Head Coacoh Jim Boheim Quotes vs. DePaul
Syracuse vs. DePaul
March 5, 2011
Carrier Dome
Head Coach Jim Boeheim
“We tried to work every shot in, that just happens once in a while. They missed some easy shots. We made a lot of shots. When you make a lot of shots, that’s what happens. Our defense was pretty good. Everybody that got in did something good and positive. Fab (Melo) was very positive. Mookie (Jones) really did a great job, but James (Southerland) and C.J. (Fair) did a good job as well. We had some good days. Offensively, we wanted to play a little better. I think we did. Obviously, when you make a lot of shots like that you’re going to have a good day. It seemed that every shot went in. Tough shots, easy shots, they all went in the basket. When that happens, we have an easy day. I think the bottom line is a couple of weeks ago, even further than that, we were 5-4. We had to go to Connecticut and South Florida and these guys really pulled it together and won those two games. I thought they played pretty well against Louisville and Georgetown, just couldn’t win. The last five they have really pulled it together defensively and hopefully are getting better offensively, as well. To get from 7-6 to 12-6 in this league is a tremendous accomplishment for these players. We go to New York with a good thing, the double bye. It didn’t work out too well last year. You’re going to play a team that is coming off a good win and gain confidence from that. We’ll see what happens when we get down there. These past two weeks have been good for us. We’ll get a couple more days in of practice before we get to New York. I think that will help us as well. This is one of the few times we’ve had an easy game the last game of the year, we’ll take it.”
How important was having the entire week to practice, not having to play a game during the week?
“I think so, you never know. You never know for sure how that works. I think it’s helped. I think it’s really helped the guys coming in off the bench. We probably worked them a little bit harder. The last few days, they’ve had more practice, more work than some of the other guys. I thought this week, particularly Fab (Melo) and James (Southerland) had really good weeks in practice. I think C.J. (Fair) is back pretty close to health, full strength in his ankle. I think those guys got a lot of extra work in the last few days. When you’re playing a lot of games, they don’t get a lot of work.”
How is the team at the end of the regular season, heading into the BIG EAST Tournament?
“I think we are getting there. I think we are getting close. You always are going to have some bruises at this stage in the season. I think the easier last couple weeks have been good for us overall. There were a lot of tough games that we paid the price for to get to this.”
How important was this game for the guys coming in off the bench?
“I think it’s good for them. Again, we’ve been using those guys. Fab (Melo) played in crunch time against Georgetown. James (Southerland) made big plays at Georgetown and C.J. (Fair) has made big plays all year. I think those guys are used to it. Dion (Waiters) has been good for the most part. He just likes to make some bad plays so I can talk to him a little more.”
What can you say about Rick Jackson’s career here at Syracuse?
“I think Ricky (Jackson) is a great example of a guy that comes in and gets better each year and continues to improve. I think he’s the best inside player in the league this year. He’s led the league in rebounding, field goal percentage, and blocked shots. I think he has had a tremendous year, a tremendous career really. He’s just been getting better. He gives you everything he’s got, every game. He doesn’t ever come up short. He’s always doing what he does. There’s a lot to be said for that. He never takes a game off, ever, never has.”
What do you take away from this win?
“You don’t think too much about this game. They’re down. They lost one of their best players and it’s the end of the year. It’s a tough game for them. We just wanted to make sure we played well and we did. We played as well as we could offensively.”
