THIS PROGRAM IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE MEMBERS OF WCNY.

THANK YOU.

>> COMING UP ON "GAMECHANGERS," COACH JACK AND I BREAK DOWN A RECENT SLATE OF HOME GAMES, CULMINATING A DUKE MATCHUP AT THE DOME.

THEN WE'LL GET TO KNOW SENIOR FORWARD JOURNEY THOMPSON AND DOMINIQUE DARIUS BRINGS HOLIDAY CHEER TO OUR COACHES.

THE TEAM HELPS OUT WITH SYRACUSE ANNUAL TOYS FOR TOTS DRIVE AND FINALLY WE PREVIEW THE ACC GAMES TIPPING OFF THE NEW YEAR.

EVERY DAY YOU SHAPE THEIR SKILLS, THEIR CONFIDENCE AND NOW THEIR FINANCIAL FUTURE.

INTRODUCING BANK OF AMERICA ADVANTAGE SAFE BALANCE BANKING FOR FAMILY BANKING.

A PARENT-OWNED BANK ACCOUNT.

A HANDS-ON BANKING EXPERIENCE FOR YOUR CHILD.

NO MONTHLY MAINTENANCE FEE UNTIL YOUR CHILD TURNS 25.

THEIR FIRST DEBIT CARD.

MOBILE AND ONLINE BANKING ACCESS.

FLEXIBLE PARENTAL CONTROLS RIGHT FROM WHERE YOU MANAGE YOUR ACCOUNT.

SET SPENDING LIMITS, MANAGE WHERE THEY MAKE PURCHASES.

VIEW THEIR ACCOUNT ACTIVITY.

WHEN THEY'RE READY, THEY CAN GROW INTO AN ACCOUNT THEY OWN.

THE SAME ACCOUNT AND DEBIT CARD NUMBERS WITH MORE FEATURES.

EACH STEP HELPS THEM ON THE PATH TO FINANCIAL FREEDOM.

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE THE POWER TO DO?

BANK OF AMERICA.

>> YOU FINISHED UP NON-CONFERENCE PLAY AT 9-1.

WHAT WERE SOME OF THE TAKEAWAY FA FROM THAT STRETCH.

>> LEADERSHIP.

I SAW THE THE CAPTAINS LED AND THEY WERE FOLLOWED BECAUSE THEY WERE DETERMINED AND LOCKED INTO THE LEADERSHIP WORDS AND THEIR ACTIONS AND THEIR BEING ON THE TEAM GIVES THEM A SENSE OF WE ARE GOING TO BE OKAY BECAUSE OUR LEADERS ARE WITH US.

>> YOUR TEAM DISPLAYS A LOT OF DEPTH IN THOSE MATCHUPS, COLGATE AND MERCY ESPECIALLY.

HOW DOES THAT HELP YOU TO KNOW AS A COACH THAT YOU CAN RELY ON PLAYERS DEEP INTO THE BENCH.

>> AS WE GET CLOSER TO THE ACC THAT WE ARE IN RIGHT NOW, THE NUMBER WILL HAVE TO CHANGE A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENED IN NON-CONFERENCE HAS ALLOWED US TO GO INJURY FREE AND SO WE WERE ABLE TO SAVE OUR MAIN PLAYERS AND NOW SHOW THE MATURITY OF A TEAM WHERE NOW YOUR NUMBER ISN'T GOING TO BE CALLED BECAUSE YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO SHORTEN THE BENCH A LITTLE BIT TO 8 TO 9 PLAYERS.

ARE YOU STILL GOING TO BE LOCKED IN AND ABOUT THE TEAM'S SUCCESS?

THOSE ARE THINGS WE WILL FIND OUT ABOUT THE TEAM GOING FORWARD.

>> HOW MUCH DOES THE LEADERSHIP THAT YOU MENTIONED, HELP WITH KEEPING A UNIT LOCKED IN FROM TOP TO BOTTOM?

>> THAT'S MY COACHES.

MY COACHES ARE GOING TO KEEP EVERYBODY LOCKED IN.

WE DO A LOT OF FUN THINGS TOGETHER.

