Student-Athlete Quotes
Syracuse Men’s Basketball
Syracuse vs. Colgate
December 22, 2014
Carrier Dome, Syracuse, N.Y.
Rakeem Christmas, Senior, Forward
How have you been able to stay so consistent this year?
“I just try to go out there and give it my all. Coach is giving me the confidence to go out there and just make plays.”
You guys came out with a ton of energy. Was that a surprise to you coming off that tough loss Saturday?
“No, like I said we wanted to come in with a lot of energy and try to give it our all, be aggressive, play hard on defense and that’s what we did.”
Coach says that the team is showing improvement, but there is still a ways to go. Was it good to here him talk that way?
“Yes it was. A lot of people stepped up tonight; Ron(Patterson), B.J. (Johnson), Kaleb (Joseph) and even Chino (Chinonso Obokoh) came in and gave us a minute. So a lot of people stepped up tonight, played hard and just happy that we did a good job. We are going on our break and coming back for practice on Christmas to get ready.”
Trevor Cooney, Redshirt Junior, Guard
What was the biggest thing about Villanova that you learned that brought you into this game that can bring you farther?
“I mean we have been in close games at the end like that and when you are in those types of situations, like last year everything seemed to go our way every time. But this year that hasn’t been the case and it hasn’t been that way for us and you have to learn from it. So I mean last year we didn’t have to learn anything and everything went our way and this year it’s not so it feels a lot different, but hopefully it will help us later on. Hopefully it worked during a tough game later on in February, in a tournament, or anything and we know what it feels like and we can close them out.”
What’s the change been like, like you said, “Last year when you are in close games the ball bounced your way.” What has this kind of done for you personally to learn quickly in this season?
“You have to be focused throughout all forty minutes. I mean that’s what you have to do and when you do that things are going to happen.”
Do you feel yourself getting just a little bit better every game? Do you feel like you just progress because that’s what it seems like, so far?
“I’m just coming out here and playing to win. That’s all I’m trying to do and if we win then I feel good at the end of the day and if not then it doesn’t matter how I play. But I just kind of come out here and try to win.”
Syracuse vs. Colgate
December 22, 2014
Carrier Dome, Syracuse, N.Y.
Rakeem Christmas, Senior, Forward
How have you been able to stay so consistent this year?
“I just try to go out there and give it my all. Coach is giving me the confidence to go out there and just make plays.”
You guys came out with a ton of energy. Was that a surprise to you coming off that tough loss Saturday?
“No, like I said we wanted to come in with a lot of energy and try to give it our all, be aggressive, play hard on defense and that’s what we did.”
Coach says that the team is showing improvement, but there is still a ways to go. Was it good to here him talk that way?
“Yes it was. A lot of people stepped up tonight; Ron(Patterson), B.J. (Johnson), Kaleb (Joseph) and even Chino (Chinonso Obokoh) came in and gave us a minute. So a lot of people stepped up tonight, played hard and just happy that we did a good job. We are going on our break and coming back for practice on Christmas to get ready.”
Trevor Cooney, Redshirt Junior, Guard
What was the biggest thing about Villanova that you learned that brought you into this game that can bring you farther?
“I mean we have been in close games at the end like that and when you are in those types of situations, like last year everything seemed to go our way every time. But this year that hasn’t been the case and it hasn’t been that way for us and you have to learn from it. So I mean last year we didn’t have to learn anything and everything went our way and this year it’s not so it feels a lot different, but hopefully it will help us later on. Hopefully it worked during a tough game later on in February, in a tournament, or anything and we know what it feels like and we can close them out.”
What’s the change been like, like you said, “Last year when you are in close games the ball bounced your way.” What has this kind of done for you personally to learn quickly in this season?
“You have to be focused throughout all forty minutes. I mean that’s what you have to do and when you do that things are going to happen.”
Do you feel yourself getting just a little bit better every game? Do you feel like you just progress because that’s what it seems like, so far?
“I’m just coming out here and playing to win. That’s all I’m trying to do and if we win then I feel good at the end of the day and if not then it doesn’t matter how I play. But I just kind of come out here and try to win.”
