Student-Athlete Quotes - Villanova
Syracuse Men's Basketball
Syracuse vs. Villanova
Saturday, Dec. 28, 2013
Carrier Dome, Syracuse, N.Y.
Syracuse Student-Athlete Quotes
Tyler Ennis, Freshman, Guard
Your brother (Villanova redshirt sophomore guard Dylan Ennis) was guarding you. Did you guys talk at all?
“Yeah he talks the whole game. (He says) just regular stuff. I’m used to it by now. I zoned it out after a while.”
This is the first game where you guys have really been behind the eight-ball and had to make some plays to get back in the game. What was the mindset out there?
“The first thing we’re going to do is get stops. Then we’re going to rebound quickly and get out on the break. We were just trying to get out in transition, and everything opened up for us.”
Does this kind of lull you guys into a false sense of security that you fall behind and can just turn it on (and win the game)?
“We’re going to have to open up games faster and not get behind.”
How big of a win was this for you guys?
“It was a big game. It’s a rivalry. They have a good team this year, especially being top 10.”
C.J. Fair, Senior, Forward
You guys were in a little bit of trouble out there. What sparked that big run that you guys had there in the first half to turn things around?
“We got one or two easy baskets and then we got a couple steals and stops, and then we kind of made a run from there. They came out on fire. They didn’t catch us off guard, but it’s hard to have a defense for the type of offense that they had for five or 10 minutes.”
You’ve come out flat a few times, fallen behind and then come back. Do you think that as you play better teams, you can’t afford to do that?
“You can’t afford to in any games. Of course, we’re undefeated right now. Villanova, they’re an old BIG EAST rivalry and they’re a top 10 team in the country, so it was going to be a good game regardless. Next week with Eastern Michigan, we’ve got to come out with the same intensity because we don’t really want to get knocked off by anybody.”
It wasn’t a conference game, but it sure felt like one. Can you talk about that?
“This felt like a game that was in March, going into the BIG EAST Tournament. That’s how the energy was. I’m just glad we came out on top.”
Trevor Cooney, Guard, Redshirt Sophomore
You had sort of a slow start. What was it like to start the game off like that?
“You have to make shots, good teams make shots. If you want to be a good team, you have to make shots and put teams away. We were finally about to do that and really put Villanova away.”
What were you thinking falling behind 25-7?
“This is going to be a tough way to get back. But, we fell back and going down to a team like that is tough. It showed a lot about us tonight. We didn’t want to get down so much, but then we were able to come out and get some stops and get a lot of big buckets. It just showed a lot about us.”
How do you avoid a start like that?
“You have to come out ready to play. Villanova came out starting really aggressive and threw the first punch. We knew we were just going to have to take it. You just can’t come out flat like that to a good team. We were lucky enough to get big stops and get back in to the game. You can’t do that once we get in to ACC play.”
How do you explain coming up flat for a game like this?
“They made tough shots. We didn’t get out to the shooters, I think they came out 4-for-4 on their first three’s. You can’t give good guys like that open shots. They knocked them down but later in the game we really got out to the shooters and they didn’t shoot the same. “
Jerami Grant, Sophomore
What are you guys talking about in those huddles as Villanova is hitting those three’s and getting a big lead?
“We just had to calm everybody down. Usually teams, when they get down by 15 or however many we were down by, they tend to panic. Our team is a smart team and we know not to panic that we were down 15 with 30 minutes left to go on the clock. We definitely tried to calm everybody down. We did that, and we came back.”
You guys have played a lot of close games against BIG EAST opponents and top teams in the Maui Classic. This was a little different because you had to crawl out of a big hole. How did those tough games that you have played help you today?
“They definitely helped us for what is to come in the ACC. We’re going to play against a tough opponent every night. Playing against the teams we have played against has definitely helped us prepare for what is to come.”
It’s gone back and forth for you with your free throws, but are you starting to get more confidence?
“Yes, I’ve always been confident at the free throw line. Just because I missed a couple earlier in the season doesn’t mean I wasn’t confident. When I get there, I feel that I will make every one.”
