Head Coach Jim Boeheim Quotes - Buffalo
Syracuse Men's Basketball
Syracuse vs. Buffalo
December 19, 2017
Carrier Dome, Syracuse, N.Y.
Head Coach Jim Boeheim
Opening Statement:
“I thought Buffalo played very well. They made some big shots. Defensively, they are very good. They are the first team all year that just wouldn’t let Tyus (Battle) get anything, and they didn’t guard Matt (Moyer), and Matt took advantage of that in the first half. He made some plays in the second half that, defensively, we can’t make.
“We talked to Oshae (Brissett) about how this was just one of those games where you had to take it to the basket, and he just took it to the basket. That’s what I think he does best.
“Frank (Howard) made a couple of good plays, and some bad plays. Then, he makes a 3-point shot that gets us back in the game. He’s making a lot of good plays and he’s going to occasionally make a bad one.
“I thought they were good. I thought they battled us and pushed us a lot. There was a lot of contact and you have to play through that. I thought, overall, it was a good win against a team that I think is a very good team. I think they (Buffalo) have a chance to go someplace and get in the tournament.
“It was a good win, we are happy to get it.”
Buffalo was ahead of you in rebounding most the night. What role did rebounding play in the game?
"We didn’t get on the boards. They blocked out well. They were really physical and kept us off the boards pretty good. I thought they did a really good job."
Did they surprise you at all with the intensity they showed in the second half?
"We had an opportunity in the first half to get control of the game, really good control, and we didn’t do it. They came out battling and we made a couple bad plays and they took advantage of it. They made a couple shots early in the second half and got it going a little bit. I thought they played very hard the whole game. I thought early, because they left Matt open, we were able to get Matt some easy shots in there. In the second half, that wasn’t there really. Defensively we just weren’t with the other guys.
"Paschal (Chukwu) was great. He blocked eight shots. I think he can still get better, be better out there. There are some opportunities -- he brings the ball down in traffic. He has to keep the ball up. But he changed some shots and made some big blocks down there at the end of the first half."
How much mental toughness does it take for Frank Howard to commit two turnovers and then make that big shot?
"It’s hard, it’s hard to do. He kept playing. He had bad turnovers against Georgetown and Connecticut but still made good plays. That shot (the 3-pointer) was the shot of the game. I think we would have had trouble winning that game if he missed that shot."
What did they do to limit Tyus Battle's production?
"They face guarded him and doubled him. Made it really hard for him."
How are games like tonight continuing to build confidence for this young team?
"We just got to keep playing and keep making plays. You wouldn’t win games like this if you didn’t have confidence."
Could you see their team gaining confidence as they chipped away there?
"When you come back and you’re on the road and you make a comeback like that to take the lead, that’s huge. Huge for the confidence, but they are good. I think they are a good team. Their inside guy, he’s really good around the basket. He’s strong. First half we did a pretty good job on him, but second half he got going. He stepped out and made a three. He is a very big, physical guy and we are not that physical. We had trouble with him. They made some big shots."
Tyus Battle was held to only 13 points -- do you have to change anything offensively when he isn't scoring?
"We changed the whole game. We went to Matt Moyer. We went to Oshae (Brissett). We went to Frank (Howard) a couple of times. Anytime they face guard a guy like that, it opens up lanes for the other guys. That's why you’re driving. That’s why you’re getting to the basket. That’s why you are getting layups.
"I thought he did a good job getting some shots and getting some points because they were not letting him get shots. I thought everyone else balanced it out.
"I think Paschal can still help us a little more on offense. I though Marek was really good. He was 3-for-5 with four rebounds. Missed a layup on a big layup play, but he made a couple tough shots. I thought he was really good and Matt was good. We have to have everybody pitch in and everybody has to be a part of it.
"I thought Howard (Washington) made a couple bad mistakes that we can’t afford from him when he was in there, but I think he will be alright. I think we will play that three guard attack a little bit more. I just think he has to get a little more time."
