MBBquotes
SU Men’s Basketball Media Day
Student-Athlete Quotes
Student-Athlete Quotes
Scoop Jardine
What do you do to combat the high expectations?
“Just continue to work hard and stay together as a unit. People are going to say things about us throughout the year. Mostly stay together and stay for each other -- that’s how we can handle expectations.”
What are your impressions of the BIG EAST Conference?
“Every year we lose people in the Big East, but teams get better. We got a lot of teams. A lot of good teams. A lot of good players. And it’s going to be a grind. We just have to worry about what Syracuse has to do and not worry about anybody else.”
What did you do to improve your game this offseason?
“I just played a lot of basketball. Playing basketball is going to have me ready for anybody. The most important thing I want to do with this team is to be a consistent leader in practice, off the court and on the court. That’s the thing that is going to help this team. That’s the thing I think we’re missing -- a great leader. We need to continue to leave our egos at the door, to sacrifice for the big goal and that’s winning a championship.
What is it like with you and Kris as the primary seniors?
“Kris is basically the same person as me. We are both guys that have been in every position playing for Coach Boeheim. We have come off the bench, we have started, we have not started. We have been a part of a great team. We know what it takes to win so, we bring a lot of leadership ability between the both of us. If the young guys follow, we’ll be good.”
Kris Joseph
Are you motivated to meet the high expectations?
“Motivation is so high. We know what we’re capable of. We know what people expect of us, but we know what we’re capable of and we know that those expectations, we can exceed them, if we all do the right things. We have to become one. All 10 guys, all 20 guys. From the people who play to the people who don’t, to the ones who help us in practice. We all have to come together because everyone on this team plays an important role.”
Are you looking forward to Midnight Madness?
“I don’t know if it’s a rumor, but I heard 20,000 or more are going to be in the Dome. It could be a rumor or it could not. You know there’s a little concert, there’s the alumni game, so it’s going to be exciting to be in front of them again. I love the fans here in Syracuse. They’ve definitely shown me great appreciation and shown me love all my four years here. It’s good to give back to them.”
How is your health?
“I’m back to 100 percent. I’m feeling good. There’s no thinking about it when I play in pick up or in practice. I don’t think about it much. I’m back to 100 percent.”
Were you dissappointed to not be able to play competitively over the summer because of your rehab?
“My body is my temple. Without this, without my legs, without my arm, I can’t do what I want to do, so if I could do it again, I do it again the same way.”
What's it like being named a pre-season Blue Ribbon First Team All-American?
“Those are great honors, preseason honors for our team, for individuals, but I don’t try to think about that because it could mean much or it could mean nothing. I just want to go out there play my type of basketball -- Syracuse type of basketball -- win games.”
Do you think about the NCAA Tournament loss to Marquette?
“Not at all. You lose, there’s not much you can do. The thing about the NCAA Tournament when you lose, there’s no, ‘let’s get them back next week.’ You have to bite that bullet. We’ve gotten past it. It was definitely hard the few weeks after, but you have to move on.”
How deep is this year's team?
“We’ve been playing pickup basketball after workouts. I can see it. The intensity level and competition level is out of this world. The practices are going to be like games. I think there is going to be a lot of heated battles. I can see it now because it has happened in the past. We are all competitors and it’s going to get like that, but that will only help us. It can’t do anything but help us.”
What did you think of the way Rick Jackson prepared for last season? Has that had an affect on you guys?
“You know it going in, that this is your last go around and you don’t want to go on a bad note. He [Rick Jackson] went out with a bang. He averaged a double-double. I tip my hat off to Rick because he did a great job in the offseason getting himself prepared and ready for what he did. You want to see that. You want to follow those footsteps. I’m sure Scoop would like to follow those footsteps as well. Being able to go out there leaving the Big East and leaving this team, Syracuse, on top.”
Brandon Triche
Is there pressure because of all the expectations on this team?
“It’s not actually pressure because our ultimate goal is to win a National Championship. Our goal is not to be the number four team or be the number one in the country. Just to go off last year, Connecticut wasn’t the number one team. They finished ninth in the Big East and won the National Championship. I’m sure they were not saying to themselves ‘man, I wish we were number one.’ I think the pressure is on us as far as what we create for ourselves -- Knowing that we are capable of winning.”
Do you feel good on the level of experience on this team?
“Experience is definitely the key thing, especially late in games and late in the season. It is definitely going to be beneficial for us. Just to be able to teach the younger guys and help them speed up, will make us better off that other teams. Having eight or nine guys back who really played a lot last year -- it’s going to be a great aspect to our team. More than that, we have guys who are hungry. I think we fell short the last couple years and we want to win.”
Is this a deep roster?
“We got about 15 guys who deserve to play Division I basketball and start. Knowing that, you have to bring it. Every day is going to make me better and what you do in practice is going to translate into the game.”
Baye Moussa Keita
How did rehabilitation on your wrist go this offseason?
"It took about a month and a half to get everything back. After that, I was fine to play. I played a tournament in Europe. "
How was the tournament in Europe?
"Brandon Triche and I went to Estonia for eight days. We had a pretty a good experience playing. My hand was fine."
Did you have any trouble catching the ball?
"They wanted to make sure I had tape on during the game. My hand would get sweaty with the tape and that is why the ball was coming out all the time. I don't have to tape it to play anymore. I only have to tape it for lifting."
What kind of work did you do this summer to prepare for the season?
"I'm really happy about my summer. I worked out with Ryan (Cabiles). I was rehabbing at the beginning, but I'm very happy about the work I put in."
Describe your freshman year?
"I learned a lot last year. Coming into the season, there are a lot of expectations because everyone is back and healthy. I didn't have any experience going into the BIG EAST last season. This season I know what to expect."