Syracuse vs. Villanova
Saturday, Dec. 28, 2013
Carrier Dome, Syracuse, N.Y.
Syracuse Student-Athlete Quotes
Tyler Ennis, Freshman, Guard
Your brother (Villanova redshirt sophomore guard Dylan Ennis) was guarding you. Did you guys talk at all?
“Yeah he talks the whole game. (He says) just regular stuff. I’m used to it by now. I zoned it out after a while.”
This is the first game where you guys have really been behind the eight-ball and had to make some plays to get back in the game. What was the mindset out there?
“The first thing we’re going to do is get stops. Then we’re going to rebound quickly and get out on the break. We were just trying to get out in transition, and everything opened up for us.”
Does this kind of lull you guys into a false sense of security that you fall behind and can just turn it on (and win the game)?
“We’re going to have to open up games faster and not get behind.”
How big of a win was this for you guys?
“It was a big game. It’s a rivalry. They have a good team this year, especially being top 10.”
C.J. Fair, Senior, Forward
You guys were in a little bit of trouble out there. What sparked that big run that you guys had there in the first half to turn things around?
“We got one or two easy baskets and then we got a couple steals and stops, and then we kind of made a run from there. They came out on fire. They didn’t catch us off guard, but it’s hard to have a defense for the type of offense that they had for five or 10 minutes.”
You’ve come out flat a few times, fallen behind and then come back. Do you think that as you play better teams, you can’t afford to do that?
“You can’t afford to in any games. Of course, we’re undefeated right now. Villanova, they’re an old BIG EAST rivalry and they’re a top 10 team in the country, so it was going to be a good game regardless. Next week with Eastern Michigan, we’ve got to come out with the same intensity because we don’t really want to get knocked off by anybody.”
It wasn’t a conference game, but it sure felt like one. Can you talk about that?
“This felt like a game that was in March, going into the BIG EAST Tournament. That’s how the energy was. I’m just glad we came out on top.”
Trevor Cooney, Guard, Redshirt Sophomore
You had sort of a slow start. What was it like to start the game off like that?
“You have to make shots, good teams make shots. If you want to be a good team, you have to make shots and put teams away. We were finally about to do that and really put Villanova away.”
What were you thinking falling behind 25-7?
“This is going to be a tough way to get back. But, we fell back and going down to a team like that is tough. It showed a lot about us tonight. We didn’t want to get down so much, but then we were able to come out and get some stops and get a lot of big buckets. It just showed a lot about us.”
How do you avoid a start like that?
“You have to come out ready to play. Villanova came out starting really aggressive and threw the first punch. We knew we were just going to have to take it. You just can’t come out flat like that to a good team. We were lucky enough to get big stops and get back in to the game. You can’t do that once we get in to ACC play.”
How do you explain coming up flat for a game like this?
“They made tough shots. We didn’t get out to the shooters, I think they came out 4-for-4 on their first three’s. You can’t give good guys like that open shots. They knocked them down but later in the game we really got out to the shooters and they didn’t shoot the same. “
Jerami Grant, Sophomore
What are you guys talking about in those huddles as Villanova is hitting those three’s and getting a big lead?
“We just had to calm everybody down. Usually teams, when they get down by 15 or however many we were down by, they tend to panic. Our team is a smart team and we know not to panic that we were down 15 with 30 minutes left to go on the clock. We definitely tried to calm everybody down. We did that, and we came back.”
You guys have played a lot of close games against BIG EAST opponents and top teams in the Maui Classic. This was a little different because you had to crawl out of a big hole. How did those tough games that you have played help you today?
“They definitely helped us for what is to come in the ACC. We’re going to play against a tough opponent every night. Playing against the teams we have played against has definitely helped us prepare for what is to come.”
It’s gone back and forth for you with your free throws, but are you starting to get more confidence?
“Yes, I’ve always been confident at the free throw line. Just because I missed a couple earlier in the season doesn’t mean I wasn’t confident. When I get there, I feel that I will make every one.”
