Clemson Player Quotes
Syracuse Men’s Basketball
Syracuse vs. Duke
February 9, 2014
Carrier Dome, Syracuse, N.Y.
C.J. Fair, Senior, Forward
What can you say about your performance after you struggled against Notre Dame (on Monday)?
“Coming into this game, I knew I had to be aggressive early. I made my first couple shots and I got a little confident, got into a rhythm. From there, I was just trying not to force things and let the game come to me.”
How were you able to find success against (Clemson forward) C.J. McDaniels?
“He’s a great defender. I just wanted to keep him moving because he’s an active player on the offensive end. I just wanted to make his job hard on both ends. I was able to get free with a couple of screens that my teammates set. I was able to make plays from there.”
Did you see any potential advantages against Clemson when you were game planning?
“We always treat teams differently. They’re a slow-it-down type of team. They like to get the ball inside and out. We just tried to pack it in and force tough threes. They made some of them and kept us honest, but I think for the most part we did a good job.”
What do you have to do to get ready for Pittsburgh?
“We just have to make sure everyone is ready. Mind set ready to play, everybody get healthy. We’re going to need everybody going in there. It’s going to be a tough game, but I think we’re going to be able to overcome that.”
Tyler Ennis, Freshman, Guard
How does your style of play match the team’s half court offense?
“That’s just the way it’s been playing. We want to get out in transition and get easy buckets, but we’re going to do what we can and with teams slowing it down, it makes it tough. They made a couple shots in the second half. We’re going to focus on getting stops and rebounding and that’ll help.”
Is it hard to win in slower games?
“Not really. We’re versatile in a sense that we can run in the running game but also slow it down and score in the half court. I thought we did a good job of that in the first half and at the end of the second half as well.”
Do you see yourself working with Rakeem (Christmas) in that group this week?
“I don’t see me in that group the whole time working with them but at the same time, if we need it then I’ll be there.”
How did you feel out there today, it looked like you felt pretty good. Only a couple times did they even try to go inside on you.
“It was a little different, but at the same time, like I said we have to adjust and that’s what we did tonight.”
I know it’s hard to look ahead to Pittsburgh already, but have you thought about what it might be like to match up with Talib Zanna at the 5?
“It’s definitely going to be tough. They’re a physical team, but at the same time, if I’m put in the same situation I have to do the same thing.”
Trevor Cooney, R-Sophomore, Guard:
How strong do you feel? Going up against Miami that slows it down and Clemson and a few other teams out there, how used to it are you getting at this point?
“Pretty used to it. I mean even in the non-conference games we saw it. Teams did it to us and the teams in conference are going to do it to us. It’s just a style of play, we’re pretty used to it. We know that we just have to be good on defense and be better on offense.”
Five turnovers for the team, what can you say about that and what you’re able to do as a unit?
“I mean we did have some bad turnovers we don’t normally have. Overall, we made good plays. Tyler Ennis made some good plays and so did C.J. Fair.
You and Tyler (Ennis) both had offensive rebounds late in the game. Is that something that the guards really wanted to attack with a center in foul trouble?
“I don’t know if it was something we looked to do. When I saw there was no one on my side I just took over that spot and the ball was lucky enough to bounce my way and I was able to grab the rebound. It wasn’t anything we were looking to do, we were just playing by instinct.”
Syracuse vs. Duke
February 9, 2014
Carrier Dome, Syracuse, N.Y.
C.J. Fair, Senior, Forward
What can you say about your performance after you struggled against Notre Dame (on Monday)?
“Coming into this game, I knew I had to be aggressive early. I made my first couple shots and I got a little confident, got into a rhythm. From there, I was just trying not to force things and let the game come to me.”
How were you able to find success against (Clemson forward) C.J. McDaniels?
“He’s a great defender. I just wanted to keep him moving because he’s an active player on the offensive end. I just wanted to make his job hard on both ends. I was able to get free with a couple of screens that my teammates set. I was able to make plays from there.”
Did you see any potential advantages against Clemson when you were game planning?
“We always treat teams differently. They’re a slow-it-down type of team. They like to get the ball inside and out. We just tried to pack it in and force tough threes. They made some of them and kept us honest, but I think for the most part we did a good job.”
What do you have to do to get ready for Pittsburgh?
“We just have to make sure everyone is ready. Mind set ready to play, everybody get healthy. We’re going to need everybody going in there. It’s going to be a tough game, but I think we’re going to be able to overcome that.”
Tyler Ennis, Freshman, Guard
How does your style of play match the team’s half court offense?
“That’s just the way it’s been playing. We want to get out in transition and get easy buckets, but we’re going to do what we can and with teams slowing it down, it makes it tough. They made a couple shots in the second half. We’re going to focus on getting stops and rebounding and that’ll help.”
Is it hard to win in slower games?
“Not really. We’re versatile in a sense that we can run in the running game but also slow it down and score in the half court. I thought we did a good job of that in the first half and at the end of the second half as well.”
Do you see yourself working with Rakeem (Christmas) in that group this week?
“I don’t see me in that group the whole time working with them but at the same time, if we need it then I’ll be there.”
How did you feel out there today, it looked like you felt pretty good. Only a couple times did they even try to go inside on you.
“It was a little different, but at the same time, like I said we have to adjust and that’s what we did tonight.”
I know it’s hard to look ahead to Pittsburgh already, but have you thought about what it might be like to match up with Talib Zanna at the 5?
“It’s definitely going to be tough. They’re a physical team, but at the same time, if I’m put in the same situation I have to do the same thing.”
Trevor Cooney, R-Sophomore, Guard:
How strong do you feel? Going up against Miami that slows it down and Clemson and a few other teams out there, how used to it are you getting at this point?
“Pretty used to it. I mean even in the non-conference games we saw it. Teams did it to us and the teams in conference are going to do it to us. It’s just a style of play, we’re pretty used to it. We know that we just have to be good on defense and be better on offense.”
Five turnovers for the team, what can you say about that and what you’re able to do as a unit?
“I mean we did have some bad turnovers we don’t normally have. Overall, we made good plays. Tyler Ennis made some good plays and so did C.J. Fair.
You and Tyler (Ennis) both had offensive rebounds late in the game. Is that something that the guards really wanted to attack with a center in foul trouble?
“I don’t know if it was something we looked to do. When I saw there was no one on my side I just took over that spot and the ball was lucky enough to bounce my way and I was able to grab the rebound. It wasn’t anything we were looking to do, we were just playing by instinct.”
