University of Tennessee Athletics
Tennessee vs. Syracuse Postgame Quotes
January 19, 2002 | Men's Basketball
Jan. 19, 2002
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Tennessee Head Coach Buzz Peterson
"It's about time. We drilled time after time in practice about how the second half could end up, and tonight we had a tremendous effort.
"After Ron Slay got hurt, we had to fight through for everything we got. I told the freshmen they would have to step up. Elgrace got a big board for us when we needed it.
"Our guard play was the best it's been all season, a credit to Higgins and Grindstaff. Jenis hit some big shots in the first half and had the big rebound at the end of the game.
"I believed all along that we could be a good ball club. I told the team we need to build on this and get some victories on our side of the ledger.
"Slay's situation doesn't look good. It looks like a possible tear of the ACL. We'll know more Monday. Regardless, the freshmen are going to have to do a lot more for us.
"Yarbrough is a little bit down on his performance. He is happy for the team. He is a competitor and will compete Monday night.
"We had some fouls to waste at the end, but we didn't want the sixth foul. Williams made a very nice play for Syracuse. Thaydeus got caught up in a bad situation.
Syracuse Head Coach Jim Boeheim
"We were slow out of the gate and they took advantage. We didn't shoot the ball well and weren't active on defense. In the second half, we were active and got the lead. Our three best players had wide open looks and couldn't knock them down.
"Sixty-two points is not enough on the road. I was shocked we would even been in the game. Tennessee has played hard every game and I thought they hadn't given anything up. They struggled for the first time in the second half and the offensive rebounds were the key.
"Our defense got us back in the game, but we have to make the shots. We had every opportunity. We had it where we wanted it. It's tough to come back from 17 down. We haven't been shooting it real well the last three games. That will catch up with you. We were a little more active defensively in the second half. We covered their shooters better, but we didn't rebound. We still could have overcome that.
"Three guys have been scoring for us all year and there are no points anywhere else. We have to make the shots when we have good looks.