AND WE TALK ABOUT WHAT MY EXPECTATIONS ARE, WHAT THEY SEE, PERCEIVE TO BE SOME LOOPHOLES WE MIGHT NEED TO PATCH UP PRIOR TO IT BECOMING SOMETHING BIGGER.

AND SO I'M RELYING HEAVILY ON MY COACHES AND I THINK THEY'RE THE RIGHT ONES FOR THE JOB.

>> SPEAKING OF FUN THINGS, RECENTLY ONE OF THE BEST DAYS IN THE DOME EACH CALENDAR YEAR IS SCHOOL DAY.

OVER 10,000 FANS IN ATTENDANCE.

YOU GUYS PUT ON QUITE A SHOW THAT DAY.

TWO BUZZER BEATERS SCORED OVER 100 POINTS IN THAT GAME.

HOW FUN WAS THE SHOW FOR THAT FOR THE FANS TO SEE.

>> SHE WAS LOCKED IN.

THEY HAD HER TRAPPED AND THEN SHE JUST CHUCKED THAT THING UP AND IT GOES IN.

WE CALLED THE PLAY AND IT WAS ACTUALLY COOPER DIDN'T GET OPEN AND SHE KIND OF WENT A DIFFERENT DIRECTION AND MADDIE COMES TO THE BALL AND ONE SECOND LEFT AND BANGS A THREE AND IT'S JUST, THAT'S HOW YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO LEAVE FOR A VACATION AND I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF THOSE THREE, YOU KNOW, FINDING MORE MINUTES ON THE COURT.

>> COACH, YOU MOVED BACK INTO CONFERENCE PLAY WITH THE ACC HOME OPENER VERSUS DUKE.

WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM THAT PERFORMANCE AND THAT RESULT?

>> I LEARNED A LOT.

I LEARNED THAT WE CAN START OFF AND PLAY GREAT AGAINST A TEAM THAT WAS ARGUABLY THE ONE PREDICTED TO WIN THE ACC.

THEY'RE REALLY GOOD THEY ARE REALLY LONG, SEASONED AND ALL ALL AMERICANS ON THAT TEAM.

WE REALLY FACE A CHALLENGE I THOUGHT WE STARTED OFF PLAYING THE CHALLENGE AS IF WE DIDN'T SEE A DUKE, WE JUST SAW PEOPLE IN FRONT OF OUR DREAMS AND THEN IT GOT WEIRD.

WE GOT CALLS THAT WERE AGAINST UJ UJE AND WE HAD TO READJUST.

ONE THING THAT I DID WHICH IS NOT CHARACTERISTIC OF ME, I LOST MY CHARACTER I THOUGHT WE NEEDED TO PLAY THE LONG GAME AND TAKE HER OUT.

THAT'S SAFE.

WE DON'T PLAY SAFE.

NOT IN A WORLD LIKE THIS.

WE GOT ONE CHANCE.

WE JUMP, WE DRAWN, WE SWIM OR WE FLY.

I NEEDED TO TRUST HER AND I DIDN'T.

I DIDN'T TRUST THE WAY THE GAME WAS BEING CALLED AND I SHELFED HER AND LET HER SIT TOO LONG AND THEY WENT ON A 7-0 RUN AGAINST US DURING THAT TIME.

WE SUBSTITUTED UNCHARACTERISTICALLY OF US AS WELL AND THEN WE HAD SOME LONG MEETINGS AND WE HAVE A BETTER PLAN MOVING FORWARD.

>> FOR UCHE AS A FORWARD, WHERE SHE IS ONE OF THE COUNTRY'S BEST SHOT BLOCKERS BUT STAYING OUT OF FOUL TROUBLE, WHAT IS THAT FOR HER, THE INTENSITY AND STAYING ON THE COURT.

>> THAT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING BECAUSE I KNOW THAT UCHE FOULED THREE TIMES.

NOT CERTAIN ABOUT THE OTHERS.

IT'S A CRAP SHOOT.

THEY'RE NOT WRONG.

WE HAVE TO ADJUST.

WE HAVE TO KNOW IN THE FIRST FIVE MINUTES.

IT'S GOING TO BE A TIGHT GAME CALLED OR A LOOSE GAME CALLED AND WE ARE GOING TO ADJUST AS WE SEE IF IT.

