ATLANTIC COAST CONFERENCE MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

March 10, 2021

Buddy Boeheim

Syracuse Orange

Postgame Press Conference

Syracuse 89, NC State 68

Q. Buddy, today felt like one of the best offensive performances you guys have had as a team all year. What do you think set that up? How much of it was just you guys playing well? How much of it's -- obviously you guys finished the regular season strong. Do you think you figured stuff out? What do you think factored into you guys playing so well in such an important game?

BUDDY BOEHEIM: I think first off, just playing them twice already. We knew they were going to play the two big guys. We were going to be able to set screenaways, they were not going to be able to switch, we were going to hedge hard. We could -- second half we really showed them. Marek just slipping the screen clearing out the side. He had either a dunk one time or swinging to the opposite side. They helped.

I think just playing them twice, we used to our benefit, and we knew where we were going to get good looks, this and that. We've also grown as a team offensively just getting better. Every game it's someone else coming in, and I think just two great halves of offense.

I feel like I was going early in the first half and guys were looking for me. In the second half, everyone was going, and it's just a lot of fun when you know someone is going to make a play, doesn't matter who it is. And we all trust each other and just having a lot of fun out there making shots, setting screens, getting guys open.

Q. I'm curious if this is the first time you've actually had fans here and it seemed like you guys really reacted to some of the crowd reaction. What did you think about the fans being here and how did that affect the way you guys played?

BUDDY BOEHEIM: (Indiscernible) all year waiting for fans and having some of our guys, some of our managers up there, and a friend from home I got to have come to the game. And it was just so fun having them there, and we knew that they were watching, cheering for us. Just a great group of guys, and our fans are the best. Whenever you can get Syracuse in the building, they're going to show out, they're going to show support, and it was a lot of fun having them in there and we really wanted to win for them and just put on a show for them.

Q. I understand you just got done playing a game, but how do you flip the script? Do you still have that bad taste in your mouth of what UVA was able to do as you look forward to tomorrow's game?

BUDDY BOEHEIM: Yeah, definitely. They're a really good team offensively, defensively. They have great shooters, great inside guys, good point guards. We know it's going to be a battle, but we know we've gotten better since that game. And we know what to do against them on defense and offense, and we know it's going to be a battle. But you turn right back around and you get ready for tomorrow.

Personally I like playing a lot of games in a row and just being able to compete every day is a lot of fun. So we're ready to go and we're going to go back, rest, stretch, whatever we need to do, recovery, and be ready to go tomorrow.

Q. I don't know if it's much of a controversy or not that you weren't on any of the all-conference teams because I don't think you were nominated. Were you aware of that, and did it affect you today?

BUDDY BOEHEIM: I didn't know about it. I don't really care. Quincy and Alan had great years for us, and I think they definitely deserve that, and I think if it was anyone, it would definitely be them. I had my struggles early on in the year, and I wasn't satisfied with how my regular season went. I got going at the end, but I expected more out of myself. I felt like I was letting my teammates down in the beginning of the year, had to turn around.

But every day -- I'm motivated every day I wake up, I don't think many people thought I would be here and be playing and contributing, so I mean, just regardless of whatever I'm ranked or coming in, I'm always motivated. And I want to help this team in any way possible. Whatever happens happens. I'm just worried about winning, and Q and Alan definitely deserve that as much as anyone. Proud of them, and we're just going to keep winning and playing games.

Q. The bench, eight guys played 10 minutes or more today. That's more than you guys have played in the postseason in almost 10 years. How much is the bench progression throughout the season helping you guys today, and I don't know who you were saluting there as you were walking out of the gym?

BUDDY BOEHEIM: It was a lot of fun, first of all, just having -- you know your guys are going to come in and make plays. Rob has been tremendous down the stretch for us, not just offensively being a shooter, but he's really good at -- you know, when it goes in the high post, he drops down almost right away and he cuts that pass off. And he got a couple deflections, steals, and you can trust him. You know he's going to make the right play. He's a really smart player. He's grown a lot.

Jesse has gotten a lot better. He's getting stronger. He has a really good feel for the game, really talented. Just a matter of keep working hard and grabbing rebounds and he's going to be really good one day, I think.

Joe was great for us tonight, and Kadary will be ready to go tomorrow. It could be his game, whoever's game. We trust everyone that comes in. And had a couple friends from home here, my friend Nick Aversa (phonetic), he lives up here and I know him pretty well. He went to CBA. And me and Jimmy are really close with him, so it was cool having him at the game.

The managers, like I said, are also here, and just showing fans love for -- I haven't seen an SU fan in a while at a game, so just making sure that we appreciate their support always and just trying to show them love whenever we can.

Q. How much did that week of rest help you guys? It really seemed like you guys all had a lot of energy today. Tell me how that gets you kind of set up for this tournament.

BUDDY BOEHEIM: It was great. It was definitely much needed. We played five games -- three games in five days. And after the Clemson game, we were all just like, man, this break is going to be nice. We need to just reenergize, refuel, because we know that this is going to be as tough of a stretch as we'll have all year.

And just having that week of practice was great. We all got better. The energy was as high as it's been all year, just excited and motivated and ready to go. It definitely showed today. Everyone was active, talking, communicating, and I thought everyone was great, and now it's just about recovery, getting ready for tomorrow. It's going to be another battle.