Head Coach Jim Boeheim Quotes
Syracuse Men’s Basketball
Syracuse vs. Florida State
January 11, 2015
Carrier Dome, Syracuse N.Y.
Head Coach Jim Boeheim
Opening Statement:
“We moved the ball well and didn’t turn over the ball that much. Kaleb (Joseph) did a great job getting in the lane and finding the right people. Trevor (Cooney) got a hot hand and then he made some good plays off the dribble, which is the biggest part of his improvement this year. Michael (Gbinije) was really steady as well. Overall our defense was good and we did a pretty good job around the basket.
“We will find out about Chris (McCullough) tomorrow and it is too bad because he was playing well during practice. He has been playing better in practice so it is unfortunate. We will find out tomorrow morning and we just hope for the best.
“Our offense was really encouraging. This was the best offensive game since the first half of the Virgina Tech game.”
What was the difference between Trevor Cooney tonight versus the other games he played this season?
“He is a big player. This is the way he has been playing all year since the beginning of the season.”
Kaleb Joseph had fewer turnovers this game. How do you feel about his overall improvement?
“Kaleb is getting better. He has to just find that spot where he can make his play. He is close. I think he is doing much better. His defense has been much better. This was his best defensive game.”
Is there a particular approach you take to defend the three-point line?
“You just have to get up on them and not let them get set. We did a really good job the whole game defensively guarding the three-point line and still helping in other places.”
The guys obviously see Chris McCullough go down and sometimes that can take a mental toll. Did you say anything to them at that point?
“No, Tyler (Roberson) has been played a lot. Tyler has had a lot of playing time so it wasn’t an unusual thing for him to be going into the game. The difference now is Chinoso (Obokoh) has to play more, and if Chris is out for any length of time, Chinoso has to do a better job. He got into foul trouble right away and they’re going to go at him so he has to be better and has to get going on defense. We just need him to play defense and rebound and he has to do that for us moving forward.”
For the season, your three-point numbers on defense are really good. How good defensively do you think you have been, and can you improve?
“We need to get better. It is something we are working on and people are going to make threes. (Florida State) came off two games where they made a good percentage. In our defense we can guard the line a little bit better because they can’t really run man-to-man plays so they don’t get shots for guys that they could against man to-man. I think our defense was good. It can get better, but that’s the way it goes.”
Syracuse vs. Florida State
January 11, 2015
Carrier Dome, Syracuse N.Y.
Head Coach Jim Boeheim
Opening Statement:
“We moved the ball well and didn’t turn over the ball that much. Kaleb (Joseph) did a great job getting in the lane and finding the right people. Trevor (Cooney) got a hot hand and then he made some good plays off the dribble, which is the biggest part of his improvement this year. Michael (Gbinije) was really steady as well. Overall our defense was good and we did a pretty good job around the basket.
“We will find out about Chris (McCullough) tomorrow and it is too bad because he was playing well during practice. He has been playing better in practice so it is unfortunate. We will find out tomorrow morning and we just hope for the best.
“Our offense was really encouraging. This was the best offensive game since the first half of the Virgina Tech game.”
What was the difference between Trevor Cooney tonight versus the other games he played this season?
“He is a big player. This is the way he has been playing all year since the beginning of the season.”
Kaleb Joseph had fewer turnovers this game. How do you feel about his overall improvement?
“Kaleb is getting better. He has to just find that spot where he can make his play. He is close. I think he is doing much better. His defense has been much better. This was his best defensive game.”
Is there a particular approach you take to defend the three-point line?
“You just have to get up on them and not let them get set. We did a really good job the whole game defensively guarding the three-point line and still helping in other places.”
The guys obviously see Chris McCullough go down and sometimes that can take a mental toll. Did you say anything to them at that point?
“No, Tyler (Roberson) has been played a lot. Tyler has had a lot of playing time so it wasn’t an unusual thing for him to be going into the game. The difference now is Chinoso (Obokoh) has to play more, and if Chris is out for any length of time, Chinoso has to do a better job. He got into foul trouble right away and they’re going to go at him so he has to be better and has to get going on defense. We just need him to play defense and rebound and he has to do that for us moving forward.”
For the season, your three-point numbers on defense are really good. How good defensively do you think you have been, and can you improve?
“We need to get better. It is something we are working on and people are going to make threes. (Florida State) came off two games where they made a good percentage. In our defense we can guard the line a little bit better because they can’t really run man-to-man plays so they don’t get shots for guys that they could against man to-man. I think our defense was good. It can get better, but that’s the way it goes.”
