Syracuse Player Quotes - Oakland
Syracuse Men’s Basketball
Syracuse vs. Oakland
December 18, 2019
Carrier Dome, Syracuse, N.Y.
Elijah Hughes, R-Jr., G
What did you learn about your team tonight against a scrappy Oakland team?
“We have to be smarter with the ball, make smarter decisions. We need to battle more down low and work on every possession.”
How are you guys trying to improve on guarding other teams’ bigs?
“We just have to compete. You have to come out and compete. We try to hold it down back there. I know it’s hard, they’ve got some big guys back there, but we still have to play with a lot of heart and compete.”
How do you balance shooting three’s and attacking the lane to try to draw fouls?
“It’s really just a feel for the game – reading defenses, how they’re playing us, and that’s pretty much it. I know that I have to get to the line more for us and the team. Buddy (Boeheim) knows that as well, so it’s just really a feel for the game.”
What do you want to see out of your team in practices before your game against North Florida?
“I want everyone to compete, to play at a high level. We just have to get better.”
Joseph Girard III, Fr., G
How did the team’s defense tonight compare to the defense against Georgetown?
“I think we were just a little more active. We have to get better and help with the big guys down low. There’s been a few times now where the opposing bigs scored about 20 points and (posted) double-digit rebounds. It’s on all of us. There’s not just one guy down low. Bottom line, it’s on all five of us. We have to do a better job of that. Our hands were a little more active in the second half. I think that’s when we’re at our best. When we got out and running, that’s when we went on a little bit of a run today.”
How do you feel your growth as a floor general has been?
“I think the biggest thing has been playing and getting experience. I have a lot of great shooters around me, especially Buddy (Boeheim) and Elijah (Hughes). They make my job a lot easier. People might think when they’re open, even for less than a split second, that I’ve just got to get them the ball because their shots are really quick. I’m really confident that they’re going to make it. Assists might show up on my stat sheet, but they make my job easier for sure.”
Syracuse vs. Oakland
December 18, 2019
Carrier Dome, Syracuse, N.Y.
Elijah Hughes, R-Jr., G
What did you learn about your team tonight against a scrappy Oakland team?
“We have to be smarter with the ball, make smarter decisions. We need to battle more down low and work on every possession.”
How are you guys trying to improve on guarding other teams’ bigs?
“We just have to compete. You have to come out and compete. We try to hold it down back there. I know it’s hard, they’ve got some big guys back there, but we still have to play with a lot of heart and compete.”
How do you balance shooting three’s and attacking the lane to try to draw fouls?
“It’s really just a feel for the game – reading defenses, how they’re playing us, and that’s pretty much it. I know that I have to get to the line more for us and the team. Buddy (Boeheim) knows that as well, so it’s just really a feel for the game.”
What do you want to see out of your team in practices before your game against North Florida?
“I want everyone to compete, to play at a high level. We just have to get better.”
Joseph Girard III, Fr., G
How did the team’s defense tonight compare to the defense against Georgetown?
“I think we were just a little more active. We have to get better and help with the big guys down low. There’s been a few times now where the opposing bigs scored about 20 points and (posted) double-digit rebounds. It’s on all of us. There’s not just one guy down low. Bottom line, it’s on all five of us. We have to do a better job of that. Our hands were a little more active in the second half. I think that’s when we’re at our best. When we got out and running, that’s when we went on a little bit of a run today.”
How do you feel your growth as a floor general has been?
“I think the biggest thing has been playing and getting experience. I have a lot of great shooters around me, especially Buddy (Boeheim) and Elijah (Hughes). They make my job a lot easier. People might think when they’re open, even for less than a split second, that I’ve just got to get them the ball because their shots are really quick. I’m really confident that they’re going to make it. Assists might show up on my stat sheet, but they make my job easier for sure.”
