Head Coach Jim Boeheim Quotes - Virginia Tech
Syracuse Men's Basketball
Syracuse vs. Virginia Tech
January 7, 2020
Carrier Dome, Syracuse, N.Y.
Head Coach Jim Boeheim
Opening Statement:
“Our defense was much better for a long time, but we just lost our offensive flow. You have to score points to win. We just couldn’t score and that’s something that we have to do better and I have to do a better job of getting them to move better."
“We played two different types of teams these past two games. Notre Dame is a more offensive team that lets you shoot and Virginia Tech is a team that guards you just like Virginia will on Saturday. Against the team like Virginia Tech, we have to move better and when we get to the basket, I think we got there a lot, but we just didn’t finish and we have to finish better. Tonight was more about our offense than anything else.”
How do you react to a shorter point guard like Virginia Tech’s playing in the high post?
“That happens sometimes, but we don’t mind that because he’s not going to score in there. Our defense wasn’t the problem tonight. We have to be able to score if we want to win.”
Was their passing in the lane a problem tonight considering their assist total?
“They’re a good passing team. All of their guys are smaller. Teams are going to move the ball and we did a better job, and then we had a couple breakdowns. We just aren’t consistent with what we’re doing. We did a good job for quite a bit, but then we didn’t. That’s how you lose these games. It’s a tough league with good teams. We had two opportunities to win games and we couldn’t get it done.”
With Virginia Tech’s ball-pressure defense, how do you get Buddy (Boeheim) and Joe (Girard III) more opportunities?
“It’s tough. Joe did a good job in the first half and Buddy got to the free-throw line and he missed. Those are shots that he has to make and he just didn’t make them.”
Do you feel that Virginia Tech’s defensive style slowed the offense?
“They’re physical and they just took us out of everything. They’re a physical team and we’re going to see that again on Saturday against Virginia and you have to be able to handle it. We just didn’t handle it well. It was different against Notre Dame because they’re not physical. But we’re going to see a few teams that are physical and we have to move a little better and finish a little better around the basket. Marek (Dolezaj) and Elijah (Hughes) missed some opportunities around the basket. Joe (Girard III) got there, but he was just a little off balance and didn’t finish and we have to do that. We have to finish better.”
Have you been pleased with the way that the players have responded in games and during practices throughout this stretch?
“They’re trying. They’re doing everything they can to win and they want to win. I think we did a little bit too much with the ball tonight. But you have to against a pressure team. We’re not really good against those types of defenses and that showed tonight. But they’re trying and they’re doing the things that they have to do. We just have to get better.”
Syracuse vs. Virginia Tech
January 7, 2020
Carrier Dome, Syracuse, N.Y.
Head Coach Jim Boeheim
Opening Statement:
“Our defense was much better for a long time, but we just lost our offensive flow. You have to score points to win. We just couldn’t score and that’s something that we have to do better and I have to do a better job of getting them to move better."
“We played two different types of teams these past two games. Notre Dame is a more offensive team that lets you shoot and Virginia Tech is a team that guards you just like Virginia will on Saturday. Against the team like Virginia Tech, we have to move better and when we get to the basket, I think we got there a lot, but we just didn’t finish and we have to finish better. Tonight was more about our offense than anything else.”
How do you react to a shorter point guard like Virginia Tech’s playing in the high post?
“That happens sometimes, but we don’t mind that because he’s not going to score in there. Our defense wasn’t the problem tonight. We have to be able to score if we want to win.”
Was their passing in the lane a problem tonight considering their assist total?
“They’re a good passing team. All of their guys are smaller. Teams are going to move the ball and we did a better job, and then we had a couple breakdowns. We just aren’t consistent with what we’re doing. We did a good job for quite a bit, but then we didn’t. That’s how you lose these games. It’s a tough league with good teams. We had two opportunities to win games and we couldn’t get it done.”
With Virginia Tech’s ball-pressure defense, how do you get Buddy (Boeheim) and Joe (Girard III) more opportunities?
“It’s tough. Joe did a good job in the first half and Buddy got to the free-throw line and he missed. Those are shots that he has to make and he just didn’t make them.”
Do you feel that Virginia Tech’s defensive style slowed the offense?
“They’re physical and they just took us out of everything. They’re a physical team and we’re going to see that again on Saturday against Virginia and you have to be able to handle it. We just didn’t handle it well. It was different against Notre Dame because they’re not physical. But we’re going to see a few teams that are physical and we have to move a little better and finish a little better around the basket. Marek (Dolezaj) and Elijah (Hughes) missed some opportunities around the basket. Joe (Girard III) got there, but he was just a little off balance and didn’t finish and we have to do that. We have to finish better.”
Have you been pleased with the way that the players have responded in games and during practices throughout this stretch?
“They’re trying. They’re doing everything they can to win and they want to win. I think we did a little bit too much with the ball tonight. But you have to against a pressure team. We’re not really good against those types of defenses and that showed tonight. But they’re trying and they’re doing the things that they have to do. We just have to get better.”
