Player Quotes - Media Day
Syracuse Men’s Basketball
Media Day
October 11, 2019
Student-Athlete Quotes
Marek Dolezaj, F, Jr.
Coach has said that he doesn’t want to play you primarily at center but how much do you feel like you are going to be integrated into that role?
“I don’t know. Its coach’s decision and I’m not going to change it. I’m just going to play basketball and just be on the court, help the team, and it doesn’t matter if I play center or forward.”
I know it was ended short with the injury but how was it going to team Slovakia and what kind of things were you able to do over there?
“I got hurt my first practice. It was tough but I was always part of (the team). I went to lift, I went to workout, but I just couldn’t do anything basketball-wise.”
Jesse Edwards, Fr., C
What do you think is the strongest part of your game?
“Probably (my) all-around (game). I don’t have one special things that’s amazing more than anything else, I’m diverse.”
Is there something that you are trying to get better at this season?
“Oh definitely. I’m trying to get my shot better and (gain) experience mostly.”
How have you integrated so far in your first couple of months at Syracuse?
“I like it. The team is great, everybody is great, I’m loving it. The (winter) weather hasn’t come but I’m happy so far.”
You only started playing basketball at age 15 or 16?
“I started playing at 14 but I actually had a groin problem so I had to sit out a year so that’s why I’ve only been playing for three years.”
Did you play basketball as a kid growing up just for fun?
“I played soccer, that’s all we did. When I was a 10-year-old, we went to play soccer. So it’s a different culture.”
Elijah Hughes, RJr., F
Coach Boeheim said that you are going to be handling the ball more. How do you feel about that?
“(I’ll be) putting the ball on the floor more and making plays off the dribble and being more assertive and assert myself all game and not just be a first-half kind of guy.”
Do you think that you have improved since last season?
“Absolutely, Absolutely. I’ve definitely improved my game working with (Coach McNamara) and our entire coaching staff. I’ve just really been putting the ball on the floor.”
When you’re working with Coach McNamara is that dribbling drills?
“(It’s) all kind of game-like stuff, not just moving the ball around, but game-like drills – things like coming off screens, that kind of stuff.”
What move did you learn over the summer that you are going to unveil this year?
“I’m more comfortable with the ball in my hand now so I’m really focusing on my dribbling. I’m focusing on being a player and not just being a robot – when I’m dribbling the ball just be loose, able to make plays.”
Did you have to kind of mold yourself for this role this year, as an off-ball scorer to handling the ball more this year?
“Definitely a different mold because I’ll be dribbling the ball more and doing things off the dribble. It’s definitely not the same as last year but I’m ready for it.”
John Bol Ajak, Fr., C
When coming here did you feel prepared or nervous?
“I just feel like I’ve been working my whole life, working my butt off so I’m not nervous. I’m just excited to go do it. The coaches have prepared us enough so there’s no lack of confidence.”
A lot of fans have never seen you play so tell us a little bit about your game?
“My game is different from what it was in high school. It was more spacing and shooting the ball but here we have so many scorers, I have to develop a role and my role on this team is to be the best defensive guy we have and be able to move and also protect the rim, bring big energy and just be a good teammate.”
You used to space the floor in high school?
“I used to and I still do but here I have to fill in the role of what I need to do and that’s getting rebounds, blocking shots, working defensively, and just being a good teammate and bring energy every day. That’s what I do at practice.”
It takes a long time for some guys to realize that they need to fill a role and do stuff that might not be as fun. How do you feel about that?
“My whole life I’ve been able to adapt to the situation, so now I can see the team and where am I valued and where am I needed, so I can see need to bring energy to the team, bring toughness, bring rebounds and block shots, be in the paint. I can still space the floor and shoot the 15-footer. If the coaches let me I can knock it down but at the same time that can’t be the main thing I do.”
Was it you who came to that conclusion of your role or the coaches?
“It was something that you can see naturally, and I’m flexible enough to switch it up and be able to fill in a role that the team needs and not what I need. For us to win I have to fill in that role and take pride in it.”
