Head Coach Jim Boeheim Quotes
Syracuse Men’s Basketball
Syracuse vs. Virginia Tech
February 3, 2015
Carrier Dome, Syracuse, N.Y.
Head Coach Jim Boeheim
“With four minutes left to go we had to gamble. We got a couple turnovers on our full-court press and we had a couple in our traps at half court. We had a couple steals and we still did not convert them all but we did convert enough to get within distance. I think there were six (turnovers) in the last three minutes and to be able to get all of those without fouling was an amazing job by our guys. I have been in a lot of games and I’m probably going to overstate this but the way we were, with them having four guards out there and we were a little bit tired, this comeback ranks up there with any that I have ever been a part of.
“Given all the circumstances of the game, the way we were playing, the way they made six straight three’s to start the second half, they were shooting in the neighborhood of 60 percent going into the end of the game, to make the plays we did was incredible. Even during that run we faced adversity. We missed a free throw, we got it to Rak (Christmas) and he missed a make-able shot. It was not just smooth. In the end we were going to go to Rak (Christmas) but they took the ball off Rak so we wanted to give it right back to Michael and we told Michael to go. I thought he did not settle for an off-balance jumper. He spun back and made a great play, one of the best plays in that situation that I have seen. Him going to the line and making those two free throws when he was 4-for-8, and one of those was a bank shot, was pretty amazing.
“Then we forced the turnover, again we forced them to use their timeouts when they did not really have timeouts. We had one left to get something set up and Michael (Gbinije) made a great play. It was a great win.
Was it just one play or a few plays that kind of jump started the rally?
“Well right away, they made a couple of turnovers. Right away. And we had a couple of opportunities within that run where we could’ve had some where Rak (Christmas) missed an easy one, Trevor (Cooney) had a couple of open look threes. It wasn’t like we just started making everything. But, they made so many mistakes that we had enough opportunities to get back.”
What do you think your defense did better the last six minutes?
“The full-court press, the half-court traps worked. It’s hard to do against a team with a small line up but they made mistakes. I’m sure that (Virginia Tech head coach) Buzz (Williams) will say that. They just made mistakes. They made six turnovers, I thought it was even more. And, I think they missed a couple of layups and other shots. I thought (Justin) Bibbs did a great job making those free throws. I thought that for a freshman to go to the line – if he doesn’t make those, we win easier. We have to take some credit because we are up there, we are pressuring them with the trap and doing some good things but they made some bad mistakes. They have good ball handlers, young guys – little guys, small guys, but they are young too. It’s just the way it worked.”
Syracuse vs. Virginia Tech
February 3, 2015
Carrier Dome, Syracuse, N.Y.
Head Coach Jim Boeheim
“With four minutes left to go we had to gamble. We got a couple turnovers on our full-court press and we had a couple in our traps at half court. We had a couple steals and we still did not convert them all but we did convert enough to get within distance. I think there were six (turnovers) in the last three minutes and to be able to get all of those without fouling was an amazing job by our guys. I have been in a lot of games and I’m probably going to overstate this but the way we were, with them having four guards out there and we were a little bit tired, this comeback ranks up there with any that I have ever been a part of.
“Given all the circumstances of the game, the way we were playing, the way they made six straight three’s to start the second half, they were shooting in the neighborhood of 60 percent going into the end of the game, to make the plays we did was incredible. Even during that run we faced adversity. We missed a free throw, we got it to Rak (Christmas) and he missed a make-able shot. It was not just smooth. In the end we were going to go to Rak (Christmas) but they took the ball off Rak so we wanted to give it right back to Michael and we told Michael to go. I thought he did not settle for an off-balance jumper. He spun back and made a great play, one of the best plays in that situation that I have seen. Him going to the line and making those two free throws when he was 4-for-8, and one of those was a bank shot, was pretty amazing.
“Then we forced the turnover, again we forced them to use their timeouts when they did not really have timeouts. We had one left to get something set up and Michael (Gbinije) made a great play. It was a great win.
Was it just one play or a few plays that kind of jump started the rally?
“Well right away, they made a couple of turnovers. Right away. And we had a couple of opportunities within that run where we could’ve had some where Rak (Christmas) missed an easy one, Trevor (Cooney) had a couple of open look threes. It wasn’t like we just started making everything. But, they made so many mistakes that we had enough opportunities to get back.”
What do you think your defense did better the last six minutes?
“The full-court press, the half-court traps worked. It’s hard to do against a team with a small line up but they made mistakes. I’m sure that (Virginia Tech head coach) Buzz (Williams) will say that. They just made mistakes. They made six turnovers, I thought it was even more. And, I think they missed a couple of layups and other shots. I thought (Justin) Bibbs did a great job making those free throws. I thought that for a freshman to go to the line – if he doesn’t make those, we win easier. We have to take some credit because we are up there, we are pressuring them with the trap and doing some good things but they made some bad mistakes. They have good ball handlers, young guys – little guys, small guys, but they are young too. It’s just the way it worked.”
