Men's Basketball Media Day - Player Quotes
Syracuse Men’s Basketball
2016-17 Media Day
Oct. 21, 2016
Player Quotes
#34 Doyin Akintobi-Adeyeye, F, Sr.
What does it mean to be on scholarship this year?
“It’s a culmination of all my hard work. Everything I’ve worked for since being here has paid off.”
What is the biggest asset you bring to the team this year?
“I bring energy, intensity and voice. Anytime I see something, I’m not afraid to say something to my teammates and point things out to them that they might not see in themselves.”
What do you think your role with the team is going to be this year?
“I want to continue to bring the energy and high intensity every day at practice, like last year, and also build off of that as well.”
#25 Tyus Battle, G, Fr.
What can you say about the depth you see in practice, and how it can make you multi-dimensional to be able to do things like press if you need to?
“We can do everything, especially since, defensively, we are really long. We really get after it on offense since we have a lot of options. We have shooters. We have big men down low with Paschal and DaJuan. Practice helps us get so much better as players, and everyone on this team has the potential to get playing time.”
What is the biggest asset you bring to the team?
“My versatility. I feel like I can play the one, the two, and the three. I can get defensive stops and score the ball. I want to make an impact every time I’m on the court.”
What are your thoughts on playing Coach Boeheim’s zone defense?
“Coach Boeheim’s zone is a historic defense. With the team we have, we are really long, we are going to get a lot of steals. We have shot blockers down low that are going to make it tough to get down there on us.”
#13 Paschal Chukwu, C, So.
How are you feeling going into this season?
“I feel great. I didn’t play last year so I had a full year to get my body ready and work on my game. So I feel comfortable. I’m excited.”
What have you been working on specifically this offseason to get ready for the season?
“I really have to pay attention to the zone, because that was a new concept to me. But offensively, I was on top of it all summer working on my offensive game. I think defensively, I just talked to coach and he told me what I have to do so I think I have that down.”
#34 Dajuan Coleman, C, RSr.
What has been the attitude like for you, another year healthier coming into the year and what can we expect from you?
“Just being that person down low and just doing whatever I can to help my team win – that’s my main focus.”
How are you feeling as a whole, coming off of injuries. You had a whole year under your belt healthy, so just how are you feeling?
“I feel good; I feel really good. Playing all last year without any injuries definitely helped my confidence and this year I’m just ready to go right out of the gate.”
Do you feel like this team might be a little underrated, ranked No. 17 and coming off a Final Four run?
“Yeah a little bit, but we don’t really pay attention to that. As soon as we get out there, we are just going to try our best to get some wins.”
What’s different with this team this year compared to last year’s team that made a deep run in the NCAA Tournament?
“I think this year’s team, going into the season, is more confident because of the run we had last year. We just want to get back there so bad, so I think confidence is up and we’re just ready to go out there and win.”
#4 John Gillon, G, Gr.
Was playing for a coach like Boeheim a key factor in your decision to come here?
“Definitely. He’s an all-time great, a Hall-of-Famer. He’s really smart, and that definitely drew me in on my visit. Just the way he thinks about basketball and the way he talks about it sat well with me. It’s very obvious why he’s so successful.”
Last year it seemed like a shock that Syracuse made it to the Final Four. This year it seems like it wouldn’t be as much of a shock if it happened. What are your thoughts on that?
“Any team can lose on any night. It’s always a big deal to go to the Final Four. With the team we have, anything is possible. We definitely have the talent and the tools to do that.”
What motivates you?
“My dreams of making it to the next level motivate me every day.”
What do you see as your role on the team?
“That’s something that plays out over the course of the season, but I think I can get my teammates involved, get open shots, get in the lane, and make steals.”
What’s something that you feel you bring to the team?
“I think I bring my speed and my shooting. The team has definitely had it, but I can bring more of it. Offensively, when there are broken plays, I can get into the lane.”
#1 Frank Howard, G, So.
You’re not a freshman anymore, so what does it mean to you that they’re looking for you to be a leader on the floor?
“It’s big. I have to step up. I think I’m ready. I’ve been preparing all year. I’ve had a whole year to prepare.”
