Women's Basketball Media Day Student-Athlete Quotes
Student Athlete Quotes
Syracuse Women’s Basketball Media Day
October 12, 2012
Kayla Alexander, senior center
On what she expects this season:
As always, I’m really looking forward to the year. I can’t wait to start playing games. We go hard in practice and beat each other up, so it’s nice to be able to beat up on other people.
On how practice has been going:
“We have been going hard at practice. Freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors, we have been going hard.”
On her senior season:
“We want this to be a different year. We want to be better than the year before, so everybody is giving their all.”
On what it will take to make NCAAs:
“We have to have the right mentality, the right mindset. We have to refuse to settle for anything less.”
On the prospect of becoming the school’s all-time leading scorer and shot-blocker:
“I don’t look at all that. I just want to go play. I just want our team to win, and if I’m doing my part by contributing to help us get the ‘W’, that is all I care about.”
La’Shay Taft, junior guard
On who will make up for the losses of last year’s seniors:
“It’s hard to say. We all are getting up and down the court. We are doing a lot of running. It’s going to be a faster tempo. It’s hard to say who is going to fill Iasia’s (Hemingway) position because everybody is going to be outside the perimeter and four out and one in. The one would be Kayla (Alexander), of course, or Shakeya (Leary).”
On what the offense will try to do this season:
“Get to the basket it, make open shots, make the open passes and score. Score at will. Everybody has the ability to play any position from the one through four and you are playing out of the perimeter.”
On how the offense is working:
“We won’t know until we actually start playing and see how we gel together and play together. Once our first couple of games come, we will see how it turns out.”
Brittney Sykes, freshman guard
On how some of the freshmen got to know each other:
“It was a program called Summer Start for all the freshmen and I am a huge fan of team chemistry. All the freshmen—we are all family. Together we have a strong bond along with the veterans and the upperclassmen who have been here. For the freshmen personally, we are great. We love each other.”
On the appeal of playing with talented fellow freshmen:
“It was a huge appeal to me, who I am coming in with is a big deal. I want to know the pieces of the puzzle being put together, what the coaches are thinking and who they brought in. Everybody they brought in can play multiple roles and it is good to be multi-talented for this team. I can’t wait.”
On what it would mean to make NCAAs:
“It would be amazing. I really want to touch that floor one day. To touch it my freshman year with this veteran squad would be great. It would be great to be one of the pieces. We can’t do it without each other, so it’s not just me. It’s everybody.”
Rachel Coffey, junior guard
On being a major contributor down the stretch last season:
“It’s humbling and I’m just grateful to have the opportunity to be here and get this chance.”
On the prospect of starting at point guard this season:
“I don’t know yet. We’ll just have to see what happens. Whoever it is will do a good job for the team.”
On what she is working on improving this season:
“Just to have the same tempo, keep it up. Play defense, win games, everything that a basketball player wants to do.”
On the goals for this season:
“Always the NCAA and win a championship, make the postseason.”
On playing with the seniors:
Playing with them, playing with everyone on the team is really great. Carmen is a very good rebound player. Kayla is a leader on the floor. She finishes and she’s just a very good impact player.
On what she brings to the table:
“I’m just trying to pass the ball, to them to speak to them on the floor, do whatever I have to do.
Carmen Tyson-Thomas, senior guard
On trying to make the NCAA Tournament:
“I think for us it has always been make it or break it, it is pretty much do or die. It is our last year going into it and we want to finish strong. We’re always looking to go to the NCAAs.”
On what she worked on in the offseason:
“I worked on ball-handling, outside shooting, just trying to get better in any way that I could.”
On the boost the freshmen have given:
“Oh yeah, fresh legs, bring in fresh meat and they’re looking to get into the mix too. It’s been pretty positive for us.”
On what to expect from the defense:
“It’s going to look very active, crazy. We’re just going to get after it. We’re still in our zone too. We’re everywhere. We just want to do things that will make us better, make us improve as a whole unit.
On the team’s depth:
“Oh yeah, five in, five out; three in, leave there out there; Coach can really mix it up. We really have a lot of depth and that’s going to take us far.”
Elashier Hall, senior guard
On what it will take to make NCAAs:
“We just have to do what we’ve done and be the best at it and improve on things that we have lacked in previous seasons. Just keep working hard and competing, that’s all we can do.”
On senior year coming quickly:
“Yeah it did! It’s cool, it had to happen someday. I’m very excited about it, being a senior and being one of the leaders. Seeing the young kids come in and it’s a great class that they have come in with. They’ve been so great so far, so enthusiastic, energetic. I just love their energy. It brings something new to our team, so I’m very excited.”
On her postseason experience:
“We definitely want to play in post season. You always want to play in the NCAA tournament, but the NIT is a really good experience and we have gotten better over the years so I expect for us to go further.”
On the defense pressing fullcourt:
“Definitely more up tempo, more pressure, in your face. We’ve got guards like Brittany (Sykes) who are so athletic and long. She has so much energy that she can just come in when somebody needs a break. We’re definitely going to be that up tempo, in your face team again this year.”
On the added depth allowing for fresher legs on the court:
“Oh yeah! We have so many players that we can get in and get out. I think it will be good, so that way when you’re going as hard as you need to go and you want to go, you can get that break and get back in.”
Brianna Butler, freshman guard
On the seniors helping the freshmen:
“They’ve been really great helping us with everything. If we mess up, they’re there to help us. They’re not mean and try to help us get it right.”
On the large freshmen class:
“We all get along. We knew each other, kind of, coming in.”
On the other talented freshmen coming in:
“It was one of the key factors in my decision to come to Syracuse because I think that helps, the chemistry was already there.”
