Syracuse Player Quotes - Georgia Tech
Syracuse Men’s Basketball
Syracuse vs. Georgia Tech
February 22, 2020
Carrier Dome, Syracuse, N.Y.
Marek Dolezaj, Jr., F
What can you say about that fast-break layup that you had?
“I think someone got the rebound. I just ran and Joe (Girard III) threw a great pass and that did it all. It got into my hands and I really don’t know how I scored, but it was a really great pass from Joe and I just finished it.”
How did the defense create opportunities in transition for the offense?
“I think it helped a lot. We got some stops and got some rebounds. We got some open looks for Buddy (Boeheim) and he got easy baskets and easy threes and we got down the court.”
What did you guys do better defensively in the second half?
“I think we did a decent job on the three-point line. I think that in the first half, their right wing scored 15. We didn’t do a good job with him, but the second half he didn’t score, we slowed him up, he had some turnovers in the beginning and that was the game.”
Elijah Hughes, R-Jr., F
Are you thinking about what’s going to happen regarding postseason tournaments?
“We are just taking one game at a time. That’s the mindset and we can only control one game at a time and we are just focusing on playing hard every possession.”
How important was that 7-0 run at the start of the second half to set the tone?
“It was big time. Joe (Girard III) started it for us. He made some huge shots and he got going, I got going a little bit and that opens the play up for us which was huge.”
What does it say about this team coming back from being down double digits?
“We are just really resilient. We were down double digits, but we showed a lot of heart out there, a lot of pride, and doing what we have to do. Joe (Girard III) got going, and that was big for us. When he gets going, he gets the team going. I told him to be aggressive in the second half and that’s when he got going. Seeing Bourama (Sidibe) get going always has a special place in my heart. He’s been my roommate for the past three years and he’s been through a lot with his injuries. So, him going in there, being aggressive and trying to get every offensive rebound, defensive rebound and defensive stop, that’s just great. He can really help us, and you started to see that a little bit. We can see it in practice, but when he gets going, it’s going to be huge for us.”
Buddy Boeheim, So., G
What was the difference offensively between the first and second half?
“Just more movement. I thought that early on, we let their pressure get to us a little, trying to force tough shots. The space wasn’t there, we were crowded in the paint and there wasn’t a lot going there. But it was good movement and we were knocking down tough shots and Bourama (Sidibe) was really active. He was the biggest difference offensively and defensively, finishing around the rim. Giving it to Marek (Dolezaj), and letting him operate, we just played really well together and we were having fun out there.”
Coach said that having Marek (Dolezaj) and Bourama (Sidibe) may have been the difference of being 0-4 the last four games. Would you agree with that?
“I mean he definitely can make a case for it; they were tough games. They definitely make a huge difference. I think there were a couple of games, the close ones, having Marek, he’s a veteran guy and a smart player. He is shooting really well from the line and we can trust him to knock down those free throws. They helped us out a lot tonight.”
Being down 11 at the first half, what does it say about this team?
“There’s a lot of fight. We felt like we could have won the past three out of five. We’re just fighting every play, we still have four games left and we’re taking it day by day, one game at a time. We’re not going to stop; we’ve made it this far. Having the fans out there today, they’ve been there for us. It felt good playing back in the Dome and having fun out there. We have four more games left and we’ll see what we can do.”
Joseph Girard III, Fr., G
What was the difference in offense in the second half?
“I think we just made more shots, obviously, but we were helping each other. We had a lot of guys that would be in the paint that needed to score to get out and took those shots. We were just helping each other out a lot. There were a lot more easier shots for us.”
You guys got on that 7-0 run in the second half, what was feeling different for you?
“I mean we were down 11, not that we were really under pressure but it was a crucial time. You know when you come out in the second half and you’re losing, usually those first four or few minutes are crucial. We knew that and we had the sense of urgency of succeeding in what we were trying to do.”
How big was that run going out for the rest of the game?
“It helped a lot, it got us back in the game obviously. We were never really out of it, but it also just proves we’re never really out of a game. Those guys, they have won five of their last seven games, I believe, and they have a lot of veterans on the team. We came back from 11 points at half and kind of controlled the whole second half.”
