Head Coach Jim Boeheim Quotes vs. Toledo
Syracuse vs. Toledo
November 22, 2017
Carrier Dome
Head Coach Jim Boeheim Quotes
Opening Statement
“Tonight if our defense broke down -- they (Toledo) did a good job of getting to the middle and we weren’t covering the guards. Geno (Thorpe) is new and is figuring it out and didn’t cover a couple of times and Matt (Moyer) got caught in. The second half we did a much better job of coverage. We wanted the center to come and make plays, force him to do something, and we covered the shooters much better. They are a very good shooting team. They made 12 threes. We were contesting a lot of those threes. If we can overcome that, and us shooting 4-of-18 from the three, that’s a pretty good win.
“I thought when Tyus (Battle) went out Frank (Howard) took the game over. He immediately made a couple of big shots right away and got us a cushion. He had other really good looks that just went in and out. I thought we did a really good job on the boards, for the most part. We got in foul trouble, really ticky-tac calls, but they have to be able to overcome that. The last two fouls, Matt (Moyer) fouled on a free throw, we don’t do that when we are ahead, and Pascal fouls out of the game when we were just trying to get back on defense. These are things that guys who have never played have to learn.
“Matt (Moyer) walked on the sideline and Oshae (Brissett) tried to throw a pass that wasn’t there. That’s what young players do. We have to play through that and get better. I thought Frank (Howard) and Oshae (Brissett) were the difference in the second half. Oshae (Brissett) got aggressive and got to the basket -- really, really went to the basket well and finished.
This was a really good win. I like Toledo’s team. I think they are really good. Our defense has been pretty good. We held two high scoring teams in check for the most part and they made almost 50 percent of their three’s. Usually that is a tough scenario. Some very questionable fouls. We can’t foul like that. We have to learn from that. We have a lot to learn and that is to be expected. I think overall, especially with Tyus (Battle) going out, that was pretty good.
What is the difference between this year and last year?
“We are bigger. We are a little more aggressive. We are also going after the ball better. And, we have rebounders. Last year we had two guys on the court who were not going to rebound and we didn’t have a big guy. We had to force Tyler Lydon to play in the middle. The big guys make a big difference in there, not just their rebounding, their presence, blocking shots.”
Tonight Matt Moyer played for the most amount of time he has in the second half this year. What was the difference?
“He’s lucky he made a good play when he did because he was coming out. He made a good play, so we gave him a little more time. Then he had a good rebound and did a couple of good things, so that was good. We need him to help us.”
You talked a couple of games ago about Oshae (Brissett) needing to get to the basket. How as coaches do you teach that to a young player?
“We have plays that we run for him to get to the basket and he did that. He took it to the basket very well tonight.”
What does it say about the character of your team to overcome Toledo’s three-point shooting?
“They hit us with a big punch at the end of the first half hitting three straight three’s and gaining momentum. It was important that Geno (Thorpe) made the three so we could have the lead (at the half). We came out in the second half and did a good job on defense, really, first and foremost. Tyus (Battle) wasn’t having a good night, so when he did go out, Frank (Howard) was pushed into the role of ‘I have to do this.’ Oshae was pushed into that role also. They took advantage of that. I think they can do that.”
November 22, 2017
Carrier Dome
Head Coach Jim Boeheim Quotes
Opening Statement
“Tonight if our defense broke down -- they (Toledo) did a good job of getting to the middle and we weren’t covering the guards. Geno (Thorpe) is new and is figuring it out and didn’t cover a couple of times and Matt (Moyer) got caught in. The second half we did a much better job of coverage. We wanted the center to come and make plays, force him to do something, and we covered the shooters much better. They are a very good shooting team. They made 12 threes. We were contesting a lot of those threes. If we can overcome that, and us shooting 4-of-18 from the three, that’s a pretty good win.
“I thought when Tyus (Battle) went out Frank (Howard) took the game over. He immediately made a couple of big shots right away and got us a cushion. He had other really good looks that just went in and out. I thought we did a really good job on the boards, for the most part. We got in foul trouble, really ticky-tac calls, but they have to be able to overcome that. The last two fouls, Matt (Moyer) fouled on a free throw, we don’t do that when we are ahead, and Pascal fouls out of the game when we were just trying to get back on defense. These are things that guys who have never played have to learn.
“Matt (Moyer) walked on the sideline and Oshae (Brissett) tried to throw a pass that wasn’t there. That’s what young players do. We have to play through that and get better. I thought Frank (Howard) and Oshae (Brissett) were the difference in the second half. Oshae (Brissett) got aggressive and got to the basket -- really, really went to the basket well and finished.
This was a really good win. I like Toledo’s team. I think they are really good. Our defense has been pretty good. We held two high scoring teams in check for the most part and they made almost 50 percent of their three’s. Usually that is a tough scenario. Some very questionable fouls. We can’t foul like that. We have to learn from that. We have a lot to learn and that is to be expected. I think overall, especially with Tyus (Battle) going out, that was pretty good.
What is the difference between this year and last year?
“We are bigger. We are a little more aggressive. We are also going after the ball better. And, we have rebounders. Last year we had two guys on the court who were not going to rebound and we didn’t have a big guy. We had to force Tyler Lydon to play in the middle. The big guys make a big difference in there, not just their rebounding, their presence, blocking shots.”
Tonight Matt Moyer played for the most amount of time he has in the second half this year. What was the difference?
“He’s lucky he made a good play when he did because he was coming out. He made a good play, so we gave him a little more time. Then he had a good rebound and did a couple of good things, so that was good. We need him to help us.”
You talked a couple of games ago about Oshae (Brissett) needing to get to the basket. How as coaches do you teach that to a young player?
“We have plays that we run for him to get to the basket and he did that. He took it to the basket very well tonight.”
What does it say about the character of your team to overcome Toledo’s three-point shooting?
“They hit us with a big punch at the end of the first half hitting three straight three’s and gaining momentum. It was important that Geno (Thorpe) made the three so we could have the lead (at the half). We came out in the second half and did a good job on defense, really, first and foremost. Tyus (Battle) wasn’t having a good night, so when he did go out, Frank (Howard) was pushed into the role of ‘I have to do this.’ Oshae was pushed into that role also. They took advantage of that. I think they can do that.”
