Syracuse Player Quotes - Carleton
Syracuse Men’s Basketball
Syracuse vs. Carleton
October 29, 2019
Carrier Dome, Syracuse, N.Y.
Elijah Hughes, R-Jr., F
With a really good opponent like that from Canada, what did this win mean for the team
overall?
“They’re a really good team, well coached. They make plays and have a lot of experience. They’re pedigree speaks for itself so it’s a really good win.”
How ready are you guys going to be for Virginia to come to the Dome?
“We’re going to be ready, we’re going to be well prepared. They’re the defending national champions. It’s going to be rocking in here. It’s going to be a lot of fun and we’ll be ready.”
Coach said that you give the team a different look when you bring the ball up. How do you feel about this option for the team?
“It’s really my first time playing this position for Syracuse. Like you said, it’s a different look. With my size and my height I can really see the floor well and I can be a playmaker in that position.”
Quincy Guerrier, Fr., F
What do you bring to this team overall?
“My physicality and leadership – even as a freshman I think I can bring my leadership to this team. (I bring) My three point shot as well and my rebounding ability.”
Joe Girard III, Fr.., G
What skills do you have to work on the most?
“I guess just staying focused the whole time - whether it’s on offense or defense, not taking any plays off on both ends of the floor. Like I said, just making the right decisions at the right times.”
What part of the game have you been working on the most recently?
“With Coach (McNamara), just always getting to the hoop. Using your lower body rather than your upper body. I’ve gotten myself in a little bit of trouble doing that in the past two games, but I’m still working on it and getting better."
What has your comfort level been in the first two games?
“I’m really comfortable. For me, it’s just going out there and playing basketball, going out there and hooping. That’s what we’re all here to do - to play basketball and win games. When you’re focused on that, and you’re focused on making the right decision with things on the court, usually good things happen."
Buddy Boeheim, So., G
Do you feel like you have a responsibility to help out your teammates in preparation for Virginia?
“I definitely think that everyone on the team knows that they’ll still be one of the toughest teams to play against, no matter who they lost. They lost three of their best players, but this is a really well-coached team. They have three big strong players back; (Mamadi) Diakite being one of them, and we know that they are really good and ready to play. They were one of the smartest teams we played against last year, so I just have to let these guys know that we have to be locked in on every play, because this is a team that can make runs just like that.”
What did you and the team learn about yourselves in these two exhibition games?
“We just learned that we’re a really capable team shooting the ball. We can shoot very well, and we’re one of the better shooting teams in the country. It all comes with defense. Tonight, we played really solid after the first five minutes on defense, and that helped our offense. Just always moving and making the right plays at the right time is something important for us. I think that defense is going to be what we need to focus on come season time, because the offense will be there. It’s all about making plays on defense."
Does having more shooters on the team this year make it easier for you to get open looks?
“Definitely, it helps. It opens up the lane for guys like Jalen (Carey) and Elijah (Hughes), who are both capable shooters, but also guys that we need to get to the rim and make plays for others. It just opens the floor a lot. There’s nothing wrong with taking 30 or 40 three's some nights. If we’re making them, that’s great and we’ll just keep shooting them. It opens up the floor well and it really helps us on the offensive end.”
Syracuse vs. Carleton
October 29, 2019
Carrier Dome, Syracuse, N.Y.
Elijah Hughes, R-Jr., F
With a really good opponent like that from Canada, what did this win mean for the team
overall?
“They’re a really good team, well coached. They make plays and have a lot of experience. They’re pedigree speaks for itself so it’s a really good win.”
How ready are you guys going to be for Virginia to come to the Dome?
“We’re going to be ready, we’re going to be well prepared. They’re the defending national champions. It’s going to be rocking in here. It’s going to be a lot of fun and we’ll be ready.”
Coach said that you give the team a different look when you bring the ball up. How do you feel about this option for the team?
“It’s really my first time playing this position for Syracuse. Like you said, it’s a different look. With my size and my height I can really see the floor well and I can be a playmaker in that position.”
Quincy Guerrier, Fr., F
What do you bring to this team overall?
“My physicality and leadership – even as a freshman I think I can bring my leadership to this team. (I bring) My three point shot as well and my rebounding ability.”
Joe Girard III, Fr.., G
What skills do you have to work on the most?
“I guess just staying focused the whole time - whether it’s on offense or defense, not taking any plays off on both ends of the floor. Like I said, just making the right decisions at the right times.”
What part of the game have you been working on the most recently?
“With Coach (McNamara), just always getting to the hoop. Using your lower body rather than your upper body. I’ve gotten myself in a little bit of trouble doing that in the past two games, but I’m still working on it and getting better."
What has your comfort level been in the first two games?
“I’m really comfortable. For me, it’s just going out there and playing basketball, going out there and hooping. That’s what we’re all here to do - to play basketball and win games. When you’re focused on that, and you’re focused on making the right decision with things on the court, usually good things happen."
Buddy Boeheim, So., G
Do you feel like you have a responsibility to help out your teammates in preparation for Virginia?
“I definitely think that everyone on the team knows that they’ll still be one of the toughest teams to play against, no matter who they lost. They lost three of their best players, but this is a really well-coached team. They have three big strong players back; (Mamadi) Diakite being one of them, and we know that they are really good and ready to play. They were one of the smartest teams we played against last year, so I just have to let these guys know that we have to be locked in on every play, because this is a team that can make runs just like that.”
What did you and the team learn about yourselves in these two exhibition games?
“We just learned that we’re a really capable team shooting the ball. We can shoot very well, and we’re one of the better shooting teams in the country. It all comes with defense. Tonight, we played really solid after the first five minutes on defense, and that helped our offense. Just always moving and making the right plays at the right time is something important for us. I think that defense is going to be what we need to focus on come season time, because the offense will be there. It’s all about making plays on defense."
Does having more shooters on the team this year make it easier for you to get open looks?
“Definitely, it helps. It opens up the lane for guys like Jalen (Carey) and Elijah (Hughes), who are both capable shooters, but also guys that we need to get to the rim and make plays for others. It just opens the floor a lot. There’s nothing wrong with taking 30 or 40 three's some nights. If we’re making them, that’s great and we’ll just keep shooting them. It opens up the floor well and it really helps us on the offensive end.”
