Syracuse vs. Pittsburgh Coach Boeheim Quotes
Syracuse vs. Pittsburgh
January 16, 2011
Carrier Dome, Syracuse, N.Y.
Coach Boeheim opening statement:
“Our defense was really good early in the first half again. I don’t think we were able to sustain our defense in the second half as well as we played in the first half the last two or three basketball games, which is a concern. I thought we did a good job finding (Ashton) Gibbs, but they had a couple other guys make some threes, which, sometimes that happens, but we did a good job with Gibbs.”
“We happen to attack zones very well and when it got to the floor I thought we did a good job attacking the zone and getting a good three from Kris and a good three on the other side from Dion—they knocked them down. We haven’t been making many perimeter shots and that is something that has been a little bit of a concern. We made those two when we really needed them, but we need to start making some more.”
“Scoop was very good tonight at getting us into the ally-oop situations -- when they were there. He was tremendous. Our defense was good for a long time but we broke down a little bit in the last 10 or 12 minutes, but overall our defense has been good.”
“When you get in these games you just need to make plays and we did. It is not always good to get into these games but when you do you need to make some plays—we made those plays and we made our free throws. Pittsburgh is a good team, I don’t care what their record is, but they can win and they are going to win a lot of games in this league this year. They have been a little unlucky with a couple of their losses and that sometimes happens in this league. We played a very good team—but you lose three or four games and that just happens.”
Could you talk about the significance of 20-0 and setting the school record?
“There is no significance, none whatsoever. The only thing I care about is this year and what we are doing this year.”
What is it about Scoop that makes him important to the team?
“He’s the only leader on the team—he is the leader of this team. He is the only vocal leader. He is a guy who will make plays and is not afraid to make plays—good plays. When he shoots the ball well he is one of the best point guards in the league, if not the best point guard in the league. He would lead the league in assists if he was playing the minutes that the other point guards are playing. He is playing 20 minutes a game—but he is as good as anybody and he shoots the ball well.
Could you talk about Fab’s game tonight?
“He was good tonight. He was big, he played big, and I thought he did a great job. He had a couple of opportunities catching the ball down low but he did not quite catch them and finish, but he is improving.
“Chris was good tonight. He did a lot of good things. CJ (Fair) as always, does little things out there. Brandon Triche was good—really good early and Dion (Waiters) also hit a couple.
“We have had a long period of time here—we have played or practiced every day since the 25th of December. We have had so many games—I am sure we have had the most games out of anybody in the league at this stage and we just haven’t been able to take a day off. It has been a wearing time on these players and they come in here and they do a really good job—this is a very difficult league. We have done a great job. We’ll get the day off tomorrow and then we’ll have time to prepare and get back out there again.”
January 16, 2011
Carrier Dome, Syracuse, N.Y.
Coach Boeheim opening statement:
“Our defense was really good early in the first half again. I don’t think we were able to sustain our defense in the second half as well as we played in the first half the last two or three basketball games, which is a concern. I thought we did a good job finding (Ashton) Gibbs, but they had a couple other guys make some threes, which, sometimes that happens, but we did a good job with Gibbs.”
“We happen to attack zones very well and when it got to the floor I thought we did a good job attacking the zone and getting a good three from Kris and a good three on the other side from Dion—they knocked them down. We haven’t been making many perimeter shots and that is something that has been a little bit of a concern. We made those two when we really needed them, but we need to start making some more.”
“Scoop was very good tonight at getting us into the ally-oop situations -- when they were there. He was tremendous. Our defense was good for a long time but we broke down a little bit in the last 10 or 12 minutes, but overall our defense has been good.”
“When you get in these games you just need to make plays and we did. It is not always good to get into these games but when you do you need to make some plays—we made those plays and we made our free throws. Pittsburgh is a good team, I don’t care what their record is, but they can win and they are going to win a lot of games in this league this year. They have been a little unlucky with a couple of their losses and that sometimes happens in this league. We played a very good team—but you lose three or four games and that just happens.”
Could you talk about the significance of 20-0 and setting the school record?
“There is no significance, none whatsoever. The only thing I care about is this year and what we are doing this year.”
What is it about Scoop that makes him important to the team?
“He’s the only leader on the team—he is the leader of this team. He is the only vocal leader. He is a guy who will make plays and is not afraid to make plays—good plays. When he shoots the ball well he is one of the best point guards in the league, if not the best point guard in the league. He would lead the league in assists if he was playing the minutes that the other point guards are playing. He is playing 20 minutes a game—but he is as good as anybody and he shoots the ball well.
Could you talk about Fab’s game tonight?
“He was good tonight. He was big, he played big, and I thought he did a great job. He had a couple of opportunities catching the ball down low but he did not quite catch them and finish, but he is improving.
“Chris was good tonight. He did a lot of good things. CJ (Fair) as always, does little things out there. Brandon Triche was good—really good early and Dion (Waiters) also hit a couple.
“We have had a long period of time here—we have played or practiced every day since the 25th of December. We have had so many games—I am sure we have had the most games out of anybody in the league at this stage and we just haven’t been able to take a day off. It has been a wearing time on these players and they come in here and they do a really good job—this is a very difficult league. We have done a great job. We’ll get the day off tomorrow and then we’ll have time to prepare and get back out there again.”