Joe Girard III, Fr., G
Can you talk about leading your team to win the Class B Championship in basketball your senior season?
“We grew up playing the sport together, and all the sports actually, and it was something that we always wanted to do. When we accomplished it, we were proud of ourselves and really honored. That was something we always wanted to do and was kind of the last thing on my bucket list of high school things to do.”
Did you have the ball in your hands at the end of the game?
“I hit the buzzer beater. Well actually in regulation I hit the three to tie it to send it to overtime and then in overtime, I hit the buzzer beater layup to win it.”
What you can say about coming off of that knowing that this is a team that needs shooting, that needs scoring?
“I’m just going to try and come in and do whatever to help the team. Whatever Coach Boeheim wants me to do and whatever role he gives me, I’m going to try and do the best that I can in it. And ultimately a lot of time in high school I was just trying to win games and that’s pretty much the same thing I’m going to do here and be the best that I can be.”
Brycen Goodine, Fr., G
Can you talk about your adjustment to joining the Syracuse basketball team and the culture here at Syracuse?
“We just started out lifting and basically I had to get into the flow of school and everything, but it was an easy adjustment because I went to prep school.”
Can we talk about your entire freshman class? Coach always talks about how this is a young team and everybody has a chance to play and so many interesting people. How do you guys all get along would you say?
“We get along well because I was the first one to commit so I was just waiting for other people in my grade to commit, so I ended up making a group chat once everyone committed and we just started talking really early.
Do you sense that the competition situation, that there is a lot of competition for a decent amount of minutes this year?
“There is competition and I think we’re so balanced that everyone can still play.”
Howard Washington, Jr., G
How did you try and stay connected to the team when you can’t participate?
“I was at every game on the sidelines, doing the same thing I would be doing if I was playing or if I was not playing. Every day I would engage with the guys, trying to get better, trying to win as much as we can and do what we can do. It was tough, obviously, for the second year in a row not playing but I think that’s what I bring. I bring leadership – guys look to me for help. I was still doing my job.”
How did life in general change for you without the game? What kind of things did you start to lean on or focus on?
“Once I knew I wasn’t playing I was kind of focused on physical health and training and stuff like that, gaining weight, staying in shape, skill development. But outside of that, just being somebody that after my story happened and came out a lot of people had similar stories and I have heard so many other stories since then and people hit me up all the time with questions, like how did you do this. I talked to a couple of kids that have gone through the same thing and now have permanent damage to them for the rest of their lives and stuff like that. So just motivating them and letting them know to keep your head up because it’s stuff like that that’s the only thing that has really changed in my life because of my situation.”
How did you get connected with those people?
“One day one of the kids came through the Melo Center with his parents and then they just connected and told me their story, I told them my story, we went back and forth and gave tips and stuff like that.”
Bourama Sidibe, Jr., F
What can you say about coming off an injury and being able to play in Italy and being able to get out there for some preseason? How important was that to see how you’re moving around?
“It was very important. Sometimes when you are down, you just have to keep pushing, but it is hard to do that. They tried everything to help me out and, at some point, I wondered what do I have to do to make sure I stay healthy. This summer was a big one. I went home, stayed there for a couple of months and relaxed and when I came back I worked out and it really helped.”
What can you say about the time that you were home and what that did to maybe boost your spirits?
“I feel like being able to be around my family and my mom and my uncles was great. Every day we talked so I didn’t think about anything. When I came back here I just kept pushing as I always do and it did help.”
What was the advice that your family gave you?
“They always say just to keep pushing. You never know, things happen, everything happens for a reason, you just have to keep fighting.”
You are a junior this season. Do you want to take on more of a leadership role?
“I just have to be more vocal. I’m not really the guy who talks a lot but I have to show the young guys what to do.”
Offensively, do you feel like you’ve improved your game there?
“Definitely. Usually I am not going to get a lot of opportunities but when I do get one I have to make sure I do the best I can do.”