Michael Carter-Williams,
What's it like working with the veteran guards on this team?
"I know if I keep learning from them that it's going to help me in the long run. I try not to think about myself, just the team. I'm more worried about what is going to benefit the team, not myself. As the team goes on and further in the tournament, it's just going to make me look better. If I just worry about my teammates and contributing, I'll be fine in the long run."
How will you handle the transition from high school to college play?
"I'm focused on staying positive and up through the struggles because every freshman goes through struggles. As soon as I hit that wall, I have to keep pushing myself to get through it."
"I bring a positive attitude to the team and find the open man. I have explosiveness and can knock down the open shot. I can be a team leader when I'm on the floor."
What have you learned from Scoop (Jardine) and Brandine (Triche)?
I've learned that I'm going to go through struggles and games where I'm going to be off. I'm going to stay positive and learn from them every day. If I learn from them every day like they learned from their past teammates, I'm going to be successful.
How do you feel about the high expectations going into the season?
"It means a lot. There's definitely going to be some pressure on me. I dream about going to the Final Four and the National Championship. Every college player wants to do that. I try to put in the work every day to prepare myself for that moment."
How do you feel about being able to play in front of the Syracuse legends at Midnight Madness?
"It's great to have them watch me play. I just want to stay within my game and show them what I've got."
What advantages do you have as a big guard?
"My length helps me out a lot. I get into passing lanes and contest shots on defense. On offense, it helps with offensive rebounding. A lot of little guys cover me and I can see the floor real well. Being a big guy really helps me a lot."
Trevor Cooney
Trevor Cooney
What would you say is your skill set?
“The ability to shoot the ball, make some shots. Playing hard, IQ and just bringing it really.”
Do you feel there is pressure on the freshmen to play right away?
“Not really. We have great leaders here, who are going to lead us, and we’re just following them.”
What have you learned from the other guards on the team?
“Just little things. We play pickup every day. Little things of how to get open, how to get your shoot off. I mean they have been in the Big East for two, three years now. Scoop’s been here for five years, so just learning little things about the game.”
Student-Athlete Quotes – Media Day
Rakeem Christmas:
On playing time early in the season:
“Whatever Coach wants me to do I’ll do. I’m just coming in here to work hard”.
On playing a 2-3 zone in high school:
“It helped me a lot because my coach did it on purpose so I could get ready for here. I played 2-3 in AAU too so I’ve been playing it most of my life, so I’m already used to it”.
On committing early:
“It really does [go slowly]. After that, I just wanted to get out of there, but I knew I had to get my work done first and now I’m ready to be here”.
On playing in the Big East against high school teammates:
“It’s fun. I know a lot of people in the Big East and kids who went to my high school it’s going to be nice seeing them again and I’m going to play hard against them too”.
Dion Waiters:
How do you feel about the upcoming season?
“If everybody comes together and do what we got to do as a unit, I think it could be a special year”.
How is the team preparing?
“Everybody’s on the same page, just you know being ready. When we step on the court, we’re ready to go because everyone is coming for you. We’re top in the rankings this year and everybody is out to get you. We got to bring our A game”.
Have you been working hard?
“That’s all I did was work hard. That’s all I still do. Every day I work hard. Two, three times a day in the gym. This is a big year for us. I think we really could do it. We’ve got a great group of guys, a great coaching staff. We’re all on the same page and I think we can go far”.
“That’s all I did was work hard. That’s all I still do. Every day I work hard. Two, three times a day in the gym. This is a big year for us. I think we really could do it. We’ve got a great group of guys, a great coaching staff. We’re all on the same page and I think we can go far”.
C.J. Fair:
What do you see as your role this year?
“Obviously, Kris Joseph is the starter in the three spot. I’m a versatile player so Coach may put me at the four for me to play even more so that’s what I'll do. I think that can kind of work in my favor”.
Do you consider yourself a defensive-minded player?
“I didn’t look at myself as a defensive minded-player. I’m an offensive player, but that’s what this team needed from me last year. I needed to get the hustle points, the big blocks, the big rebounds. Whatever the team needs me to be this year, that’s what I’m going to do.
What will be the difference in your play this season from last (your freshman year)?
“You will see me being aggressive when I have the ball outside. Last year I kind of forced the issue a lot, driving and now I’ve been working on my jumper a lot this summer so you will see quite a few jumper attempts from me”.
How do you feel about the hype this season?
“Preseason, we’re one of the top teams. We’ve got to bring it from the start. We think we’re the top team so we’ve got to come play like we’re the top team. We’ve just got to get off to a good start”.
Fab Melo:
Do you feel there is pressure on you this season?
“Definitely [there is less pressure]. This year, I know what to expect from me, what I expect from the season, and what I am going to feel during the season so now I know it’s going to be better”.
What surprised you about your freshman year?
“The expectations people had for me. I thought it would be easier. I thought I would go there and play and average 20 points a game, something like that. People realized that it’s not like that. I know I had to learn a lot. It was hard for me to deal with that, the expectations people had for me. Now, I’m more mature and it will be better”.
Was last year a learning experience?
“I think it was a good experience for me. Now, I know what to expect. I think I learned from it a lot”.
James Southerland
What did you do during the offseason?
“Basically staying in shape and rebounding. I feel like it’s just natural. Just always running, making sure that you’re in shape and healthy and staying mentally focused."
What did you take away from last season?
“I think more rebounding and being more active. I think crashing a little bit more will help me and will help the team as well”.
What do you bring to the team?
“Basically, I’m bringing a little bit of everything. Just a little more this year. Making sure I crash a little more this year. The more I crash, the better it will be for everybody else”.
