Coach Boeheim Quotes
Coach Boeheim Quotes
Men’s Basketball Media Day
Carmelo Anthony Center – Syracuse, N.Y.
October 12, 2012
How does it feel to be back and getting ready for the season?
“I’m excited. It’s the same every year. It’s the same level of excitement, anticipation. We have to get through this day and then the fun starts tomorrow. We get to practice and get to work with these guys. “
“They’ve had a good fall. They’ve really worked hard in the fall with Ryan (Cabiles) in the weight room and with the coaches and the workouts that we’ve done in September. I’d say these guys are as advanced as any group we’ve ever had at this stage. They have done as much work or more work as any group we’ve ever had and I’m very confident they’re as well prepared as they could be. I’m as ready to go as I can remember. When I’m not ready to go I won’t be here. That’ll be easy.”
Any feeling on this being your last year in the Big EAST?
“You know that’s there. That’s in the background. For a while we thought last year could maybe be the last year. So we got through it. You just have to focus on each game and each team and get prepared. You really don’t think about the next year anyway so that’s really no different. You know you have to think about this year, this team, what we’re doing and what we’re getting ready for. That’s the same as it is every year. There is plenty of time to worry about next year, next year.”
In this early stage, how well of an assessment do you have of the team, especially after you lose so many key players?
“You don’t really. Like what I’ve said, I think these guys have worked as hard as they can and they are as ready individually as they can be. As far as what kind of team they can be, there really isn’t a way of knowing that at this stage.”
“Last year we had so many veteran guys coming back -- they had come off a successful season. There was no reason to think they wouldn’t be very successful at this stage of the year. This team is different.”
“We lost our three primary scorers (Scoop Jardine, Kris Joseph, Dion Waiters), our defensive player of the year in the league (Fab Melo). We’ve never had a team, that I can remember, lose this many guys who were such important parts of what we did and if we had a team that had lost even close to what this team did, we certainly weren’t picked in the top 20 the next year. It’s really a credit to the returning players that we have that people think pretty highly of them -- that you could lose your four best players and still be picked someplace in the top 20, 15, 10, depending on who you’re looking at. That’s a little surprising. But, we don’t know. I won’t know untill we get out there and see how they react. We’ve got a very tough schedule early and a lot of tough games. That will help us figure out what we need to get better at.”
A lot of the analysts are talking about Michael Carter-Williams and his extended role. What do you have envisioned for him and do you think he will make the jump that a lot of people are forecasting?
“I think Michael had a great learning year last year. It wasn’t always easy for him because he is very talented and in normal years he would have played more. He had a sixth pick in the draft ahead of him (Dion Waiters) and two veteran, veteran guards (Scoop Jardine, Brandon Triche). Any other year Michael would’ve played quite a bit. “
“He did get game experience and he did get in some big games and when he got in them he played well. And that’s a good thing. It wasn’t just that he played in the bad games. He played very well on the road against Providence. He played well down at St. John’s. So he’s got some very positive things. I think he learned a lot. I think his practices last year playing against Scoop -- he didn’t like it, but playing against Brandon Reese every day -- I think that was very helpful for his development. Playing against really good players every day in practice is better than playing in games against bad players. So, I think he got tremendous experience and I think he’s ready -- More than ready. I think last year would’ve been an up and down year if he played a lot, but he’s way past that. I think he’s ready to hit the ground running. I don’t anticipate him having anything other than the normal ups and downs that every player has when they’re freshman, sophomores.”
How did Trevor Cooney benefit from last year and where is he now?
“Trevor Cooney probably benefited more from last year than we ever could of hoped for because of his work ethic. He just went off the charts. He just really worked unbelievably hard. He did a great job in practice. He played in practice. He played the most minutes in practice of any player. I never took him out of practice. He was a really good player.”
“Same story as Michael. Any other year, any normal year, Trevor would’ve played last year -- wouldn’t have been redshirted. It was the right thing to do and he took tremendous advantage of it. He is a good basketball player. He’s not just a shooter. He can do other things. He had a great year. He really benefited from last year.”
“Rakeem was kind of in a different situation than Michael Carter-Williams was. He played a lot more and he started. Mike Hopkins told me he put on about 20 pounds this offseason.”
“I think he’s stronger. I think he’s much more prepared to play this year. I expect him to have a really good year. I expect him to be ready.”
As far as the freshmen -- DaJuan and Jerami -- are you expecting them to play right away?
“We have two freshmen. Jerami Grant has really opened some of his teammates’ eyes this fall with his play. He’s a very good player. I think he was underrated in high school. He is ahead of whatever that rating was by whoever made that rating. I think he’s going to be a very good player. He’s shown a lot already.”
