Head Coach Jim Boeheim Quotes - Louisville
Syracuse Men's Basketball
Syracuse at Louisville
February 26, 2017
KFC Yum! Center, Louisville, Ky.
Syracuse Coach Jim Boeheim
Opening statement:
"I thought the first half we weren't aggressive offensively and we just dug a hole and we just couldn't climb out of it. We were too passive. We didn't attack the defense very well. The second half we were better. We were more aggressive getting to the basket, but I thought Louisville played really well. I thought they were very difficult inside for us and [Donovan] Mitchell shot the ball great all night, but we struggled shooting the ball form the three-point line -- that's been an issue for us. When we shoot it better there, we're a much better team. I thought Louisville played great tonight and they were just too good tonight for us."
On if there was a lack of aggression on offense that helped Louisville's defense:
No, I mean you have to drive. The second half we drove and we got 43 points in the second half. Same defense. We just didn't convert. Too passive and we didn't attack the defense. Tyus [Battle] is the only one in the first half, and the second really, that tried to attack. John [Gillon] didn't. John started to in the second half and it was a little different offensive game. First half, if John Gillon and Andrew White don't score, we're not going to do much."
On what makes Donovan Mitchell so effective:
"He can really shoot it. He's good with the ball, he's athletic, but he's really shooting the ball well. That was the difference tonight, his shooting. He really shot the ball great."
On difference between Louisville's front court:
"I just that they played well, all those guys. They've got multiple guys who have had big games this year. They've all played well at different times, but they're long. We're focusing, trying to do something with [Donovan] Mitchell and [Quentin] Snider and we really didn't do a good job defensively."
On what Louisville did that allowed Syracuse to cut the score to 11:
"We were able to get a couple turnovers. They're a pressing team. We were fortunate to have some success, but you're not going to press them over 15 minutes. That's why people have said, 'Why don't you press more?' Well, this is why. Because we're effective for three, four minutes. We had pressed pretty well this year in three or four minute stretches, but good teams are going to adjust and then be able to attack you down on the other end and they just got guys that can go to the basket. But, when you have to press, you have to press. There's no other way out of it. We did a really good job for a little while there, we got some turnovers and got it to 10 or 11 and we missed two or three shots right when we got it there, that we had to make at that point, so they kept that cushion. We had three really, pretty good open looks, and you have to make those when you're down to start with 15 or 18 or 20, and you get it to 11, well now you have to make a couple of those shots, and we just couldn't do it. And then eventually they work on their press everyday and that didn't impress them. I'm surprised a little bit that we had so much success there for a little while with our press against them."
Are teams defending Andrew White III any different:
“No, they’re just staying with them. He’s got to put it on the floor. Teams are defending Tyus the same way. But if you’re going to play you know they are going to switch on everything. They are going to stay up all the time and for the last two games that’s exactly what happened. You have to put the ball on the floor in situations
On Playing Georgia Tech next:
“We are focused on the next game, we are going to get ready to play, see what happens. I don’t worry about that stuff, we are going to get ready to play, it’s out of our hands.”
On Tyler Lydon:
“He was very active. He got some shots that we like him to get from the perimeter. I thought he could have taken a couple more but he was very active, very good tonight.
On Louisville running a full court press:
“Yeah, we thought they would press, they usually press, but the press was not a factor, at all.”
Syracuse at Louisville
February 26, 2017
KFC Yum! Center, Louisville, Ky.
Syracuse Coach Jim Boeheim
Opening statement:
"I thought the first half we weren't aggressive offensively and we just dug a hole and we just couldn't climb out of it. We were too passive. We didn't attack the defense very well. The second half we were better. We were more aggressive getting to the basket, but I thought Louisville played really well. I thought they were very difficult inside for us and [Donovan] Mitchell shot the ball great all night, but we struggled shooting the ball form the three-point line -- that's been an issue for us. When we shoot it better there, we're a much better team. I thought Louisville played great tonight and they were just too good tonight for us."
On if there was a lack of aggression on offense that helped Louisville's defense:
No, I mean you have to drive. The second half we drove and we got 43 points in the second half. Same defense. We just didn't convert. Too passive and we didn't attack the defense. Tyus [Battle] is the only one in the first half, and the second really, that tried to attack. John [Gillon] didn't. John started to in the second half and it was a little different offensive game. First half, if John Gillon and Andrew White don't score, we're not going to do much."
On what makes Donovan Mitchell so effective:
"He can really shoot it. He's good with the ball, he's athletic, but he's really shooting the ball well. That was the difference tonight, his shooting. He really shot the ball great."
On difference between Louisville's front court:
"I just that they played well, all those guys. They've got multiple guys who have had big games this year. They've all played well at different times, but they're long. We're focusing, trying to do something with [Donovan] Mitchell and [Quentin] Snider and we really didn't do a good job defensively."
On what Louisville did that allowed Syracuse to cut the score to 11:
"We were able to get a couple turnovers. They're a pressing team. We were fortunate to have some success, but you're not going to press them over 15 minutes. That's why people have said, 'Why don't you press more?' Well, this is why. Because we're effective for three, four minutes. We had pressed pretty well this year in three or four minute stretches, but good teams are going to adjust and then be able to attack you down on the other end and they just got guys that can go to the basket. But, when you have to press, you have to press. There's no other way out of it. We did a really good job for a little while there, we got some turnovers and got it to 10 or 11 and we missed two or three shots right when we got it there, that we had to make at that point, so they kept that cushion. We had three really, pretty good open looks, and you have to make those when you're down to start with 15 or 18 or 20, and you get it to 11, well now you have to make a couple of those shots, and we just couldn't do it. And then eventually they work on their press everyday and that didn't impress them. I'm surprised a little bit that we had so much success there for a little while with our press against them."
Are teams defending Andrew White III any different:
“No, they’re just staying with them. He’s got to put it on the floor. Teams are defending Tyus the same way. But if you’re going to play you know they are going to switch on everything. They are going to stay up all the time and for the last two games that’s exactly what happened. You have to put the ball on the floor in situations
On Playing Georgia Tech next:
“We are focused on the next game, we are going to get ready to play, see what happens. I don’t worry about that stuff, we are going to get ready to play, it’s out of our hands.”
On Tyler Lydon:
“He was very active. He got some shots that we like him to get from the perimeter. I thought he could have taken a couple more but he was very active, very good tonight.
On Louisville running a full court press:
“Yeah, we thought they would press, they usually press, but the press was not a factor, at all.”
