Syracuse Student-Athlete Quotes - Louisville
Syracuse Men's Basketball
Syracuse vs. Louisville
Wednesday, February 20, 2019
Postgame Quotes
Marek Dolezaj, So., F.
What’s it like when you are making plays and the crowd gets going?
“It feels really good. I’m just trying to do my job. I’m trying to make plays and help my team. It feels really good.”
This was one of your best efforts defensively. Why do you think that was?
“I think we really contested the shots. We moved. They really had hard shots. They missed some open ones. But, there were some really contested shots.”
When you’re making plays going for loose balls, what does that do for you and the team?
“For me, it hurts. For the team, I’m just trying to get the loose balls, the 50-50 balls. I think we did a really good job today getting the 50-50 balls. We got jump balls. That’s the main point, we've got to fight every second on the floor.”
Oshae Brissett, So., F
Tough go against NC State - how important was it for you to have a good game tonight going into Duke?
“It was very important. I have to forget about that game. I forgot about it as soon as it ended, honestly, knowing we had a tough game like today coming up. Even though I played well today, I’m going to forget about it and move on. I don’t really want to dwell on what happened today.”
How did you handle their press?
“We knew there were gaps in their press. We wanted to get guys in the middle and down the sideline. We were able to do that. Marek was able to get in the middle or Elijah was able to get down the sideline. We just pushed the ball once we got it there”
Four different players in double figures, how did that happen?
“Moving the ball. Guys weren’t really standing. We were cutting, screening for each other and playing off each other. We were working off each other’s strengths. I remember in the first half me and Buddy kind of went back and forth with the ball a couple times and it was able to open me up for a drive to the basket. We got to play like that. We just got to keep moving off each other and helping each other out.”
What can you use from the tape from the first Duke matchup for this one?
“Every game is different. We don’t look back to see what’s going to be successful. Saturday is going to be a challenge.”
Do you soak some of the extra stuff in when it comes to Duke?
“It’s hard to not listen to it. I hear about it. We still want to treat it like any other game but we’re on our phones, we’re on instagram. We see all that stuff. The main focus now is staying locked in mentally and focusing on what we have coming up.”
Elijah Hughes, R-Jr., F
You started off shooting slow, how’d you keep with it?
“Coach told me to keep shooting the ball. He trusts me and knew I was going to bounce back in the second half.”
Is this team capable of beating anyone?
“Absolutely. We just try and play hard on both ends of the floor. We were shooting the ball really well [tonight] and locked up the other end of the floor.”
How big is it to come out with a win in this one leading up to Saturday’s game against Duke?
“It’s a huge win but we go game by game no matter who we’re playing. [Duke] is a good team but they’ll have to come in here and play.”
Tyus Battle, Jr., G
This is a tough stretch of games. How important is it to start off that stretch with a win tonight?
“It’s extremely important. [Louisville] is a good team, they’re a ranked team so that’s always a big win on our resume. It’s just good to start off this stretch with a win.”
How does Marek help your energy level when he comes in the game?
“He just plays hard and it’s contagious. That gets us going and he really started us off on the defensive end, getting key rebounds. That’s what he does every night.”
How did the week off help you guys tonight?
“A week off is always nice. Especially in ACC play, it’s a lot of basketball so a week off is always good to work on things in practice and re-focus.”
Buddy Boeheim, F, G.
What’s the biggest improvement you think you’ve made from the start of ACC play to tonight?
“Probably my defense overall and my movement on offense. Just making sure I can find spots to get easy shots, guys looking for me off simple plays and it’s really helped me get easier shots and start off the game better. I’m starting to use my pump fake more and trying to get inside more has helped my game a lot. I’m just learning, growing and taking my time as time progresses.”
How important is it to get a win in this first game of this tough stretch?
“It’s huge. We knew this was a huge game for us. Playing a ranked team at home is an opportunity we need to secure and we were just really focused and our focus this week throughout practice was probably the best it has been all season. We just made sure we were ready for this week. We’re just taking it one game at a time.”