THE MORE THE WORLD IS GOING TO SEE HOW INCREDIBLE A STUDENT ATHLETE THIS YOUNG LADY IS AND I HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO PROTECT HER A LITTLE BIT MORE.

THAT'S GOING TO BE ON ME.

>> SPEAKING OF ADJUSTING, A NEW ROLE TO THIS YEAR FOR DOMINIQUE DARIUS BUT SHE CONTINUES TO SHOW THAT SHE IS READY FOR IT.

WHAT IMPRESSED YOU ABOUT THE WAY SHE HAS TAKEN THE BULL BY THE HORNS.

>> ?

SHE WAS OUR PROTECT PROTECTOR IN NON-CONFERENCE.

SHE SETTLED US DOWN, GO GET IN YOUR PLACE, COACH WHAT YOU WANT ME TO CALL AND WE RAN IT AND IT WAS BEAUTIFUL.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO PROTECT US AS MUCH ANYMORE, DOM.

YOU CAN LET IT GO.

YOU CAN RELEASE THE BALL SO WE WON'T GET STUCK AS OFTEN ANYMORE BECAUSE AS WE GO THROUGH CONFERENCE PLAY, WE WANT THE BALL OUT OF HER HAND A LITTLE BIT MORE BECAUSE I THINK SHE IS A BETTER SCORER.

AND SO IF WE GET HER PUSHING THE BALL UP THROUGH A PASS AND THEN GETTING AND POCKETS WHERE SHE CAN BE GREAT AT, GIVE HER THE BALL AND LET HER MAKE IT DO WHAT IT DO, THAT'S GOING TO BE MORE HELPFUL.

IT'S GOING TO BE MORE HELPFUL WHEN I GET HER PLAYING THE TWO AND POINT GUARD SO SHE CAN SHOOT THE THREE BALL, GET TO THE BUCKET, GET TO THE FREE THROW LINE BETTER THAN ANYBODY ON OUR TEAM SHE DOES AND I THINK DOM IS GOING TO BE A LOT MORE SIGNIFICANT AS WE MOVE INTO ACC PLAY.

BUT WITHOUT HER, IN THE NON-CONFERENCE PLAY, WE WOULDN'T HAVE WENT 11-1.

>> OKAY, YOU GUYS, WE ARE DROPPING OFF PRESENTS FOR OUR COACHES.

A TOKEN OF GRATITUDE FOR THEM.

THEY DO A LOT FOR US.

I WANTED TO GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY.

THIS IS A SMALL REWARD THAT CAN I GIVE BACK TO THEM FOR EVERYTHING THAT THEY DO FOR US AND ME AS A PLAYER.

SO I HOPE THEY ALL EARN JOY THEIR PRESENTS.

IT WAS VERY INTENTIONAL.

MERRY CHRISTMAS COACHES AND I HOPE YOU ENJOY OUR PRESENTS.

WE LOVE YOU GUYS.

(HAPPY BACKGROUND NOISE).

>> OH MY GOD.

OH MY GOODNESS.

>> YOU GUYS HAVE TO OPEN YOUR PRESENTS THOUGH.

>> THIS IS MY FIRST CHRISTMAS GIFT THIS YEAR.

>> REALLY?

>> NO, NO, I DIDN'T-- I'M LYING.

COACH GAVE ME MY FIRST CHRISTMAS GIFT.

>> AWE.

>> THIS IS A NICE BOX.

I DON'T WANT TO... >> OH WOW.

I THINK IT'S UPSIDE DOWN THOUGH.

MISS BOUGIE.

(HAPPY NOISES).

>> SOME CLOTHES HERE.

A LITTLE SHIRT.

>> NICE.

>> WHAT YOU GOT?

>> YES!

WHOA!

>> WHAT SIZE ARE THOSE?

>> MY SIZE!

>> WHAT THIS IS?

>> SOME SPANX.

>> OH MY GOD.

THE ONE I LIKE!

>> BLACK HOODIES.

>> THOSE ARE SWEET.

>> YES!

>> GOT A LITTLE HOODIE, YEAH.

>> THIS IS SO GOOD.

>> THAT LOOKS SO GOOD ON YOU.

>> TAKE A PICTURE OF ME REAL QUICK.

(CHEERING PREP.

(.

