Student-Athlete Quotes - Cornell
Syracuse vs. Cornell
Tuesday, December 27, 2016
Carrier Dome | Syracuse, N.Y.
Frank Howard, So., G
What was emphasized in your recent practices?
“Just focus on every possession. Playing hard. Playing at a high level. I think we had to really break some things down and focus on movement on offense.”
What was the team's reaction to the loss to St. John's?
“We had a players' meeting and we just motivated each other. We don’t want to waste a great team and a potentially great season because we aren’t playing hard and not being focused. We had to sit down and reflect and look at ourselves first and then look at our teammates. We came to the agreement we are going to give it our all every day.”
Taurean Thompson, Fr., F
What makes you such a good passer?
“It’s not that hard. Whoever is open, just pass it to him.”
How did you develop your ball-handling skills?
“I’ve always wanted to separate myself. Growing up in New York City, where there are guards everywhere playing pick-up in the park, I’d work on ball-handling and guard stuff every day.”
What was the tone of your recent practices?
“At a certain point in the season, at every level, you hit a slump and you start going through the motions. You are doing the same thing every day and that hunger sometimes wasn’t there all the time. That loss to St. John’s awakened the fire we had. That first practice back from break was intense and we are stepping it up and picking each other up.”
Andrew White III, R-Sr., G
Were you struggling early in the game?
“I was just missing shots, I had some looks and they just didn’t go in. We had a lot of guys that started hitting shots early. Tyler Roberson got some stuff inside. Taurean (Thompson) played really well, so at that point you just don’t want to force scoring when you have guys that are kind of clicking. Some of my shots just didn’t go in, so I just need to work on my technique and get in the gym and I’ll be fine.”
What did you do to step up your game in the second half?
“I just tried to slash, tried to get on the glass a little bit. I got an offensive rebound or two and just got out in transition and tried to get easy baskets. I think we had some good defensive possessions that led to those easy baskets. My threes weren’t falling, so I wanted to make sure that I did something to contribute.”
What did you think of how Tyler Roberson played?
“I think it was good for his confidence. We’re just trying to keep motivating him and encouraging him because he’s a critical piece to our team.”
Tyus Battle, Fr., G
What were your feelings about the loss to St. John's?
“That hurt. That was a bad feeling. I think we all made an agreement that we never want to feel that way again after a game. We just didn’t play hard enough. Defense was terrible. Offensively, things weren’t going our way. We’ve made the change to just play harder. We just gave up in that game. It just felt terrible. We made an agreement to not let that happen again.”
Was it important, after losing to St. John's, to get another game in before starting ACC play?
“We definitely needed this game to hopefully get back on track. I think that’s the biggest thing, especially going into the ACC. We play a lot of good teams and if we get some of these wins, we’ll be right back on track where we’re supposed to be.”
Tuesday, December 27, 2016
Carrier Dome | Syracuse, N.Y.
Frank Howard, So., G
What was emphasized in your recent practices?
“Just focus on every possession. Playing hard. Playing at a high level. I think we had to really break some things down and focus on movement on offense.”
What was the team's reaction to the loss to St. John's?
“We had a players' meeting and we just motivated each other. We don’t want to waste a great team and a potentially great season because we aren’t playing hard and not being focused. We had to sit down and reflect and look at ourselves first and then look at our teammates. We came to the agreement we are going to give it our all every day.”
Taurean Thompson, Fr., F
What makes you such a good passer?
“It’s not that hard. Whoever is open, just pass it to him.”
How did you develop your ball-handling skills?
“I’ve always wanted to separate myself. Growing up in New York City, where there are guards everywhere playing pick-up in the park, I’d work on ball-handling and guard stuff every day.”
What was the tone of your recent practices?
“At a certain point in the season, at every level, you hit a slump and you start going through the motions. You are doing the same thing every day and that hunger sometimes wasn’t there all the time. That loss to St. John’s awakened the fire we had. That first practice back from break was intense and we are stepping it up and picking each other up.”
Andrew White III, R-Sr., G
Were you struggling early in the game?
“I was just missing shots, I had some looks and they just didn’t go in. We had a lot of guys that started hitting shots early. Tyler Roberson got some stuff inside. Taurean (Thompson) played really well, so at that point you just don’t want to force scoring when you have guys that are kind of clicking. Some of my shots just didn’t go in, so I just need to work on my technique and get in the gym and I’ll be fine.”
What did you do to step up your game in the second half?
“I just tried to slash, tried to get on the glass a little bit. I got an offensive rebound or two and just got out in transition and tried to get easy baskets. I think we had some good defensive possessions that led to those easy baskets. My threes weren’t falling, so I wanted to make sure that I did something to contribute.”
What did you think of how Tyler Roberson played?
“I think it was good for his confidence. We’re just trying to keep motivating him and encouraging him because he’s a critical piece to our team.”
Tyus Battle, Fr., G
What were your feelings about the loss to St. John's?
“That hurt. That was a bad feeling. I think we all made an agreement that we never want to feel that way again after a game. We just didn’t play hard enough. Defense was terrible. Offensively, things weren’t going our way. We’ve made the change to just play harder. We just gave up in that game. It just felt terrible. We made an agreement to not let that happen again.”
Was it important, after losing to St. John's, to get another game in before starting ACC play?
“We definitely needed this game to hopefully get back on track. I think that’s the biggest thing, especially going into the ACC. We play a lot of good teams and if we get some of these wins, we’ll be right back on track where we’re supposed to be.”
