Coach Boeheim Quotes - NCAA Tournament Selection Press Conference
Syracuse Men’s Basketball
NCAA Tournament Selection Press Conference
Sunday, March 17, 2019
Head Coach Jim Boeheim
Opening Statement:
“There was not as much anxiety this year as there was in the last few years so that’s always a good thing. We figured that we would be out west and that’s where it turned out. Obviously, we’ll have to study. I’ve seen Baylor a little bit. They’re a really good team. Sometimes this year, especially in the middle of the season, they were playing the best of the Big 12. So, they’re a very good team and that’s what you’re going to get in this tournament. We’re happy to have the opportunity.
“At practice today, Tyus (Battle) was about 100 percent. Obviously, he was a little bit rusty because of not practicing or playing for over a week now. But, I think that by no later than Tuesday he’ll be at 100 percent. So, that’s good news. Had a good practice today and looking forward to tomorrow.”
Do you think that the ACC having three No. 1 seeds helped Syracuse with its seeding?
“I think that our strength of schedule was key. I think that we could have been a No. 7 or a No. 8 seed. But, I thought that an eight seed was right where we should be. Our strength of schedule was key. Non-conference strength of schedule was the best we’ve ever had. We had four teams that we played in the non-conference get in and two beat us in Buffalo and Old Dominion. But Northeastern and Colgate got in, St. Bonaventure got to the finals in their tournament, and Eastern Washington got to the finals in their tournament. So, that’s unusual that we scheduled six teams in the non-conference that could have gotten there and four did.
“Obviously, in the conference, we played Duke three times and that’s a pretty tough task. We had to play on the road in a lot of tough places and I think all of that contributes. But, the overall key was winning the two road games against Duke and Ohio State. Obviously, two tournament teams, but also the No. 1 seed (Duke). I think that was the key to comfortably being in the tournament.”
What do you know about Scott Drew’s program at Baylor?
“It’s very good. They’re very strong. I did watch them play this year and they’re good. Like I said, at one stage, they were playing as well as anybody in the Big 12 and they had a stretch where they really played well. That’s a very tough conference this year and they acquitted themselves very well in that conference. We played them in Maui a couple years ago and it was a great game. Drew is a very good coach who has had some very good teams. They’ve been good for a while now.”
How do you feel about your team heading into the tournament?
“I think we played very well without Tyus, and now we can get him back. I think that is really going to help us. I thought we played a great second half against Pittsburgh, and played really well against Duke. Duke is obviously very good, and we were in a three-point game late with them. They’re the best – No. 1 team in the country, so I think that was a good sign. I think overall, at the end of the year, we had losses but we were in every game. We were competitive with all of the three No. 1 seeds, especially at North Carolina. We were very competitive.
“I think we are playing good and we have some tournament experience. I think Buddy (Boeheim) got some extra experience down there (ACC Tournament) that I think will help him. I thought Elijah (Hughes) played well in the tournament, and I thought Oshae (Brissett) had one of his best second halves of the year. I’m excited to move forward with this team, and I think we are in a better position than we were last year in terms of how we are playing. It’s a very tough road but we will see what happens.”
What does it say about the overall strength of your league (ACC) with seven bids and three No. 1 seeds?
“The league was great. I think Clemson is a tournament team, but they just couldn’t finish; they had three or four teams beat, and if they had just won a couple of those they would be in the tournament easily. It’s unfortunate because they are a really good team. I think NC State is a really good team, but they made it easy to eliminate themselves. They didn’t play anybody, and you can’t do that. I don’t care what your NET or RPI is, if you don’t play somebody in the non-conference you’re aren’t going to get in. They never let anybody in if you are on the bubble with a bad strength of schedule. That’s why we go out and make sure we play some teams.
“This was unusual that so many teams played really well. Our strength of schedule kept rising because these teams kept winning at the end. It was amazing, really, what some of these teams did. St. Bonaventure was one shot away from the tournament and we beat them by 40 points or something. It is really quite amazing.”
You mentioned that you feel more prepared than last year, is that because you have a lot of tournament experience on the team?
“Those guys who had experience are all back, and our younger guys have had some opportunities to get better. We also have Elijah, who we didn’t have last year. I think we are in a better position.”
