Coach Boeheim Quotes - Niagara
Syracuse Men’s Basketball
Syracuse vs. Niagara
December 28, 2019
Carrier Dome, Syracuse, N.Y.
Head Coach Jim Boeheim
Opening Statement:
“We had a really good rhythm in the beginning. I think there’s one danger of when you do want to play (substitute) people – we got out of rhythm. Two guys going in, that shouldn’t change the rhythm, but it did. It completely turned the game. We never got back in the rhythm. We won because we were ahead. They couldn’t convert enough to get back all the way. We had a good rhythm, but we just made a couple changes and we should be able to do that. It was not good.
“Jesse (Edwards) turned his ankle. We think he’ll be back in practice Monday, maybe Tuesday at the latest. Howard (Washington) we think will be back at practice Monday, which I think will help us. My concern is getting some of those guys coming in off the bench to be able to help us. Quincy (Guerrier) was coming off a really good game. I think that it’s not whether you score or not, but he didn’t get back on defense and didn’t do the things that he has to do.
“Sometimes when you get an easy lead, an early lead, it sometimes takes away from what you should be doing, and you just don’t get back into that rhythm. It shouldn’t happen, but it happens. We have five days of practice, which I think will help us. We’re trying to get some of these guys better. I think the first five guys are doing what they need to do. I think that today we got a little out of character. We don’t turn it over, but we made 16 turnovers. We just tried to do things that we don’t normally try to do and shouldn’t try to do. Hopefully that will be a good lesson for us.”
Are you worried about depth at the guard position?
“Elijah (Hughes) can play there, he was good there again today. He can play the point. He was good there, made some really good plays. I’m not too concerned about that. I think Howard (Washington) will be back full speed and Brycen (Goodine) is just a work in progress. We have to try to get him better. I’m disappointed. He got in the open court and couldn’t finish. Those things I know he can do. His defense was good, he made some good defensive plays down there, but he’s better than this. We just have to keep working with him and trying to get him better. Quincy (Guerrier) is coming off a really good game and he has to be able to back it up.”
How important was this stretch of games to build confidence?
“I think every game is important for this team. I thought we played well up until tonight after that start. We played really well in a lot of situations; turnovers and shooting, everything’s been good. Even the Georgetown loss, I thought we played really well there offensively. Defensively, we’re still not there. We still have work to do there. We need to grow as a team. I think it’s going be a day-to-day thing. But we have to be better. We’re not good enough right now. We have to get better.”
How concerned are you with the fact that nobody is consistently coming off the bench and contributing?
“Obviously it’s a concern. Quincy (Guerrier) had a great last game and tonight he didn’t, but we’re hopeful. Jesse (Edwards) has shown some good signs until he got hurt. Howard (Washington) has done some good things. We think those guys will be back. We’re trying to get them ready and trying to work with Quincy and Brycen (Goodine) to get them better. That’s what our goal is.”
How do you think Coach Paulus has done in his first hear as a head coach?
“He’s done a great job. He’s doing a great coaching job with that team. They play hard, they’re doing a lot of great things. He’s shorthanded, they’re small. I think he’s done a really great job with that team.”
What are your thoughts on the team’s assists numbers this year?
“Our assists are good. We’ve got guys that will pass, that want to pass, they look for each other. Today’s probably not one of our better games, really. Elijah (Hughes) is doing a great job moving the ball, making plays. I mean 19 (points) and nine (assists) and nine (rebounds) – he was close to a triple-double. Only one away. He’s playing great. We just have to get better – keep going, keep working at it. They’re a very unselfish group, they work hard. We just have to get the freshman guys coming off the bench to get better. That’s the bottom line.”
What are your current thoughts on Robert Braswell?
“He made a couple of shots, he can shoot. That’s what he can do. We’re still working with Robert on his legs. They’re not great, we’re still trying to figure out what the best option for him is. We haven’t made a decision there, but we’ll make one soon. He can shoot the ball. He’s had problems with both legs all year. We’re trying to figure that out now. He has constant pain, and it’s hard for him to go. The best option is not to do anything, to take some time away and try to get rested, try to do some physical therapy type things that would help him. I’m thinking of his long-range career. He’s got really great potential, but he really can’t go full speed and I think it would help him if he did take a redshirt this year. The decision hasn’t been made yet.”
