Head Coach Jim Boeheim Quotes
Syracuse Men's Basketball
Syracuse vs. Louisville
February 18, 2015
Carrier Dome Syracuse, NY
Syracuse Head Coach Jim Boeheim
Opening Statement:
“I thought we couldn’t get anything going early. Michael (Gbinije) kept us in there, made some plays. Rakeem (Christmas) made some plays in the first half but we allowed 53-54% shooting in the first half and we just haven’t stopped anybody.
Second half they shot 32% from the field. We were just better. We just were more active on defense, we kept them from getting the ball where they wanted to, we kept Harrell from getting the ball down low. We were just a different team on defense and that really turned the game. We scored but it was mainly our defense that was the difference in the game.
We did a really good job of getting the ball to Rakeem down low and even though it’s a zone, if you move enough and get enough movement you can get the ball down there. He was great tonight -- he finished everything down there. He was spectacular at the low post, was great defensively, just had a spectacular game.
We missed a couple free throws down the stretch but we made the ones that we had to. Kaleb (Joseph) made a great play at the end, driving in and getting that short jumper; that was a big time play. It was a really good win and the big difference in the game between the last four games we’ve played that were against really good teams was our defense was just better in the second half. That was the difference.”
Defensively, was that as good as you’ve seen all year?
“We kept them outside and we still challenged the three-point shooters. We just did a better job keeping them out of the lane. Once they get in the lane, you get the pass to the low post and you get the runners in there and we just did a better job keeping them out of the lane. That was the difference in the game really.”
You and your guys looked pretty happy at the end of the game…
“We had opportunities against North Carolina, Pittsburgh and Duke, not like we were favored at any point in time in the games but we certainly had every opportunity to have a chance in those games. Our defense just wasn’t good enough and tonight it was.”
What did you see from Tyler (Roberson) at the high post against their zone?
“They don’t guard him when he comes in there and he’s got to be able to make plays. He put it on the floor and went to the basket. He’s trying to shoot that jump shot -- he can’t make that jump shot yet. He’s got to go to the basket. The other thing he can do because no one is there, he can go right into a ball screen and now there’s nobody to help and that’s how Michael (Gbinije) gets in there or Trevor (Cooney) can get in there.”
Did you prepare any differently with no Chris Jones?
“No, (Quentin) Snider took his place. He had 13. He had a pretty good game but Chris Jones is a pretty good player, obviously. During the basketball season there’s going to be one of those key guys going out sometimes and you just have to play without him.”
Are you happy for Rakeem to get a big win out here?
“Tonight was his best, I thought, this year. He changed some shots, he blocked some shots, he made some really hard post moves down there against the 6-11 guy and had help down there. They’re doubling him, still coming back on him. He had a great game tonight. He was tremendous tonight.”
What’s there to build on with a win over a ranked team going into the Pitt game?
“We had a great game with them (Pittsburgh) down there. We played great -- they just played a little better. We weren’t able to stop them. We just have to do a better job on defense. That’s the mindset right now. Everyone we play now is good and you just have to be ready to play. We played well (tonight). I’m happy with the way we played. The games that we’ve lost I think, the one area I think we can play a little better, is defensively. But we do have some limitations there that we just haven’t been able to overcome. We need to keep working at it, trying to get better.”
Did you do anything different on Montrezl Harrell during the second half?
“Not really. (Rakeem) Christmas stayed back the whole game. The problem we had is they made foul-line jump shots in the first half. We didn’t change much. We stayed back trying to keep him from getting it. The time he got it, we should have gotten it and during those times we’re slow to react, but we stay back more. The other thing is, he gets his points when the guards penetrate and then they hit him and he gets the rebound. If you keep the guards outside or have them take a tough shot, then he doesn’t get that same opportunity. But I’ve watched him all year, he rarely makes that jump shot.”
What was Michael (Gbinije) able to do tonight?
“We kept screening for him, trying to get him to open matches where they would switch a lot, try get him to drive on a bigger guy and just get in the lane and make something happen. Mike is playing great -- I don’t think you can ask anybody to play any better than this kid’s playing. He’s playing 40 minutes, 18 (points), six (assists), five rebounds, good defensively. He made the block of the year on (Terry) Rozier. He made an incredible play on that ball. We got the ball to the right people and survived with Trevor (Cooney) having the worse game he’s had since he’s been here in terms of getting opportunities. He missed a driving layup, he just had a bad night.”