How big was it to get those minutes late in the year last year?
“It was huge, that being my first real year being strictly a point guard. I learned a lot and it’s molded me to what I am now and I’m ready to go. I’m ready to lead.”
What do you think is the biggest difference from last year’s team to this year’s team?
“The talent level and the depth. Last year I don’t think we were as deep as we are this year. So, I think we’re just ready to compete and ready to go.”
#20 Tyler Lydon, F, So.
What was the summer like after making it to the Final Four?
“It’s a huge honor making it to the Final Four, it’s an accomplishment that not a lot of college guys can say they did. But at the end of the day, we want to win a national championship so I’m hungry and working hard every day.”
What is the adjustment with the new guys coming in this year instead of having Michael Gbinije and Trevor Cooney in the backcourt?
“This year we got Frank (Howard) coming back, we got some new guys in Tyus (Battle), Andrew (White) and John (Gillon). They’re doing their part in practice and working really hard, so it really feels like Trevor and Mike are still out there with us.”
Are you ready to play in the middle if Coach Boeheim calls your number?
“I felt really good last year, but there were some games that I had to go against some pretty big guys. But I added 20 pounds over the summer, so I feel really good where I’m at right now.”
#2 Matthew Moyer, F, Fr.
The team has a lot of depth at the forward position. How do you think you can help out there? How much time do you expect to see? Where do you think you can contribute the most?
“If I get in there, I know I’m going to give the best minutes I can give. I don’t really talk to Coach about minutes. Right now I’m just trying to show Coach I can compete at this level and play significant minutes.”
Who’s helped you out the most here so far?
“Probably Gerry McNamara. He’s the one who recruited me here. Obviously an injury is a tough thing, but since the injury he’s been so positive with me. He’s kept me in high spirits. I listen to him every day in practice. He helps eliminate my thinking that I’m tired because if I think I’m tired I’m going to be tired. It’s about playing hard, and the harder I play, the easier it’s going to be getting back into shape.”
How much fun is it to be on this team?
“I can’t even put it into words. Just being here, playing with a Hall of Fame coach, playing with these guys – we all have something in common. Guys like Frank and guys like Tyler, being able to be with them and a part of this program is awesome. It’s a brotherhood.”
#21 Tyler Roberson, F, Sr.
What are you looking forward to this year?
“I’m looking forward to winning a lot. We want to get back to the tournament and win the national championship. That’s the main goal.”
What does the team have to do game in and game out to make that goal a reality?
“I think it all starts in practice. We have to compete every day in practice against each other, which we’ve been doing. Then in the games we have to execute like we’ve been doing in practice, and if we do that we will be fine.”
The team came off the Final Four last year, so personally how are you feeling about this season overall?
“Excited. I know we can’t ask for much more (making the Final Four last year). We obviously wanted to win the national championship, but we went really far and we are bringing that energy into this season.”
#12 Taurean Thompson, F, Fr.
How do you think the team as a whole has looked?
“In my opinion we look great. We bring it 100 percent every day. We’ve been striving for the best, so I think we are going to have a really successful year.”
What are your goals for the year?
“Do my best. When I came here a lot of people were saying a lot of negative things. ‘He won’t do this. He won’t do that’. I just want to prove all of the doubters wrong. I keep that in the back of my mind every day.”
#3 Andrew White, G, Gr.
What is the atmosphere like around practice this preseason?
“I think the atmosphere has been really quick and really fast, a lot of movement just since we have a lot of versatility and a lot of guys this year. We have been working on our press, our quick offense, and mainly just using the first couple of weeks to get into good game shape.”
Is there something you really want to hone in on and contribute to the team?
“Just making sure that I know my spots in the zone. It’s a new defense for me so just making sure I’m kind of on point with that. Just scoring as efficiently as I can. Being a veteran leader for the guys who are younger. Just playing my part on the team.”
What is the atmosphere of being a part of a team that was so successful last year? What is it like being a part of this sort of family?
“That’s kind of what makes this program special. The bar is always set high here every year. I think all the coaches and the players have done a good job up until this point preparing and having a sense of urgency so we can have a good season. I think it’s been good being in this kind of atmosphere because it forces you to raise your level and your focus as a player.”