Syracuse vs. Niagara
December 28, 2019
Carrier Dome, Syracuse, N.Y.
Head Coach Jim Boeheim
Opening Statement:
“We had a really good rhythm in the beginning. I think there’s one danger of when you do want to play (substitute) people – we got out of rhythm. Two guys going in, that shouldn’t change the rhythm, but it did. It completely turned the game. We never got back in the rhythm. We won because we were ahead. They couldn’t convert enough to get back all the way. We had a good rhythm, but we just made a couple changes and we should be able to do that. It was not good.
“Jesse (Edwards) turned his ankle. We think he’ll be back in practice Monday, maybe Tuesday at the latest. Howard (Washington) we think will be back at practice Monday, which I think will help us. My concern is getting some of those guys coming in off the bench to be able to help us. Quincy (Guerrier) was coming off a really good game. I think that it’s not whether you score or not, but he didn’t get back on defense and didn’t do the things that he has to do.
“Sometimes when you get an easy lead, an early lead, it sometimes takes away from what you should be doing, and you just don’t get back into that rhythm. It shouldn’t happen, but it happens. We have five days of practice, which I think will help us. We’re trying to get some of these guys better. I think the first five guys are doing what they need to do. I think that today we got a little out of character. We don’t turn it over, but we made 16 turnovers. We just tried to do things that we don’t normally try to do and shouldn’t try to do. Hopefully that will be a good lesson for us.”
Are you worried about depth at the guard position?
“Elijah (Hughes) can play there, he was good there again today. He can play the point. He was good there, made some really good plays. I’m not too concerned about that. I think Howard (Washington) will be back full speed and Brycen (Goodine) is just a work in progress. We have to try to get him better. I’m disappointed. He got in the open court and couldn’t finish. Those things I know he can do. His defense was good, he made some good defensive plays down there, but he’s better than this. We just have to keep working with him and trying to get him better. Quincy (Guerrier) is coming off a really good game and he has to be able to back it up.”
How important was this stretch of games to build confidence?
“I think every game is important for this team. I thought we played well up until tonight after that start. We played really well in a lot of situations; turnovers and shooting, everything’s been good. Even the Georgetown loss, I thought we played really well there offensively. Defensively, we’re still not there. We still have work to do there. We need to grow as a team. I think it’s going be a day-to-day thing. But we have to be better. We’re not good enough right now. We have to get better.”
How concerned are you with the fact that nobody is consistently coming off the bench and contributing?
“Obviously it’s a concern. Quincy (Guerrier) had a great last game and tonight he didn’t, but we’re hopeful. Jesse (Edwards) has shown some good signs until he got hurt. Howard (Washington) has done some good things. We think those guys will be back. We’re trying to get them ready and trying to work with Quincy and Brycen (Goodine) to get them better. That’s what our goal is.”
How do you think Coach Paulus has done in his first hear as a head coach?
“He’s done a great job. He’s doing a great coaching job with that team. They play hard, they’re doing a lot of great things. He’s shorthanded, they’re small. I think he’s done a really great job with that team.”
What are your thoughts on the team’s assists numbers this year?
“Our assists are good. We’ve got guys that will pass, that want to pass, they look for each other. Today’s probably not one of our better games, really. Elijah (Hughes) is doing a great job moving the ball, making plays. I mean 19 (points) and nine (assists) and nine (rebounds) – he was close to a triple-double. Only one away. He’s playing great. We just have to get better – keep going, keep working at it. They’re a very unselfish group, they work hard. We just have to get the freshman guys coming off the bench to get better. That’s the bottom line.”
What are your current thoughts on Robert Braswell?
“He made a couple of shots, he can shoot. That’s what he can do. We’re still working with Robert on his legs. They’re not great, we’re still trying to figure out what the best option for him is. We haven’t made a decision there, but we’ll make one soon. He can shoot the ball. He’s had problems with both legs all year. We’re trying to figure that out now. He has constant pain, and it’s hard for him to go. The best option is not to do anything, to take some time away and try to get rested, try to do some physical therapy type things that would help him. I’m thinking of his long-range career. He’s got really great potential, but he really can’t go full speed and I think it would help him if he did take a redshirt this year. The decision hasn’t been made yet.”