Syracuse vs. Louisville
February 18, 2015
Carrier Dome Syracuse, NY
Syracuse Head Coach Jim Boeheim
Opening Statement:
“I thought we couldn’t get anything going early. Michael (Gbinije) kept us in there, made some plays. Rakeem (Christmas) made some plays in the first half but we allowed 53-54% shooting in the first half and we just haven’t stopped anybody.
Second half they shot 32% from the field. We were just better. We just were more active on defense, we kept them from getting the ball where they wanted to, we kept Harrell from getting the ball down low. We were just a different team on defense and that really turned the game. We scored but it was mainly our defense that was the difference in the game.
We did a really good job of getting the ball to Rakeem down low and even though it’s a zone, if you move enough and get enough movement you can get the ball down there. He was great tonight -- he finished everything down there. He was spectacular at the low post, was great defensively, just had a spectacular game.
We missed a couple free throws down the stretch but we made the ones that we had to. Kaleb (Joseph) made a great play at the end, driving in and getting that short jumper; that was a big time play. It was a really good win and the big difference in the game between the last four games we’ve played that were against really good teams was our defense was just better in the second half. That was the difference.”
Defensively, was that as good as you’ve seen all year?
“We kept them outside and we still challenged the three-point shooters. We just did a better job keeping them out of the lane. Once they get in the lane, you get the pass to the low post and you get the runners in there and we just did a better job keeping them out of the lane. That was the difference in the game really.”
You and your guys looked pretty happy at the end of the game…
“We had opportunities against North Carolina, Pittsburgh and Duke, not like we were favored at any point in time in the games but we certainly had every opportunity to have a chance in those games. Our defense just wasn’t good enough and tonight it was.”
What did you see from Tyler (Roberson) at the high post against their zone?
“They don’t guard him when he comes in there and he’s got to be able to make plays. He put it on the floor and went to the basket. He’s trying to shoot that jump shot -- he can’t make that jump shot yet. He’s got to go to the basket. The other thing he can do because no one is there, he can go right into a ball screen and now there’s nobody to help and that’s how Michael (Gbinije) gets in there or Trevor (Cooney) can get in there.”
Did you prepare any differently with no Chris Jones?
“No, (Quentin) Snider took his place. He had 13. He had a pretty good game but Chris Jones is a pretty good player, obviously. During the basketball season there’s going to be one of those key guys going out sometimes and you just have to play without him.”
Are you happy for Rakeem to get a big win out here?
“Tonight was his best, I thought, this year. He changed some shots, he blocked some shots, he made some really hard post moves down there against the 6-11 guy and had help down there. They’re doubling him, still coming back on him. He had a great game tonight. He was tremendous tonight.”
What’s there to build on with a win over a ranked team going into the Pitt game?
“We had a great game with them (Pittsburgh) down there. We played great -- they just played a little better. We weren’t able to stop them. We just have to do a better job on defense. That’s the mindset right now. Everyone we play now is good and you just have to be ready to play. We played well (tonight). I’m happy with the way we played. The games that we’ve lost I think, the one area I think we can play a little better, is defensively. But we do have some limitations there that we just haven’t been able to overcome. We need to keep working at it, trying to get better.”
Did you do anything different on Montrezl Harrell during the second half?
“Not really. (Rakeem) Christmas stayed back the whole game. The problem we had is they made foul-line jump shots in the first half. We didn’t change much. We stayed back trying to keep him from getting it. The time he got it, we should have gotten it and during those times we’re slow to react, but we stay back more. The other thing is, he gets his points when the guards penetrate and then they hit him and he gets the rebound. If you keep the guards outside or have them take a tough shot, then he doesn’t get that same opportunity. But I’ve watched him all year, he rarely makes that jump shot.”
What was Michael (Gbinije) able to do tonight?
“We kept screening for him, trying to get him to open matches where they would switch a lot, try get him to drive on a bigger guy and just get in the lane and make something happen. Mike is playing great -- I don’t think you can ask anybody to play any better than this kid’s playing. He’s playing 40 minutes, 18 (points), six (assists), five rebounds, good defensively. He made the block of the year on (Terry) Rozier. He made an incredible play on that ball. We got the ball to the right people and survived with Trevor (Cooney) having the worse game he’s had since he’s been here in terms of getting opportunities. He missed a driving layup, he just had a bad night.”
