Head Coach Jim Boeheim Quotes - North Carolina
Syracuse Men’s Basketball
Syracuse vs. North Carolina
February 21, 2018
Carrier Dome, Syracuse, N.Y.
Head Coach Jim Boeheim
Opening Statement:
“North Carolina has played as well as anybody. I think they’re averaging 90 points a game, the last four or five games that they’ve won. I think we did everything we could to get back in it. Frank (Howard), Tyus (Battle), Oshae (Brissett), they were tremendous.
“We got hurt a little bit on the offensive glass—second chance shots in the second half. Two or three times, we stopped them. We just couldn't get the rebound and they capitalized.
“They forced a little bit against our press and made a couple of plays to get back in it. It’s very disappointing to have the ball in a tie game at 70 and just give them the ball. That’s just not a good play and is very disappointing. These guys played their hearts out as they have all year long, and again, North Carolina is a tremendous team.”
Can you talk about the team’s offense, especially in the second half?
“I think we did everything that we could offensively. When you get tied, you can’t make a turnover in that situation. Oshae (Brisset) took that shot against Florida State (a 3-pointer) and we talked about it. It was a terrible time to take that shot when we’re driving and scoring. Paschal (Chukwu) gets the rebound and gives it to Joel Berry. He can’t do that. It was a tremendous effort on both ends of the court. I thought our press didn’t work except that they went to the basket and missed three or four shots so it worked in that sense. We never did get a steal, but we got them going to the basket and they didn’t finish.”
Can you talk about the play of Berry and Pinson?
“They’re really good down there. They’re tremendous players. Those guys have won the national championship and they had 41 points. They’re tremendous players and I can’t say enough about them. I thought we did a good job on everyone else, but those two guys were tremendous tonight.”
What were you hoping to get coming out of the timeout with 32 seconds to go?
“I wanted Tyus (Battle) off of the screen, but Paschal (Chukwu) set the wrong screen.”
Are you encouraged after the way the team played tonight?
“I’m encouraged. We won in Miami and Louisville. No one thought we could win either game so I am absolutely encouraged. We’re playing well. North Carolina has been playing really good defense. I thought we did the things we needed to do to win. A 70-70 game and you give the ball away. We can’t make those plays.”
What was the difference for Tyus Battle in the second half?
“He got to the basket a little better and easier, which made a big difference. He missed his four threes in the first half and didn’t take any in the second half. He got to the basket more, which was the difference. It’s hard to get there against this team, but he did a good job.
Frank (Howard), Tyus (Battle) and Oshae (Brisset) played great. We made a couple mistakes and we only had 10 turnovers. You’re not going to beat a team like North Carolina unless you play really well and you can’t make a mistake at the end of the game. We made two terrible mistakes at the end of the game and we can’t do that.”
Would you have liked to see Frank Howard drive to the basket at the end?
“We’d like to, but I don’t think he thought he could get by there. Oshae (Brisset) knows that he’s supposed to drive in that situation and he just didn’t do it.”
How does playing North Carolina prepare the team to play Duke next?
“They’re the two teams playing the best in the conference, other than Virginia. It’s a different preparation and a different type of team. Duke is playing as well as anyone.”
Syracuse vs. North Carolina
February 21, 2018
Carrier Dome, Syracuse, N.Y.
Head Coach Jim Boeheim
Opening Statement:
“North Carolina has played as well as anybody. I think they’re averaging 90 points a game, the last four or five games that they’ve won. I think we did everything we could to get back in it. Frank (Howard), Tyus (Battle), Oshae (Brissett), they were tremendous.
“We got hurt a little bit on the offensive glass—second chance shots in the second half. Two or three times, we stopped them. We just couldn't get the rebound and they capitalized.
“They forced a little bit against our press and made a couple of plays to get back in it. It’s very disappointing to have the ball in a tie game at 70 and just give them the ball. That’s just not a good play and is very disappointing. These guys played their hearts out as they have all year long, and again, North Carolina is a tremendous team.”
Can you talk about the team’s offense, especially in the second half?
“I think we did everything that we could offensively. When you get tied, you can’t make a turnover in that situation. Oshae (Brisset) took that shot against Florida State (a 3-pointer) and we talked about it. It was a terrible time to take that shot when we’re driving and scoring. Paschal (Chukwu) gets the rebound and gives it to Joel Berry. He can’t do that. It was a tremendous effort on both ends of the court. I thought our press didn’t work except that they went to the basket and missed three or four shots so it worked in that sense. We never did get a steal, but we got them going to the basket and they didn’t finish.”
Can you talk about the play of Berry and Pinson?
“They’re really good down there. They’re tremendous players. Those guys have won the national championship and they had 41 points. They’re tremendous players and I can’t say enough about them. I thought we did a good job on everyone else, but those two guys were tremendous tonight.”
What were you hoping to get coming out of the timeout with 32 seconds to go?
“I wanted Tyus (Battle) off of the screen, but Paschal (Chukwu) set the wrong screen.”
Are you encouraged after the way the team played tonight?
“I’m encouraged. We won in Miami and Louisville. No one thought we could win either game so I am absolutely encouraged. We’re playing well. North Carolina has been playing really good defense. I thought we did the things we needed to do to win. A 70-70 game and you give the ball away. We can’t make those plays.”
What was the difference for Tyus Battle in the second half?
“He got to the basket a little better and easier, which made a big difference. He missed his four threes in the first half and didn’t take any in the second half. He got to the basket more, which was the difference. It’s hard to get there against this team, but he did a good job.
Frank (Howard), Tyus (Battle) and Oshae (Brisset) played great. We made a couple mistakes and we only had 10 turnovers. You’re not going to beat a team like North Carolina unless you play really well and you can’t make a mistake at the end of the game. We made two terrible mistakes at the end of the game and we can’t do that.”
Would you have liked to see Frank Howard drive to the basket at the end?
“We’d like to, but I don’t think he thought he could get by there. Oshae (Brisset) knows that he’s supposed to drive in that situation and he just didn’t do it.”
How does playing North Carolina prepare the team to play Duke next?
“They’re the two teams playing the best in the conference, other than Virginia. It’s a different preparation and a different type of team. Duke is playing as well as anyone.”