Syracuse vs. Louisville
Wednesday, February 20, 2019
Postgame Quotes
Marek Dolezaj, So., F.
What’s it like when you are making plays and the crowd gets going?
“It feels really good. I’m just trying to do my job. I’m trying to make plays and help my team. It feels really good.”
This was one of your best efforts defensively. Why do you think that was?
“I think we really contested the shots. We moved. They really had hard shots. They missed some open ones. But, there were some really contested shots.”
When you’re making plays going for loose balls, what does that do for you and the team?
“For me, it hurts. For the team, I’m just trying to get the loose balls, the 50-50 balls. I think we did a really good job today getting the 50-50 balls. We got jump balls. That’s the main point, we've got to fight every second on the floor.”
Oshae Brissett, So., F
Tough go against NC State - how important was it for you to have a good game tonight going into Duke?
“It was very important. I have to forget about that game. I forgot about it as soon as it ended, honestly, knowing we had a tough game like today coming up. Even though I played well today, I’m going to forget about it and move on. I don’t really want to dwell on what happened today.”
How did you handle their press?
“We knew there were gaps in their press. We wanted to get guys in the middle and down the sideline. We were able to do that. Marek was able to get in the middle or Elijah was able to get down the sideline. We just pushed the ball once we got it there”
Four different players in double figures, how did that happen?
“Moving the ball. Guys weren’t really standing. We were cutting, screening for each other and playing off each other. We were working off each other’s strengths. I remember in the first half me and Buddy kind of went back and forth with the ball a couple times and it was able to open me up for a drive to the basket. We got to play like that. We just got to keep moving off each other and helping each other out.”
What can you use from the tape from the first Duke matchup for this one?
“Every game is different. We don’t look back to see what’s going to be successful. Saturday is going to be a challenge.”
Do you soak some of the extra stuff in when it comes to Duke?
“It’s hard to not listen to it. I hear about it. We still want to treat it like any other game but we’re on our phones, we’re on instagram. We see all that stuff. The main focus now is staying locked in mentally and focusing on what we have coming up.”
Elijah Hughes, R-Jr., F
You started off shooting slow, how’d you keep with it?
“Coach told me to keep shooting the ball. He trusts me and knew I was going to bounce back in the second half.”
Is this team capable of beating anyone?
“Absolutely. We just try and play hard on both ends of the floor. We were shooting the ball really well [tonight] and locked up the other end of the floor.”
How big is it to come out with a win in this one leading up to Saturday’s game against Duke?
“It’s a huge win but we go game by game no matter who we’re playing. [Duke] is a good team but they’ll have to come in here and play.”
Tyus Battle, Jr., G
This is a tough stretch of games. How important is it to start off that stretch with a win tonight?
“It’s extremely important. [Louisville] is a good team, they’re a ranked team so that’s always a big win on our resume. It’s just good to start off this stretch with a win.”
How does Marek help your energy level when he comes in the game?
“He just plays hard and it’s contagious. That gets us going and he really started us off on the defensive end, getting key rebounds. That’s what he does every night.”
How did the week off help you guys tonight?
“A week off is always nice. Especially in ACC play, it’s a lot of basketball so a week off is always good to work on things in practice and re-focus.”
Buddy Boeheim, F, G.
What’s the biggest improvement you think you’ve made from the start of ACC play to tonight?
“Probably my defense overall and my movement on offense. Just making sure I can find spots to get easy shots, guys looking for me off simple plays and it’s really helped me get easier shots and start off the game better. I’m starting to use my pump fake more and trying to get inside more has helped my game a lot. I’m just learning, growing and taking my time as time progresses.”
How important is it to get a win in this first game of this tough stretch?
“It’s huge. We knew this was a huge game for us. Playing a ranked team at home is an opportunity we need to secure and we were just really focused and our focus this week throughout practice was probably the best it has been all season. We just made sure we were ready for this week. We’re just taking it one game at a time.”
