St. John's University Athletics
POSTGAME QUOTES: St. John's vs. Saint Peter's
St. John’s Head Coach Joe Tartamella and Junior forward Rayven Peeples spoke with the media following Tuesday’s 85-47 win over Saint Peter’s to improve to 2-0 on the season.
St. John’s Head Coach Joe Tartamella
Opening statement…
“I felt we played better than the other day which is the most important part. I think being able to do the things you are supposed to do against teams that you feel you match up well against, I thought that we did that today. I though we got great contributions from some of the newcomers today which was important. We got to see a little bit of what Rayven Peeples can do, and even Fapou [Semebene], but I thought we were paced really well. I thought Unique [Drake] played well today, Kadaja Bailey gives us a lot of energy, so I was pleased with that. We also had a program record in blocks with 16. There was a lot to work on and we need to get better at, but I was pleased with most of our play today.”
On Rayven Peeple’s and Raven Farley’s first two games…
“I think with our play inside, we felt that when we recruited Rayven Peeples she would really help us and can really score the ball inside. I was pleased with the way she was able to play today inside, and in the first game she probably didn’t have enough time to go and do the things that she did today in that game. Raven Farley obviously showed what she was capable of and I think she has been a lot more consistent for us in the way that she has approached the game this year and in how she has worked. If we can get that and they start to be able to mesh well together, which is what we hope, it is probably one of the better post groups as a whole that I have had where we have multiple players that can score with their back-to-the basket. We have had some pretty good ones in the past, so it is not to downplay them, but I think they have done well.”
On what he has learned about his team through two games…
“I think depth comes into play. We have a number of players that we can probably go to more. I think a lot of my former players are probably wondering why I have played so many players already from what I have heard. I think we have some more depth and it gives us the ability to show different lineups that we haven’t in the past. We can adapt a little bit quicker, but we have a lot of things we need to sure up heading into BIG EAST play, and we have a couple of days to get things right. I like our ability to rebound the ball more than we did last year, I think that is one of the biggest differences. We shot it better today from three, I was very pleased that we didn’t rush our shots coming down the floor against the press and shot over 50 percent from three which is important. So, again, I think those pieces are big for us and again when we have four or five players that can score in double-figures at any moment, that helps and it has been a key for us over the years and part of our success. Again, we have got to clean up some areas and improve as well.”
Junior forward Rayven Peeples
On attacking Saint Peter’s zone defense…
“It makes me know that I am going to be more dominant in the game. When we play smaller teams like this, we have a lot of shooters on our team, so when we play teams like this and I bring the defense in by posting up and scoring and getting rebounds it opens up the floor a lot more.”
On her confidence in the team’s depth…
“It gives me a lot of confidence because I know that if I were to get doubled inside or if everybody started to play on our post more, we have options everywhere to kick it out and options for our guards to go off and score.”
On the transition from junior college to St. John’s…
“It has been a big transition. It has been a great transition also though. It was pretty hard when I first got here coming from a junior college and going to a high-level Division-1 school because the level of intensity is very different. But as the season has gone on and I have been practicing and getting back in shape and getting used to the D1 level of intensity it’s been getting better.”
Opening statement…
“I felt we played better than the other day which is the most important part. I think being able to do the things you are supposed to do against teams that you feel you match up well against, I thought that we did that today. I though we got great contributions from some of the newcomers today which was important. We got to see a little bit of what Rayven Peeples can do, and even Fapou [Semebene], but I thought we were paced really well. I thought Unique [Drake] played well today, Kadaja Bailey gives us a lot of energy, so I was pleased with that. We also had a program record in blocks with 16. There was a lot to work on and we need to get better at, but I was pleased with most of our play today.”
On Rayven Peeple’s and Raven Farley’s first two games…
“I think with our play inside, we felt that when we recruited Rayven Peeples she would really help us and can really score the ball inside. I was pleased with the way she was able to play today inside, and in the first game she probably didn’t have enough time to go and do the things that she did today in that game. Raven Farley obviously showed what she was capable of and I think she has been a lot more consistent for us in the way that she has approached the game this year and in how she has worked. If we can get that and they start to be able to mesh well together, which is what we hope, it is probably one of the better post groups as a whole that I have had where we have multiple players that can score with their back-to-the basket. We have had some pretty good ones in the past, so it is not to downplay them, but I think they have done well.”
On what he has learned about his team through two games…
“I think depth comes into play. We have a number of players that we can probably go to more. I think a lot of my former players are probably wondering why I have played so many players already from what I have heard. I think we have some more depth and it gives us the ability to show different lineups that we haven’t in the past. We can adapt a little bit quicker, but we have a lot of things we need to sure up heading into BIG EAST play, and we have a couple of days to get things right. I like our ability to rebound the ball more than we did last year, I think that is one of the biggest differences. We shot it better today from three, I was very pleased that we didn’t rush our shots coming down the floor against the press and shot over 50 percent from three which is important. So, again, I think those pieces are big for us and again when we have four or five players that can score in double-figures at any moment, that helps and it has been a key for us over the years and part of our success. Again, we have got to clean up some areas and improve as well.”
Junior forward Rayven Peeples
On attacking Saint Peter’s zone defense…
“It makes me know that I am going to be more dominant in the game. When we play smaller teams like this, we have a lot of shooters on our team, so when we play teams like this and I bring the defense in by posting up and scoring and getting rebounds it opens up the floor a lot more.”
On her confidence in the team’s depth…
“It gives me a lot of confidence because I know that if I were to get doubled inside or if everybody started to play on our post more, we have options everywhere to kick it out and options for our guards to go off and score.”
On the transition from junior college to St. John’s…
“It has been a big transition. It has been a great transition also though. It was pretty hard when I first got here coming from a junior college and going to a high-level Division-1 school because the level of intensity is very different. But as the season has gone on and I have been practicing and getting back in shape and getting used to the D1 level of intensity it’s been getting better.”