Naheem McLeod Canisius Postgame
Syracuse basketball's starting center discusses win over Canisius.
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00:00 I got a few, so just trying to give my team more defense.
00:04 It's gonna help me out.
00:06 >> What have you seen in your rebounding ability over these last two games?
00:09 It seems like you're finding a lot more comfortability on the floor.
00:12 >> Just watching my teammates shoot, just finding out where the ball coming off at
00:17 and just trying to be in the right position at the right time.
00:20 >> Coach had mentioned the guys you want up against tonight are kind of more of
00:24 the guys that you'll see as the season progresses, especially in conference play.
00:27 I mean, just what do you take away from a night like this, knowing that you're
00:30 going up against big guys and something that is gonna become more frequent?
00:35 >> It was actually a good technique.
00:40 The first play of the game, I went for the rebound, but I got hit by number 23.
00:46 And I'm like, yo.
00:46 >> [LAUGH] >> But just, I got a crash harder than
00:50 I noticed that he wasn't really trying to box me out.
00:53 He was intentionally trying to hit me, so I was trying to get in the right position.
00:56 >> [INAUDIBLE]
01:06 >> Try to use my length,
01:11 coach would say just play vertical and try to make them score over you.
01:15 Don't let them go through you, so just try to use my length to help out with my
01:19 losses, my max.
01:21 >> And the offense in the last six or three rounds today,
01:24 what were you having special success with there?
01:26 And what do you wanna have more success with on the defense next time?
01:30 >> Just trying to get to the middle of the run or
01:31 just in the right position whenever my teammates need the ball.
01:35 >> You guys got a couple of days off now, you're gonna play Colgate next Tuesday.
01:38 Just what are you looking forward to improving the most over the next
01:42 couple of days before you guys go to Florida?
01:44 >> Just continuing to play with these guys, learning how to feed off these guys and
01:49 then just beating them whenever they want.
01:52 >> And then you defensively, is the toughest part of the game for you when
01:56 the other team pulls your man far from the basket and
01:59 tries to get you to have to come out on the counter?
02:02 And how do you handle that?
02:04 >> Not really, I had to switch all last year, so it wasn't really big for me.
02:08 I feel like me trying to have my teammates back and just lead my man and
02:13 just go to the paint and help him out is really the biggest difference.
02:16 >> How about in the transition game, you do a great job running the floor.
02:19 Most guys your size, that's not something you see a lot.
02:23 What have you really seen in that part of your game so far?
02:25 >> Well, I know a lot of teams don't like to get back on defense, so
02:30 I just try to use my legs and how long they are and just drive down the court.
02:35 >> Two steps and you're there, right?
02:36 >> You're good.
02:36 >> [LAUGH]