Syracuse vs. Bucknell Coach Boeheim Quotes
Syracuse vs. Bucknell
Dec. 20, 2011
Carrier Dome, Syracuse, N.Y.
Coach Boeheim Quotes
Opening Statement:
“The difference in the game was in the first half when they had four or five wide open shots and they just missed them. Wide open. If they would have made those shots it would have been about an eight-point game at halftime, which is what it should have been, but because they missed them, we got breakouts and we got down the court.
"Our defensive wasn’t as active as it has been. We didn’t force many turnovers and that’s how we get going on offense. But, I thought we made some shots. It was good to get Michael Carter-Williams an opportunity to make some good plays as well. He made a real good play to get Scoop a wide open three. And he made his free throws, which is great experience for him.
"I thought they adjusted and did some different things in the second half. They took some open shots and made them. I thought that we adjusted pretty well and got back in the game. If they would have made a couple more shots in the first half, this would have been a close game. They are a good team. They will be in the NCAA tournament and they will be a difficult team to play against. They are very sound and very well coached. Their big guy is good, they can shoot the ball and they can defend you pretty well.
"Its always tough, coming off a monster game Saturday and you get home late, it’s always difficult to bounce back. I thought, given the circumstances, we did bounce back and had a real good first half. And we were helped because they missed some shots.”
On not creating offense from turnovers…
“We’re a pretty good offensive team. I think people are worried about that and I’m not sure why. We’re a pretty good offensive team. We made some shots the other night, we made some shots tonight, and I think we can make more shots. It was good to get Michael in there and it was good for Rakeem Christmas too. Rakeem got off to a great start and I thought he was very good and very productive. He’s learning, but I thought tonight he did some really good things. I thought Fab Melo rebounded well.
"Again, everyone is not going to play well every night. James Southerland had a couple of looks he missed. C.J. Fair had a couple opportunities that he didn’t convert, but he made a couple good plays. Everyone is not going to play well every night. The one guy we need to have out there every night is Kris Joseph. I think Scoop Jardine is another guy we need to have there, but when someone is off, someone else can pick it up. I thought Fab was very good tonight. Again, they have a good team. Their big guy is good.”
How do you prepare the team after a big win like the one at North Carolina State?
“I think we try to work hard everyday and prepare everyday. There’s going to be some games that they are more excited about than others but that’s natural and normal. It was very quiet tonight and the players went out and I thought they made good plays. They made some really good plays in the first half. We got some movement and we got Brandon Triche wide open for a three and Kris for a three. We made some good decisions and got some people open and knocked down some shots."
Did you feel the team dominated the paint?
“You know we are still working on that -- we rebounded a little better, but I don’t think we are going to dominate too much in there. We’re a balanced team. We’re working on our inside game. I think we have to get better there as we go along. Tonight, Rakeem and Fab did some nice things down low and that’s something we can hopefully get better at”.
Dion (Waiters) didn't play in the second half -- was he injured?
“We wanted to get Michael some opportunities and he’s still trying to figure it out. He made a couple really good plays at the end so I’m glad we were able to leave him in there to get that experience. It was a 13-point game when he made a great drive and dish out to Scoop for a three – then he made four free throws and made good defensive plays. So, that was good for him.”
On Rakeem Christmas…
“Rakeem works in practice, but basically he is too nice. He needs to get more physical on the basketball court. You can be as nice as you want off the court. Carmelo Anthony is the quietest, nicest kid off the court but once he gets on the court it is serious business. He’s physical and he’s going to play you hard and Rock needs to use those skills.
"He’s a physical type player, he’s not a finesse player and he’s not a shooter. He’s got to be a physical player. He’s got to be a warrior down there and right now he’s a nice kid. He has to be able to go on the court and be a warrior and he isn’t right now. This team didn’t block him out and weren’t physical with him so he got to the basket and made some plays. Most teams we play aren’t going to let that happen.
It takes time. I’ve seen almost no big guys come in and be physical. Hakim Warrick played in the NBA six or seven years and his freshman year he couldn’t even play in this league. He got better. He’ll get better.”
What do you attribute Fab's improvement to?
“I think he’s got in better condition so he’s gained some confidence. He moves better. He has better post moves. Last year, he couldn’t work on that because he couldn’t get up and down the court to be able to make a play. He’s basically learning what we would have liked to have him learn last year. He’s getting there. He still thinks he can make a jump shot, which we have a disagreement on. We’re going to have to work through that. He’s not going to win that one!”