“DaJuan Coleman has a tremendous history at winning state championships and being the guy at a tremendous program, who’s been extremely well coached. I think he is more than ready to contribute as a freshman.
What are your expectations of Brandon Triche this season?
“Brandon Triche has been a good player for three years and this year I expect him to be a great player. He’s been a very good player and I think he can go another step. I would be very surprised if he didn’t do that. He’s really deferred a little bit to the guys who were here and I think he realizes this is his year for him to step forward on the offensive and defensive end. I think he will do that. I think he has prepared himself as well as any player I’ve ever coached and I expect that he will have a great year this year.”
“Even though, C.J. is one year behind Brandon, is he kind of in the same situation as being a veteran guy to step up.”
“I think every year when you lose guys, other guys have to step up and the other forwards, C.J. Fair and James Southerland, I think are well prepared to step in and play well. Kris Joseph did a tremendous job for us for four years. These guys are well prepared and certainly able to step in. Both guys.”
James Southerland played well in the NCAA tournament last year, how important do you think that was for his development heading into this year?
I think James has helped us. He’s really contributed and I think he’s ready this year to make another step up. I really do. I think he’s a tremendous player.”
Can you give us a thought about Nancy Cantor’s e-mail (Syracuse Chancellor’s e-mail to the University community today)?
“I was a little bit taken aback today. The chancellor has done an unbelievable job here at Syracuse. She allowed us to build this building, which I think is probably the biggest influencing factor on us getting better, quite a bit better the last three years, and she made that decision along with Daryl Gorss. I think that was a huge decision for the basketball program.”
“I think her relationship in working with the community is something that I’ve always felt was incumbent upon us to do. I think she did that no matter the criticism. I think that was a very outstanding leadership example for all of us. I just think she’s done an unbelievable job with this university and her leadership has been, I believe, without parallel.”
“She has been tremendous for the entire university, and particularly, I believe, for the athletic department. In her tenure money has been put into the department. We had the number one field hockey team in the country and a great cross country program and obviously women’s and men’s lacrosse in Final Fours and winning championships and women’s softball. All these things have to come down from the top. The leadership has to come down and ok that and approve that and provide the resources necessary to do that. I think sometimes that leadership is overlooked a little bit. We’ve had tremendous leadership from the chancellor.”
Men’s Basketball Media Day
Carmelo Anthony Center – Syracuse, N.Y.
October 12, 2012
How does it feel to be back and getting ready for the season?
“I’m excited. It’s the same every year. It’s the same level of excitement, anticipation. We have to get through this day and then the fun starts tomorrow. We get to practice and get to work with these guys. “
“They’ve had a good fall. They’ve really worked hard in the fall with Ryan (Cabiles) in the weight room and with the coaches and the workouts that we’ve done in September. I’d say these guys are as advanced as any group we’ve ever had at this stage. They have done as much work or more work as any group we’ve ever had and I’m very confident they’re as well prepared as they could be. I’m as ready to go as I can remember. When I’m not ready to go I won’t be here. That’ll be easy.”
Any feeling on this being your last year in the Big EAST?
“You know that’s there. That’s in the background. For a while we thought last year could maybe be the last year. So we got through it. You just have to focus on each game and each team and get prepared. You really don’t think about the next year anyway so that’s really no different. You know you have to think about this year, this team, what we’re doing and what we’re getting ready for. That’s the same as it is every year. There is plenty of time to worry about next year, next year.”
In this early stage, how well of an assessment do you have of the team, especially after you lose so many key players?
“You don’t really. Like what I’ve said, I think these guys have worked as hard as they can and they are as ready individually as they can be. As far as what kind of team they can be, there really isn’t a way of knowing that at this stage.”
“Last year we had so many veteran guys coming back -- they had come off a successful season. There was no reason to think they wouldn’t be very successful at this stage of the year. This team is different.”
“We lost our three primary scorers (Scoop Jardine, Kris Joseph, Dion Waiters), our defensive player of the year in the league (Fab Melo). We’ve never had a team, that I can remember, lose this many guys who were such important parts of what we did and if we had a team that had lost even close to what this team did, we certainly weren’t picked in the top 20 the next year. It’s really a credit to the returning players that we have that people think pretty highly of them -- that you could lose your four best players and still be picked someplace in the top 20, 15, 10, depending on who you’re looking at. That’s a little surprising. But, we don’t know. I won’t know untill we get out there and see how they react. We’ve got a very tough schedule early and a lot of tough games. That will help us figure out what we need to get better at.”
