Player Quotes
Syracuse Men’s Basketball
Syracuse vs. Florida Southern (exhibition)
Player Quotes
Malachi Richardson:
Does it feel like Friday is the real start now?
“The real start was our first practice. Practices can’t be taken lightly. You have to go out and play hard and work hard in everything you do. I think that was my official start.”
What’s it been like meshing with Trevor Cooney and Mike Gbinije?
“It’s awesome playing with Trev and Mike because they open up the floor so much more for me. In high school I was always the focal point and teams would collapse on me a lot more but now I’m almost like a third option with those two being the superstars on the team.”
You’ve got two exhibition games under your belt now, how are you feeling heading into the game on Friday?
“I’m excited, I can’t wait for the Dome to be rockin’ Friday night – to get our first official game going and get another win.”
Kaleb Joseph:
How have you adjusted coming off the bench?
"At the end of the day I get to play basketball and I’m grateful for that, so no matter what I get to do, any opportunity I have to be on the court is a blessing. You just have to make the best out of every opportunity."
What are you seeing out there? Obviously you’re shooting the ball better than you did last year, you worked on it. What are you seeing out there this year?
"I don’t think anything’s really different. I’m capitalizing on opportunities that I have now. If I have an open shot I’m going to take it. Coach is confident in me and I’m confident in myself. I think that’s the biggest difference."
These two exhibition games were lopsided but Coach (Boeheim) said this was a good learning opportunity for both games. Did you feel that way?
"Yeah, absolutely. Whenever we step on the court, it’s not about the opposing team. It’s always -- we want to focus on what we can do to get better. I think at this point in the season there’s a lot of good signs out there that we have a lot of potential."
What would you like to see this team get done in the next week?
"I think, just continue to stay focused on the defensive end. Towards the late first half we got a little lackadaisical, same with the end of the second half. When you have a big lead, you have to stay focused mentally and be engaged in the game.”
Trevor Cooney:
What's your forcast on the season?
"We might not show it right now -- not have the All-Americans, preseason All-Americans, ACC honors -- but I think this team, if we come out ready defensively, move the ball offensively and get good looks, I think we can compete with anyone.
Nationally people aren’t saying that. People in the conference are calling you a middle-of-the-pack kind of club What are your thoughts on that?
"That’s fine with me. Obviously, Syracuse is not used to flying under the radar. And I think that puts a chip on our shoulders, chip on the coaches’ shoulders because we want to go out there and prove to anyone that we’re a good team and that we belong with the national teams."
What’s one thing you do well as a team?
"Space the floor. This game has shown we have guys who can make shots and make plays off the dribble. So when we’re spaced that gives lanes for guys to get to the basket. If they help, someone’s going to be wide open."
What’s the one thing this team could improve on?
"Defense. Defense can always improve, no matter what. The teams that have been good here in the past years have been good defensively, and, when we’re good defensively, get out there in transition, move the ball, get open looks, we’re just that much better of a team."
Michael Gbinije:
What are the differences between this team and last year’s team?
"We have a lot of perimeter guys this year, me being one of those guys – I’m glad that we made this little shift, but honestly each game is going to be different. My mind set is just to come out here and play and have fun and hopefully we play our best so we can win."
Do you have optimism about the way you guys are going to score this year?
"Absolutely. I’m very optimistic about our team this year and the scoring opportunities. One thing I was happy with was the transition, which came off of turnovers in the zone. We really need to keep that up."
You’ve been around here long enough. How does this team compare to other teams in the past?
"I like this team because we have multiple ball handlers, a lot of shooters, and guys who just want to get up and down and run. I think that’s a good combo to have. We can improve on the defensive end in scoring more buckets in transition."
Syracuse vs. Florida Southern (exhibition)
Player Quotes
Malachi Richardson:
Does it feel like Friday is the real start now?
“The real start was our first practice. Practices can’t be taken lightly. You have to go out and play hard and work hard in everything you do. I think that was my official start.”
What’s it been like meshing with Trevor Cooney and Mike Gbinije?
“It’s awesome playing with Trev and Mike because they open up the floor so much more for me. In high school I was always the focal point and teams would collapse on me a lot more but now I’m almost like a third option with those two being the superstars on the team.”
You’ve got two exhibition games under your belt now, how are you feeling heading into the game on Friday?
“I’m excited, I can’t wait for the Dome to be rockin’ Friday night – to get our first official game going and get another win.”
Kaleb Joseph:
How have you adjusted coming off the bench?
"At the end of the day I get to play basketball and I’m grateful for that, so no matter what I get to do, any opportunity I have to be on the court is a blessing. You just have to make the best out of every opportunity."
What are you seeing out there? Obviously you’re shooting the ball better than you did last year, you worked on it. What are you seeing out there this year?
"I don’t think anything’s really different. I’m capitalizing on opportunities that I have now. If I have an open shot I’m going to take it. Coach is confident in me and I’m confident in myself. I think that’s the biggest difference."
These two exhibition games were lopsided but Coach (Boeheim) said this was a good learning opportunity for both games. Did you feel that way?
"Yeah, absolutely. Whenever we step on the court, it’s not about the opposing team. It’s always -- we want to focus on what we can do to get better. I think at this point in the season there’s a lot of good signs out there that we have a lot of potential."
What would you like to see this team get done in the next week?
"I think, just continue to stay focused on the defensive end. Towards the late first half we got a little lackadaisical, same with the end of the second half. When you have a big lead, you have to stay focused mentally and be engaged in the game.”
Trevor Cooney:
What's your forcast on the season?
"We might not show it right now -- not have the All-Americans, preseason All-Americans, ACC honors -- but I think this team, if we come out ready defensively, move the ball offensively and get good looks, I think we can compete with anyone.
Nationally people aren’t saying that. People in the conference are calling you a middle-of-the-pack kind of club What are your thoughts on that?
"That’s fine with me. Obviously, Syracuse is not used to flying under the radar. And I think that puts a chip on our shoulders, chip on the coaches’ shoulders because we want to go out there and prove to anyone that we’re a good team and that we belong with the national teams."
What’s one thing you do well as a team?
"Space the floor. This game has shown we have guys who can make shots and make plays off the dribble. So when we’re spaced that gives lanes for guys to get to the basket. If they help, someone’s going to be wide open."
What’s the one thing this team could improve on?
"Defense. Defense can always improve, no matter what. The teams that have been good here in the past years have been good defensively, and, when we’re good defensively, get out there in transition, move the ball, get open looks, we’re just that much better of a team."
Michael Gbinije:
What are the differences between this team and last year’s team?
"We have a lot of perimeter guys this year, me being one of those guys – I’m glad that we made this little shift, but honestly each game is going to be different. My mind set is just to come out here and play and have fun and hopefully we play our best so we can win."
Do you have optimism about the way you guys are going to score this year?
"Absolutely. I’m very optimistic about our team this year and the scoring opportunities. One thing I was happy with was the transition, which came off of turnovers in the zone. We really need to keep that up."
You’ve been around here long enough. How does this team compare to other teams in the past?
"I like this team because we have multiple ball handlers, a lot of shooters, and guys who just want to get up and down and run. I think that’s a good combo to have. We can improve on the defensive end in scoring more buckets in transition."
