Syracuse Student-Athlete Quotes - Georgia Tech
Syracuse Men’s Basketball
Syracuse vs. Georgia Tech
March 4, 2017
Carrier Dome, Syracuse, N.Y.
Andrew White III, Gr., G
What was it like playing your senior day in the Carrier Dome?
“It was a good way to go out. More importantly, though, we got a win. DaJuan checked into the game and it made my night. Tyler (Roberson) had a good game. John (Gillon) did too. Doyin (Akintobi-Adeyeye) got a basket and a rebound. I think all the way around it was a great night for our seniors, and more importantly, for our fans, because it’s going to be our last time here this season, and even for my career. I’m happy to go off on that note.
“It was obviously a much-needed game in terms of the big picture of things, so I’m proud of my team through this ACC season and glad we could get a much-needed win to give us some momentum heading into the conference tournament.”
What is it about this team that when you’re ‘backs are against the wall’ you find a way to win?
“I think early on, it got as bad as it could possibly get, and it made us all come together as a team. It shows that we all have to stick together. When you get down in a hole in a team sport, you have to grab somebody and bring them along. You see a lot of people have improved since those low points, which were in the non-conference season. You see how far Tyus (Battle) has come and how far John (Gillon) has come. I think now we have a really good team because it’s hard to prepare for us. You never know whose night it’s going to be. I’m proud of all of them for stepping up and sticking out the process throughout the season. What matters is the end. You’re always remembered for how you end, and this team has the ability to do some really great things moving forward to start the postseason if we do the right things.”
Do you think you’ve done enough to clinch an NCAA Tournament berth?
“I don’t think we’ve clinched yet. I don’t know for sure. I haven’t followed it as much as I probably should. But I think one more game would put us in a really good position.
“We’re going out to Brooklyn to try to win a tournament. We are going to see some of the best teams in the NCAA Tournament field this week. More-so than what we need or not, if we were to go and win in Brooklyn, we’d definitely be in the tournament. That’s the approach we all have because this is Syracuse and we all expect to win. I’m not sure exactly where we stand but we have some work to do.”
What does it feel like when everything you put up is going in?
“It’s a good feeling, because the last couple games I’ve let my team down. That’s not a good feeling, especially being the senior. I always want to prepare and be consistent, and be known for that. It’s the law of averages. I’ve been off my last two or three games. That’s what brings my optimism, that this can always be the next shot. I always have supreme confidence and that paid off tonight.
“More than anything, the brand of basketball we played was unselfish. You saw a lot of guys get going, and then they would make extra efforts to get me shots when they saw I was approaching 40 points. That shows that this team is together and we all look out for one another. That’s more important than anything.”
DaJuan Coleman, Sr., C
What was it like for you today? Was it emotional?
“A little bit. When I got in there and heard everybody cheering my name and making a whole lot of noise, it was a little emotional. But I was still in the game so I wasn’t fully able to take it all in. It was definitely emotional, though.”
Tyus Battle, Fr., G
How was preparing for this week? Was it tough?
“I wouldn’t say necessarily it was tough. We were going to be ready and we’re confident on our own floor. Georgia Tech’s a good team but we really knew what we were doing on our home floor, so we were ready to go today.”
When they came back to you at the beginning of the second half and closed that gap a little bit, what was the mindset with you and the team?
“We know that’s going to happen. Basketball is a game of runs and stuff like that. So, that’s going to happen, the score if going to fluctuate. We fought back and extended the lead and it was a good win.”
You started the game red-hot. Georgia Tech, defensively, had a really nice first game. It seems you guys made a lot of adjustments today to get those open shots?
“Yes, we were just moving a little bit more. We were swinging it fast trying to drive and kick out. A lot of our 3’s were in the corner because they were playing a 1-3-1 (zone) so we could get some easy threes. We had a good game plan.”
Tyler Lydon, So., F
What happens in your head when Andrew (White III) starts shooting and one shot goes down, the next shot goes down, and they just keep going?
“Honestly, in the heat of the moment, when it was getting close there in the second half I wasn’t really thinking of what he was doing. It was more towards the end of the game when we just pulled away and we just noticed all of them are dropping, but it was an unbelievable performance.”
The final score ends up big, but there was a stretch there in the second half where you guys had to claw back and get that lead back up, you hit that giant three, how does that feel?
“I honestly just shot the ball. I didn’t even really think about too much. It was just in the moment.”
You had that little drive and kick move when you guys were down. Were you trying to do anything you could to save the ball?
“I try to do whatever I can to help the team win. If I’m not scoring the ball I try to find other ways. So I was rebounding it and playing defense and doing whatever I can to get these guys open.”
