Head Coach Jim Boeheim Quotes
Syracuse vs. Ryerson
November 5, 2013
Coach Boeheim Quotes
Carrier Dome – Syracuse, N.Y.
Opening Statement
“I thought this was a good game for us. I thought they really moved the ball well and made us work on defense. They did a lot of screening – things that we’re going to see. I just really thought it was a good exercise for us. I think some of the younger players have not adjusted to coming off the bench and being ready to go. We had a couple of freshmen in there. They both went to the same side on defense twice and gave up two wide open threes. I think some of those things are things that we need to think about. It’s different this time because we don’t make some of those open threes and that’s going to happen.
You’re going to have games when that happens when you get 22 good looks and you make five. Some games you’re going to make nine or 10, but we still have to continue to get better on the boards. Getting up and down the court is something we still have to work on. When to get the ball inside, we’re still working on that sort of stuff. There are a lot of things at this stage – positives, a lot of positives going into Friday night. I think everybody isanxious to play and start the season. We’ve had pretty good preparation up until this point. I think we’ll be ready to go Friday night.”
Is Rakeem Christmas showing you any more aggressiveness?
“I think that in spurts he does. I think DaJuan (Coleman) and Rakeem are doing things better in spurts. I thought DaJuan was much better rebounding the ball tonight. I thought he was must more physical in getting up and getting it. I thought that was good. I think that part of it was very good. I think overall we played well. We missed some shots and I think that’s normal at this stage of the season. When you do miss them, you have to make good defensive plays and make up for it in that way.
“It’s very difficult when you’re playing 11 guys to have a really good offensive rhythm. That’s pretty hard to do.”
What are some of the things you’ve seen from DaJuan Coleman?
“He’s getting better. He has to finish down low and get in position. I think we need to get better of finding him in the right position. All of those things.”
Does DaJuan Coleman look more in control down low with the basketball?
“He’s still working on it. He was able to just pretty much make layups in high school because of the size differential. Now, there are bigger guys so he’s learning how to get in position and make that move. He works hard every day. He’s making improvements. Big guys offensively sometimes take three years, sometimes the fourth year, before they really are offensively to where you’d like to see them.”
How easily can you fix the mistakes made by the freshman tonight?
“They’re all things you have to work on. You have to work on them, show them. We’ll get there. We’ll work on them.”
What does Tyler Ennis mean to this basketball team?
“He’s important for our team. I told him at halftime he has to be a little more aggressive offensively. When I tell him something, he does it. That’s a good trait to have. He’s a key guy. He’s a mature freshman. He’s still a freshman. He’s going to make mistakes. He understands the position as well as any other freshman. He’s an important guy as we head into this year.”
Talk about Trevor (Cooney) and Tyler on defense and their experience.
“Trevor has been here for three years -- this is his third year. As I said many times in the past, his defense has been fine. He didn’t not play because of his defense; he did not play because he wasn’t making shots for the most part. His defense has always been pretty good. I think it is underrated. I think he has done a very good job there.
Tyler, I think he is a good player defensively. Last year we had too exceptional defensive guards as good as we ever had. These guys are learning and getting there. Gerry (McNamara) has done a tremendous job in practice in terms of getting those guys to speed. Obviously it is good to have those front line guys behind them. They can correct some mistakes. I think Rak (Rakeem Christmas) is doing a better job of finding that area of correcting mistakes. For the guards I think Mike (Michael Gbinije) is picking it up and has done some really good things. I think Ron (Patterson) is picking it up. I think the other two freshmen – Tyler Robison and B.J. (Johnson) – they are still figuring out the defensive end, but they will get it going.”
What did you think of Michael Carter-Williams’ start in the NBA?
“He had an unbelievable start. I texted his mother and said ‘it must have been the coaching’ and she immediately texted back and said ‘you mean my coaching.’ He has had an unbelievable start. I only got to watch the Chicago game. He is in a great situation. The great thing I try to explain to players is he is the 11th pick and they (Philadelphia ‘76ers) are committed to him.”