Quincy Guerrier, Fr., F
What has the adjustment to Central New York been like, with the team and at the University too?
“It’s been great, trying to get used to it because I’m from Canada so it’s a little bit different. I think with the Italy trip, I know everyone now. Everyone’s cool with each other and that’s pretty much it.”
Did that trip to Italy make this start of the fall semester easier?
“That was a great trip. I know everyone better now, we’re laughing together. It’s a fun group. Everyone is alright with each other.”
Working off that, what is the team dynamic as an overall unit?
“Everyone is working hard. We know that this year is going to be a tough year so we have to keep working and stick together.”
What are the positives that stand out to you coming out of the Italy trip in the first couple weeks of practice?
“We know each other more now. We have pretty good chemistry on the court. Everyone is always switching teams during practices and everything is going fine so I think everyone is used to it, playing with each other.”
Robert Braswell, So., F
How was Italy? How did it help the team get ready for this season?
“It was great. It gave us a head start with how the team is looking. It also gave us a head start with actually playing.”
What has the team been focusing on in particular in practice? Where do you feel you need to grow as a team?
“Pushing the ball, just getting up and down the court really fast so teams can’t keep up with us. Also rebounding, both offensive rebounding and defensive rebounding.”
How did you guys take the fact that you were projected to finish around the middle of the ACC and how does it fuel you to prove some people wrong?
“We definitely aren’t okay with that. It just gives us ideas of how good people think we are, which is not that good, so it just gives us more energy to be better.”
Buddy Boeheim, So., G
How important was that to see the freshmen on the floor in Italy, and what can you say about some early chemistry?
“It was big for us, especially with five freshmen coming in. They all do different things very well. To be able to play with them at different times of the games was big for us. And also the practices before that. I thought that was the biggest part of Italy – those 9-10 practices. It was a really great experience just learning what these guys do, how they play. I think it was big for us, especially getting them adjusted to the zone.”
Howard Washington is back. What can you say about what he’s come back from and what can he mean to the team this year?
“He’s a leader, he works hard, he never gives up and he brings energy every day. He’s a leader for these guys and he gives me confidence and energy every day. He loves being here and being on the team and he’s gotten a lot better as a basketball player.”
Can you talk about Elijah Hughes and Marek Dolezaj?
“They’re great leaders. Elijah has really stepped up as a leader this year. We had Tyus (Battle) and Frank (Howard) last year that set the tone and he’s really taken that on his shoulders. He’s helped the young guys and myself a lot. Marek has experience and he’s one of the smartest players I’ve ever played with. He’s really teaching these young guys, especially the forwards, little things that they can do every day.”
Jalen Carey, So., F
How important was the Italy trip?
“It definitely was important for us as a team. I feel like we came together and bonded off the court in seeing those four different cities and on the court, being able to play with different people. Coming together as a team helped. One thing we did well was move the ball as a team and being able to find our shooters. It was a great trip and I feel like we can still work on doing a lot of things better.”
Can you talk about the five freshmen?
“Unfortunately, John (Bol Ajak) was unable to make the trip. But seeing him in practice with the way that he’s aggressive and loves rebounding, it’s great. With Brycen (Goodine), he’s a great guard and he could go at any point. I feel like we’re the same type of player in terms of getting in transition. We just love to go. With Joe (Girard III) and Quincy (Guerrier), those guys can really go as well. Jesse (Edwards) is still working and I feel like he can be a great defensive player. I’ve seen nothing but great things from those five guys. They work hard and make sure they work to do their part.”
How much have you grown from last year to this year and how much different does this year feel?
“I don’t think it feels that much different. I feel like my mentality is still the same with staying humble and continuing to work hard. I feel like this year might change in terms of my playing time and stuff like that, but I still want to come in, be able to make plays and play my game. I don’t feel like I want to change a lot. But, one thing I did improve on as a player was my decision making. I feel like I made a lot of bad decisions on the court last year. But I worked a lot on that and on playing with confidence.”