Syracuse vs. Georgia Tech
March 4, 2017
Carrier Dome, Syracuse, N.Y.
Andrew White III, Gr., G
What was it like playing your senior day in the Carrier Dome?
“It was a good way to go out. More importantly, though, we got a win. DaJuan checked into the game and it made my night. Tyler (Roberson) had a good game. John (Gillon) did too. Doyin (Akintobi-Adeyeye) got a basket and a rebound. I think all the way around it was a great night for our seniors, and more importantly, for our fans, because it’s going to be our last time here this season, and even for my career. I’m happy to go off on that note.
“It was obviously a much-needed game in terms of the big picture of things, so I’m proud of my team through this ACC season and glad we could get a much-needed win to give us some momentum heading into the conference tournament.”
What is it about this team that when you’re ‘backs are against the wall’ you find a way to win?
“I think early on, it got as bad as it could possibly get, and it made us all come together as a team. It shows that we all have to stick together. When you get down in a hole in a team sport, you have to grab somebody and bring them along. You see a lot of people have improved since those low points, which were in the non-conference season. You see how far Tyus (Battle) has come and how far John (Gillon) has come. I think now we have a really good team because it’s hard to prepare for us. You never know whose night it’s going to be. I’m proud of all of them for stepping up and sticking out the process throughout the season. What matters is the end. You’re always remembered for how you end, and this team has the ability to do some really great things moving forward to start the postseason if we do the right things.”
Do you think you’ve done enough to clinch an NCAA Tournament berth?
“I don’t think we’ve clinched yet. I don’t know for sure. I haven’t followed it as much as I probably should. But I think one more game would put us in a really good position.
“We’re going out to Brooklyn to try to win a tournament. We are going to see some of the best teams in the NCAA Tournament field this week. More-so than what we need or not, if we were to go and win in Brooklyn, we’d definitely be in the tournament. That’s the approach we all have because this is Syracuse and we all expect to win. I’m not sure exactly where we stand but we have some work to do.”
What does it feel like when everything you put up is going in?
“It’s a good feeling, because the last couple games I’ve let my team down. That’s not a good feeling, especially being the senior. I always want to prepare and be consistent, and be known for that. It’s the law of averages. I’ve been off my last two or three games. That’s what brings my optimism, that this can always be the next shot. I always have supreme confidence and that paid off tonight.
“More than anything, the brand of basketball we played was unselfish. You saw a lot of guys get going, and then they would make extra efforts to get me shots when they saw I was approaching 40 points. That shows that this team is together and we all look out for one another. That’s more important than anything.”
DaJuan Coleman, Sr., C
What was it like for you today? Was it emotional?
“A little bit. When I got in there and heard everybody cheering my name and making a whole lot of noise, it was a little emotional. But I was still in the game so I wasn’t fully able to take it all in. It was definitely emotional, though.”
Tyus Battle, Fr., G
How was preparing for this week? Was it tough?
“I wouldn’t say necessarily it was tough. We were going to be ready and we’re confident on our own floor. Georgia Tech’s a good team but we really knew what we were doing on our home floor, so we were ready to go today.”
When they came back to you at the beginning of the second half and closed that gap a little bit, what was the mindset with you and the team?
“We know that’s going to happen. Basketball is a game of runs and stuff like that. So, that’s going to happen, the score if going to fluctuate. We fought back and extended the lead and it was a good win.”
You started the game red-hot. Georgia Tech, defensively, had a really nice first game. It seems you guys made a lot of adjustments today to get those open shots?
“Yes, we were just moving a little bit more. We were swinging it fast trying to drive and kick out. A lot of our 3’s were in the corner because they were playing a 1-3-1 (zone) so we could get some easy threes. We had a good game plan.”
Tyler Lydon, So., F
What happens in your head when Andrew (White III) starts shooting and one shot goes down, the next shot goes down, and they just keep going?
“Honestly, in the heat of the moment, when it was getting close there in the second half I wasn’t really thinking of what he was doing. It was more towards the end of the game when we just pulled away and we just noticed all of them are dropping, but it was an unbelievable performance.”
The final score ends up big, but there was a stretch there in the second half where you guys had to claw back and get that lead back up, you hit that giant three, how does that feel?
“I honestly just shot the ball. I didn’t even really think about too much. It was just in the moment.”
You had that little drive and kick move when you guys were down. Were you trying to do anything you could to save the ball?
“I try to do whatever I can to help the team win. If I’m not scoring the ball I try to find other ways. So I was rebounding it and playing defense and doing whatever I can to get these guys open.”