A lot of the analysts are talking about Michael Carter-Williams and his extended role. What do you have envisioned for him and do you think he will make the jump that a lot of people are forecasting?
“I think Michael had a great learning year last year. It wasn’t always easy for him because he is very talented and in normal years he would have played more. He had a sixth pick in the draft ahead of him (Dion Waiters) and two veteran, veteran guards (Scoop Jardine, Brandon Triche). Any other year Michael would’ve played quite a bit. “
“He did get game experience and he did get in some big games and when he got in them he played well. And that’s a good thing. It wasn’t just that he played in the bad games. He played very well on the road against Providence. He played well down at St. John’s. So he’s got some very positive things. I think he learned a lot. I think his practices last year playing against Scoop -- he didn’t like it, but playing against Brandon Reese every day -- I think that was very helpful for his development. Playing against really good players every day in practice is better than playing in games against bad players. So, I think he got tremendous experience and I think he’s ready -- More than ready. I think last year would’ve been an up and down year if he played a lot, but he’s way past that. I think he’s ready to hit the ground running. I don’t anticipate him having anything other than the normal ups and downs that every player has when they’re freshman, sophomores.”
How did Trevor Cooney benefit from last year and where is he now?
“Trevor Cooney probably benefited more from last year than we ever could of hoped for because of his work ethic. He just went off the charts. He just really worked unbelievably hard. He did a great job in practice. He played in practice. He played the most minutes in practice of any player. I never took him out of practice. He was a really good player.”
“Same story as Michael. Any other year, any normal year, Trevor would’ve played last year -- wouldn’t have been redshirted. It was the right thing to do and he took tremendous advantage of it. He is a good basketball player. He’s not just a shooter. He can do other things. He had a great year. He really benefited from last year.”
“Rakeem was kind of in a different situation than Michael Carter-Williams was. He played a lot more and he started. Mike Hopkins told me he put on about 20 pounds this offseason.”
“I think he’s stronger. I think he’s much more prepared to play this year. I expect him to have a really good year. I expect him to be ready.”
As far as the freshmen -- DaJuan and Jerami -- are you expecting them to play right away?
“We have two freshmen. Jerami Grant has really opened some of his teammates’ eyes this fall with his play. He’s a very good player. I think he was underrated in high school. He is ahead of whatever that rating was by whoever made that rating. I think he’s going to be a very good player. He’s shown a lot already.”
“DaJuan Coleman has a tremendous history at winning state championships and being the guy at a tremendous program, who’s been extremely well coached. I think he is more than ready to contribute as a freshman.
What are your expectations of Brandon Triche this season?
“Brandon Triche has been a good player for three years and this year I expect him to be a great player. He’s been a very good player and I think he can go another step. I would be very surprised if he didn’t do that. He’s really deferred a little bit to the guys who were here and I think he realizes this is his year for him to step forward on the offensive and defensive end. I think he will do that. I think he has prepared himself as well as any player I’ve ever coached and I expect that he will have a great year this year.”
“Even though, C.J. is one year behind Brandon, is he kind of in the same situation as being a veteran guy to step up.”
“I think every year when you lose guys, other guys have to step up and the other forwards, C.J. Fair and James Southerland, I think are well prepared to step in and play well. Kris Joseph did a tremendous job for us for four years. These guys are well prepared and certainly able to step in. Both guys.”
James Southerland played well in the NCAA tournament last year, how important do you think that was for his development heading into this year?
I think James has helped us. He’s really contributed and I think he’s ready this year to make another step up. I really do. I think he’s a tremendous player.”
Can you give us a thought about Nancy Cantor’s e-mail (Syracuse Chancellor’s e-mail to the University community today)?
“I was a little bit taken aback today. The chancellor has done an unbelievable job here at Syracuse. She allowed us to build this building, which I think is probably the biggest influencing factor on us getting better, quite a bit better the last three years, and she made that decision along with Daryl Gorss. I think that was a huge decision for the basketball program.”
“I think her relationship in working with the community is something that I’ve always felt was incumbent upon us to do. I think she did that no matter the criticism. I think that was a very outstanding leadership example for all of us. I just think she’s done an unbelievable job with this university and her leadership has been, I believe, without parallel.”
“She has been tremendous for the entire university, and particularly, I believe, for the athletic department. In her tenure money has been put into the department. We had the number one field hockey team in the country and a great cross country program and obviously women’s and men’s lacrosse in Final Fours and winning championships and women’s softball. All these things have to come down from the top. The leadership has to come down and ok that and approve that and provide the resources necessary to do that. I think sometimes that leadership is overlooked a little bit. We’ve had tremendous leadership from the chancellor.”