2016-17 Media Day
Oct. 21, 2016
Player Quotes
#34 Doyin Akintobi-Adeyeye, F, Sr.
What does it mean to be on scholarship this year?
“It’s a culmination of all my hard work. Everything I’ve worked for since being here has paid off.”
What is the biggest asset you bring to the team this year?
“I bring energy, intensity and voice. Anytime I see something, I’m not afraid to say something to my teammates and point things out to them that they might not see in themselves.”
What do you think your role with the team is going to be this year?
“I want to continue to bring the energy and high intensity every day at practice, like last year, and also build off of that as well.”
#25 Tyus Battle, G, Fr.
What can you say about the depth you see in practice, and how it can make you multi-dimensional to be able to do things like press if you need to?
“We can do everything, especially since, defensively, we are really long. We really get after it on offense since we have a lot of options. We have shooters. We have big men down low with Paschal and DaJuan. Practice helps us get so much better as players, and everyone on this team has the potential to get playing time.”
What is the biggest asset you bring to the team?
“My versatility. I feel like I can play the one, the two, and the three. I can get defensive stops and score the ball. I want to make an impact every time I’m on the court.”
What are your thoughts on playing Coach Boeheim’s zone defense?
“Coach Boeheim’s zone is a historic defense. With the team we have, we are really long, we are going to get a lot of steals. We have shot blockers down low that are going to make it tough to get down there on us.”
#13 Paschal Chukwu, C, So.
How are you feeling going into this season?
“I feel great. I didn’t play last year so I had a full year to get my body ready and work on my game. So I feel comfortable. I’m excited.”
What have you been working on specifically this offseason to get ready for the season?
“I really have to pay attention to the zone, because that was a new concept to me. But offensively, I was on top of it all summer working on my offensive game. I think defensively, I just talked to coach and he told me what I have to do so I think I have that down.”
#34 Dajuan Coleman, C, RSr.
What has been the attitude like for you, another year healthier coming into the year and what can we expect from you?
“Just being that person down low and just doing whatever I can to help my team win – that’s my main focus.”
How are you feeling as a whole, coming off of injuries. You had a whole year under your belt healthy, so just how are you feeling?
“I feel good; I feel really good. Playing all last year without any injuries definitely helped my confidence and this year I’m just ready to go right out of the gate.”
Do you feel like this team might be a little underrated, ranked No. 17 and coming off a Final Four run?
“Yeah a little bit, but we don’t really pay attention to that. As soon as we get out there, we are just going to try our best to get some wins.”
What’s different with this team this year compared to last year’s team that made a deep run in the NCAA Tournament?
“I think this year’s team, going into the season, is more confident because of the run we had last year. We just want to get back there so bad, so I think confidence is up and we’re just ready to go out there and win.”
#4 John Gillon, G, Gr.
Was playing for a coach like Boeheim a key factor in your decision to come here?
“Definitely. He’s an all-time great, a Hall-of-Famer. He’s really smart, and that definitely drew me in on my visit. Just the way he thinks about basketball and the way he talks about it sat well with me. It’s very obvious why he’s so successful.”
Last year it seemed like a shock that Syracuse made it to the Final Four. This year it seems like it wouldn’t be as much of a shock if it happened. What are your thoughts on that?
“Any team can lose on any night. It’s always a big deal to go to the Final Four. With the team we have, anything is possible. We definitely have the talent and the tools to do that.”
What motivates you?
“My dreams of making it to the next level motivate me every day.”
What do you see as your role on the team?
“That’s something that plays out over the course of the season, but I think I can get my teammates involved, get open shots, get in the lane, and make steals.”
What’s something that you feel you bring to the team?
“I think I bring my speed and my shooting. The team has definitely had it, but I can bring more of it. Offensively, when there are broken plays, I can get into the lane.”
#1 Frank Howard, G, So.
You’re not a freshman anymore, so what does it mean to you that they’re looking for you to be a leader on the floor?
“It’s big. I have to step up. I think I’m ready. I’ve been preparing all year. I’ve had a whole year to prepare.”
How big was it to get those minutes late in the year last year?
