LOUIVILLE, Kentucky – Despite leading most of the second half, Louisville’s men’s basketball eventually fell behind Syracuse, failing to give up a 70-69 decision to win the ACC game .
Here’s what head coach Kenny Payne, guard El Ellis and forward Mike James had to say following the loss.
head coach kenny payne
(Opening statement)
“First off, I thought Syracuse was a very good team. A big man slipped us off and dunked in a few rounds.Good team.It was more than a win for them than it was for us.There was a forced transfer. I was short on hitting someone first to get a rebound in a crucial phase, so I don’t know how you’re going to win the game, you have 21 turnovers and 21 How come it’s a 1 point game when there was a 25 point difference from the turnover of 1. It shows that we gave it. I really feel sorry for my team because they deserved to win.They’re getting better.They’re fighting.They’re trying.But at the end of the day nobody’s going to give it to you. No. We have to take it.We have to change our perception of who you are and what you are.You have to be realistic and we you gotta look at yourself and see what people are saying about Louisville…then you gotta go and change if that means you get a technical foul for punching someone in the face Then they should get a technical foul for hitting them in the face, and we’re not going to accept people flipping the ball around and looking at us and thinking they’re soft enough to rebound offensively. .
(Regarding the last play and competition)
“It’s hard to say or tell because there was so much going on. I don’t know if the referee thought he saw something or if he actually saw something. The staff said it was a foul. I haven’t actually seen the tape yet.I thought I was lucky enough to get a steal.I thought it was my chance to prolong the match.But it wasn’t. is what it is.
(About UofL path improvement)
“I liked the 17 assists, but I didn’t like the 21 passing the ball. Was it 15? But there are moments when we’re kind of floating, mentally, we’re floating, we’re going to dribble up, I know I have to pass, but Instead of forging a pass, I telegraph it and they get it from me, but again, we’re getting better at taking care of the ball.
(In Kamar Lands starting instead of Jae’Lyn Withers)
“The reason we did it was to give Jae’Lyn a different look. Jae’Lyn is a major piece of this puzzle, I just need him to play well, and be able to see himself the way I want him to look, or the way I see him. And you have to sit back and watch it. I thought he was better today, but we still have a long way to go.”
(Mike James had his best game of the season. He was more aggressive. Did you tell him to attack more?)
“I want Mike James to trust himself. I want Mike James to be an aggressor—a confident, aggressive player. didn’t know the timing of his passes and sometimes turned over.They were interim plays – I don’t like it.Mike is getting better and this is great for Mike.Mike He probably never handled the ball as much as he does now and that’s part of his development, he probably never shot as many jump shots as he does now, it’s part of his development. loves that kid and loves him as a player, I want more, I’m proud of the way he hustle and fight and he did a lot of good things tonight. But we lost by one point.How many mistakes did each player make throughout the course of the game that could have impacted their victory?”
(There was a stretch in the first half where they scored 13 in a row. Syracuse called a timeout and scored 12 in a row. That shows where you guys are.
“I think of it this way. We’re doing some good things, but we’re the attackers and we’re running away. They call time-out, they get together, come out, Hunt us down and we get tentative How many turnovers did that stretch have? We have to make sure he delivers the pass. I have to check, I have to check… turnover. you just have to play. You have to trust yourself, you have to trust your instincts. I’m giving you a game plan, I’m telling you every pass you make, I want you to fake a pass and make a pass. I don’t want you to telegraph what you’re doing because
Guard El Ellis and forward Mike James
(About the last play where SU flipped, it looked like someone flipped it out of you during the last sequence)
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Elle Ellis: Yeah, the moment I tried to hit Mike James’ wing he grabbed my arm and I went down. But I wasn’t going to see and shoot three people, and if the referee didn’t call, he didn’t call and I didn’t give anything.”
The guy behind you, (Jesse) Edwards, the big guy grabbed your arm?
El Ellis “Yeah”
(Regarding the success of the zone in Syracuse tonight. What did you see out there and what was the game plan for it? Do you think this team delivered on it?)
Mike James: “The game plan was to put the ball in the middle. He told us to shoot the ball with confidence, good passing from midfield, good decision making, aggressive and I feel like we hit the ball very well. In their zone, that’s what you really have to do.”
(About the recent struggles and having this right there, the chances of getting it and the chances of not getting it, how does it sit)
El Ellis: “It’s just frustrating. We’ve lost most games this season by one point, but it’s not on the last play or the play before that, it’s on the start of the game. Offensive rebounds, fouls. Ring.We are a young team.I feel like everyone can see that.We will keep fighting.ACC play,we have another match on Saturday and we will be ready for that match.”
(on Mike James’ outing and hooking up from the deep in his most productive game ever)
Mike James: “I knew I had an opportunity to shoot the ball and open a 3 in their zone, so I came into the game mentally prepared. When the ball hit my hand, I was ready to shoot.” I’ve had a few plays that brought me more energy on the court and that translated into a transition bucket for me.Keep that up with ACC plays and try to do this every game only.”
(Was Kamari[Rando]in the starting line-up today and the lineup was faster, more mobile and had better flow?)
Mike James: “As a team, I think we played better. We had more continuity and I think we moved the ball really well as a team. I don’t think the line-up change had any impact. Jae’Lyn. I think he did the same when (Withers) came in. He was aggressive and scored a few points in the middle of the zone and moved the ball well. I think we did well.”
(In a game you lost by one point and had 21 turnovers. How frustrating is that stat sheet?)
El Ellis: “Very frustrating because they took most of the turnovers we had. We just made a mental mistake. Most of the time, we need to do better.”
(Photo by JJ Trainor, Kenny Payne: Jamie Rhodes – USA TODAY Sports
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