Student-Athlete Quotes - Colgate
Syracuse vs. Colgate
November 16, 2013
Carrier Dome, Syracuse, N.Y.
Student-Athlete Quotes
CJ Fair, Senior, Forward
Talk about what helped trigger the run in the first half.
“I think the press helped us get going. We came out and had a little slow start, but once we started the press we got a little more momentum and sped the game up.”
Can you talk about how Mike (Michael Gbinije) is doing in the second unit? He seems more comfortable now.
“I thought today was one of his best games. On offense and defense he was making a lot of the right plays—driving and kicking out to people. He has just been active. I thought he did great today.”
Tyler Ennis, Freshman, Forward
Everyone always says you’re a pass-first point guard, and it seems like to me you are, but when do you decide to shoot? How do you balance that?
“It’s just depending on the game. Depending on how the team plays (defensively). If they’re playing me to score or taking away my options, then scoring is going to be something I have to do.”
What did you see today that enabled those shots?
“Their zone. Once we got into the middle, they were filling in on Trevor (Cooney) and C.J. (Fair), so I was just wide open.”
C.J. seemed to be the only one on offense who was in the flow early on. Was that a concern?
“Yeah, we obviously want to get everybody comfortable, scoring the ball and get production from everyone. But we rely on C.J. to score.”
Trevor Cooney, Redshirt Sophomore, Guard
Last year, the perimeter defense and three-point percentage defense was awesome. Is that what you guys are still trying to get to?
“It helps us -- that really worked for us last year. We were able to make teams take tough shots and not let them get open. No matter who you’re playing, if you’re going to give anyone open shots, they’re going to make most of them. It’s just something we have to get better at. We can't give open looks, especially when we go into conference play.”
How do you address the free throws? That was just something coach was repetitive on fixing.”
“We have to concentrate better. It starts in practic -- you concentrate and you make foul shots. That was one of the things I kept telling people when they got to the foul line. Take your time, know you’re going to make it and don’t just fire it up there.”
Michael Gbinije, Sophomore, Forward
Does the way they (Colgate) move the ball offensively—taking their time –make the game a little sluggish?
“I guess you can say that because mentally you have to focus and defensive possessions become longer. You have to make sure you stayed tuned and lock in.”
How important was it for you guys to be patient to go up against their zone?
“It was really important because they did a good job of getting back sometimes. They slowed us down and made us have to work for our shots.”
When you guys switched to the press you really turned the game around.Hhow did you do that?
“We really used our length speed and athleticism. We jumped past them, pressured them and used our big bodies to shield their vision so they couldn’t see the passing lane and it worked for us.”
November 16, 2013
Carrier Dome, Syracuse, N.Y.
Student-Athlete Quotes
CJ Fair, Senior, Forward
Talk about what helped trigger the run in the first half.
“I think the press helped us get going. We came out and had a little slow start, but once we started the press we got a little more momentum and sped the game up.”
Can you talk about how Mike (Michael Gbinije) is doing in the second unit? He seems more comfortable now.
“I thought today was one of his best games. On offense and defense he was making a lot of the right plays—driving and kicking out to people. He has just been active. I thought he did great today.”
Tyler Ennis, Freshman, Forward
Everyone always says you’re a pass-first point guard, and it seems like to me you are, but when do you decide to shoot? How do you balance that?
“It’s just depending on the game. Depending on how the team plays (defensively). If they’re playing me to score or taking away my options, then scoring is going to be something I have to do.”
What did you see today that enabled those shots?
“Their zone. Once we got into the middle, they were filling in on Trevor (Cooney) and C.J. (Fair), so I was just wide open.”
C.J. seemed to be the only one on offense who was in the flow early on. Was that a concern?
“Yeah, we obviously want to get everybody comfortable, scoring the ball and get production from everyone. But we rely on C.J. to score.”
Trevor Cooney, Redshirt Sophomore, Guard
Last year, the perimeter defense and three-point percentage defense was awesome. Is that what you guys are still trying to get to?
“It helps us -- that really worked for us last year. We were able to make teams take tough shots and not let them get open. No matter who you’re playing, if you’re going to give anyone open shots, they’re going to make most of them. It’s just something we have to get better at. We can't give open looks, especially when we go into conference play.”
How do you address the free throws? That was just something coach was repetitive on fixing.”
“We have to concentrate better. It starts in practic -- you concentrate and you make foul shots. That was one of the things I kept telling people when they got to the foul line. Take your time, know you’re going to make it and don’t just fire it up there.”
Michael Gbinije, Sophomore, Forward
Does the way they (Colgate) move the ball offensively—taking their time –make the game a little sluggish?
“I guess you can say that because mentally you have to focus and defensive possessions become longer. You have to make sure you stayed tuned and lock in.”
How important was it for you guys to be patient to go up against their zone?
“It was really important because they did a good job of getting back sometimes. They slowed us down and made us have to work for our shots.”
When you guys switched to the press you really turned the game around.Hhow did you do that?
“We really used our length speed and athleticism. We jumped past them, pressured them and used our big bodies to shield their vision so they couldn’t see the passing lane and it worked for us.”
