Syracuse Player Quotes - Virginia
Syracuse Men’s Basketball
Syracuse vs. Virginia
November 6, 2019
Carrier Dome, Syracuse, N.Y.
Elijah Hughes, R-Jr., F
What was it like playing against that defense?
“It’s hard. They have guys who can guard the ball, they have shot blockers, they have good help side defense, so it’s just really hard to get in a rhythm against them.”
How was it different from defenses that you have seen in the preseason?
“It’s the best defense in the country. They are just coming off a national championship because of it and they are really good at what they do.”
Do you think about shooting quickly against the defense?
“I’m not really thinking that much when I’m in the game, I’m just playing. So to answer your question no not really do I think about it I’m just playing.”
Were missed shots because of them or you guys?
“I feel like it’s a combination of both. We had some open ones that we make in practice that we missed and we had to take some tough ones, you know, so it was really a combination of both.”
Joe Girard, Fr., G
What do you think about bad shooting?
“Unfortunately, if you want to take a positive, the thing that we kind of relied on in preseason and in practice was shooting and that was what hurt us today. Our defense was pretty good, we held them below 50 points and there’s a lot of positives. The negatives on the offensive end are obviously we have to shoot better, we have a lot of great shooters, a lot of good shooters and a lot of people who can put the ball in the hoop, but we just couldn’t find it today.”
Where you playing point to get the ball?
“I’m not really sure. I just do whatever coach tells me, today he put me in at the one and wanted me to handle the ball, and that’s what I do best.”
How did it feel to score your first points?
“It was cool. I mean, obviously we wanted to win the game and that’s all I was focused on, and that was all I scored and was all I did, you know if we win the game I’d be a lot happier, but we didn’t end up winning, so it’s tough.”
How did you prepare for their defense?
“You can’t really prepare for it, until you really see it. You know each and every day in practice you are going against the same guys and you don’t really understand what it’s like until you really go against it in a real-life game, in a real-style game. Credit to them, they played really great defense, I think so did we, that’s one of the positives but liker you said we have to put the ball in the hoop a lot more only putting up 34 points its going to be really hard to beat anybody like that.”
Buddy Boeheim, So., G:
You know it’s never easy opening up with the defending champs, what do you take from a game like this?
"There’s some positives there and on the defensive end, the defense was solid the whole game. I thought we played well inside and the shots weren’t falling, offense was a little sloppy and only had nine turnovers but the shots weren’t falling. Kinda forcing shots but that’s the best defensive team in the country probably so that’s a good learning lesson for us and we’re going to take that going forward in the non-conference play.”
How frustrating is it playing a defense like that knowing if a couple of shots don’t go in we’re going to be in for a long night?
"It’s tough, that’s a really good defensive team. They have really good bigs and their guards are active and we knew we had to make shots going in and they just weren’t falling early on and they bodied us and we started forcing shots a little. It’s something to learn off of."
Is there anything they did that surprised you?
"No, we knew coming in that they were going to be solid on the defensive end and we knew they were going to try to feed it inside to their bigs. That’s a strength issue I think."
I know a lot of you guys are still learning on the job as a young team, but what do you guys get out of this game, playing a team like Virginia so early?
"Great lesson for us and we know that our offense has to be a little better. We need to be moving more to make it easier for us as players on the offensive end, making shots and trying to get in the lane a little more and open up the offense for shooters and make a couple of plays inside and I think going forward that will help us out a lot."
Marek Dolezaj, Jr., F/C:
Is it hard to not be discouraged with the ball not going in?
It’s really hard. We expect people to shoot better. I think it was really tough for us but next game we’ll do better.
With a defense like that and the slight sliver of space they give you, do you feel pressure to get it up quickly?
Yeah, you think you have to shoot it a little faster and you just don’t have that much time to think about the shot. We have to be more concentrated on the shot and just do a better job.
Is it because they’re going to close out on you or what exactly?
They’re always on you, they’re always in your face, they can block your shot. We just need to take our time and do a better job.
Is there a point in a game like this where you guys realize that shots just aren’t falling?
We just try to push and take the good shots and just keep shooting. We just have to stick with it and hopefully next game will be good.
