Syracuse Player Quotes - Indiana (Pa.)
Syracuse Men’s Basketball
Syracuse vs. Indiana (Pa.) Exhibition
November 1, 2016
Carrier Dome, Syracuse, N.Y.
Student-Athlete Quotes
John Gillon, Graduate, Guard
How are you adjusting to this new system?
“It’s always an adjustment coming into a new place, regardless of the experience that you have. You have to learn on-the-fly and I just take it one day at a time and learn to be better.”
What do you want to try to get done before the regular season?
“We need to learn how to play with each other more. We made a few mistakes, like not making that extra pass or not hitting each other in the right spot sometimes. I think in those areas we can get better and then we will be a lot harder to guard.”
Andrew White III, Graduate, Guard
What kind of adjustments did you have to make tonight in this new system?
“This was one of the first times that we’ve all played together as a group. We scrimmage a lot in practice and usually play five-on-five with very little change. We are still trying to feel each other out but it was a good step forward and a good learning experience for us.”
What is it like going out on the court and playing with guys that you don’t normally practice with?
“I had to get used to where everyone is, where everyone likes the ball, defensive rotations, and being intact with one another. As the year goes on we will develop more of a rhythm.”
Do you feel at home here?
“Yes, I do. My transition here could not have been smoother because of the people here, like the support staff and the team. The day that I got in everyone welcomed me and there was no friction. I spend a lot of time with my teammates and they, as well as the entire athletic staff, have really made me feel at home here.”
DaJuan Coleman, Redshirt Senior, Center
How do you think the man-to-man defense worked out tonight?
“It’s something we’ve been working on to start the season and I think we did a good job. We just have to continue to work on it and get better at it. I really think it could help us this year.”
How do you go about developing chemistry with new guys like John Gillon?
“John has been great this year. As soon as he stepped on campus he was a guy that everyone liked and he gets along with everyone. What he brings to this team is going to be big for us. He brings experience to this team which will be real good for us this year.”
Tyus Battle, Freshman, Guard
You’ve been working on your shot recently, how nice was it to get a few shots to fall?
“I’ve always been pretty confident in my jump shot. Over the summer I got a lot more consistent with Coach McNamara. I’m happy that it paid off today and hopefully it continues throughout the rest of the season.”
What were thoughts on having an early deficit but finding your way to fight back?
“First off, we played a really good team today. I thought they were smart and well coached. But we stuck together as a team, pulled together mentally, and got the lead back.”
When you got into the game you were playing a lot of up-tempo. Did that help you get into the flow of the game?
“Coach told me to stay aggressive, and we wanted to push the tempo a little bit, but I think when we got in transition we were able to get easy buckets.”
Tyler Lydon, Sophomore, Forward
What was it like to get back in the Carrier Dome and see the fans again?
“It feels like I never left. It was a great feeling just to be out there and be with the fans once again.”
What was the talk in the huddle after their early flurry of three’s?
“It was just a matter of us playing defense. Our defense was terrible out of the gate and we didn’t come ready to play. We knew we had to pick it up on the defensive end and the offense would come.”
Did it feel weird playing man-to-man defense at the Carrier Dome and do you prefer playing man-to-man?
“It was a little different (to play man-to-man), but we’ve been working on it in practice since the beginning of the year, so we knew we were going to be using it at some point. You put me out on a basketball court it doesn’t matter what type of defense we play, I’m just going to give it my all.”
Paschal Chukwu, Redshirt Sophomore, Center
You’ve gotten bigger in your upper body, but you’re still a little slender in your leg area, is that something you need to work on?
“Definitely. Coach Hopkins wants me to stay low. Coming into the game they were trying to attack my legs when they box out, so that is something I need to play through and be tough about it.”
Did it feel good just to get back in a game, because it has been so long since you’ve had the uniform on?
“It felt good, no matter how I think I played. I still had a lot of fun and enjoyed myself since it was the first game in a long time. I’m just happy to be there with a great group of guys. We are a lot better than we showed today, but it was still great to be out there.”