Media Day
October 11, 2019
Student-Athlete Quotes
Marek Dolezaj, F, Jr.
Coach has said that he doesn’t want to play you primarily at center but how much do you feel like you are going to be integrated into that role?
“I don’t know. Its coach’s decision and I’m not going to change it. I’m just going to play basketball and just be on the court, help the team, and it doesn’t matter if I play center or forward.”
I know it was ended short with the injury but how was it going to team Slovakia and what kind of things were you able to do over there?
“I got hurt my first practice. It was tough but I was always part of (the team). I went to lift, I went to workout, but I just couldn’t do anything basketball-wise.”
Jesse Edwards, Fr., C
What do you think is the strongest part of your game?
“Probably (my) all-around (game). I don’t have one special things that’s amazing more than anything else, I’m diverse.”
Is there something that you are trying to get better at this season?
“Oh definitely. I’m trying to get my shot better and (gain) experience mostly.”
How have you integrated so far in your first couple of months at Syracuse?
“I like it. The team is great, everybody is great, I’m loving it. The (winter) weather hasn’t come but I’m happy so far.”
You only started playing basketball at age 15 or 16?
“I started playing at 14 but I actually had a groin problem so I had to sit out a year so that’s why I’ve only been playing for three years.”
Did you play basketball as a kid growing up just for fun?
“I played soccer, that’s all we did. When I was a 10-year-old, we went to play soccer. So it’s a different culture.”
Elijah Hughes, RJr., F
Coach Boeheim said that you are going to be handling the ball more. How do you feel about that?
“(I’ll be) putting the ball on the floor more and making plays off the dribble and being more assertive and assert myself all game and not just be a first-half kind of guy.”
Do you think that you have improved since last season?
“Absolutely, Absolutely. I’ve definitely improved my game working with (Coach McNamara) and our entire coaching staff. I’ve just really been putting the ball on the floor.”
When you’re working with Coach McNamara is that dribbling drills?
“(It’s) all kind of game-like stuff, not just moving the ball around, but game-like drills – things like coming off screens, that kind of stuff.”
What move did you learn over the summer that you are going to unveil this year?
“I’m more comfortable with the ball in my hand now so I’m really focusing on my dribbling. I’m focusing on being a player and not just being a robot – when I’m dribbling the ball just be loose, able to make plays.”
Did you have to kind of mold yourself for this role this year, as an off-ball scorer to handling the ball more this year?
“Definitely a different mold because I’ll be dribbling the ball more and doing things off the dribble. It’s definitely not the same as last year but I’m ready for it.”
John Bol Ajak, Fr., C
When coming here did you feel prepared or nervous?
“I just feel like I’ve been working my whole life, working my butt off so I’m not nervous. I’m just excited to go do it. The coaches have prepared us enough so there’s no lack of confidence.”
A lot of fans have never seen you play so tell us a little bit about your game?
“My game is different from what it was in high school. It was more spacing and shooting the ball but here we have so many scorers, I have to develop a role and my role on this team is to be the best defensive guy we have and be able to move and also protect the rim, bring big energy and just be a good teammate.”
You used to space the floor in high school?
“I used to and I still do but here I have to fill in the role of what I need to do and that’s getting rebounds, blocking shots, working defensively, and just being a good teammate and bring energy every day. That’s what I do at practice.”
It takes a long time for some guys to realize that they need to fill a role and do stuff that might not be as fun. How do you feel about that?
“My whole life I’ve been able to adapt to the situation, so now I can see the team and where am I valued and where am I needed, so I can see need to bring energy to the team, bring toughness, bring rebounds and block shots, be in the paint. I can still space the floor and shoot the 15-footer. If the coaches let me I can knock it down but at the same time that can’t be the main thing I do.”
Was it you who came to that conclusion of your role or the coaches?
“It was something that you can see naturally, and I’m flexible enough to switch it up and be able to fill in a role that the team needs and not what I need. For us to win I have to fill in that role and take pride in it.”
