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Syracuse vs. South Florida Player Quotes
Kris Joseph, Senior Forward:
Are you alright with the way you’re winning? Is it just bottom line win the game, move on; win the game move on?
“In situations like these, they’re tough enough wins. We would rather not be in situations like these, but if you look at this thing it could be a positive. We could be in this situation further down the road and we’ve been placed in this situation a few times this season. It will help us in the long run.”
The slow starts have happened a few times. How concerned are you about those?
“We weren’t capitalizing on our opportunities. That’s something that can fix itself, we just have to be more patient on offense and crash the offensive glass. Those are little things that will help us not be placed in those situations.”
You had a few good plays there at the end. What do you think about that?
“I played terrible the whole game and those two plays that I made that were big. Coach was very confident in me and he kept coming back to me and my teammates were confident as well -- so shout-out to them for that. I played a terrible game but I was able to get some things done in the final stretch.
Scoop Jardine, Senior Guard:
How would you characterize your (as a whole) offensive output lately? Coach said it’s not as dominant as the beginning and even in the second half of the year?
“He’s right. We have to be better and it starts now, but we’re 28-1 and we won a lot of tough games and that’s great because it’s getting us ready for the tournament. But right now we want to be playing our best basketball on offense and defense. Our defense has been good all year but our offense has to get better because we’re easily 60-70-80-points a game and we scored 50 tonight; that’s not going to get it done.
Third game in a row where you win by 10 points or less - what does that do, in your mind…you’re in those tough games, you said you want to be in those tough games…
“Yeah, we were. We have to win, because a win is enough itself and everybody contributes. That’s what you want because when we’re in the tournament, it’s beating the best and we’re trying to win six games. That’s what type of plays we’re going to need, with wins as a whole and that’s where it starts.”
At the end of games, you’ve taken over the last few ones out there, tonight was no different - what’s your mentality in those situations?
“I’m just trying to make a play. I do a great job of putting pressure on the defense and today was no different. Coach called plays where I make plays for myself and others, and teams are really playing me the fast. I’m picking them apart, they watch me coming and there’s a lot to defend when I’m part of the play.
C.J. Fair, Sophomore Forward
Which is more frustrating or concerning - letting them come out with a big lead or having a big run then letting them catch up?
“I guess letting them come back in when we had our big lead. To me, that was frustrating because we had them, and there were a couple of stops and I think we would have had them for good.”
When the offense is hard to come by, it seems like Kris went inside and got his own offensive rebound, Scoop got in with that power drive - will you always be looking at those 2 guys when times are tough?
“Yeah, they’re our leaders, senior players, and they know how to convert on a play. Scoop always makes the right play either scoring or passing. In this game they kind of played him for the pass he did a good job of knocking down the shots and finishing. Kris, his shots weren’t falling like they usually do, but he stuck with it and followed his missed shots and converted a couple big layups that we needed.
What got that early run going for you guys, to finally get you going?
“We were stopping a lot, they had 20 points for a while and in the second half we jumped on them early. Then one play, one simple mistake led them back in it. They’re a good team so I don’t think they get enough credit that they deserve because we’re in the BIG EAST but I think we’re a better team. We still think we’re the best team so there’s no reason we should lose.”
Are you alright with the way you’re winning? Is it just bottom line win the game, move on; win the game move on?
“In situations like these, they’re tough enough wins. We would rather not be in situations like these, but if you look at this thing it could be a positive. We could be in this situation further down the road and we’ve been placed in this situation a few times this season. It will help us in the long run.”
The slow starts have happened a few times. How concerned are you about those?
“We weren’t capitalizing on our opportunities. That’s something that can fix itself, we just have to be more patient on offense and crash the offensive glass. Those are little things that will help us not be placed in those situations.”
You had a few good plays there at the end. What do you think about that?
“I played terrible the whole game and those two plays that I made that were big. Coach was very confident in me and he kept coming back to me and my teammates were confident as well -- so shout-out to them for that. I played a terrible game but I was able to get some things done in the final stretch.
Scoop Jardine, Senior Guard:
How would you characterize your (as a whole) offensive output lately? Coach said it’s not as dominant as the beginning and even in the second half of the year?
“He’s right. We have to be better and it starts now, but we’re 28-1 and we won a lot of tough games and that’s great because it’s getting us ready for the tournament. But right now we want to be playing our best basketball on offense and defense. Our defense has been good all year but our offense has to get better because we’re easily 60-70-80-points a game and we scored 50 tonight; that’s not going to get it done.
Third game in a row where you win by 10 points or less - what does that do, in your mind…you’re in those tough games, you said you want to be in those tough games…
“Yeah, we were. We have to win, because a win is enough itself and everybody contributes. That’s what you want because when we’re in the tournament, it’s beating the best and we’re trying to win six games. That’s what type of plays we’re going to need, with wins as a whole and that’s where it starts.”
At the end of games, you’ve taken over the last few ones out there, tonight was no different - what’s your mentality in those situations?
“I’m just trying to make a play. I do a great job of putting pressure on the defense and today was no different. Coach called plays where I make plays for myself and others, and teams are really playing me the fast. I’m picking them apart, they watch me coming and there’s a lot to defend when I’m part of the play.
C.J. Fair, Sophomore Forward
Which is more frustrating or concerning - letting them come out with a big lead or having a big run then letting them catch up?
“I guess letting them come back in when we had our big lead. To me, that was frustrating because we had them, and there were a couple of stops and I think we would have had them for good.”
When the offense is hard to come by, it seems like Kris went inside and got his own offensive rebound, Scoop got in with that power drive - will you always be looking at those 2 guys when times are tough?
“Yeah, they’re our leaders, senior players, and they know how to convert on a play. Scoop always makes the right play either scoring or passing. In this game they kind of played him for the pass he did a good job of knocking down the shots and finishing. Kris, his shots weren’t falling like they usually do, but he stuck with it and followed his missed shots and converted a couple big layups that we needed.
What got that early run going for you guys, to finally get you going?
“We were stopping a lot, they had 20 points for a while and in the second half we jumped on them early. Then one play, one simple mistake led them back in it. They’re a good team so I don’t think they get enough credit that they deserve because we’re in the BIG EAST but I think we’re a better team. We still think we’re the best team so there’s no reason we should lose.”