On how much she expects to play:
“Whatever the team needs me to do, I’ll do.”
Syracuse Women’s Basketball Media Day
October 12, 2012
Kayla Alexander, senior center
On what she expects this season:
As always, I’m really looking forward to the year. I can’t wait to start playing games. We go hard in practice and beat each other up, so it’s nice to be able to beat up on other people.
On how practice has been going:
“We have been going hard at practice. Freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors, we have been going hard.”
On her senior season:
“We want this to be a different year. We want to be better than the year before, so everybody is giving their all.”
On what it will take to make NCAAs:
“We have to have the right mentality, the right mindset. We have to refuse to settle for anything less.”
On the prospect of becoming the school’s all-time leading scorer and shot-blocker:
“I don’t look at all that. I just want to go play. I just want our team to win, and if I’m doing my part by contributing to help us get the ‘W’, that is all I care about.”
La’Shay Taft, junior guard
On who will make up for the losses of last year’s seniors:
“It’s hard to say. We all are getting up and down the court. We are doing a lot of running. It’s going to be a faster tempo. It’s hard to say who is going to fill Iasia’s (Hemingway) position because everybody is going to be outside the perimeter and four out and one in. The one would be Kayla (Alexander), of course, or Shakeya (Leary).”
On what the offense will try to do this season:
“Get to the basket it, make open shots, make the open passes and score. Score at will. Everybody has the ability to play any position from the one through four and you are playing out of the perimeter.”
On how the offense is working:
“We won’t know until we actually start playing and see how we gel together and play together. Once our first couple of games come, we will see how it turns out.”
Brittney Sykes, freshman guard
On how some of the freshmen got to know each other:
“It was a program called Summer Start for all the freshmen and I am a huge fan of team chemistry. All the freshmen—we are all family. Together we have a strong bond along with the veterans and the upperclassmen who have been here. For the freshmen personally, we are great. We love each other.”
On the appeal of playing with talented fellow freshmen:
“It was a huge appeal to me, who I am coming in with is a big deal. I want to know the pieces of the puzzle being put together, what the coaches are thinking and who they brought in. Everybody they brought in can play multiple roles and it is good to be multi-talented for this team. I can’t wait.”
On what it would mean to make NCAAs:
“It would be amazing. I really want to touch that floor one day. To touch it my freshman year with this veteran squad would be great. It would be great to be one of the pieces. We can’t do it without each other, so it’s not just me. It’s everybody.”
Rachel Coffey, junior guard
On being a major contributor down the stretch last season:
“It’s humbling and I’m just grateful to have the opportunity to be here and get this chance.”
On the prospect of starting at point guard this season:
“I don’t know yet. We’ll just have to see what happens. Whoever it is will do a good job for the team.”
On what she is working on improving this season:
“Just to have the same tempo, keep it up. Play defense, win games, everything that a basketball player wants to do.”
On the goals for this season:
“Always the NCAA and win a championship, make the postseason.”
On playing with the seniors:
Playing with them, playing with everyone on the team is really great. Carmen is a very good rebound player. Kayla is a leader on the floor. She finishes and she’s just a very good impact player.
On what she brings to the table:
“I’m just trying to pass the ball, to them to speak to them on the floor, do whatever I have to do.
Carmen Tyson-Thomas, senior guard
On trying to make the NCAA Tournament:
“I think for us it has always been make it or break it, it is pretty much do or die. It is our last year going into it and we want to finish strong. We’re always looking to go to the NCAAs.”
On what she worked on in the offseason:
“I worked on ball-handling, outside shooting, just trying to get better in any way that I could.”
On the boost the freshmen have given:
“Oh yeah, fresh legs, bring in fresh meat and they’re looking to get into the mix too. It’s been pretty positive for us.”
On what to expect from the defense:
“It’s going to look very active, crazy. We’re just going to get after it. We’re still in our zone too. We’re everywhere. We just want to do things that will make us better, make us improve as a whole unit.
On the team’s depth:
“Oh yeah, five in, five out; three in, leave there out there; Coach can really mix it up. We really have a lot of depth and that’s going to take us far.”
Elashier Hall, senior guard
On what it will take to make NCAAs:
“We just have to do what we’ve done and be the best at it and improve on things that we have lacked in previous seasons. Just keep working hard and competing, that’s all we can do.”
On senior year coming quickly:
“Yeah it did! It’s cool, it had to happen someday. I’m very excited about it, being a senior and being one of the leaders. Seeing the young kids come in and it’s a great class that they have come in with. They’ve been so great so far, so enthusiastic, energetic. I just love their energy. It brings something new to our team, so I’m very excited.”
On her postseason experience:
“We definitely want to play in post season. You always want to play in the NCAA tournament, but the NIT is a really good experience and we have gotten better over the years so I expect for us to go further.”
On the defense pressing fullcourt:
“Definitely more up tempo, more pressure, in your face. We’ve got guards like Brittany (Sykes) who are so athletic and long. She has so much energy that she can just come in when somebody needs a break. We’re definitely going to be that up tempo, in your face team again this year.”
On the added depth allowing for fresher legs on the court:
“Oh yeah! We have so many players that we can get in and get out. I think it will be good, so that way when you’re going as hard as you need to go and you want to go, you can get that break and get back in.”
Brianna Butler, freshman guard
On the seniors helping the freshmen:
“They’ve been really great helping us with everything. If we mess up, they’re there to help us. They’re not mean and try to help us get it right.”
On the large freshmen class:
“We all get along. We knew each other, kind of, coming in.”
On the other talented freshmen coming in:
“It was one of the key factors in my decision to come to Syracuse because I think that helps, the chemistry was already there.”
On how much she expects to play:
“Whatever the team needs me to do, I’ll do.”
