Player Quotes Rutgers
Syracuse vs. Rutgers
February 19, 2011
Syracuse, N.Y. – Carrier Dome
Student-Athlete Quotes
Brandon Triche, Sophomore, Guard
Tonight you made a lot of foul shots. How have you worked on improving your shooting game?
“Just concentrating and practice. Just making sure you’re able to focus at practice. It really helped today.”
It’s no secret that you have two tough road games coming up. How important was it to win on your home court today?
“Great. Earlier today St. John’s beat Pittsburgh and DePaul almost beat Villanova, and I think West Virginia beat Notre Dame. To see those underdogs win, we didn’t want that to happen to us. Just to play hard and stick in there, I’m proud of us.”
What surprised you about Rutgers, if anything, today? They came out and they played confident, they didn’t seem phased at all by the Carrier Dome. Were you surprised that they stuck around like they did?
“No. The last few weeks they’ve been playing well. Beating Villanova, after that game they definitely had a lot of confidence and thought that they can beat anybody. We really didn’t take them lightly. We had a few opportunities to put them away but they crept right back and we had to pull it out at the end.”
Despite only making three shots today, what is your mentality as a shooter coming back on Monday?
“After every half I think it’s a good game whether I’m doing bad or not. To start the game, having a short memory is going to be a big thing for me.”
C.J. Fair, Freshman, Forward
How impressed are you with yourself? I know it’s really about the team but you’ve really stepped in to the game.
“I’m happy so far with how I’ve been playing now. I’ve gotten opportunities to get out there and I’m just improving. My coach says I should be out there, he’s sticking with me.”
Kris Joseph, Junior, Forward
What did you see in your dunk, the opening of the base line?
“Yes, that’s what I was used to doing. That’s what I do, I go to the basket and I saw in that particular play it was pointing to the baseline. They were doing a good job of defending all game. He didn’t cut it off and I guess I had to step on him, I just wanted to finish.”
You also had a big three coming down the stretch there.
“Yeah. One thing that keeps me going through the weeks, during practice and throughout the game is Coach Murphy and Coach Z they tell me to stay aggressive and to keep my confidence up. Things aren’t going to go my way for the whole game but they talk to me, tell from the bench or in practice that I have to stay confident and stay aggressive and that’s what I do.”
I know you have concentrated on getting threes from rebounds. How do you think that’s working in terms of getting open in your lanes, etc?
“I think for this team in particular, when teams defend us they really sag in because we are a driving team, that’s what you could call us. We’ve got Rick [Jackson] inside with the double all the time, Brandon [Triche] who can get to the basket, and Scoop [Jardine] who can create. So for the most part, how I’m getting my threes is just moving to the right spots at the right time. If there’s dribble penetration I just come up or I go baseline and that’s how I’ve been getting most of my shots. It definitely helps.”
Has it been sort of a challenge this year that you’re one of the key guys and are teams are guarding you a little bit differently than they did last year?
“It is different. Last year, maybe towards the end of the year I was getting the scout reports. Early in the year I was getting transition baskets and back door cuts because they were focusing in on our three main guys. This year is a little different because I’m probably their top priority and also other defenses are kind of different. But after a while it doesn’t make any difference really because you just have to pick your spot for the right time and make the shots.”
The team shot 47 free throws today. What about your play made Rutgers play so aggressively?
“We got them in the bonus early in both halves and we were coming to the basket strong.
Rick Jackson, Senior, Forward
What were you able to do with the shot space and making them play over aggressive today?
“I think we did a good job just really being aggressive and getting to the line. I think we set up the jump shots today. Once we got in the bonus we just took advantage of it and we just tried to get in the lane and get fouled.”
You went to the free throw line eight times during the last forty second of regulation and throughout overtime. Being in such a high pressured situation, as a player, what goes through your mind? How do you stay calm and cool like you did?
“Just take your time. You don’t want to go up there and rush it. Just go through your routine, things will be fine.”
How about your free throw to tie it up at 70? Same thought process?
“Yeah, once I missed that one, I wanted to make one back so I just took my time and made it.”
With what’s been going on in the BIG EAST today, upsets all over the place, to have you guys avoid that, how important is it?
“It’s important. I knew Rutgers was going to come in here and play pretty well. Lately, they’ve been playing well a lot. We took our time, managed most of their shots, and didn’t let them get their regular guys going. I think we did a good job containing Jonathan Mitchell. We played hard and it came down to the wire and we just pulled one out.
