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Jim Boeheim, Trevor Cooney and Michael Gbinije took to the microphone following the Syracuse Orange's 83-66 loss to the North Carolina Tar Heels in the Final Four on Saturday. Here's what they had to say about the disappointing finish to what was an otherwise fantastic NCAA Tournament run.
Cooney: It's tough right now, but I'm so proud of these guys
— Syracuse Basketball (@syrbasketball) April 3, 2016
Gbinije: I'm a little crushed right now
— Syracuse Basketball (@syrbasketball) April 3, 2016
"To beat them we would have had to play perfect" - Trevor Cooney
— Rush the Court (@rushthecourt) April 3, 2016
Cooney on 22 points in his last game: "Doesn't matter to me..."
— Matt Schneidman (@matt_schneidman) April 3, 2016
Cooney: I was very fortunate to be part of Syracuse family for five years and this was hell of a run to go out on
— WAER Sports (@WAERSports) April 3, 2016
Cooney: You guys said we shouldn't even be in (NCAA tournament) and I'm super proud of my team
— WAER Sports (@WAERSports) April 3, 2016
Boeheim: I told the players, I'm more proud of this team than any team I've ever coached.
— Syracuse Basketball (@syrbasketball) April 3, 2016
Boeheim: "We had a lot of on-the-court adversity...it would've been very easy to have a horrendous year this year."
— Matt Schneidman (@matt_schneidman) April 3, 2016
Boeheim: I'm gonna be like a football coach now, but I'm gonna have to look at the tapes to figure out how we got here
— Syracuse Basketball (@syrbasketball) April 3, 2016
Boeheim says they didn't play well on offense in any of their NCAA Tournament games.
— Rush the Court (@rushthecourt) April 3, 2016
Boeheim: "It's ironic that we could be here shooting 41 percent from the field in five games."
— Matt Schneidman (@matt_schneidman) April 3, 2016
Boeheim: They have a lot of heart. I give my team a tremendous amount of credit. I'm really not sure how we got here.
— WAER Sports (@WAERSports) April 3, 2016
Boeheim on Cooney: Trevor played unbelievable tongiht. I'd hoped he played like that in some other games this year
— Syracuse Basketball (@syrbasketball) April 3, 2016
Boeheim on Gbinije: He just couldn't make anything tonight ... it was just one of those days
— Syracuse Basketball (@syrbasketball) April 3, 2016
Boeheim: why do you ask me about retiring? Are you going to ask Roy? Why always me...
— WAER Sports (@WAERSports) April 3, 2016
Boeheim: I'm more satisfied than I've been in any other year I've ever coached with the exception of when we won
— Syracuse Basketball (@syrbasketball) April 3, 2016
Boeheim: "I'm happier now at the end of this year than any time I've ever coached and I'm really not that tired."
— Matt Schneidman (@matt_schneidman) April 3, 2016
Boeheim on futility of pressing UNC: If I'm on top of the Empire State building, I don't have to jump to know it hurt
— Syracuse Basketball (@syrbasketball) April 3, 2016
Boeheim on NRG effect on shooters: I watched a little bit of Villanova. It didn't seem to bother them too much
— Syracuse Basketball (@syrbasketball) April 3, 2016
Boeheim: You do shoot better in smaller buildings ... buildings do matter a little bit, but good shooters are gonna make shots
— Syracuse Basketball (@syrbasketball) April 3, 2016
Mike G has made the most improvement of any player I've ever coached -Boeheim
— SUJuice.com (@TheJuiceOnline) April 3, 2016
Boeheim: I think Mike Greenberg's right, we should play 2 out of 3
— Syracuse Basketball (@syrbasketball) April 3, 2016
Boeheim: Pearl's been battling for a long time ... our players have rallied behind him
— Syracuse Basketball (@syrbasketball) April 3, 2016
Boeheim says the team has never talked about wearing Pearl shirts. They just decide to do it.
— Matt Schneidman (@matt_schneidman) April 3, 2016
Pearl's probably the most beloved figure in Syracuse basketball history. To see him battling through this right now is very difficult thing
— Syracuse Basketball (@syrbasketball) April 3, 2016