Player Quotes - Colgate
Syracuse Men’s Basketball
Syracuse vs. Colgate
Wednesday, November 21, 2018
Carrier Dome, Syracuse, N.Y.
Frank Howard, Sr., Guard
What were these last nine weeks like for you? Was it like a reality check?
“I wouldn’t say a reality check, but it was definitely grueling. It was a lot of rehab. The doctor did a great job with my ankle and the procedure. They got me back on the court as soon as possible. Kudos to the whole team that works with us, they did a great job.”
How good was it to be back on the court and playing?
“I actually had to lock in a little bit. I was just excited to be running around. I had to kind of get in the game a little bit. I know how much these guys work. Me not being here, it’s kind of a big piece of our team in terms of play calling and getting into the offense. We really missed that in New York. Guys had to play positions that they’re not used to, and they stepped up a lot. Kudos to them. But, I’m just happy to be back.”
You got to experience the first four games from a different vantage point. What did you learn that can help you now?
“Tonight was actually going to be one of our tougher games the whole year. Last year, these guys gave us problems. They’re a great zone team, shooting from all five spots. They’re smart, they’re patient, they’re disciplined. We just want to stay solid. I knew I would have to come into the game and be solid myself. Not get too high, not get too low. Keep it steady and keep it moving.”
With you being out, how were you trying to mold Jalen (Carey) along?
“I was just trying to be in his ear – in his ear with everything, telling him what’s good and what’s wrong, what to do and not to do. He had a great weekend in New York. We just didn’t play well as a team. Individually, he did a great job. People don’t understand how tough the position is. You have to command, not just yourself, but a whole roster, a whole team. He did a great job. He’s learning. Today he did a phenomenal job in terms of pace and controlling the game. He cut his turnovers down. I’m just going to stay in his ear. He will be a big part of this team.”
Tyus Battle, Jr., Guard
What did you see defensively in the second half when you held them without a field goal for 12 minutes?
“We tried to keep it out of the middle because once it got to the middle, they were just spacing the floor out. When you get to the middle, it’s just hard for two guards to cover four people in the perimeter. Once we kept it out of the middle, it made it easier and they started missing shots.”
Why were you driving so much tonight?
“I feel like I’m pretty good at getting by people, so I try to use that to my advantage. When they start stepping back, I’ll start shooting the three. I try to just be as aggressive as possible and try and get to the basket.”
It was a nice rebound night tonight. What changed”
“We were just limiting the touches in the middle and trying to limit their 3-point shots. They like to shoot a lot of threes. Even if they were driving, they weren’t driving to score, they were trying to kick it out for a 3-point shot. Once we limited that, it made it tougher for them and they started missing.”
How much more comfortable are you out there with Frank Howard playing?
“Frank (Howard) is one of the leaders on this team. The whole year last year it was 40 minutes for both of us. It was great to have him back out there.
Oshae Brissett, So., Forward
How much does Frank (Howard) coming back help the whole offense get into a rhythm?
“You saw it today. Frank is a great leader. He’s someone that we need out there on the court. He’s able to calm us down. He knows what it takes to get up there. Having him out there is really helpful.”
When you get into a funk like this, is it more mental or mechanical?
“I feel like it’s more mental. We all work every day before and after practice, for hours before and for hours after. I feel like once you see one goes in, you get it all. Like Tyus (Battle), he hit that one in the far-right corner in the first half and then he started rolling after that. Elijah (Hughes) hit one, and then he hit two after. When you see one go in, it erases everyone that you missed.”
Was it more along the lines of what Frank (Howard) said, the team just needed to relax?
“For sure. We don’t want to go out there thinking about what other people are thinking about us. Frank said it perfectly. We held those expectations way too high on ourselves. We didn’t play our game. We weren’t being ourselves. Next week’s and the games after that, we just have to stay poised and play our game.”
Syracuse vs. Colgate
Wednesday, November 21, 2018
Carrier Dome, Syracuse, N.Y.
Frank Howard, Sr., Guard
What were these last nine weeks like for you? Was it like a reality check?
“I wouldn’t say a reality check, but it was definitely grueling. It was a lot of rehab. The doctor did a great job with my ankle and the procedure. They got me back on the court as soon as possible. Kudos to the whole team that works with us, they did a great job.”
How good was it to be back on the court and playing?
“I actually had to lock in a little bit. I was just excited to be running around. I had to kind of get in the game a little bit. I know how much these guys work. Me not being here, it’s kind of a big piece of our team in terms of play calling and getting into the offense. We really missed that in New York. Guys had to play positions that they’re not used to, and they stepped up a lot. Kudos to them. But, I’m just happy to be back.”
You got to experience the first four games from a different vantage point. What did you learn that can help you now?
“Tonight was actually going to be one of our tougher games the whole year. Last year, these guys gave us problems. They’re a great zone team, shooting from all five spots. They’re smart, they’re patient, they’re disciplined. We just want to stay solid. I knew I would have to come into the game and be solid myself. Not get too high, not get too low. Keep it steady and keep it moving.”
With you being out, how were you trying to mold Jalen (Carey) along?
“I was just trying to be in his ear – in his ear with everything, telling him what’s good and what’s wrong, what to do and not to do. He had a great weekend in New York. We just didn’t play well as a team. Individually, he did a great job. People don’t understand how tough the position is. You have to command, not just yourself, but a whole roster, a whole team. He did a great job. He’s learning. Today he did a phenomenal job in terms of pace and controlling the game. He cut his turnovers down. I’m just going to stay in his ear. He will be a big part of this team.”
Tyus Battle, Jr., Guard
What did you see defensively in the second half when you held them without a field goal for 12 minutes?
“We tried to keep it out of the middle because once it got to the middle, they were just spacing the floor out. When you get to the middle, it’s just hard for two guards to cover four people in the perimeter. Once we kept it out of the middle, it made it easier and they started missing shots.”
Why were you driving so much tonight?
“I feel like I’m pretty good at getting by people, so I try to use that to my advantage. When they start stepping back, I’ll start shooting the three. I try to just be as aggressive as possible and try and get to the basket.”
It was a nice rebound night tonight. What changed”
“We were just limiting the touches in the middle and trying to limit their 3-point shots. They like to shoot a lot of threes. Even if they were driving, they weren’t driving to score, they were trying to kick it out for a 3-point shot. Once we limited that, it made it tougher for them and they started missing.”
How much more comfortable are you out there with Frank Howard playing?
“Frank (Howard) is one of the leaders on this team. The whole year last year it was 40 minutes for both of us. It was great to have him back out there.
Oshae Brissett, So., Forward
How much does Frank (Howard) coming back help the whole offense get into a rhythm?
“You saw it today. Frank is a great leader. He’s someone that we need out there on the court. He’s able to calm us down. He knows what it takes to get up there. Having him out there is really helpful.”
When you get into a funk like this, is it more mental or mechanical?
“I feel like it’s more mental. We all work every day before and after practice, for hours before and for hours after. I feel like once you see one goes in, you get it all. Like Tyus (Battle), he hit that one in the far-right corner in the first half and then he started rolling after that. Elijah (Hughes) hit one, and then he hit two after. When you see one go in, it erases everyone that you missed.”
Was it more along the lines of what Frank (Howard) said, the team just needed to relax?
“For sure. We don’t want to go out there thinking about what other people are thinking about us. Frank said it perfectly. We held those expectations way too high on ourselves. We didn’t play our game. We weren’t being ourselves. Next week’s and the games after that, we just have to stay poised and play our game.”
