Player Postgame Quotes
Syracuse vs. Marquette
February 6, 2010
Player Quotes
Juanita Ward, Senior, Forward
What was the difference in mentality from the first to the second half?
"I just knew that I had to do something different. Coming out in the first half wasn't so good so we really just had to start picking it up and start playing better. Basketball is my life and we needed to start making improvements."
What do you think about the way Carmen Tyson-Thomas played today?
"Carmen is a really good shooter. A lot of people misjudge her. People tend to take her for granted because she is a freshman, but she is a really good player. She can post up down low, she can shoot the three, take you off the drive and she can play point guard. She is a great player and a lot of people overlook that."
Carmen Tyson-Thomas
You always tell us that you haven’t done anything. Have you finally done something?
"I did a little something. Nothing special yet, it is coming though."
You have obviously been working hard this whole year for rebounds and it seems know you are working really hard to find that shot off the wing. Have you been getting picks for that or is that just effort?
"I have had pretty good screens. I am trying to improve my game as a whole and not just make it about rebounds. Rebounds are what I am good at, but I am trying to be a better shooter."
Do you describe your game like Juanita Ward did as all-around?
"Not yet. I describe the way I play is a hustle player. I put in a lot of effort and I hustle a lot. I think everything that I do shows how much I want to play and the effort that I give shows that too. I think I am a good rebounder, average shooter, average scorer and an
average defender. Not yet all-around, but I have a lot of confidence that I will get there."
Can you tell me a little about how the three point shots that you had made you feel?
"I try not to think about the situations. I just try to play hard. I know there are times and places for things, but I wasn’t really thinking about the score. I just shot it like Coach (Hillsman) says to do."
How important is it to you to know that you have veterans you can lean on in difficult games like this versus Marquette?
"It is a good feeling. They do it in practice too. We have the same situations in practice and they will take big shots and make big plays in practice. It is a good thing that we have dependable players like that."
After having an exceptional game versus Pittsburgh and today versus Marquette, has anything changed for you or are things just starting to come together?
"I think it is just kind of coming together. I want to play more and I want us to get those wins. I want to hit the 20 mark and I am going to do my best to get us there."
Nicole Michael
You and Juanita Ward had 14 out of the first 15 points in the first half. Were you feeling any pressure to bring the team back? What was that stretch like?
"Definitely, Juanita and I are both leaders so we have to play our role in keeping the team motivated and scoring. We do whatever we can to get the team back in the game."
What were your thoughts on how Carmen Tyson-Thomas played today?
"She made a lot of great plays as a freshman. She did a great job. She is getting more comfortable. She has had to great games back-to-back. She will keep on going and she will do very well here."
Can you talk about your confidence and how it is going to help the team on the road to the NCAA?
"We have to keep our confidence up as a team. It is important that we keep playing hard. We need to keep doing the little things and Coach (Hillsman) always emphasizes rebounding. When we don’t rebound well, we don’t win."
Do you feel more pressure now that you have broken the scoring record?
"Not at all. I didn’t even notice I broke the scoring record when I was playing against Pittsburgh last week. I am going to keep playing to win and keep scoring."