Joe Girard III, Fr., G
Can you talk about leading your team to win the Class B Championship in basketball your senior season?
“We grew up playing the sport together, and all the sports actually, and it was something that we always wanted to do. When we accomplished it, we were proud of ourselves and really honored. That was something we always wanted to do and was kind of the last thing on my bucket list of high school things to do.”
Did you have the ball in your hands at the end of the game?
“I hit the buzzer beater. Well actually in regulation I hit the three to tie it to send it to overtime and then in overtime, I hit the buzzer beater layup to win it.”
What you can say about coming off of that knowing that this is a team that needs shooting, that needs scoring?
“I’m just going to try and come in and do whatever to help the team. Whatever Coach Boeheim wants me to do and whatever role he gives me, I’m going to try and do the best that I can in it. And ultimately a lot of time in high school I was just trying to win games and that’s pretty much the same thing I’m going to do here and be the best that I can be.”
Brycen Goodine, Fr., G
Can you talk about your adjustment to joining the Syracuse basketball team and the culture here at Syracuse?
“We just started out lifting and basically I had to get into the flow of school and everything, but it was an easy adjustment because I went to prep school.”
Can we talk about your entire freshman class? Coach always talks about how this is a young team and everybody has a chance to play and so many interesting people. How do you guys all get along would you say?
“We get along well because I was the first one to commit so I was just waiting for other people in my grade to commit, so I ended up making a group chat once everyone committed and we just started talking really early.
Do you sense that the competition situation, that there is a lot of competition for a decent amount of minutes this year?
“There is competition and I think we’re so balanced that everyone can still play.”
Howard Washington, Jr., G
How did you try and stay connected to the team when you can’t participate?
“I was at every game on the sidelines, doing the same thing I would be doing if I was playing or if I was not playing. Every day I would engage with the guys, trying to get better, trying to win as much as we can and do what we can do. It was tough, obviously, for the second year in a row not playing but I think that’s what I bring. I bring leadership – guys look to me for help. I was still doing my job.”
How did life in general change for you without the game? What kind of things did you start to lean on or focus on?
“Once I knew I wasn’t playing I was kind of focused on physical health and training and stuff like that, gaining weight, staying in shape, skill development. But outside of that, just being somebody that after my story happened and came out a lot of people had similar stories and I have heard so many other stories since then and people hit me up all the time with questions, like how did you do this. I talked to a couple of kids that have gone through the same thing and now have permanent damage to them for the rest of their lives and stuff like that. So just motivating them and letting them know to keep your head up because it’s stuff like that that’s the only thing that has really changed in my life because of my situation.”
How did you get connected with those people?
“One day one of the kids came through the Melo Center with his parents and then they just connected and told me their story, I told them my story, we went back and forth and gave tips and stuff like that.”
Bourama Sidibe, Jr., F
What can you say about coming off an injury and being able to play in Italy and being able to get out there for some preseason? How important was that to see how you’re moving around?
“It was very important. Sometimes when you are down, you just have to keep pushing, but it is hard to do that. They tried everything to help me out and, at some point, I wondered what do I have to do to make sure I stay healthy. This summer was a big one. I went home, stayed there for a couple of months and relaxed and when I came back I worked out and it really helped.”
What can you say about the time that you were home and what that did to maybe boost your spirits?
“I feel like being able to be around my family and my mom and my uncles was great. Every day we talked so I didn’t think about anything. When I came back here I just kept pushing as I always do and it did help.”
What was the advice that your family gave you?
“They always say just to keep pushing. You never know, things happen, everything happens for a reason, you just have to keep fighting.”
You are a junior this season. Do you want to take on more of a leadership role?
“I just have to be more vocal. I’m not really the guy who talks a lot but I have to show the young guys what to do.”
Offensively, do you feel like you’ve improved your game there?
“Definitely. Usually I am not going to get a lot of opportunities but when I do get one I have to make sure I do the best I can do.”
