Head Coach Jim Boeheim Quotes - Boston College
Syracuse Men’s Basketball
Syracuse vs. Boston College
January 15, 2020
Carrier Dome, Syracuse, N.Y.
Syracuse Head Coach Jim Boeheim
Opening Statement:
“I thought that our defense was really good in the first half and itgot them out of position. Then, as the half went on, they got some shots. They just couldn’t make any. We were able to get our offense going and that was the difference. The second half, they made some shots and it’s an even game, so it was just a matter of a little better defense in the first half, and then, when they got some open shots, they just couldn’t make them.
“We made some shots. We made some big shots early, but I thought that our offense was good – movement was good.
"I thought that it was a good opportunity for Howard (Washington) to get something done. Brycen (Goodine) has had a lot of trouble with that nose and that faceguard but he made a couple good plays. It was an opportunity to get those guys a little time. Quincy (Guerrier), again, got some stuff done. He’s learning,.He just has to keep learning as we go, but I thought overall this was a solid game for us.”
How much better do you feel about your defense after the last three games?
“We’ve done some things differently on defense, so that’s helped us a little bit. So it is a little bit better but we still have a ways to go.”
Can you talk about Marek Dolezaj’s improvement at the free-throw line?
“The one thing that hurt him (Marek) this summer with the injury was that he didn’t get a chance to work on his shooting. One of the reasons I wanted him to go over there (Slovakia, to play for the national team) was the coach was going to really spend time with him and get shots in and work on his shooting. I think that really set him back, and he’s worked really hard since he’s been able to shoot. I think it is getting better, but it’s not to where we would like him to get to, but he’s much better on the foul line. He just hasn’t been able to translate that to shooting outside yet, but he makes plays. He does a lot of things for us, tons of things for us that we have to have –a forward who can really make some plays. It gives us Elijah (Hughes) and him being two very important guys that can make plays for us.”
How do you feel about how Buddy Boeheim has adjusted to being defended?
“Against some guys I think that he can get in there, get in the lane. He’s getting better at that. That’s where he has to get better and he is getting better there. It’s something he just has to keep working on.”
How do you think this team is coming together after 17 games?
“I think that we’re playing better. We are certainly much better than we were at the beginning of the year. I think our progress has been held up a little bit with a couple of the injuries but that’s just what it is. We just have to keep working at it. I think we’re a little better but we’re not where we need to be.”
How difficult is it to get a win like this?
“It’s hard. BC won at Notre Dame and they beat Virginia. It was just a combination of us playing pretty good and them missing in the first half. The second half we played the same way really, on offense, same on defense and it’s a one-point game. The first half is obviously just an aberration, and we are happy to get that.”
Syracuse vs. Boston College
January 15, 2020
Carrier Dome, Syracuse, N.Y.
Syracuse Head Coach Jim Boeheim
Opening Statement:
“I thought that our defense was really good in the first half and itgot them out of position. Then, as the half went on, they got some shots. They just couldn’t make any. We were able to get our offense going and that was the difference. The second half, they made some shots and it’s an even game, so it was just a matter of a little better defense in the first half, and then, when they got some open shots, they just couldn’t make them.
“We made some shots. We made some big shots early, but I thought that our offense was good – movement was good.
"I thought that it was a good opportunity for Howard (Washington) to get something done. Brycen (Goodine) has had a lot of trouble with that nose and that faceguard but he made a couple good plays. It was an opportunity to get those guys a little time. Quincy (Guerrier), again, got some stuff done. He’s learning,.He just has to keep learning as we go, but I thought overall this was a solid game for us.”
How much better do you feel about your defense after the last three games?
“We’ve done some things differently on defense, so that’s helped us a little bit. So it is a little bit better but we still have a ways to go.”
Can you talk about Marek Dolezaj’s improvement at the free-throw line?
“The one thing that hurt him (Marek) this summer with the injury was that he didn’t get a chance to work on his shooting. One of the reasons I wanted him to go over there (Slovakia, to play for the national team) was the coach was going to really spend time with him and get shots in and work on his shooting. I think that really set him back, and he’s worked really hard since he’s been able to shoot. I think it is getting better, but it’s not to where we would like him to get to, but he’s much better on the foul line. He just hasn’t been able to translate that to shooting outside yet, but he makes plays. He does a lot of things for us, tons of things for us that we have to have –a forward who can really make some plays. It gives us Elijah (Hughes) and him being two very important guys that can make plays for us.”
How do you feel about how Buddy Boeheim has adjusted to being defended?
“Against some guys I think that he can get in there, get in the lane. He’s getting better at that. That’s where he has to get better and he is getting better there. It’s something he just has to keep working on.”
How do you think this team is coming together after 17 games?
“I think that we’re playing better. We are certainly much better than we were at the beginning of the year. I think our progress has been held up a little bit with a couple of the injuries but that’s just what it is. We just have to keep working at it. I think we’re a little better but we’re not where we need to be.”
How difficult is it to get a win like this?
“It’s hard. BC won at Notre Dame and they beat Virginia. It was just a combination of us playing pretty good and them missing in the first half. The second half we played the same way really, on offense, same on defense and it’s a one-point game. The first half is obviously just an aberration, and we are happy to get that.”
