Syracuse vs. USF Coach Boeheim Quotes
Syracuse vs. South Florida
Feb. 22, 2012 | Carrier Dome | Syracuse, N.Y.
Coach Boeheim Quotes:
Opening Statement:
“Obviously we didn’t get off to a good start. They took control of the game, it was 20-7 and the next time I think it was 33-20. We really did not play great for that period of time. Then we really establish the lead, came out in the second half and got off to a great start. Then we made three or four errors that we usually don’t make and let them back in. To their credit they took advantage of it. They are a tough physical team. I thought the game came down to Kris making two unbelievable rebounding efforts, physical rebounds inside to get the ball back on his drives. He made the two plays of the game right there. A couple good defensive plays too. We were having a bad game and when you’re having a bad game you just have to find a way to make the play. He did. Scoop made a big play. Our defense was good.
We’ve been winning these games all year. We recognize and make plays and move down the stretch. That’s how you win these games. Offensively it has been a little bit of a struggle shooting the basketball; tonight was one of those games. We have to play at this pace, we’ve got a lot of games like this ahead of us. We’ve got to be able to play at this pace. We’ve made the plays in all of these games. Every time you get in a one point, two point game, you have to be able to make plays. It’s very hard to do, not a lot of teams can do it. We’ve been able to do that and that’s why we’ve put ourselves in this position.
I think South Florida is a good team. I think they’re physical and they got all their players they lost. They lost a lot games early in the year when they didn’t have all these guys. They’re a very sound physical basketball team. I thought Fab did a great job in the second half from changing shots, made some blocks and made a big difference on the outcome of the game. He got control of the game he blocked a couple shots, he changed a couple shots early. That’s how we got control of the game in the second half.”
Can you talk about that rally and do you think it was squandered by the late come back?
“No, because they squandered their lead. That’s the game. That’s the game of basketball. You’re going to have runs. We made a great run. They made a great run to start the game and then we made a great run. Then we got up fourteen and Brandon Triche made a bad turnover and missed three plays. He tried to make three plays which was good, he was aggressive. He didn’t make any of the three. The game never gets out of 14. Basketball is a game. They didn’t squander anything. We didn’t squander anything. It’s the way the game is played. You make a run, they make a run, we make a run. That’s just the game, that’s the way it is, the way it always has been, nothing more than that.”
Can you talk about Senior leadership, Scoop Jardine and Kris Joseph at the end of game?
“Well we are going to go to those guys. We’ll go to them; we’ll go to Brandon if he’s in, Dion. We think those are all guys we can go to. Those are the guys that are playmakers. I think we are playing those guys a little too much. The next couple games we are going to get a little bit more time and try and to get James Southerland in there a little bit more. Try to get him going; he’s struggling, try to get him in there. Try to get Baye Keita in there and see if we can get him going a little bit, get a little rest for these guys. We only have two games left in the regular season over a 10 day period or so. Saturday night is the Connecticut game. They’re obviously much tougher there. I already told the players this is going to be the toughest game they had this year.”
Feb. 22, 2012 | Carrier Dome | Syracuse, N.Y.
Coach Boeheim Quotes:
Opening Statement:
“Obviously we didn’t get off to a good start. They took control of the game, it was 20-7 and the next time I think it was 33-20. We really did not play great for that period of time. Then we really establish the lead, came out in the second half and got off to a great start. Then we made three or four errors that we usually don’t make and let them back in. To their credit they took advantage of it. They are a tough physical team. I thought the game came down to Kris making two unbelievable rebounding efforts, physical rebounds inside to get the ball back on his drives. He made the two plays of the game right there. A couple good defensive plays too. We were having a bad game and when you’re having a bad game you just have to find a way to make the play. He did. Scoop made a big play. Our defense was good.
We’ve been winning these games all year. We recognize and make plays and move down the stretch. That’s how you win these games. Offensively it has been a little bit of a struggle shooting the basketball; tonight was one of those games. We have to play at this pace, we’ve got a lot of games like this ahead of us. We’ve got to be able to play at this pace. We’ve made the plays in all of these games. Every time you get in a one point, two point game, you have to be able to make plays. It’s very hard to do, not a lot of teams can do it. We’ve been able to do that and that’s why we’ve put ourselves in this position.
I think South Florida is a good team. I think they’re physical and they got all their players they lost. They lost a lot games early in the year when they didn’t have all these guys. They’re a very sound physical basketball team. I thought Fab did a great job in the second half from changing shots, made some blocks and made a big difference on the outcome of the game. He got control of the game he blocked a couple shots, he changed a couple shots early. That’s how we got control of the game in the second half.”
Can you talk about that rally and do you think it was squandered by the late come back?
“No, because they squandered their lead. That’s the game. That’s the game of basketball. You’re going to have runs. We made a great run. They made a great run to start the game and then we made a great run. Then we got up fourteen and Brandon Triche made a bad turnover and missed three plays. He tried to make three plays which was good, he was aggressive. He didn’t make any of the three. The game never gets out of 14. Basketball is a game. They didn’t squander anything. We didn’t squander anything. It’s the way the game is played. You make a run, they make a run, we make a run. That’s just the game, that’s the way it is, the way it always has been, nothing more than that.”
Can you talk about Senior leadership, Scoop Jardine and Kris Joseph at the end of game?
“Well we are going to go to those guys. We’ll go to them; we’ll go to Brandon if he’s in, Dion. We think those are all guys we can go to. Those are the guys that are playmakers. I think we are playing those guys a little too much. The next couple games we are going to get a little bit more time and try and to get James Southerland in there a little bit more. Try to get him going; he’s struggling, try to get him in there. Try to get Baye Keita in there and see if we can get him going a little bit, get a little rest for these guys. We only have two games left in the regular season over a 10 day period or so. Saturday night is the Connecticut game. They’re obviously much tougher there. I already told the players this is going to be the toughest game they had this year.”
