Student Athlete Quotes
Syracuse Basketball
Syracuse vs. St. John’s
February 10, 2013
Carrier Dome, Syracuse, N.Y.
Brandon Triche, Senior, Guard
What kind of lift does it give the team emotionally now that James (Southerland) is back?
“Emotionally we are more confident, obviously. You can make the extra pass and he’s going to open it up for everyone else. You are going to see Mike’s (Carter-Williams) assists go up. You will probably see my assists go up a little more. It just spreads the court out. I think what has been good is that we’ve still been getting to the basket well. Jerami (Grant) has been playing well without James. But now it’s going to be even more spread out. And now you are going to have a knockdown shooter from the three-point line.”
Can you describe the play from the pass from Michael Carter-Williams to James Southerland to you for the on- handed slam dunk?
“ I wasn’t sure if James (Southerland) was going to catch the ball. I was just running, trying to see if the ball got tipped if I could get it. But once James caught it, I think it was natural instinct. He saw me cutting and he just made an awesome pass. He was just paying the favor back because I gave him a couple threes.”
Michael Carter-Williams, Sophomore, Guard
How much more dangerous does it make you guys now that James Southerland is back?
“We’re a lot more dangerous. He rebounds great. He is another offensive threat we have back and it’s great to have him back.”
What was the key overall today because you didn’t pull away from St. John’s until the end of the game?
“They didn’t go away, they kept fighting hard. We had a bunch of people playing well tonight. We knocked down shots. We need to get on the glass a bit more. “
It’s a busy week for you guys, no time to rest. How will you prepare for the quick turnaround for Wednesday’s game?
“Connecticut is a tough team to play. They have tough guards. It’s going to be a fun game.”
Just how good is C.J. Fair and how impressive is he to you?
“He’s great. He is so efficient when he plays. He makes the right decisions and his mid-range game is great. He’s starting to knock down his three-point shot and he rebounds the ball. He is a great player.”
James Southerland, Senior, Forward
How hard was it for you to sit out?
“It was tough but at the same time you have to stay mentally focused. You just have to be a leader out there off the court.”
Were you confident that this would get resolved?
“I definitely was confident from the start. At the same time you can’t really worry about outside things, you still have to focus on your overall goal.”
Do you think you are a difference maker on this club?
“I feel like everyone’s team has a difference maker. You see Baye (Moussa Keita) and Rakeem (Christmas) got into foul trouble today. And if they fouled out you would have needed someone to step up.”
Syracuse vs. St. John’s
February 10, 2013
Carrier Dome, Syracuse, N.Y.
Brandon Triche, Senior, Guard
What kind of lift does it give the team emotionally now that James (Southerland) is back?
“Emotionally we are more confident, obviously. You can make the extra pass and he’s going to open it up for everyone else. You are going to see Mike’s (Carter-Williams) assists go up. You will probably see my assists go up a little more. It just spreads the court out. I think what has been good is that we’ve still been getting to the basket well. Jerami (Grant) has been playing well without James. But now it’s going to be even more spread out. And now you are going to have a knockdown shooter from the three-point line.”
Can you describe the play from the pass from Michael Carter-Williams to James Southerland to you for the on- handed slam dunk?
“ I wasn’t sure if James (Southerland) was going to catch the ball. I was just running, trying to see if the ball got tipped if I could get it. But once James caught it, I think it was natural instinct. He saw me cutting and he just made an awesome pass. He was just paying the favor back because I gave him a couple threes.”
Michael Carter-Williams, Sophomore, Guard
How much more dangerous does it make you guys now that James Southerland is back?
“We’re a lot more dangerous. He rebounds great. He is another offensive threat we have back and it’s great to have him back.”
What was the key overall today because you didn’t pull away from St. John’s until the end of the game?
“They didn’t go away, they kept fighting hard. We had a bunch of people playing well tonight. We knocked down shots. We need to get on the glass a bit more. “
It’s a busy week for you guys, no time to rest. How will you prepare for the quick turnaround for Wednesday’s game?
“Connecticut is a tough team to play. They have tough guards. It’s going to be a fun game.”
Just how good is C.J. Fair and how impressive is he to you?
“He’s great. He is so efficient when he plays. He makes the right decisions and his mid-range game is great. He’s starting to knock down his three-point shot and he rebounds the ball. He is a great player.”
James Southerland, Senior, Forward
How hard was it for you to sit out?
“It was tough but at the same time you have to stay mentally focused. You just have to be a leader out there off the court.”
Were you confident that this would get resolved?
“I definitely was confident from the start. At the same time you can’t really worry about outside things, you still have to focus on your overall goal.”
Do you think you are a difference maker on this club?
“I feel like everyone’s team has a difference maker. You see Baye (Moussa Keita) and Rakeem (Christmas) got into foul trouble today. And if they fouled out you would have needed someone to step up.”