NCAA Tournament Selection Press Conference
Sunday, March 17, 2019
Head Coach Jim Boeheim
Opening Statement:
“There was not as much anxiety this year as there was in the last few years so that’s always a good thing. We figured that we would be out west and that’s where it turned out. Obviously, we’ll have to study. I’ve seen Baylor a little bit. They’re a really good team. Sometimes this year, especially in the middle of the season, they were playing the best of the Big 12. So, they’re a very good team and that’s what you’re going to get in this tournament. We’re happy to have the opportunity.
“At practice today, Tyus (Battle) was about 100 percent. Obviously, he was a little bit rusty because of not practicing or playing for over a week now. But, I think that by no later than Tuesday he’ll be at 100 percent. So, that’s good news. Had a good practice today and looking forward to tomorrow.”
Do you think that the ACC having three No. 1 seeds helped Syracuse with its seeding?
“I think that our strength of schedule was key. I think that we could have been a No. 7 or a No. 8 seed. But, I thought that an eight seed was right where we should be. Our strength of schedule was key. Non-conference strength of schedule was the best we’ve ever had. We had four teams that we played in the non-conference get in and two beat us in Buffalo and Old Dominion. But Northeastern and Colgate got in, St. Bonaventure got to the finals in their tournament, and Eastern Washington got to the finals in their tournament. So, that’s unusual that we scheduled six teams in the non-conference that could have gotten there and four did.
“Obviously, in the conference, we played Duke three times and that’s a pretty tough task. We had to play on the road in a lot of tough places and I think all of that contributes. But, the overall key was winning the two road games against Duke and Ohio State. Obviously, two tournament teams, but also the No. 1 seed (Duke). I think that was the key to comfortably being in the tournament.”
What do you know about Scott Drew’s program at Baylor?
“It’s very good. They’re very strong. I did watch them play this year and they’re good. Like I said, at one stage, they were playing as well as anybody in the Big 12 and they had a stretch where they really played well. That’s a very tough conference this year and they acquitted themselves very well in that conference. We played them in Maui a couple years ago and it was a great game. Drew is a very good coach who has had some very good teams. They’ve been good for a while now.”
How do you feel about your team heading into the tournament?
“I think we played very well without Tyus, and now we can get him back. I think that is really going to help us. I thought we played a great second half against Pittsburgh, and played really well against Duke. Duke is obviously very good, and we were in a three-point game late with them. They’re the best – No. 1 team in the country, so I think that was a good sign. I think overall, at the end of the year, we had losses but we were in every game. We were competitive with all of the three No. 1 seeds, especially at North Carolina. We were very competitive.
“I think we are playing good and we have some tournament experience. I think Buddy (Boeheim) got some extra experience down there (ACC Tournament) that I think will help him. I thought Elijah (Hughes) played well in the tournament, and I thought Oshae (Brissett) had one of his best second halves of the year. I’m excited to move forward with this team, and I think we are in a better position than we were last year in terms of how we are playing. It’s a very tough road but we will see what happens.”
What does it say about the overall strength of your league (ACC) with seven bids and three No. 1 seeds?
“The league was great. I think Clemson is a tournament team, but they just couldn’t finish; they had three or four teams beat, and if they had just won a couple of those they would be in the tournament easily. It’s unfortunate because they are a really good team. I think NC State is a really good team, but they made it easy to eliminate themselves. They didn’t play anybody, and you can’t do that. I don’t care what your NET or RPI is, if you don’t play somebody in the non-conference you’re aren’t going to get in. They never let anybody in if you are on the bubble with a bad strength of schedule. That’s why we go out and make sure we play some teams.
“This was unusual that so many teams played really well. Our strength of schedule kept rising because these teams kept winning at the end. It was amazing, really, what some of these teams did. St. Bonaventure was one shot away from the tournament and we beat them by 40 points or something. It is really quite amazing.”
You mentioned that you feel more prepared than last year, is that because you have a lot of tournament experience on the team?
“Those guys who had experience are all back, and our younger guys have had some opportunities to get better. We also have Elijah, who we didn’t have last year. I think we are in a better position.”