Syracuse vs. Indiana (Pa.) Exhibition
November 1, 2016
Carrier Dome, Syracuse, N.Y.
Student-Athlete Quotes
John Gillon, Graduate, Guard
How are you adjusting to this new system?
“It’s always an adjustment coming into a new place, regardless of the experience that you have. You have to learn on-the-fly and I just take it one day at a time and learn to be better.”
What do you want to try to get done before the regular season?
“We need to learn how to play with each other more. We made a few mistakes, like not making that extra pass or not hitting each other in the right spot sometimes. I think in those areas we can get better and then we will be a lot harder to guard.”
Andrew White III, Graduate, Guard
What kind of adjustments did you have to make tonight in this new system?
“This was one of the first times that we’ve all played together as a group. We scrimmage a lot in practice and usually play five-on-five with very little change. We are still trying to feel each other out but it was a good step forward and a good learning experience for us.”
What is it like going out on the court and playing with guys that you don’t normally practice with?
“I had to get used to where everyone is, where everyone likes the ball, defensive rotations, and being intact with one another. As the year goes on we will develop more of a rhythm.”
Do you feel at home here?
“Yes, I do. My transition here could not have been smoother because of the people here, like the support staff and the team. The day that I got in everyone welcomed me and there was no friction. I spend a lot of time with my teammates and they, as well as the entire athletic staff, have really made me feel at home here.”
DaJuan Coleman, Redshirt Senior, Center
How do you think the man-to-man defense worked out tonight?
“It’s something we’ve been working on to start the season and I think we did a good job. We just have to continue to work on it and get better at it. I really think it could help us this year.”
How do you go about developing chemistry with new guys like John Gillon?
“John has been great this year. As soon as he stepped on campus he was a guy that everyone liked and he gets along with everyone. What he brings to this team is going to be big for us. He brings experience to this team which will be real good for us this year.”
Tyus Battle, Freshman, Guard
You’ve been working on your shot recently, how nice was it to get a few shots to fall?
“I’ve always been pretty confident in my jump shot. Over the summer I got a lot more consistent with Coach McNamara. I’m happy that it paid off today and hopefully it continues throughout the rest of the season.”
What were thoughts on having an early deficit but finding your way to fight back?
“First off, we played a really good team today. I thought they were smart and well coached. But we stuck together as a team, pulled together mentally, and got the lead back.”
When you got into the game you were playing a lot of up-tempo. Did that help you get into the flow of the game?
“Coach told me to stay aggressive, and we wanted to push the tempo a little bit, but I think when we got in transition we were able to get easy buckets.”
Tyler Lydon, Sophomore, Forward
What was it like to get back in the Carrier Dome and see the fans again?
“It feels like I never left. It was a great feeling just to be out there and be with the fans once again.”
What was the talk in the huddle after their early flurry of three’s?
“It was just a matter of us playing defense. Our defense was terrible out of the gate and we didn’t come ready to play. We knew we had to pick it up on the defensive end and the offense would come.”
Did it feel weird playing man-to-man defense at the Carrier Dome and do you prefer playing man-to-man?
“It was a little different (to play man-to-man), but we’ve been working on it in practice since the beginning of the year, so we knew we were going to be using it at some point. You put me out on a basketball court it doesn’t matter what type of defense we play, I’m just going to give it my all.”
Paschal Chukwu, Redshirt Sophomore, Center
You’ve gotten bigger in your upper body, but you’re still a little slender in your leg area, is that something you need to work on?
“Definitely. Coach Hopkins wants me to stay low. Coming into the game they were trying to attack my legs when they box out, so that is something I need to play through and be tough about it.”
Did it feel good just to get back in a game, because it has been so long since you’ve had the uniform on?
“It felt good, no matter how I think I played. I still had a lot of fun and enjoyed myself since it was the first game in a long time. I’m just happy to be there with a great group of guys. We are a lot better than we showed today, but it was still great to be out there.”
