Student-Athlete Quotes
Syracuse vs. Villanova
January 12, 2013
Student-Athlete Quotes
Carrier Dome – Syracuse, NY
Trevor Cooney, Redshirt Freshman, Guard
Do you guys know that you’re going to be in a position to step up now with James (Southerland) being out?
“Yeah, when you lose a guy that can come out and score offensively, other guys are going to have to come out and step up. I think Jerami (Grant), DaJuan (Coleman) and I did a good job of that and trying to add spark to the team like James does.”
Do you think this was one of the tougher wins that this program has had?
“I think so. Villanova is a very good team, a very physical team, and I felt that we matched up well with them and played with them and were just as physical.”
Are you guys prepared to be without James Southerland for the long haul? And will the problem of his absence be resolved sooner than later?
“I guess it’ll be a day-to-day thing but you have to prepare to go out there if he’s playing or if we are playing without him.”
Michael Carter-Williams, Sophomore, Guard
Do you think when Trevor Cooney and Jerami Grant play like they did that they can absorb a lot of the points that James Southerland would put in?
“Definitely. That’s what we need them to do and that’s going to be their role. We don’t know how long James is going to be out for, but they’re going to come in and play their role for the team. They’re great players.”
Brandon Triche, Senior, Guard
Coach was saying this was one of the grittiest wins the team has had in the past two years. What did you think of the game?
“I was just telling a couple of teammates that this was the biggest win for me in the past four years that I’ve been here, and I was on the bench for part of it. Everybody stepped up. Trevor (Cooney) struggled a little bit but then he got those two shots down. Jerami (Grant) played well, getting rebounds over the rim. Things just all came together when they needed to. This is definitely one of the biggest wins I’ve had.”
How about Jerami Grant getting thrown into that position with James Southerland being out?
“He’s a player. He can put the ball on the floor. He has a nice mid-range jumper. He’s very athletic and can get rebounds. It isn’t just scoring with him, but he’s a guy that the ball is just going to come to. He’s always going to be in the right spots.”
C.J. Fair, Junior, Forward
How does this team change without James Southerland on the floor?
“James stretches the floor a lot and draws the defense to him, which helps a lot of other players. When he’s not in there the defense tries to force us to shoot three’s and when we try and drive, they pack it in tight. We did miss him out there.”
James Southerland is very popular around the locker room. Does that make it even harder to deal with his loss?
“Yeah, James is always going to make me laugh or get me ready for the game, either or. He’s still with us behind the scenes and trying to get us motivated to play so he is still part of the team when he isn’t playing.”
Do you think you can still reach your full potential without James Southerland in the lineup?
“I still think we can reach our full potential. It’s a huge blow to our team. We just have to find another way to make up for the points he would usually score, and I think we are on the right track.”
It seemed like you took it upon yourself today to pick up the slack, and you’ve been doing that in the past games. Can you talk about the effort you’ve been putting in as of late?
“Today I found the rhythm early. Early in the second half. Mike (Carter-Williams) kept telling me to get the ball and he wanted me to score. So when my point guard is running plays for me, that gives me confidence to go out and make those tough plays.”
Jerami Grant, Freshman, Forward
Were you nervous or excited when you found out that you would be playing more of a role today?
“More excited. Excited and hurt at the same time because James (Southerland) is our teammate and we feel for him.”
Do you and Trevor Cooney think that with the way you played today you guys can absorb the points and production that James Southerland would put in?
“Yeah, we can step it up. I think we definitely stepped it up today. Trev (Cooney) played a heck of a game and I felt like I played well and DaJuan (Coleman) as well.”
Has your mindset changed knowing that you’ll have to be a real contributor now?
“My mindset was to just come out and be aggressive. I feel like I did that on the offensive and defensive end. And so did everybody else on the team. Everybody stepped up and helped us get the win.”
They say you’re an “energy guy”. How do you define being an “energy-guy”?
“Just doing all the hustle plays on offense and defense. Diving for loose balls, getting rebounds – everything.”