>> SMELLS LIKE A... RIGHT THERE.

>> IT SAY EVER MORE.

>> YES!

>> WHAT THIS IS?

>> LET ME SMELL IT.

>> SO GOOD.

>> THIS SMELLS DELICIOUS.

>> YOU KNOW I LOVE THE SMELLS.

>> THAT SMELLS DELICIOUS.

YOU GUYS GOT TO FEEL THIS.

OH MY GOD.

>> OH HOW YOU KNOW THIS IS ME?

THAT IS ALL YOU!

THAT IS NICE.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ THIS CHRISTMAS,... >> THANK YOU.

♪ ♪ >> I VOLUNTEERED A LOT WITH FAMILY BACK HOME AND IT WAS GREAT THEN.

AND IT WAS LIKE EVEN BETTER TO BE ABLE TO GIVE BACK TO A COMMUNITY THAT HAS GIVEN SO MUCH TO US AS A PROGRAM.

>> I'M THE TOYS FOR TOTS COORDINATOR FOR ONONDAGA COUNTY.

TODAY WE ORGANIZED A TOY DISTRIBUTION AS WELL AS TOY DISTRIBUTION SITE.

>> WE GIVE OUT TOYS TO A LOT OF KIDS I GOT PUT IN A MIXED KIDS RANGE, HONESTLY LIKE WE HAD KIDS FROM LIKE BABIES TO LIKE EIGHT YEARS OLD GET TOYS FROM OUR TABLE.

>> WE HAVE ALL THE SUPPORT FROM THE WOMEN'S S.U.

BASKETBALL TEAM AND THEIR BIG ROLE IS AS TOYS ARE TAKEN FROM THE TABLE, THEY'RE GOING TO BE REPLENISHING THEM, RESTOCKING SO THE KIDS CAN COME AND ACTUALLY SELECT WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE FOR CHRISTMAS.

>> WE KIND OF-- ME AND COOP, THAT'S WHO I WAS WITH.

WE STACKED SOME KIDS UP WITH SOME EXTRA TOYS.

>> WE DID THREE S.U.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL GAMES IN ORDER TO GET AWARENESS, PEOPLE ENTERED THE GAME ASKED IF WE WOULD BE BACK FOR THE NEXT HOME GAME.

WE WERE.

WE GOT ANOTHER BOX OR SO KILLED AT THAT GAME AS WELL.

THAT HAS BEEN THE BEST PART, A BIG PART IN THIS AND WORKING WITH THE S.U.

BASKETBALL IS GETTING INSIDE OF THE DOME AND JUST SPREADING AWARENESS ABOUT OUR CAMPAIGN AND WHAT WE ARE DOING HERE.

I'M AN ACTIVE DUTY UNITED STATES MARINE.

JUST LIKE THEM, BEING FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE.

MY SIDE OF THE MARINES THAT I WORK WITH FROM ALL PARTS OF THE COUNTRY AND THEN WE GET SENT HERE TO NEW YORK OR TO SYRACUSE SPECIFICALLY, AND WE GET TO BE INVOLVED FOR THEM COMING ALL ACROSS AND WANTING TO VOLUNTEER AND HELP OUT, IT JUST SPEAKS VOLUMES TO THEIR CHARACTER AND WANTING TO BE INVOLVED WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.

>> I HAVE BEEN IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT PLACES, I LIVED A LOT OF DIFFERENT PLACES AND SYRACUSE HAS HONESTLY HAD THE BEST WELCOMING PEOPLE.

IT'S HONESTLY BEEN A CRAZY EXPERIENCE AND THEY HAVE ALWAYS BEEN FOR ME WHEN I NEEDED IT SO AGAIN, BEING ABLE TO GIVE BACK TO THOSE PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY WHO COME TO OUR GAMES, SUPPORT US, YOU KNOW, YELL IN THE CROWD.

IT'S SUCH A GOOD FEELING.

>> I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY KIDS I WOULD SAY WE GOT TO TODAY.

A LOT.

DEFINITELY A LOT.

WHICH IS ALWAYS A GREAT THUNK, SEEING EVERYONE SO HAPPY, SO WILLING TO COME AND WORK WITH US ALL THE SMILING FACES.

