St. John's University Athletics
St. John's Basketball: Media Day 2014
10/18/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Oct. 17, 2014
Head Coach
Opening statement:
"I'm looking forward to tonight's Tip-Off festivities and I'm eager for the start of our season. I've been pleased with the development of our team. It's a group that has a great attitude and a strong work ethic. There is a cohesiveness that is impressive and I think that the overall character of this group is one of our strengths."
On the seniors:
"This is a group that cares about one another and is determined to finish their careers on a high note. When you see the work they have done in the classroom to graduate a semester early even with the rigors of being a student-athlete, the level of their focus and determination becomes clear. This team, similar to the first group that I coached, wants to have a successful season."
On the newcomers:
"We have bolstered our roster and addressed our areas of need in terms of size and strength. Adonis and Joey Delarosa bring a physical presence and strength that will be an asset for our team. Keith [Thomas] is an outstanding rebounder and competitor. Amar [Alibegovic] has an exceptional feel for the game and can both playmake and shotmake."
Senior Guard D'Angelo
On his work in the offseason:
"This summer was more about getting faster. I lost some weight to be more explosive and I feel a lot better physically. It's my last year here and I want to go out with a bang. Everybody is in a good place and we're ready to move forward."
On the team this year:
"A lot of these guys can take big shots. I see it in practice every day. I can honestly say that everybody on this team has improved since last year. Everyone's confidence is at a new level, especially the seniors. That's why I feel like we have the opportunity to do something special this year."
Senior Guard Jamal Branch
On his experience with this team:
"I love these guys. They're like my brothers and I know that I made the right decision in coming here. We are mostly upperclassmen and we want to finish strong."
Senior Guard Phil Greene IV
On his improvement this offseason:
"I have improved on finishing around the rim and attacking the basket. I can get to the free throw line more now and have worked on my jumper to knock down more shots."
Senior Guard/Forward Sir'Dominic Pointer
On what has made him a solid defensive player:
"I grew up as a boxer so I've always had quick feet and am ready to go. I'm playing at a better rate now and I'm older, so the game has slowed down a lot for me."
On what the team needs to do to get to the NCAA Tournament:
"The best way to get in is to win the BIG EAST. We can get there if we just work together and play as a team. It's the last year for us seniors, so we want to go out and play hard and make a run."
Senior Forward Khadim Ndiaye
On his expectations:
"I am excited for this year. I want us to get things done, win and make it to the [NCAA] Tournament. We have all worked hard on our game this offseason and I believe we are going to have a good season.
Junior Center/Forward Chris Obekpa
On the addition of the three big men to the team:
"We have bigger bodies this year with Adonis [Delarosa], Joey [Delarosa] and Keith [Thomas]. Last year we were low on rebounds and we needed the size. In practice we are matching up with each other and competing against each other every day."
Junior Guard Felix Balamou
On his contributions to the team:
"I worked out a lot this summer. I just have to stay ready in every situation. My goals are to show how much I've improved and to do whatever I can to help the team."
Redshirt Sophomore Forward Christian Jones
On his redshirt season:
"It gave me a different perspective on how the game looks from the outside. It really helped me focus more on my basketball mentality."
Redshirt Sophomore Guard David Lipscomb
On his mindset:
"I took advantage of my redshirt season to work on my leadership. Our leadership as a team separates us from a lot of other teams. I want to work hard, play smart and learn as much as I can from my teammates to help us win. I just want us to have a successful year because the seniors deserve it."