Syracuse vs. Buffalo
December 19, 2017
Carrier Dome, Syracuse, N.Y.
Head Coach Jim Boeheim
Opening Statement:
“I thought Buffalo played very well. They made some big shots. Defensively, they are very good. They are the first team all year that just wouldn’t let Tyus (Battle) get anything, and they didn’t guard Matt (Moyer), and Matt took advantage of that in the first half. He made some plays in the second half that, defensively, we can’t make.
“We talked to Oshae (Brissett) about how this was just one of those games where you had to take it to the basket, and he just took it to the basket. That’s what I think he does best.
“Frank (Howard) made a couple of good plays, and some bad plays. Then, he makes a 3-point shot that gets us back in the game. He’s making a lot of good plays and he’s going to occasionally make a bad one.
“I thought they were good. I thought they battled us and pushed us a lot. There was a lot of contact and you have to play through that. I thought, overall, it was a good win against a team that I think is a very good team. I think they (Buffalo) have a chance to go someplace and get in the tournament.
“It was a good win, we are happy to get it.”
Buffalo was ahead of you in rebounding most the night. What role did rebounding play in the game?
"We didn’t get on the boards. They blocked out well. They were really physical and kept us off the boards pretty good. I thought they did a really good job."
Did they surprise you at all with the intensity they showed in the second half?
"We had an opportunity in the first half to get control of the game, really good control, and we didn’t do it. They came out battling and we made a couple bad plays and they took advantage of it. They made a couple shots early in the second half and got it going a little bit. I thought they played very hard the whole game. I thought early, because they left Matt open, we were able to get Matt some easy shots in there. In the second half, that wasn’t there really. Defensively we just weren’t with the other guys.
"Paschal (Chukwu) was great. He blocked eight shots. I think he can still get better, be better out there. There are some opportunities -- he brings the ball down in traffic. He has to keep the ball up. But he changed some shots and made some big blocks down there at the end of the first half."
How much mental toughness does it take for Frank Howard to commit two turnovers and then make that big shot?
"It’s hard, it’s hard to do. He kept playing. He had bad turnovers against Georgetown and Connecticut but still made good plays. That shot (the 3-pointer) was the shot of the game. I think we would have had trouble winning that game if he missed that shot."
What did they do to limit Tyus Battle's production?
"They face guarded him and doubled him. Made it really hard for him."
How are games like tonight continuing to build confidence for this young team?
"We just got to keep playing and keep making plays. You wouldn’t win games like this if you didn’t have confidence."
Could you see their team gaining confidence as they chipped away there?
"When you come back and you’re on the road and you make a comeback like that to take the lead, that’s huge. Huge for the confidence, but they are good. I think they are a good team. Their inside guy, he’s really good around the basket. He’s strong. First half we did a pretty good job on him, but second half he got going. He stepped out and made a three. He is a very big, physical guy and we are not that physical. We had trouble with him. They made some big shots."
Tyus Battle was held to only 13 points -- do you have to change anything offensively when he isn't scoring?
"We changed the whole game. We went to Matt Moyer. We went to Oshae (Brissett). We went to Frank (Howard) a couple of times. Anytime they face guard a guy like that, it opens up lanes for the other guys. That's why you’re driving. That’s why you’re getting to the basket. That’s why you are getting layups.
"I thought he did a good job getting some shots and getting some points because they were not letting him get shots. I thought everyone else balanced it out.
"I think Paschal can still help us a little more on offense. I though Marek was really good. He was 3-for-5 with four rebounds. Missed a layup on a big layup play, but he made a couple tough shots. I thought he was really good and Matt was good. We have to have everybody pitch in and everybody has to be a part of it.
"I thought Howard (Washington) made a couple bad mistakes that we can’t afford from him when he was in there, but I think he will be alright. I think we will play that three guard attack a little bit more. I just think he has to get a little more time."