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE THAT DONATED AND WENT TO A DROP BOX LOCATION, OR EVEN IF THEY WALKED INTO A STORE AND HAPPENED TO SEE IT AT THE STORE FRONT AND DECIDED THAT TODAY IS THE DAY.

I'M GOING TO BUY A GIFT.

EVEN IF IT WAS ONE TOY.

THAT ONE TOY IS GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

>> LIKE DOING IT AGAIN BACK HOME, IT WAS LIKE A BIG PART OF MY FAMILY.

MY PARENTS ALWAYS EMPHASIZED GIVING BACK TO PEOPLE WHO GAVE TO YOU.

SO JUST BEING ABLE TO SEE THESE KIDS, YOU KNOW, MAKE THEM HAPPY, MAYBE MAKE THEIR DAY, WISH THEM A GOOD HOLIDAY, IT WAS EVERYTHING, HONESTLY.

>> SO ADORABLE.

>> I KNOW, RIGHT?

>> JOURNEY THOMPSON, LET'S START WITH THE START OF YOUR BASKETBALL JOURNEY.

WHO WAS THE FIRST PERSON TO PUT A BALL IN YOUR HANDS?

>> SO, I PLAYED MY FIRST AAU ORGANIZATION I PLAYED FOR WAS SMACK.

AND SORT OF LIKE THE HEAD OF THE ORGANIZATION RAN INTO ME WHEN I WAS AT A NIKE OUTLET BUYING CLEATS.

>> FOR SOCCER?

>> YES.

>> SOCCER IS ONE OF THE SPORTS IN WILL IN YOUR FAMILY'S BACKGROUND.

>> HE SAID DO YOU PLAY BASKETBALL.

I SAID NO.

HE SAID IT'S A WASTE OF HEIGHT.

HAVE YOU TO PLAY.

MY MOM SAID, SHE HAS NEVER TOUCHED A BASKETBALL.

SHE WOULD BE NO GOOD.

HE SAID COME TO OUR SUMMER WORKOUTS.

WE'LL WORK WITH YOU.

AT LEAST SHOW UP AND GIVE US A CHANCE.

I WAS LIKE I'M NOT VERY GOOD AT EIGHT.

ALL I COULD BASICALLY DO WAS RUN THE FLOOR AND PUT A LAYUP UP BECAUSE I NEVER RAN OUT OF ENERGY FROM PLAYING SOCCER.

AS I STARTED GETTING HIGHER AND HIGHER, PEOPLE SAID I HAD A LOT OF POTENTIAL AND COULD GO AS FAR AS I WANTED TO.

SLOWLY I STARTED TO THINK MAYBE I COULD GO SOMEWHERE WITH THIS BUT IN THE BEGINNING IT WASN'T ON MY RADAR AT ALL.

>> YOU ARE AN ALL STAR PLAYER IN PENNSYLVANIA.

WENT TO THERE FROM YOUR FIRST SCHOOL ARIZONA STATE AND THEN TWO YEARS THERE TRANSFERRED TO SYRACUSE.

WHAT LED TO YOU SYRACUSE.

>> IN ARIZONA I HAD A BIT OF A HARD TIME WITH THE DISTANCE FROM HOME.

I DEFINITELY WANTED TO COME BACK TO THE EAST COAST.

I DON'T LIKE THE HEAT.

I REALLY LIKE THE SNOW.

I LIKE THE COLD.

>> YOU CAME BACK TO THE RIGHT PLACE, OF COURSE.

>> SO I WAS LIKE, HAVE I TO GET BACK TO THE EAST COAST.

I FELT A LITTLE OUT OF PLACE ON MY TEAM.

I JUST FELT LIKE MY PERSONALITY DIDN'T MIX WELL NECESSARILY WITH THE PEOPLE THAT WERE THERE.

SO I WANTED TO GO SOMEWHERE THAT HAD PEOPLE THAT THOUGHT LIKE ME AND ACTED LIKE ME.

THAT WAS A BIG PART.

>> THE EAST COAST ENERGY.

A LOT OF NEW FACES ON THIS YEAR'S TEAM.

A LOT OF NEW PLAYERS.

YOU BEING ONE OF THE RETURNERS, YOU HAVE THE SYRACUSE EXPERIENCE THAT SOME OF THEM PROBABLY DIDN'T HAVE.

