Head Coach Jim Boeheim Quotes - Arkansas St.
Syracuse Men’s Basketball
Syracuse vs. Arkansas St.
Saturday, December 22, 2018
Carrier Dome, Syracuse, N.Y.
Opening Statement:
“Our defense was a lot better in the second half. That gets us some transition opportunities. We just have to keep pushing the ball. We scored points in the second half. We had five or six wide-open shots and maybe seven or eight wide-open shots that we didn’t make so we’re scratching the surface of what we can do.
“But I thought our defense was a lot better. Paschal (Chukwu) was a difference maker. He changed shots inside, blocked shots, and got some rebounds that enabled us to get out. I thought Tyus (Battle) did a good job pushing it. Oshae (Brissett) took much better shots in the second half. He can make those shots. I thought Elijah (Hughes) saved us early when he hit those two threes when we were struggling.
“Overall, we’re not there. We’ve got three or four days of practice when we get back, a game, and then we have four or five days of practice after that. So, I think we can get there but, obviously, we’re a long ways away right now from where we have to get to.”
Can you talk about Paschal Chukwu’s play today?
“He needs to rebound, change shots, or block shots. That’s what he needs to do. That’s what he did last year and he is fully capable of doing that.”
How would you rate the team’s performance in the first half?
“We really didn’t have good ball movement against their defense. We took a couple bad shots. The first two threes they took were the two guys we didn’t want to let shoot and we let them both shoot. I thought they did a better job. They were attacking us better. I thought we adjusted to that, got over the screens, and didn’t give them open looks.
They had 16 points in the second half. One of them was a bank and the other three was at the end of the game. You can’t play better defense than that. They were a pretty good offensive team. Their problems are more on defense but they are a pretty good offensive team. The little guy (Ty Cockfield) is a really good player. He’s tough, gets in the lane, and shoots it.
“There were a couple loose balls we didn’t get and if we don’t get those, we’re not going to win this year. I thought after that there were a couple more loose balls and we got them and we’re going to have to get those. Guys that are sometimes offensive-minded players like Elijah (Hughes) and Oshae (Brissett) also have to get those balls. We haven’t been doing that all year and we need to so that’s something we have to get better at.
Whenever you lose a game or two in a row, especially two at home, you’re probably going to have a confidence problem. But after that start we played pretty well.”
Was that a message you were sending to Paschal Chukwu today, starting him on the bench?
“No. He wasn’t playing good and I want to win. I try to win the game. It didn’t really work as well as I would have liked in terms of how we played in the beginning. Marek (Dolezaj) is really a forward. It’s tough in the center position. It’s tough for him in there.”
Does Marek (Dolezaj) help the team offensively?
“Yes, he will do some things that will help us, but today, our whole offense- it wasn’t him, it was the whole offense- was not good the first 10, 12, 15 minutes of the game.”
Can you talk about Elijah Hughes’ contributions?
“He makes some plays. He does a good job there. He does a good job there for an undersized three (forward). (He does) some good things down there. He gives away a little size, but he makes some good plays down there. I think he’s getting better. I think we forget that he sat out a year and it is his first year (at Syracuse). Even the first part of his freshman year he played, he sat out a lot. He was hurt, so I think we’re probably expecting a little too much from him.
“I’m not going to make excuses. If Frank Howard was ready from day one, we’d be a whole different team. It’s as simple as that. And he’s still not anywhere near where he was the last part of last year. Nowhere near. I don’t see it. He can’t shoot. He can’t make shots and he can’t get by somebody. He’s got a few days. He’s healthy now. He’s got a few days to really get conditioned, get some shooting done and to get better. We have to get a lot better. You don’t have to say that. The results are proof themselves. We’re just not a good team yet. We hope to get there but we’re not there – by a long shot.”
What are your predictions and insights for the Camping World Bowl game?
“I try not to make any predictions on anything. They’ve had a great year. I hope they do well down there. They’ve already had a great year.”
