Coach Boeheim Quotes - Le Moyne
Syracuse vs. Le Moyne (exhibition)
Tuesday, November 8, 2016
Carrier Dome | Syracuse, N.Y.
Postgame Quotes
Coach Boeheim Opening Statement:
“I thought we made some shots tonight, but our defense -- particularly on the press -- was not good. We let them get into open shot situations and they’re good shooters. They made them. I think the lesson for some of our new guys is in transition, you’ve got to do a better job of identifying the shooters. They had two guys that shot it well and we never really identified them. And, we probably pressed more than we normally would, but it’s good practice for us. But, it’s tough to press a five-guard team. They did a good job of getting up the court, and getting some open jump shots in those situations. But, it was good for us.
"I thought we had pretty good movement. I thought Frank (Howard) and Johnny (Gillon) did a really good job at the point. Andrew (White), obviously, shot it. Tyus (Battle) played very well again tonight.
"So, I thought overall you want to get something out of these exhibition games. I thought we got a lot out. We got a lot of defensive things we can show them that I think will help us to get better. We’ve had two really good games (exhibition) that I think will help us.”
How important is Andrew White to this year’s offense?
“We lost three guys who could really shoot, and we knew that, coming into the summer, that we would like to get somebody that can shoot. We were fortunate to get Andrew.
“I think John Gillon is a very good shooter. He hasn’t shot it well yet but he’s a good shooter. I think Tyus (Battle) has set the bar extremely well. Tyler Lydon hasn’t (shot well) but he will so I think we got more than enough shooting.
“Andrew showed tonight how effective he can be shooting the basketball. He didn’t have a lot of time and he still knocked those shots down. I think John and Frank really combined to play very well together – each in his own time frame, but it was good.”
What kind of flexibility does having both John Gillon and Frank Howard give you?
“It’s good to have two guys that can play the point and they both are good players.”
Andrew White shot 8-of-12 tonight. What did you like about his game offensively?
“Yeah the ball was going in. I like that. He’s a shot maker. We want to get him into situations where he gets those looks. He’s a very good shooter. He’s learning our defense and he made some errors that he can correct. I think we can get better offensively getting him some looks. It’s still pretty early yet but we are doing some positive things on offense.”
You spoke highly of Taurean Thompson last week. How do you figure to fit him into this system?
“He’s a very good low-post player, mid-post player, and he’s got a good touch. He’s got long arms. He struggles on defense, which is normal for a big freshman. He can particularly play out in the forward spot but he’s a good passer. He’s good around the basket. He’s one of the best low-post players we have in terms of things he can do down there. He uses both hands well.”
Defensively, it seemed like their shooters really attacked Tyus Battle on the perimeter.
“Yeah, I’m not sure if it was him. One time it was John (Gillon). One time it was Andrew (White). One time it was Tyler Lydon. I wouldn’t put it all on him. I think it was a combination of guys. I don’t think we had good hands and I don’t think we did a good job until later keeping the ball out of the high post. We finally made a couple deflections and got a couple steals there. We are not getting many steals in these two games and that’s concerning because we depend on our defense turning people over. I don’t think we are doing a good job there right now.”
What did you think Frank Howard has improved on since last year?
“He is more confident shooting the ball. I think he is stronger than he was last year. He’s still got a lot to learn. He took the floater once early when he could have got to the basket. He has to see those things. I think he got much stronger mainly and he’s much more confident shooting the ball. He sees and has always seen the court well, which is a very strong part of his game. He had seven assists tonight, which is what we expect.
“I think John (Gillon) was more aggressive offensively shooting the ball tonight. The first game he was really more of a passer. They are both good players. I think there will be occasions when we play them together, possibly this year. We will see how it goes. I think we have to figure out the best combinations, which will take a while for this team. I have some ideas but it will probably take a while.”
How was Paschal Chukwu’s play tonight?
“He’s not ready offensively. We need to get him rolling to the basket, get him around the basket, and he needs to get some offensive rebound situations. They really haven’t been there that much for him. He’s really a work in progress. They’re shooting all their shots from the perimeter. He’s really not that much of a factor in games like this. So, you have to wait until you play against bigger people and see when you need him. This game, he’s not much of a factor. They're not coming in there and doubling at him, all the low post stuff. He does a good job. He did a good job getting it out and getting open shots. It’s early. Those are all things we have to get better at.”
What was your conversation with Matt (Moyer) about redshirting this year?
“He missed so much time. I think he’s a really good player. I think he’s missed so much time that he got out of shape. He’s still not in shape, and he wouldn't be because he just started working. And it would take him another month to get in shape. And by that time, we’re going to have four or five games against top-15,top-20 teams. And he wouldn't be ready to play. He’d waste all that time.”
