Boeheim Quotes Drexel
Syracuse vs. Drexel
December 22, 2010
Syracuse, N.Y. – Carrier Dome
Head Coach Jim Boeheim Postgame Quotes
Opening Statement:
“We played very well on both ends of the court in the first half. The second half we played as well as you can play on offense. The first 14 minutes we were 18-for-20. You can’t play better than that. We out-rebounded a team that is right up there with the best rebounding teams in the country. I don’t think we can play better offensively than we did tonight.
Our defense slipped a little bit at the end, but that is probably to be expected. I think Drexel is a very good team, and early in the year this would have been a really tough game. We’re starting to play much better offensively, definitely showing more confidence. Everybody was good tonight. Early in the year we were getting one or two guys going, tonight everybody was on. It’s just as well as we can play.
Now we get a couple days off. This period of three games in five days was difficult. It is something that was tough to do. Now we get a couple days off before getting back up here Christmas night. We’ve come through the non-conference part of our schedule the way we’d like too record wise, but we have gotten better as we’ve gotten through this part of the schedule.
Just looking ahead, Providence is 11-2, Notre Dame is a top-20 team and Cincinnati is still undefeated. Looking around the league, everyone is playing great. It is as good as our league has ever been at this stage of the year. Five teams in the top ten, three or four more teams that are right there. I told the players that we are playing well, but we’re going to have to play as well or even better once we get back up here and start conference play. But we are in as good of a position as we could be right now.”
What has contributed to the team’s better play as of late?
“I think it’s is just a case of our entire team coming together. We’re playing balanced with an inside presence. Our guards have been making shots and getting to the basket. Scoop Jardine played as well as you can play his position, and Brandon Triche was good. Kris Joseph was also great. Nine turnovers against a good defensive team, along with out-rebounding a good rebounding team. Everyone just played tremendously for 34 minutes or so.”
Rick Jackson has really emerged, what has been the difference for him?
“I don’t see him playing any differently than he has before. He is playing more minutes and that is the difference in the numbers. Along with playing more minutes, he is probably in a little bit better shape. I think his numbers aren’t that far off compared to when he was only playing 20 minutes per game. Now he is getting 35 minutes per game. I haven’t seen that much of a difference, but he has played well all year.”
Was Drexel’s rebounding ability a big concern coming into this game?
“They’re a good rebounding team. You look at them and they’re not big. They are a team that in a man-to-man situation bangs you around and blocks you out. We had enough quickness to get them spread out a little bit. We got off the dribble, which let us get into the lane. We just did a really good job of rebounding on both ends. I thought we were much better on the defensive boards than we have been all season."
What is the difference in these last two games, compared to the rest of the season?
“We’re playing better offensively. I think it takes a while for offense, but our defense started well this year. Defense is usually a little ahead of offense. You just have to find a way to fit everyone together. We had a lot of parts last year that did most of the work. Now I think we’re getting to where everybody is figuring out what they can do.
I thought James Southerland gave us some good minutes, on defense he slipped a little bit. That’s the biggest thing with Dion Waiters and Southerland, they go in together and give up three straight threes. It’s the defensive end for them. We’re just not there defensively where we need to be. They’re younger guys, but they’ve got to get better. It’s something that we’ve got to keep working on.
Fab Melo felt good tonight, but he turned his ankle. He could have played, but I just felt like letting him sit a little bit. We think C.J. Fair will be back with us at practice on the 25th if all goes well. It will be good to have him back.”