Dec. 20, 2011
Carrier Dome, Syracuse, N.Y.
Coach Boeheim Quotes
Opening Statement:
“The difference in the game was in the first half when they had four or five wide open shots and they just missed them. Wide open. If they would have made those shots it would have been about an eight-point game at halftime, which is what it should have been, but because they missed them, we got breakouts and we got down the court.
"Our defensive wasn’t as active as it has been. We didn’t force many turnovers and that’s how we get going on offense. But, I thought we made some shots. It was good to get Michael Carter-Williams an opportunity to make some good plays as well. He made a real good play to get Scoop a wide open three. And he made his free throws, which is great experience for him.
"I thought they adjusted and did some different things in the second half. They took some open shots and made them. I thought that we adjusted pretty well and got back in the game. If they would have made a couple more shots in the first half, this would have been a close game. They are a good team. They will be in the NCAA tournament and they will be a difficult team to play against. They are very sound and very well coached. Their big guy is good, they can shoot the ball and they can defend you pretty well.
"Its always tough, coming off a monster game Saturday and you get home late, it’s always difficult to bounce back. I thought, given the circumstances, we did bounce back and had a real good first half. And we were helped because they missed some shots.”
On not creating offense from turnovers…
“We’re a pretty good offensive team. I think people are worried about that and I’m not sure why. We’re a pretty good offensive team. We made some shots the other night, we made some shots tonight, and I think we can make more shots. It was good to get Michael in there and it was good for Rakeem Christmas too. Rakeem got off to a great start and I thought he was very good and very productive. He’s learning, but I thought tonight he did some really good things. I thought Fab Melo rebounded well.
"Again, everyone is not going to play well every night. James Southerland had a couple of looks he missed. C.J. Fair had a couple opportunities that he didn’t convert, but he made a couple good plays. Everyone is not going to play well every night. The one guy we need to have out there every night is Kris Joseph. I think Scoop Jardine is another guy we need to have there, but when someone is off, someone else can pick it up. I thought Fab was very good tonight. Again, they have a good team. Their big guy is good.”
How do you prepare the team after a big win like the one at North Carolina State?
“I think we try to work hard everyday and prepare everyday. There’s going to be some games that they are more excited about than others but that’s natural and normal. It was very quiet tonight and the players went out and I thought they made good plays. They made some really good plays in the first half. We got some movement and we got Brandon Triche wide open for a three and Kris for a three. We made some good decisions and got some people open and knocked down some shots."
Did you feel the team dominated the paint?
“You know we are still working on that -- we rebounded a little better, but I don’t think we are going to dominate too much in there. We’re a balanced team. We’re working on our inside game. I think we have to get better there as we go along. Tonight, Rakeem and Fab did some nice things down low and that’s something we can hopefully get better at”.
Dion (Waiters) didn't play in the second half -- was he injured?
“We wanted to get Michael some opportunities and he’s still trying to figure it out. He made a couple really good plays at the end so I’m glad we were able to leave him in there to get that experience. It was a 13-point game when he made a great drive and dish out to Scoop for a three – then he made four free throws and made good defensive plays. So, that was good for him.”
On Rakeem Christmas…
“Rakeem works in practice, but basically he is too nice. He needs to get more physical on the basketball court. You can be as nice as you want off the court. Carmelo Anthony is the quietest, nicest kid off the court but once he gets on the court it is serious business. He’s physical and he’s going to play you hard and Rock needs to use those skills.
"He’s a physical type player, he’s not a finesse player and he’s not a shooter. He’s got to be a physical player. He’s got to be a warrior down there and right now he’s a nice kid. He has to be able to go on the court and be a warrior and he isn’t right now. This team didn’t block him out and weren’t physical with him so he got to the basket and made some plays. Most teams we play aren’t going to let that happen.
It takes time. I’ve seen almost no big guys come in and be physical. Hakim Warrick played in the NBA six or seven years and his freshman year he couldn’t even play in this league. He got better. He’ll get better.”
What do you attribute Fab's improvement to?
“I think he’s got in better condition so he’s gained some confidence. He moves better. He has better post moves. Last year, he couldn’t work on that because he couldn’t get up and down the court to be able to make a play. He’s basically learning what we would have liked to have him learn last year. He’s getting there. He still thinks he can make a jump shot, which we have a disagreement on. We’re going to have to work through that. He’s not going to win that one!”