Tuesday, November 8, 2016
Carrier Dome | Syracuse, N.Y.
Postgame Quotes
Coach Boeheim Opening Statement:
“I thought we made some shots tonight, but our defense -- particularly on the press -- was not good. We let them get into open shot situations and they’re good shooters. They made them. I think the lesson for some of our new guys is in transition, you’ve got to do a better job of identifying the shooters. They had two guys that shot it well and we never really identified them. And, we probably pressed more than we normally would, but it’s good practice for us. But, it’s tough to press a five-guard team. They did a good job of getting up the court, and getting some open jump shots in those situations. But, it was good for us.
"I thought we had pretty good movement. I thought Frank (Howard) and Johnny (Gillon) did a really good job at the point. Andrew (White), obviously, shot it. Tyus (Battle) played very well again tonight.
"So, I thought overall you want to get something out of these exhibition games. I thought we got a lot out. We got a lot of defensive things we can show them that I think will help us to get better. We’ve had two really good games (exhibition) that I think will help us.”
How important is Andrew White to this year’s offense?
“We lost three guys who could really shoot, and we knew that, coming into the summer, that we would like to get somebody that can shoot. We were fortunate to get Andrew.
“I think John Gillon is a very good shooter. He hasn’t shot it well yet but he’s a good shooter. I think Tyus (Battle) has set the bar extremely well. Tyler Lydon hasn’t (shot well) but he will so I think we got more than enough shooting.
“Andrew showed tonight how effective he can be shooting the basketball. He didn’t have a lot of time and he still knocked those shots down. I think John and Frank really combined to play very well together – each in his own time frame, but it was good.”
What kind of flexibility does having both John Gillon and Frank Howard give you?
“It’s good to have two guys that can play the point and they both are good players.”
Andrew White shot 8-of-12 tonight. What did you like about his game offensively?
“Yeah the ball was going in. I like that. He’s a shot maker. We want to get him into situations where he gets those looks. He’s a very good shooter. He’s learning our defense and he made some errors that he can correct. I think we can get better offensively getting him some looks. It’s still pretty early yet but we are doing some positive things on offense.”
You spoke highly of Taurean Thompson last week. How do you figure to fit him into this system?
“He’s a very good low-post player, mid-post player, and he’s got a good touch. He’s got long arms. He struggles on defense, which is normal for a big freshman. He can particularly play out in the forward spot but he’s a good passer. He’s good around the basket. He’s one of the best low-post players we have in terms of things he can do down there. He uses both hands well.”
Defensively, it seemed like their shooters really attacked Tyus Battle on the perimeter.
“Yeah, I’m not sure if it was him. One time it was John (Gillon). One time it was Andrew (White). One time it was Tyler Lydon. I wouldn’t put it all on him. I think it was a combination of guys. I don’t think we had good hands and I don’t think we did a good job until later keeping the ball out of the high post. We finally made a couple deflections and got a couple steals there. We are not getting many steals in these two games and that’s concerning because we depend on our defense turning people over. I don’t think we are doing a good job there right now.”
What did you think Frank Howard has improved on since last year?
“He is more confident shooting the ball. I think he is stronger than he was last year. He’s still got a lot to learn. He took the floater once early when he could have got to the basket. He has to see those things. I think he got much stronger mainly and he’s much more confident shooting the ball. He sees and has always seen the court well, which is a very strong part of his game. He had seven assists tonight, which is what we expect.
“I think John (Gillon) was more aggressive offensively shooting the ball tonight. The first game he was really more of a passer. They are both good players. I think there will be occasions when we play them together, possibly this year. We will see how it goes. I think we have to figure out the best combinations, which will take a while for this team. I have some ideas but it will probably take a while.”
How was Paschal Chukwu’s play tonight?
“He’s not ready offensively. We need to get him rolling to the basket, get him around the basket, and he needs to get some offensive rebound situations. They really haven’t been there that much for him. He’s really a work in progress. They’re shooting all their shots from the perimeter. He’s really not that much of a factor in games like this. So, you have to wait until you play against bigger people and see when you need him. This game, he’s not much of a factor. They're not coming in there and doubling at him, all the low post stuff. He does a good job. He did a good job getting it out and getting open shots. It’s early. Those are all things we have to get better at.”
What was your conversation with Matt (Moyer) about redshirting this year?
“He missed so much time. I think he’s a really good player. I think he’s missed so much time that he got out of shape. He’s still not in shape, and he wouldn't be because he just started working. And it would take him another month to get in shape. And by that time, we’re going to have four or five games against top-15,top-20 teams. And he wouldn't be ready to play. He’d waste all that time.”