Quincy Guerrier, Fr., F
What has the adjustment to Central New York been like, with the team and at the University too?
“It’s been great, trying to get used to it because I’m from Canada so it’s a little bit different. I think with the Italy trip, I know everyone now. Everyone’s cool with each other and that’s pretty much it.”
Did that trip to Italy make this start of the fall semester easier?
“That was a great trip. I know everyone better now, we’re laughing together. It’s a fun group. Everyone is alright with each other.”
Working off that, what is the team dynamic as an overall unit?
“Everyone is working hard. We know that this year is going to be a tough year so we have to keep working and stick together.”
What are the positives that stand out to you coming out of the Italy trip in the first couple weeks of practice?
“We know each other more now. We have pretty good chemistry on the court. Everyone is always switching teams during practices and everything is going fine so I think everyone is used to it, playing with each other.”
Robert Braswell, So., F
How was Italy? How did it help the team get ready for this season?
“It was great. It gave us a head start with how the team is looking. It also gave us a head start with actually playing.”
What has the team been focusing on in particular in practice? Where do you feel you need to grow as a team?
“Pushing the ball, just getting up and down the court really fast so teams can’t keep up with us. Also rebounding, both offensive rebounding and defensive rebounding.”
How did you guys take the fact that you were projected to finish around the middle of the ACC and how does it fuel you to prove some people wrong?
“We definitely aren’t okay with that. It just gives us ideas of how good people think we are, which is not that good, so it just gives us more energy to be better.”
Buddy Boeheim, So., G
How important was that to see the freshmen on the floor in Italy, and what can you say about some early chemistry?
“It was big for us, especially with five freshmen coming in. They all do different things very well. To be able to play with them at different times of the games was big for us. And also the practices before that. I thought that was the biggest part of Italy – those 9-10 practices. It was a really great experience just learning what these guys do, how they play. I think it was big for us, especially getting them adjusted to the zone.”
Howard Washington is back. What can you say about what he’s come back from and what can he mean to the team this year?
“He’s a leader, he works hard, he never gives up and he brings energy every day. He’s a leader for these guys and he gives me confidence and energy every day. He loves being here and being on the team and he’s gotten a lot better as a basketball player.”
Can you talk about Elijah Hughes and Marek Dolezaj?
“They’re great leaders. Elijah has really stepped up as a leader this year. We had Tyus (Battle) and Frank (Howard) last year that set the tone and he’s really taken that on his shoulders. He’s helped the young guys and myself a lot. Marek has experience and he’s one of the smartest players I’ve ever played with. He’s really teaching these young guys, especially the forwards, little things that they can do every day.”
Jalen Carey, So., F
How important was the Italy trip?
“It definitely was important for us as a team. I feel like we came together and bonded off the court in seeing those four different cities and on the court, being able to play with different people. Coming together as a team helped. One thing we did well was move the ball as a team and being able to find our shooters. It was a great trip and I feel like we can still work on doing a lot of things better.”
Can you talk about the five freshmen?
“Unfortunately, John (Bol Ajak) was unable to make the trip. But seeing him in practice with the way that he’s aggressive and loves rebounding, it’s great. With Brycen (Goodine), he’s a great guard and he could go at any point. I feel like we’re the same type of player in terms of getting in transition. We just love to go. With Joe (Girard III) and Quincy (Guerrier), those guys can really go as well. Jesse (Edwards) is still working and I feel like he can be a great defensive player. I’ve seen nothing but great things from those five guys. They work hard and make sure they work to do their part.”
How much have you grown from last year to this year and how much different does this year feel?
“I don’t think it feels that much different. I feel like my mentality is still the same with staying humble and continuing to work hard. I feel like this year might change in terms of my playing time and stuff like that, but I still want to come in, be able to make plays and play my game. I don’t feel like I want to change a lot. But, one thing I did improve on as a player was my decision making. I feel like I made a lot of bad decisions on the court last year. But I worked a lot on that and on playing with confidence.”