November 5, 2013
Coach Boeheim Quotes
Carrier Dome – Syracuse, N.Y.
Opening Statement
“I thought this was a good game for us. I thought they really moved the ball well and made us work on defense. They did a lot of screening – things that we’re going to see. I just really thought it was a good exercise for us. I think some of the younger players have not adjusted to coming off the bench and being ready to go. We had a couple of freshmen in there. They both went to the same side on defense twice and gave up two wide open threes. I think some of those things are things that we need to think about. It’s different this time because we don’t make some of those open threes and that’s going to happen.
You’re going to have games when that happens when you get 22 good looks and you make five. Some games you’re going to make nine or 10, but we still have to continue to get better on the boards. Getting up and down the court is something we still have to work on. When to get the ball inside, we’re still working on that sort of stuff. There are a lot of things at this stage – positives, a lot of positives going into Friday night. I think everybody isanxious to play and start the season. We’ve had pretty good preparation up until this point. I think we’ll be ready to go Friday night.”
Is Rakeem Christmas showing you any more aggressiveness?
“I think that in spurts he does. I think DaJuan (Coleman) and Rakeem are doing things better in spurts. I thought DaJuan was much better rebounding the ball tonight. I thought he was must more physical in getting up and getting it. I thought that was good. I think that part of it was very good. I think overall we played well. We missed some shots and I think that’s normal at this stage of the season. When you do miss them, you have to make good defensive plays and make up for it in that way.
“It’s very difficult when you’re playing 11 guys to have a really good offensive rhythm. That’s pretty hard to do.”
What are some of the things you’ve seen from DaJuan Coleman?
“He’s getting better. He has to finish down low and get in position. I think we need to get better of finding him in the right position. All of those things.”
Does DaJuan Coleman look more in control down low with the basketball?
“He’s still working on it. He was able to just pretty much make layups in high school because of the size differential. Now, there are bigger guys so he’s learning how to get in position and make that move. He works hard every day. He’s making improvements. Big guys offensively sometimes take three years, sometimes the fourth year, before they really are offensively to where you’d like to see them.”
How easily can you fix the mistakes made by the freshman tonight?
“They’re all things you have to work on. You have to work on them, show them. We’ll get there. We’ll work on them.”
What does Tyler Ennis mean to this basketball team?
“He’s important for our team. I told him at halftime he has to be a little more aggressive offensively. When I tell him something, he does it. That’s a good trait to have. He’s a key guy. He’s a mature freshman. He’s still a freshman. He’s going to make mistakes. He understands the position as well as any other freshman. He’s an important guy as we head into this year.”
Talk about Trevor (Cooney) and Tyler on defense and their experience.
“Trevor has been here for three years -- this is his third year. As I said many times in the past, his defense has been fine. He didn’t not play because of his defense; he did not play because he wasn’t making shots for the most part. His defense has always been pretty good. I think it is underrated. I think he has done a very good job there.
Tyler, I think he is a good player defensively. Last year we had too exceptional defensive guards as good as we ever had. These guys are learning and getting there. Gerry (McNamara) has done a tremendous job in practice in terms of getting those guys to speed. Obviously it is good to have those front line guys behind them. They can correct some mistakes. I think Rak (Rakeem Christmas) is doing a better job of finding that area of correcting mistakes. For the guards I think Mike (Michael Gbinije) is picking it up and has done some really good things. I think Ron (Patterson) is picking it up. I think the other two freshmen – Tyler Robison and B.J. (Johnson) – they are still figuring out the defensive end, but they will get it going.”
What did you think of Michael Carter-Williams’ start in the NBA?
“He had an unbelievable start. I texted his mother and said ‘it must have been the coaching’ and she immediately texted back and said ‘you mean my coaching.’ He has had an unbelievable start. I only got to watch the Chicago game. He is in a great situation. The great thing I try to explain to players is he is the 11th pick and they (Philadelphia ‘76ers) are committed to him.”
