Syracuse:
"It is a privilege to be being playing here at Syracuse. I just do what I have to do to come out and help everybody."
Sophomore Guard Carmen Tyson-Thomas
On her play at the end of the half:
"It was more of a good effort, I’d say. It was just a hustle play. I went for the tip and didn’t get the steal, saved it and rotated on the back side and happened to be there."
On their play after Cornell took the lead:
"I think we started hitting shots and going to the glass more. At halftime, Coach (Hillsman) told us that we were getting out-rebounded, which gave us some motivation to get to the boards."
On her block at the end of the first half:
"Coach (Hillsman) says I get one a game since I’m not a shot blocker. I rotated back to where I was supposed to be and I hit the ball out of bounds."
Sophomore Center Kayla Alexander
On her performance tonight:
"I used my height to my advantage. Other than that, I just did what I was supposed to do."
On playing with Iasia Hemingway:
"She is a beast on the court. Pretty much, when she is in there, you better get the rebound because you may get an elbow. She is aggressive, strong and goes hard to the basket."
On the difference between this year and last season:
"I would say, going to the boards more. Coach (Hillsman) has emphasized that a lot during practice to go after the boards."