Syracuse vs. Virginia
November 6, 2019
Carrier Dome, Syracuse, N.Y.
Elijah Hughes, R-Jr., F
What was it like playing against that defense?
“It’s hard. They have guys who can guard the ball, they have shot blockers, they have good help side defense, so it’s just really hard to get in a rhythm against them.”
How was it different from defenses that you have seen in the preseason?
“It’s the best defense in the country. They are just coming off a national championship because of it and they are really good at what they do.”
Do you think about shooting quickly against the defense?
“I’m not really thinking that much when I’m in the game, I’m just playing. So to answer your question no not really do I think about it I’m just playing.”
Were missed shots because of them or you guys?
“I feel like it’s a combination of both. We had some open ones that we make in practice that we missed and we had to take some tough ones, you know, so it was really a combination of both.”
Joe Girard, Fr., G
What do you think about bad shooting?
“Unfortunately, if you want to take a positive, the thing that we kind of relied on in preseason and in practice was shooting and that was what hurt us today. Our defense was pretty good, we held them below 50 points and there’s a lot of positives. The negatives on the offensive end are obviously we have to shoot better, we have a lot of great shooters, a lot of good shooters and a lot of people who can put the ball in the hoop, but we just couldn’t find it today.”
Where you playing point to get the ball?
“I’m not really sure. I just do whatever coach tells me, today he put me in at the one and wanted me to handle the ball, and that’s what I do best.”
How did it feel to score your first points?
“It was cool. I mean, obviously we wanted to win the game and that’s all I was focused on, and that was all I scored and was all I did, you know if we win the game I’d be a lot happier, but we didn’t end up winning, so it’s tough.”
How did you prepare for their defense?
“You can’t really prepare for it, until you really see it. You know each and every day in practice you are going against the same guys and you don’t really understand what it’s like until you really go against it in a real-life game, in a real-style game. Credit to them, they played really great defense, I think so did we, that’s one of the positives but liker you said we have to put the ball in the hoop a lot more only putting up 34 points its going to be really hard to beat anybody like that.”
Buddy Boeheim, So., G:
You know it’s never easy opening up with the defending champs, what do you take from a game like this?
"There’s some positives there and on the defensive end, the defense was solid the whole game. I thought we played well inside and the shots weren’t falling, offense was a little sloppy and only had nine turnovers but the shots weren’t falling. Kinda forcing shots but that’s the best defensive team in the country probably so that’s a good learning lesson for us and we’re going to take that going forward in the non-conference play.”
How frustrating is it playing a defense like that knowing if a couple of shots don’t go in we’re going to be in for a long night?
"It’s tough, that’s a really good defensive team. They have really good bigs and their guards are active and we knew we had to make shots going in and they just weren’t falling early on and they bodied us and we started forcing shots a little. It’s something to learn off of."
Is there anything they did that surprised you?
"No, we knew coming in that they were going to be solid on the defensive end and we knew they were going to try to feed it inside to their bigs. That’s a strength issue I think."
I know a lot of you guys are still learning on the job as a young team, but what do you guys get out of this game, playing a team like Virginia so early?
"Great lesson for us and we know that our offense has to be a little better. We need to be moving more to make it easier for us as players on the offensive end, making shots and trying to get in the lane a little more and open up the offense for shooters and make a couple of plays inside and I think going forward that will help us out a lot."
Marek Dolezaj, Jr., F/C:
Is it hard to not be discouraged with the ball not going in?
It’s really hard. We expect people to shoot better. I think it was really tough for us but next game we’ll do better.
With a defense like that and the slight sliver of space they give you, do you feel pressure to get it up quickly?
Yeah, you think you have to shoot it a little faster and you just don’t have that much time to think about the shot. We have to be more concentrated on the shot and just do a better job.
Is it because they’re going to close out on you or what exactly?
They’re always on you, they’re always in your face, they can block your shot. We just need to take our time and do a better job.
Is there a point in a game like this where you guys realize that shots just aren’t falling?
We just try to push and take the good shots and just keep shooting. We just have to stick with it and hopefully next game will be good.
