Student-Athlete Quotes - North Florida
Syracuse Men’s Basketball
Syracuse vs. North Florida
December 3, 2016
Carrier Dome, Syracuse, N.Y.
Student-Athlete Quotes
Tyus Battle, Fr., G
How do you think you did your first time in the starting lineup?
“I think I did pretty well. As a team, I think we played pretty well in the first half, but in the second half, we got lazy on certain things. I got easy shots and we started coming back in the game — that’s just college basketball, so we always have to be ready.”
What did Coach say to you when he told you that you were starting?
“He told me to get out there and be aggressive and play. Don't worry about scoring as much. Just make things happen.”
Is it important for you to be part of the starting lineup?
“I don't think it’s that important. Playing on the court is the most important thing – making an impact when you get in the game. Starting isn’t everything. You see good guys in the NBA who should be starting on the bench.
Frank Howard, So., G
Why was DaJuan Coleman so effective today?
“Being aggressive and getting on the ball. We kind of make the focus on getting it down to him, so that’s the main thing.”
Andrew White III, R-Sr., G
How do you plan on working on the defensive struggles that you guys had today?
“I think we got caught out of position a lot and that’s what has gotten us all year. On both sides of the ball, when we get in the right position, that will give us the opportunity to make shots, make plays, have proper spacing and get rebounds. We have a lot of new guys that are still trying to figure out their position, and when we get in the right spots we will be able to rebound better.”
Coach Boeheim was not super pleased with the bench play today, does that say that there is that much more work for you guys to do as a unit that is pretty inexperienced playing together?
“We are a major work in progress right now. There can only be five guys on the court at one time, so everyone has to transition into what their role is. We have nine or 10 guys capable of doing it, but being capable and having potential only works as well as you’re willing to make it.”
Frank Howard had 13 assists tonight. As a scorer how does it help you when you have a guy doing so well distributing the ball?
“I always tell him where I am and where I’ll be and if he hits me, he can count it as an assist. I always tell him before the game, how many assists do you want tonight, and I dial it up for him. He has a great instinct for where everybody is and he is grooming himself well as a point guard. Despite his size, his taking a pass first approach is going to be what’s best for our team, because he has a really great knack of finding guys on time and on target.”
DaJuan Coleman, Gr., C
Can you take me through what’s been working for you these last two games as you’ve scored more than your average?
“I’m just getting the ball in great spots. I work on that 10-12-foot shot every day in practice. I know I can put that shot up in the midrange area. Also hitting the boards and getting some offensive rebounds has helped.”
What inspired your offensive output today?
“I got a couple more touches than usual, but it’s important that I got them in open spots. I know I can score from that high post area, so I’ve just been looking for my shot a little more and I know that I have to be more aggressive as we play tougher competition.”
Coach mentioned how disappointing it was to see the lead evaporate when the second-team guys went in there. Can you tell me as a veteran and leader on this team, what does that say to you when you see guys that haven’t had the chance to play come in and struggle?
“We’re all one team so we can’t really get mad at them, but we just have to figure it out. What’s important is that we stay as one team, not point fingers and work to figure it out.”
Syracuse vs. North Florida
December 3, 2016
Carrier Dome, Syracuse, N.Y.
Student-Athlete Quotes
Tyus Battle, Fr., G
How do you think you did your first time in the starting lineup?
“I think I did pretty well. As a team, I think we played pretty well in the first half, but in the second half, we got lazy on certain things. I got easy shots and we started coming back in the game — that’s just college basketball, so we always have to be ready.”
What did Coach say to you when he told you that you were starting?
“He told me to get out there and be aggressive and play. Don't worry about scoring as much. Just make things happen.”
Is it important for you to be part of the starting lineup?
“I don't think it’s that important. Playing on the court is the most important thing – making an impact when you get in the game. Starting isn’t everything. You see good guys in the NBA who should be starting on the bench.
Frank Howard, So., G
Why was DaJuan Coleman so effective today?
“Being aggressive and getting on the ball. We kind of make the focus on getting it down to him, so that’s the main thing.”
Andrew White III, R-Sr., G
How do you plan on working on the defensive struggles that you guys had today?
“I think we got caught out of position a lot and that’s what has gotten us all year. On both sides of the ball, when we get in the right position, that will give us the opportunity to make shots, make plays, have proper spacing and get rebounds. We have a lot of new guys that are still trying to figure out their position, and when we get in the right spots we will be able to rebound better.”
Coach Boeheim was not super pleased with the bench play today, does that say that there is that much more work for you guys to do as a unit that is pretty inexperienced playing together?
“We are a major work in progress right now. There can only be five guys on the court at one time, so everyone has to transition into what their role is. We have nine or 10 guys capable of doing it, but being capable and having potential only works as well as you’re willing to make it.”
Frank Howard had 13 assists tonight. As a scorer how does it help you when you have a guy doing so well distributing the ball?
“I always tell him where I am and where I’ll be and if he hits me, he can count it as an assist. I always tell him before the game, how many assists do you want tonight, and I dial it up for him. He has a great instinct for where everybody is and he is grooming himself well as a point guard. Despite his size, his taking a pass first approach is going to be what’s best for our team, because he has a really great knack of finding guys on time and on target.”
DaJuan Coleman, Gr., C
Can you take me through what’s been working for you these last two games as you’ve scored more than your average?
“I’m just getting the ball in great spots. I work on that 10-12-foot shot every day in practice. I know I can put that shot up in the midrange area. Also hitting the boards and getting some offensive rebounds has helped.”
What inspired your offensive output today?
“I got a couple more touches than usual, but it’s important that I got them in open spots. I know I can score from that high post area, so I’ve just been looking for my shot a little more and I know that I have to be more aggressive as we play tougher competition.”
Coach mentioned how disappointing it was to see the lead evaporate when the second-team guys went in there. Can you tell me as a veteran and leader on this team, what does that say to you when you see guys that haven’t had the chance to play come in and struggle?
“We’re all one team so we can’t really get mad at them, but we just have to figure it out. What’s important is that we stay as one team, not point fingers and work to figure it out.”
