St. John's University Athletics
St. John's Men's Basketball: Media Day Quotes
10/10/2013 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Oct. 10, 2013
Head Coach Steve Lavin
Opening statement:
"As a team we have a nice balance of size, strength, skill, quickness and depth. After three years of strong recruiting classes we are now in better position to match up with the teams we're going to face in a highly competitive BIG EAST Conference. At St. John's we always set very high goals for ourselves and this year is no exception."Junior guard/forward Sir'Dominic Pointer
On his energetic style of play:
"I'm going to be an energy type of guy for the rest of my life. That's who I am and that's the way I play the game. I play defense and I do the dirty work, the stuff that other players won't do. That's my job on this team and I'm going to bring that to the table every game."
On the new BIG EAST:
"We lost a lot of great teams but we added some great teams too. Butler has gone to the Final Four a couple times, they're a sneaky team. Their coach left but they still have that same Butler mindset so they're going to be tough to beat. Creighton has one of the best scorers in the country in Doug McDermott, Xavier went to the NCAA Tournament last year so this is a great conference that's building."
Junior guard D'Angelo Harrison
On his expectations for this year's team:
"I think the team that we have now, every position has two or three players at that spot. Practices have been unbelievable and the scrimmages have been productive and they're always a close game. Max Hooper doesn't miss, Phil Greene IV has been playing really well so as a team we're expecting a lot out of ourselves."
On the new teams joining the BIG EAST this season:
"I watched Creighton and Xavier a lot last season and they're going to fit right in. It's definitely going to be different after playing Syracuse and Cincinnati the past couple of years but it's still going to be a great league. Doug McDermott is going to be the MVP of the league, he's a great player."
Sophomore forward/center Chris Obekpa
On his offensive game:
"I've worked a lot on posting up, the jump hook and the up-and-under. Coach Lavin told me to work on one go-to move in the post and I think I've made progress."
On being the top shot blocker in the country:
"It's very important to me. I try to be the best at what I do and that's blocking shots. I'm so blessed that God gave me this gift."
Sophomore guard Max Hooper
On when he realized that playing Division I basketball was a possibility:
"I first started playing basketball when I was four years old. Playing Division I basketball was always a goal of mine."
On why he transferred to St. John's:
"I decided to transfer because I felt Harvard was not a good fit for me personally. I didn't like being there on a day-to-day basis and I didn't like the basketball program. There were a lot of factors on why I decided to come here, mainly because of the chance to play for Steve Lavin and a storied program like St. John's in a high-major conference like the BIG EAST. Also I have the chance to play in the Garden attracted me."
On how he worked on improving his shot in the offseason:
"I'm always working on my shot since that is my golden ticket. My game is predicated on making shots. I`m always in the gym putting up shots and working on different types of shots. That's just part of my daily routine."
Junior guard Jamal Branch
On what Coach Whitesell brings to the team:
"He brings a lot of knowledge. He's been coaching for a while so he has seen a lot. He brings a lot to the table."
On the sense of urgency of the program to make the NCAA Tournament this year:
"We are going to take each game one game at a time. We are going to treat each game like it is the National Championship. Guys have bought into our system and jelled together. We like each other and we are really close this year. There is no cancer on the team, not that there was last year. This year everyone is on board with each other. Last year we had a couple of new guys.
On how junior guard D'Angelo Harrison has changed since last year:
"He has changed a lot. He is more in tune this year. He has been doing everything Coach has been telling his to do and has been looking good so far."
Sophomore guard David Lipscomb
On who the toughest opponent is in the BIG EAST:
"To say just one is hard to do because everybody is going to try and win first place. It's a new conference and it's a new season. You can't really pick one and say they are going to be the toughest because there could be a night that someone has an off night. That's just part of the season. Everybody is going to be a challenge since everybody is going to be excited for the new conference."
On which St. John's player is going to take the next step this season:
"A healthy Phil Greene is going to do damage. He's coming back from hip surgery and he has improved. He was already a solid player last year and with his growth he is going to be a different type of player."
Junior guard Phil Greene
On what makes this year different from the two previous years:
"We're wiser, older, and have more experience on the court. We have been together. This team is like a family. When you believe in one another like how we do, you can just feel it."
On what freshman guard Rysheed Jordan has learned from the upperclassmen:
"He picks up things very quickly. We just teach him the ropes. He picks up things easily so it will be an easy transition."
On what he has worked on in the offseason:
"My shot, toughness and defense. I'm just trying to go out there and give 100% because that is what Coach wants."
Senior forward God'sgift Achiuwa
On what he can contribute to the team:
"The first thing that I can do for the team is lead by example. I don't have to be the best player or do everything. I just have to do my role."
On representing Nigeria:
"I am definitely going to represent Nigeria well."
Junior forward Khadim Ndiaye
On what he worked on over the summer:
"I worked on my handles and my defense. Those were the main things on my list."
Sophomore forward Christian Jones
On his role on the team:
"My role is whatever coach wants me to do. I'm going to do it because he has the best intention to make us better so I'm going to do that to the fullest. My role last year was just bringing energy and playing defense."
On what he worked on over the summer:
"Shooting and I'm trying to become a more vocal leader."
On who on the team is going to surprise this year:
"Everybody will. It could be different games. It's not going to be just one person. We are going to surprise everyone as a team."
On what he is excited about in the new BIG EAST:
"The new competition. They are all good. I wanted Creighton a little big because of McDermott."
Sophomore forward JaKarr Sampson:
On what he expects from Rysheed Jordan this season:
"At the guard position, it's hard to come in and get a lot of minutes like how he is going to get. We're just bringing him along slowly and getting him used to our offense. As a point guard, you are a coach on the floor so you have to know what coach wants to do. We're practicing slower and breaking things down for him. He's going to be a very special role and he is going to have an important role. He's a guard who can rebound and he can run the break well."
On whether or not this team has changed from last year with Rysheed Jordan:
"I wouldn't say changed. Whenever you get a good player like that who can rebound, just helps your team period.
On the depth of the team:
"Practice is crazy right now because of the depth. Competition is good right and that's good for us since it makes us better. We have a lot of good players on the team. Playing against them everyday makes us better."
Senior guard/forward Marco-Antoine Bourgault
On going back to France during the team's trip to Europe:
"It was great. I was excited to go home and see my family and friends. We took the team around and overall it was just a great experience because it was the first time I played with my team in front of my family since I came to America."
On practices and scrimmages so far this season:
"They have been great. We can see all the work we have put in throughout the summer and in Europe is finally paying off. The chemistry is great and I think we are going to be good."
On working with Max Hooper as a 3 point tandem:
"We are here to spread out defenses. We have some many athletes and good players on this team that can make a play but we want to make defenses adjust. That's where we come in to spread the floor and help our teammates to make their jobs easier."
On having Orlando Sanchez back:
"Definitely, we have been together for almost four years now dating back to junior college. We know each other very good on and off the court."
On playing with Orlando Sanchez at Monroe Junior College:
"It was fun, very fun. We can find each other on the court very easily. He played in Europe a lot so he has that Europe mentality when playing. It was helpful and he was fun to play with. I look forward to playing with him this season."