Syracuse vs. Arkansas St.
Saturday, December 22, 2018
Carrier Dome, Syracuse, N.Y.
Opening Statement:
“Our defense was a lot better in the second half. That gets us some transition opportunities. We just have to keep pushing the ball. We scored points in the second half. We had five or six wide-open shots and maybe seven or eight wide-open shots that we didn’t make so we’re scratching the surface of what we can do.
“But I thought our defense was a lot better. Paschal (Chukwu) was a difference maker. He changed shots inside, blocked shots, and got some rebounds that enabled us to get out. I thought Tyus (Battle) did a good job pushing it. Oshae (Brissett) took much better shots in the second half. He can make those shots. I thought Elijah (Hughes) saved us early when he hit those two threes when we were struggling.
“Overall, we’re not there. We’ve got three or four days of practice when we get back, a game, and then we have four or five days of practice after that. So, I think we can get there but, obviously, we’re a long ways away right now from where we have to get to.”
Can you talk about Paschal Chukwu’s play today?
“He needs to rebound, change shots, or block shots. That’s what he needs to do. That’s what he did last year and he is fully capable of doing that.”
How would you rate the team’s performance in the first half?
“We really didn’t have good ball movement against their defense. We took a couple bad shots. The first two threes they took were the two guys we didn’t want to let shoot and we let them both shoot. I thought they did a better job. They were attacking us better. I thought we adjusted to that, got over the screens, and didn’t give them open looks.
They had 16 points in the second half. One of them was a bank and the other three was at the end of the game. You can’t play better defense than that. They were a pretty good offensive team. Their problems are more on defense but they are a pretty good offensive team. The little guy (Ty Cockfield) is a really good player. He’s tough, gets in the lane, and shoots it.
“There were a couple loose balls we didn’t get and if we don’t get those, we’re not going to win this year. I thought after that there were a couple more loose balls and we got them and we’re going to have to get those. Guys that are sometimes offensive-minded players like Elijah (Hughes) and Oshae (Brissett) also have to get those balls. We haven’t been doing that all year and we need to so that’s something we have to get better at.
Whenever you lose a game or two in a row, especially two at home, you’re probably going to have a confidence problem. But after that start we played pretty well.”
Was that a message you were sending to Paschal Chukwu today, starting him on the bench?
“No. He wasn’t playing good and I want to win. I try to win the game. It didn’t really work as well as I would have liked in terms of how we played in the beginning. Marek (Dolezaj) is really a forward. It’s tough in the center position. It’s tough for him in there.”
Does Marek (Dolezaj) help the team offensively?
“Yes, he will do some things that will help us, but today, our whole offense- it wasn’t him, it was the whole offense- was not good the first 10, 12, 15 minutes of the game.”
Can you talk about Elijah Hughes’ contributions?
“He makes some plays. He does a good job there. He does a good job there for an undersized three (forward). (He does) some good things down there. He gives away a little size, but he makes some good plays down there. I think he’s getting better. I think we forget that he sat out a year and it is his first year (at Syracuse). Even the first part of his freshman year he played, he sat out a lot. He was hurt, so I think we’re probably expecting a little too much from him.
“I’m not going to make excuses. If Frank Howard was ready from day one, we’d be a whole different team. It’s as simple as that. And he’s still not anywhere near where he was the last part of last year. Nowhere near. I don’t see it. He can’t shoot. He can’t make shots and he can’t get by somebody. He’s got a few days. He’s healthy now. He’s got a few days to really get conditioned, get some shooting done and to get better. We have to get a lot better. You don’t have to say that. The results are proof themselves. We’re just not a good team yet. We hope to get there but we’re not there – by a long shot.”
What are your predictions and insights for the Camping World Bowl game?
“I try not to make any predictions on anything. They’ve had a great year. I hope they do well down there. They’ve already had a great year.”
