Student-Athlete Quotes
Alcorn State vs. Syracuse
December 29, 2012
Student-Athlete Quotes
Carrier Dome – Syracuse, N.Y.
Brandon Triche, Senior, Guard
How frustrating were the first nine minutes of the second half?
“It was frustrating. We have to be more patient. Sometimes when we don’t get a quick shot, we rush a little bit and then when we rush, we still don’t get a good shot. So I think the biggest thing we can take out of this game is our defense. We were able to stop them. They took 35 seconds off the clock, but we were able to stay in front of those guys. They made a few shots, but if we would have stopped them, they would have probably only scored 28 or 29 points.”
How difficult was it to get into the flow of the game as Alcorn State ran the shot clock down on most possessions? Was it hard to get motivated?
“It wasn’t hard to get motivated. You always want to do better and be better. Our energy should be there. That’s what we are looking to improve on in our next game against Central Connecticut – just making sure our focus is there and our energy is there. If that’s up, we’ll be fine. I think we did a pretty good job on defense. Our offense is capable of putting points on the board, but today was a struggle. We were impatient a lot of times and we made careless mistakes.”
The free throw shooting has not been good in the last few games. What do you attribute that to?
“You miss a few (free throws), then you think you can make a few. It’s gets in your head. It trickles down. A few guys miss a shot and then you miss a shot and you start to worry about it so every time you go to the line, you’re thinking ‘I have to make these’. If we just focus on the mechanics of it, we’ll be fine.”
C.J. Fair, Junior, Forward
How would you describe the team’s performance today?
“It was one of those days and we didn’t have it clicking. I’m confident that next game we will be clicking.”
What happened in the first nine minutes of the second half?
“That was frustrating. We started the second half off badly and we let the other team make a few threes and get back in the game quickly. Once we saw that our backs were against the wall, that’s when we started coming to play. But we can’t keep switching it on and off like that.”
How hard was it to play in this game that didn’t seem to have any flow?
“In the first half, we didn’t have a lot of patience. They run a match-up zone where they slowed us down as well. We have to do a better job figuring out what defense the other team is in and execute. It was a slow game and we weren’t converting how we should have on offense.”
Trevor Cooney, Redshirt Freshman, Guard
Did you sense the team was going to need you tonight?
“You never really expect that. You just have to come out and play hard no matter what. Today I was more effective for the team which was good for me.”
Some of the other players were struggling. Were you thinking to yourself that it was your time?
“No, not really. You just have to play hard every possession every time you’re in there. I’m still learning that. Once you come out and do that a bunch of times, then it becomes a habit for you. That’s all I’m trying to do.”
What does this game do for your confidence?
“It’s great for your confidence. Not only being a shooter, but also being a basketball player – when you come out and you make shots, it definitely carries on to the next practice and keeps going on to the next games, hopefully.”
December 29, 2012
Student-Athlete Quotes
Carrier Dome – Syracuse, N.Y.
Brandon Triche, Senior, Guard
How frustrating were the first nine minutes of the second half?
“It was frustrating. We have to be more patient. Sometimes when we don’t get a quick shot, we rush a little bit and then when we rush, we still don’t get a good shot. So I think the biggest thing we can take out of this game is our defense. We were able to stop them. They took 35 seconds off the clock, but we were able to stay in front of those guys. They made a few shots, but if we would have stopped them, they would have probably only scored 28 or 29 points.”
How difficult was it to get into the flow of the game as Alcorn State ran the shot clock down on most possessions? Was it hard to get motivated?
“It wasn’t hard to get motivated. You always want to do better and be better. Our energy should be there. That’s what we are looking to improve on in our next game against Central Connecticut – just making sure our focus is there and our energy is there. If that’s up, we’ll be fine. I think we did a pretty good job on defense. Our offense is capable of putting points on the board, but today was a struggle. We were impatient a lot of times and we made careless mistakes.”
The free throw shooting has not been good in the last few games. What do you attribute that to?
“You miss a few (free throws), then you think you can make a few. It’s gets in your head. It trickles down. A few guys miss a shot and then you miss a shot and you start to worry about it so every time you go to the line, you’re thinking ‘I have to make these’. If we just focus on the mechanics of it, we’ll be fine.”
C.J. Fair, Junior, Forward
How would you describe the team’s performance today?
“It was one of those days and we didn’t have it clicking. I’m confident that next game we will be clicking.”
What happened in the first nine minutes of the second half?
“That was frustrating. We started the second half off badly and we let the other team make a few threes and get back in the game quickly. Once we saw that our backs were against the wall, that’s when we started coming to play. But we can’t keep switching it on and off like that.”
How hard was it to play in this game that didn’t seem to have any flow?
“In the first half, we didn’t have a lot of patience. They run a match-up zone where they slowed us down as well. We have to do a better job figuring out what defense the other team is in and execute. It was a slow game and we weren’t converting how we should have on offense.”
Trevor Cooney, Redshirt Freshman, Guard
Did you sense the team was going to need you tonight?
“You never really expect that. You just have to come out and play hard no matter what. Today I was more effective for the team which was good for me.”
Some of the other players were struggling. Were you thinking to yourself that it was your time?
“No, not really. You just have to play hard every possession every time you’re in there. I’m still learning that. Once you come out and do that a bunch of times, then it becomes a habit for you. That’s all I’m trying to do.”
What does this game do for your confidence?
“It’s great for your confidence. Not only being a shooter, but also being a basketball player – when you come out and you make shots, it definitely carries on to the next practice and keeps going on to the next games, hopefully.”
