ATLANTIC COAST CONFERENCE BASKETBALL TIPOFF MEDIA DAY

October 25, 2023

Adrian Autry

Judah Mintz

J.J. Starling

Syracuse Orange

Men's Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: We have Autry for Syracuse.

Q. Looking into the season just what you can say about -- obviously you've been a part of this program as a player, been a part as an associate coach, going through the last several months, what's the most exciting part of the rampup that we're about to see?

ADRIAN AUTRY: I think the process of getting our team together and then us coming together, working every day to get prepared and that's been exciting and fun. And seeing those guys, seeing them grow as players and then grow as a team, getting better at things as we go along.

Q. Having been a Syracuse alum or being a Syracuse alum knowing that Syracuse has been led by an alum since 1975, comment on how cool that is.

ADRIAN AUTRY: I think it's unbelievably cool. I think it speaks to our family atmosphere at Syracuse. That word is just thrown around a lot, and I think being put into action, as you can see through the last 50-plus years, and we continue to do that. I think it's unique and distinct situation.

Q. We've obviously, under Jim Boeheim, seen certain things that he kept with. How is this team evolving under you offensively and defensively to what we may expect this season?

ADRIAN AUTRY: I get where you're going. I think when you watch us play this year, I think you'll see a difference on both sides of the ball. I think defensively, obviously, the main question is the zone. Will we play zone? Yeah, but is that our primary defense? No. It will not be going forward.

We'll play different types of defenses, and offensively I think you'll see we're very fortunate to have dynamic guards, two or three on the court at the same time, all can dribble, pass, and shoot.

I think you'll see a lot more pace. A lot more spacing, things of that nature.

Q. Being back in central New York, just the importance of this move for you and the opportunity to come back to the place where it all started for you?

J.J. STARLING: It's an amazing opportunity for me. To be able to play under a great coach, play with a great group of guys and have the opportunity of winning.

And I'm big on family, so being able to play in front of my family, my friends, have that support is amazing for me.

Q. When you think about your teammate right here in Judah, knowing that last year he was all-ACC honorable mention, what does Judah need to do to make sure he gets out of honorable mention into the first or second team?

J.J. STARLING: I don't think he needs to do much. Just being the great player that he is. He's a great leader. Obviously a great asset for our team. If he just keep being himself, being the leader that he is, he's going to get right out of that honorable mention.

Q. Looking at what Adrian said about how this team is evolving and what's to come, what was the message that he had for you when you're in the transfer portal looking at the opportunity of coming to Syracuse, what was that message and why did you say yes?

J.J. STARLING: His message was clear-cut and concise: Just be ready to work. Be ready to bring it on a daily basis. We have a great group of guys that's going to compete every day. Just be able to show up and give 100 10 percent effort on a daily basis.

Q. How much Syracuse basketball did you watch growing up knowing that you only grew up 14 miles from the campus?

J.J. STARLING: A decent amount. I was also able to go to a few games, experience the dome atmosphere. It was great. Now finally I have the opportunity to play in that atmosphere. So that's big for me.

Q. You looked at the opportunity to go to the NBA, gather some information. What did you gather from scouts? What did they say about your game? Why did you come back to improve on those things?

JUDAH MINTZ: Really I would say they just told me I had to be more efficient player, be a better leader. That's what I've been working on all summer. That's what I plan on doing this year.

Q. We talk about culture a lot in sport. How difficult is it to maintain culture when you have a new head coach, when you've got all these new transfers coming in, how is it you set culture early in the season?

JUDAH MINTZ: I wouldn't say it's that difficult. But at the same time, I feel like it's a new culture. We have a new head coach, but we have a similar staff. So all the players we had last year, we're real comfortable.

I came in with five other freshmen. We all came back and we had the same leadership. Just a new head of the snake.

Q. You said the new head of the snake. Looking at the leadership of Jim Boeheim and leadership of Adrian Autry how do they compare, similar or different?

JUDAH MINTZ: I think they're similar. They both hate to lose. They are both real competitive people. But at the end of the day they're two different people, two different personalities. Just the way we interact with the coaches.

Obviously he's a younger coach than Coach Boeheim was, but he takes things from Boeheim that I see, but he also puts his own spin on it.

Q. Could you elaborate what he takes?

JUDAH MINTZ: Just the way he tells us to pay attention to detail. Whether you're in a zone or a man, you still have to be paying attention to detail and be locked in on each side of the ball.

Q. A lot of people know about your creativity offensively. But I think your defense was something that really impressed people late last season. How much pride do you take on that side of the ball? I'm not asking you about zone this year or anything like that, but how much pride do you take in that as you look forward to this season?

JUDAH MINTZ: I won't say that I love defense more than I love scoring or making plays, but it's definitely up there. I take a lot of pride in it. I've taken pride in it since I was little just playing against guys in the park, playing against other guys that were supposed to be better than me.

Defense is everything. You're not going to win a game without getting stops. So I'm ready to prove it this year, what I can do.