Player Quotes N.C. State
Syracuse vs. N.C. State
December 4, 2010
Syracuse, N.Y. – Carrier Dome
Student-Athlete Quotes
Kris Joseph, Junior, Forward
What do you think about being undefeated at this stage in the season?
“I think that helps. I think that further down the season, further down the line, we are going to be a team that knows how to play this game.”
Coach (Boeheim) was talking earlier about you being very emotional after you miss a shot. Do you feel you’re playing with too much emotion?
“If I miss a shot, I’m going to be down on myself sometimes. But I can’t worry about a missed shot because everyone misses shots. I’m going to work on that a little more to think about the fact that more shots are coming and not to get down on that one shot.”
Everyone is very anxious about Tuesday’s Michigan State game, how anxious are you this evening with how your team really stacks up right now?
“I think it is going to be a great test for us. I think a lot of these games are big tests for us, but this is going to be one of the biggest tests we’ve ever had.”
Scoop Jardine, Junior, Guard
What did you think of the game?
We’ve been having some close games. We know we always have to come together to win games like this. This is how it is going to be. I’ve been here four years now in the BIG EAST. We have to keep winning games; this is what it is about.
What do you think about how fast things have come together defensively and how you can win games defensively?
C.J. (Fair), Dion (Waiters) and Baye (Moussa Keita) are doing a great job. Today it was C.J. (Fair) and Baye (Moussa Keita) who did a lot, but they come in and do the best they can. Baye (Moussa Keita) came in with energy. C.J. (Fair) came in with energy. We have a lot of different looks and we have to bring it all together.”
What do think of the shooting? Is it shots they are giving you guys? Is it shots selection?
“Yes, it is more shot selection. We have to calm down.”
You have Michigan State coming up, a large national program, a top-five team, are you guys thinking about that right now?
“I wasn’t thinking about it until right now. Michigan State, that is what you come to Syracuse for, to play those types of games. I’ve been watching them all year. They are a good team. They are definitely a top- two team in the country in my eyes. It is going to be tough for us. We won these first eight games. We are going to go down there and protect our home turf. We are going to play basketball.”
You guys were down with about five minutes to go, why did you win this game?
“Coach (Boeheim) called a great call. We were down five or six and coach called a press and we got some steals. A lot of teams sit back in the zone and we surprise them. That is how we got the lead.”
Rick Jackson, Senior, Forward
Boeheim seems like the unhappiest 8-0 coach in the country, disappointed in shooting, etc. How do you read his attitude since you guys are undefeated?
“Coach Boeheim wants to get the best out of us. We aren’t happy as a team. We want to get better every game we play. So when he criticizes us, we don’t take it personally because at the end of the day, he wants to win just as bad as we do. He’s going to get us ready to win. At the end of the day, he wants to get us better. He loves us.”
You already talked a bit about Michigan State. Is that the kind of game you guys will have pick to it up for right about now?
“Yes, definitely. It’s definitely a chance for us to grow up as a team. We had some close wins, they’ve had some close wins and close loses. We have to go down there and just play basketball.”
From watching Michigan State this year, is there anything specific that jumps out at you?
“Yes, they are a great team, they are a great program. They are playing two years in a row with the same team so they are a successful team. This is a great chance for us because like I said, we are not going to see teams like this. This is probably the best team we are going to play all year.”
