Syracuse Colgate Boeheim
Syracuse vs. Colgate
November 19, 2011
Carrier Dome - Syracuse, N.Y.
Coach Boeheim Quotes
Opening Statement:
The first half we did a really great job -- we moved the ball and made shots. I think the difference in the second half is we moved the ball, we made some great passes, we got the ball to the right people and we missed shots. When you make them and the ball goes in, it looks a lot prettier.
Kris Joseph hurt his knee a little bit in practice. He could have played in the second half but it was sore and stiff, so we’re just going to try to get him healthy for next week.
These four games have been good. We have a lot of guys in there to get them used to what this is all about. Hopefully we’re pretty well prepared going to New York."
How have you been able to maintain the focus these past 48 hours?
“We play basketball every day. We work at it every day, all year round. That’s what we do.
I’ve talked to our players many times about basketball, about their lives and what they have to do. What we try to get our players and coaching staff to do is you have about 22 hours in a day that you do what you need to do and you don’t even really have to think about basketball. Two hours a day you come in here—I think it’s two and a half -- and you think about basketball. You focus on basketball. You have to be able to come in and focus on what you’re doing when you come to play. That’s what we do.”
People say you’re a deep team. Are they also more close-knit in your opinion than they’ve been in recent years?
“No I don’t think so. I think they’re good and I think we’ve had 36 years of teams that have gotten along really well and have been pretty darn close-knit. That’s how you win -- that’s one of the ways you win. These guys are good. They work hard. We’ve got a lot of work to do. We’re far from where we need to be, but I think this team will get better. They’ve been getting better as we go along.”
What has your role been during the past 48 hours, emotionally?
“Well I am emotional sometimes. The players—they’re young kids. As a coach, they’re going to go through a lot of different things in their time here at Syracuse, that’s part of college. Iit’s not always the good part but there are always ups and downs and players go through that.
As coach you know that and you have to get them through those times. I don’t think sometimes we realize how difficult college can be when you throw in playing in high-level college basketball. Players have all kinds of different emotions and things that happen to them and that’s part of their growing-up period that they have to go through.
As a coach you try to help them to get through that part. I think one thing that helps us tremendously is having Z (Lazarus Sims) and Gerry (McNamara) around—two young guys who have just been there and know a lot of that stuff. Those guys are really good with the players. I think the players lean on those guys tremendously. Our trainer, our strength coach -- they’re tremendous around these kids and working with these kids on a daily basis.
That’s what makes the program go. Our program will be fine. It’s been pretty good for 36 years and we’ve been through a lot of different things. We’ll get through whatever happens in our program."
You were quoted saying “I am not Joe Paterno”
“That whole thing came about from kind of ranting about stuff. This is the only thing I’ll talk about because that bothered me. When Coach Paterno said ‘I didn’t do enough, I could have done more,’ it was that kind of reference. If I had heard something or something had happened or something happens today -- then I am going to do something. It was kind of that reference. It was not meant to be what it was turned into.
I am not going to say anything new so I’ll just repeat. I’ve been friends for 50 years with Coach Fine and that buys a lot of loyalty from me. It should and that’s what I was talking about.”
November 19, 2011
Carrier Dome - Syracuse, N.Y.
Coach Boeheim Quotes
Opening Statement:
The first half we did a really great job -- we moved the ball and made shots. I think the difference in the second half is we moved the ball, we made some great passes, we got the ball to the right people and we missed shots. When you make them and the ball goes in, it looks a lot prettier.
Kris Joseph hurt his knee a little bit in practice. He could have played in the second half but it was sore and stiff, so we’re just going to try to get him healthy for next week.
These four games have been good. We have a lot of guys in there to get them used to what this is all about. Hopefully we’re pretty well prepared going to New York."
How have you been able to maintain the focus these past 48 hours?
“We play basketball every day. We work at it every day, all year round. That’s what we do.
I’ve talked to our players many times about basketball, about their lives and what they have to do. What we try to get our players and coaching staff to do is you have about 22 hours in a day that you do what you need to do and you don’t even really have to think about basketball. Two hours a day you come in here—I think it’s two and a half -- and you think about basketball. You focus on basketball. You have to be able to come in and focus on what you’re doing when you come to play. That’s what we do.”
People say you’re a deep team. Are they also more close-knit in your opinion than they’ve been in recent years?
“No I don’t think so. I think they’re good and I think we’ve had 36 years of teams that have gotten along really well and have been pretty darn close-knit. That’s how you win -- that’s one of the ways you win. These guys are good. They work hard. We’ve got a lot of work to do. We’re far from where we need to be, but I think this team will get better. They’ve been getting better as we go along.”
What has your role been during the past 48 hours, emotionally?
“Well I am emotional sometimes. The players—they’re young kids. As a coach, they’re going to go through a lot of different things in their time here at Syracuse, that’s part of college. Iit’s not always the good part but there are always ups and downs and players go through that.
As coach you know that and you have to get them through those times. I don’t think sometimes we realize how difficult college can be when you throw in playing in high-level college basketball. Players have all kinds of different emotions and things that happen to them and that’s part of their growing-up period that they have to go through.
As a coach you try to help them to get through that part. I think one thing that helps us tremendously is having Z (Lazarus Sims) and Gerry (McNamara) around—two young guys who have just been there and know a lot of that stuff. Those guys are really good with the players. I think the players lean on those guys tremendously. Our trainer, our strength coach -- they’re tremendous around these kids and working with these kids on a daily basis.
That’s what makes the program go. Our program will be fine. It’s been pretty good for 36 years and we’ve been through a lot of different things. We’ll get through whatever happens in our program."
You were quoted saying “I am not Joe Paterno”
“That whole thing came about from kind of ranting about stuff. This is the only thing I’ll talk about because that bothered me. When Coach Paterno said ‘I didn’t do enough, I could have done more,’ it was that kind of reference. If I had heard something or something had happened or something happens today -- then I am going to do something. It was kind of that reference. It was not meant to be what it was turned into.
I am not going to say anything new so I’ll just repeat. I’ve been friends for 50 years with Coach Fine and that buys a lot of loyalty from me. It should and that’s what I was talking about.”