Syracuse vs. Georgia Tech
February 22, 2020
Carrier Dome, Syracuse, N.Y.
Marek Dolezaj, Jr., F
What can you say about that fast-break layup that you had?
“I think someone got the rebound. I just ran and Joe (Girard III) threw a great pass and that did it all. It got into my hands and I really don’t know how I scored, but it was a really great pass from Joe and I just finished it.”
How did the defense create opportunities in transition for the offense?
“I think it helped a lot. We got some stops and got some rebounds. We got some open looks for Buddy (Boeheim) and he got easy baskets and easy threes and we got down the court.”
What did you guys do better defensively in the second half?
“I think we did a decent job on the three-point line. I think that in the first half, their right wing scored 15. We didn’t do a good job with him, but the second half he didn’t score, we slowed him up, he had some turnovers in the beginning and that was the game.”
Elijah Hughes, R-Jr., F
Are you thinking about what’s going to happen regarding postseason tournaments?
“We are just taking one game at a time. That’s the mindset and we can only control one game at a time and we are just focusing on playing hard every possession.”
How important was that 7-0 run at the start of the second half to set the tone?
“It was big time. Joe (Girard III) started it for us. He made some huge shots and he got going, I got going a little bit and that opens the play up for us which was huge.”
What does it say about this team coming back from being down double digits?
“We are just really resilient. We were down double digits, but we showed a lot of heart out there, a lot of pride, and doing what we have to do. Joe (Girard III) got going, and that was big for us. When he gets going, he gets the team going. I told him to be aggressive in the second half and that’s when he got going. Seeing Bourama (Sidibe) get going always has a special place in my heart. He’s been my roommate for the past three years and he’s been through a lot with his injuries. So, him going in there, being aggressive and trying to get every offensive rebound, defensive rebound and defensive stop, that’s just great. He can really help us, and you started to see that a little bit. We can see it in practice, but when he gets going, it’s going to be huge for us.”
Buddy Boeheim, So., G
What was the difference offensively between the first and second half?
“Just more movement. I thought that early on, we let their pressure get to us a little, trying to force tough shots. The space wasn’t there, we were crowded in the paint and there wasn’t a lot going there. But it was good movement and we were knocking down tough shots and Bourama (Sidibe) was really active. He was the biggest difference offensively and defensively, finishing around the rim. Giving it to Marek (Dolezaj), and letting him operate, we just played really well together and we were having fun out there.”
Coach said that having Marek (Dolezaj) and Bourama (Sidibe) may have been the difference of being 0-4 the last four games. Would you agree with that?
“I mean he definitely can make a case for it; they were tough games. They definitely make a huge difference. I think there were a couple of games, the close ones, having Marek, he’s a veteran guy and a smart player. He is shooting really well from the line and we can trust him to knock down those free throws. They helped us out a lot tonight.”
Being down 11 at the first half, what does it say about this team?
“There’s a lot of fight. We felt like we could have won the past three out of five. We’re just fighting every play, we still have four games left and we’re taking it day by day, one game at a time. We’re not going to stop; we’ve made it this far. Having the fans out there today, they’ve been there for us. It felt good playing back in the Dome and having fun out there. We have four more games left and we’ll see what we can do.”
Joseph Girard III, Fr., G
What was the difference in offense in the second half?
“I think we just made more shots, obviously, but we were helping each other. We had a lot of guys that would be in the paint that needed to score to get out and took those shots. We were just helping each other out a lot. There were a lot more easier shots for us.”
You guys got on that 7-0 run in the second half, what was feeling different for you?
“I mean we were down 11, not that we were really under pressure but it was a crucial time. You know when you come out in the second half and you’re losing, usually those first four or few minutes are crucial. We knew that and we had the sense of urgency of succeeding in what we were trying to do.”
How big was that run going out for the rest of the game?
“It helped a lot, it got us back in the game obviously. We were never really out of it, but it also just proves we’re never really out of a game. Those guys, they have won five of their last seven games, I believe, and they have a lot of veterans on the team. We came back from 11 points at half and kind of controlled the whole second half.”