January 12, 2013
Student-Athlete Quotes
Carrier Dome – Syracuse, NY
Trevor Cooney, Redshirt Freshman, Guard
Do you guys know that you’re going to be in a position to step up now with James (Southerland) being out?
“Yeah, when you lose a guy that can come out and score offensively, other guys are going to have to come out and step up. I think Jerami (Grant), DaJuan (Coleman) and I did a good job of that and trying to add spark to the team like James does.”
Do you think this was one of the tougher wins that this program has had?
“I think so. Villanova is a very good team, a very physical team, and I felt that we matched up well with them and played with them and were just as physical.”
Are you guys prepared to be without James Southerland for the long haul? And will the problem of his absence be resolved sooner than later?
“I guess it’ll be a day-to-day thing but you have to prepare to go out there if he’s playing or if we are playing without him.”
Michael Carter-Williams, Sophomore, Guard
Do you think when Trevor Cooney and Jerami Grant play like they did that they can absorb a lot of the points that James Southerland would put in?
“Definitely. That’s what we need them to do and that’s going to be their role. We don’t know how long James is going to be out for, but they’re going to come in and play their role for the team. They’re great players.”
Brandon Triche, Senior, Guard
Coach was saying this was one of the grittiest wins the team has had in the past two years. What did you think of the game?
“I was just telling a couple of teammates that this was the biggest win for me in the past four years that I’ve been here, and I was on the bench for part of it. Everybody stepped up. Trevor (Cooney) struggled a little bit but then he got those two shots down. Jerami (Grant) played well, getting rebounds over the rim. Things just all came together when they needed to. This is definitely one of the biggest wins I’ve had.”
How about Jerami Grant getting thrown into that position with James Southerland being out?
“He’s a player. He can put the ball on the floor. He has a nice mid-range jumper. He’s very athletic and can get rebounds. It isn’t just scoring with him, but he’s a guy that the ball is just going to come to. He’s always going to be in the right spots.”
C.J. Fair, Junior, Forward
How does this team change without James Southerland on the floor?
“James stretches the floor a lot and draws the defense to him, which helps a lot of other players. When he’s not in there the defense tries to force us to shoot three’s and when we try and drive, they pack it in tight. We did miss him out there.”
James Southerland is very popular around the locker room. Does that make it even harder to deal with his loss?
“Yeah, James is always going to make me laugh or get me ready for the game, either or. He’s still with us behind the scenes and trying to get us motivated to play so he is still part of the team when he isn’t playing.”
Do you think you can still reach your full potential without James Southerland in the lineup?
“I still think we can reach our full potential. It’s a huge blow to our team. We just have to find another way to make up for the points he would usually score, and I think we are on the right track.”
It seemed like you took it upon yourself today to pick up the slack, and you’ve been doing that in the past games. Can you talk about the effort you’ve been putting in as of late?
“Today I found the rhythm early. Early in the second half. Mike (Carter-Williams) kept telling me to get the ball and he wanted me to score. So when my point guard is running plays for me, that gives me confidence to go out and make those tough plays.”
Jerami Grant, Freshman, Forward
Were you nervous or excited when you found out that you would be playing more of a role today?
“More excited. Excited and hurt at the same time because James (Southerland) is our teammate and we feel for him.”
Do you and Trevor Cooney think that with the way you played today you guys can absorb the points and production that James Southerland would put in?
“Yeah, we can step it up. I think we definitely stepped it up today. Trev (Cooney) played a heck of a game and I felt like I played well and DaJuan (Coleman) as well.”
Has your mindset changed knowing that you’ll have to be a real contributor now?
“My mindset was to just come out and be aggressive. I feel like I did that on the offensive and defensive end. And so did everybody else on the team. Everybody stepped up and helped us get the win.”
They say you’re an “energy guy”. How do you define being an “energy-guy”?
“Just doing all the hustle plays on offense and defense. Diving for loose balls, getting rebounds – everything.”