“It was huge, that being my first real year being strictly a point guard. I learned a lot and it’s molded me to what I am now and I’m ready to go. I’m ready to lead.”
What do you think is the biggest difference from last year’s team to this year’s team?
“The talent level and the depth. Last year I don’t think we were as deep as we are this year. So, I think we’re just ready to compete and ready to go.”
#20 Tyler Lydon, F, So.
What was the summer like after making it to the Final Four?
“It’s a huge honor making it to the Final Four, it’s an accomplishment that not a lot of college guys can say they did. But at the end of the day, we want to win a national championship so I’m hungry and working hard every day.”
What is the adjustment with the new guys coming in this year instead of having Michael Gbinije and Trevor Cooney in the backcourt?
“This year we got Frank (Howard) coming back, we got some new guys in Tyus (Battle), Andrew (White) and John (Gillon). They’re doing their part in practice and working really hard, so it really feels like Trevor and Mike are still out there with us.”
Are you ready to play in the middle if Coach Boeheim calls your number?
“I felt really good last year, but there were some games that I had to go against some pretty big guys. But I added 20 pounds over the summer, so I feel really good where I’m at right now.”
#2 Matthew Moyer, F, Fr.
The team has a lot of depth at the forward position. How do you think you can help out there? How much time do you expect to see? Where do you think you can contribute the most?
“If I get in there, I know I’m going to give the best minutes I can give. I don’t really talk to Coach about minutes. Right now I’m just trying to show Coach I can compete at this level and play significant minutes.”
Who’s helped you out the most here so far?
“Probably Gerry McNamara. He’s the one who recruited me here. Obviously an injury is a tough thing, but since the injury he’s been so positive with me. He’s kept me in high spirits. I listen to him every day in practice. He helps eliminate my thinking that I’m tired because if I think I’m tired I’m going to be tired. It’s about playing hard, and the harder I play, the easier it’s going to be getting back into shape.”
How much fun is it to be on this team?
“I can’t even put it into words. Just being here, playing with a Hall of Fame coach, playing with these guys – we all have something in common. Guys like Frank and guys like Tyler, being able to be with them and a part of this program is awesome. It’s a brotherhood.”
#21 Tyler Roberson, F, Sr.
What are you looking forward to this year?
“I’m looking forward to winning a lot. We want to get back to the tournament and win the national championship. That’s the main goal.”
What does the team have to do game in and game out to make that goal a reality?
“I think it all starts in practice. We have to compete every day in practice against each other, which we’ve been doing. Then in the games we have to execute like we’ve been doing in practice, and if we do that we will be fine.”
The team came off the Final Four last year, so personally how are you feeling about this season overall?
“Excited. I know we can’t ask for much more (making the Final Four last year). We obviously wanted to win the national championship, but we went really far and we are bringing that energy into this season.”
#12 Taurean Thompson, F, Fr.
How do you think the team as a whole has looked?
“In my opinion we look great. We bring it 100 percent every day. We’ve been striving for the best, so I think we are going to have a really successful year.”
What are your goals for the year?
“Do my best. When I came here a lot of people were saying a lot of negative things. ‘He won’t do this. He won’t do that’. I just want to prove all of the doubters wrong. I keep that in the back of my mind every day.”
#3 Andrew White, G, Gr.
What is the atmosphere like around practice this preseason?
“I think the atmosphere has been really quick and really fast, a lot of movement just since we have a lot of versatility and a lot of guys this year. We have been working on our press, our quick offense, and mainly just using the first couple of weeks to get into good game shape.”
Is there something you really want to hone in on and contribute to the team?
“Just making sure that I know my spots in the zone. It’s a new defense for me so just making sure I’m kind of on point with that. Just scoring as efficiently as I can. Being a veteran leader for the guys who are younger. Just playing my part on the team.”
What is the atmosphere of being a part of a team that was so successful last year? What is it like being a part of this sort of family?
“That’s kind of what makes this program special. The bar is always set high here every year. I think all the coaches and the players have done a good job up until this point preparing and having a sense of urgency so we can have a good season. I think it’s been good being in this kind of atmosphere because it forces you to raise your level and your focus as a player.”