HOW HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO SHARE THAT WITH THE NEWCOMERS?

>> I THINK WE'VE DONE LIKE-- HIVE TRIED TO DO A GOOD MIX OF HELPING THEM WITH THE SYRACUSE EXPECTATIONS AND WHAT NOT BUT ALSO WELCOMING AND OPEN TO THEIR IDEAS.

I THINK LIKE DOM IS REALLY VOCAL ABOUT TRYING NEW THINGS AND OFFERING NEW OPTIONS.

>> YOU MENTION THOSE EXPECTATIONS, OF COURSE THE PERSON SETTING THOSE ARE COACH JACK.

JUST LIKE SHE ASKED YOU, I'LL ASK YOU THE SAME.

WHAT IS YOUR Y?

WHY DO YOU PLAY THE GAME?

>> CORNY AS CHEESY AS IT SOUNDS, I PLAY FOR MY FAMILY.

MY DAD WILL SEND ALL OF MY GAMES TO HIS FAMILY IN AFRICA AND THEY JUST LOVE IT.

THEY'RE SO EXCITED, YOU KNOW.

THEY THINK IT'S THE BEST THING EVER THAT I'M HERE IN AMERICA AND THAT I'M PLAYING AND PLAYING AT A HIGH LEVEL AND BEING ABLE TO LIKE HAVE THE FAMILY NAME ON MY BACK AND PLAY FOR MY FAMILY MEMBERS WHO HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT I HAD AND COME HERE AND DO THE THINGS THAT I DID.

IT MEANS A LOT TO ME.

>> BEFORE THE SEASON THOUGH, I SPOKE TO COACH JACK AND SAID, WHO IS A PLAYER THAT MAY BE MAYBE THE CASUAL FAN DOESN'T HAVE ON THEIR RAY RADAR BUT YOU THINK IS GOING TO STEP UP THIS YEAR.

SHE MENTIONED YOU.

WHAT DO YOU PRIDE YOURSELF ON.

>> I HAVE A LOT OF PRIDE IN THE DIRTY WORK.

I LOVE GOING FOR THE REBOUNDS AND DIVE FOR THE LOOSE BALLS, DEFENSE.

I LOVE DEFENSE.

AND I'M LIKE A REALLY BIG INTO LIKE PLAYING MY ROLE.

AND I KNOW I'M NOT GOING TO BE THE PERSON THAT TRIES TO SHOOT THE LAST SHOT OR, YOU KNOW,IS LIKE GOING FOR THE, YOU KNOW, BIG BUCKET.

BUT I'M THE ONE THAT'S GOING TO GET THE REBOUND AND KICK IT BACK OUT SO WE CAN HAVE ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE I LIKE DOING THAT STUFF AND I LIKE BEING ABLE TO SUPPORT MY TEAMMATES IN THAT WAY.

>> WHERE DOES THAT GRIT, THAT TENACITY COME FROM, DO YOU THINK?

>> I DON'T KNOW, TO BE HONEST.

I THINK MY PARENTS, WHEN I WAS PLAYING SOCCER AND I WHEN-- WHEN I FIRST STARTED IT WAS THE LITTLE THINGS, THE DETAILS.

THE DEFENDERS IN SOCCER, SO I WAS DEFENSE MINDED.

I WOULD STRUGGLE ON OFFENSE.

IF YOU ARE NOT GOING TO DO OFFENSE, HAVE YOU TO DO THE DIRTY STUFF NO ONE WANTS TO DO TO HELP YOUR TEAM OUT.

THAT'S SOMETHING I ALWAYS FOCUSED ON.

SO NOW IT'S LIKE I FEEL THAT KIND OF PRIDE WHEN I COME OUT WITH THE REBOUND, YOU GOT SCRATCHES OR BRUISES ON YOU BECAUSE I GOT THIS FOR YOU, NOW PUT THAT SHOT UP AND I'LL GET YOU ANOTHER ONE.

>> WE SEE IT ON DISPLAY TIME AND TIME AGAIN ON DISPLAY FROM YOU.

WITH THIS TEAM YOU WILL HAVE PERSONAL GOALS, TEAM GOALS.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE GOALS THAT YOU HAVE?

>> PERSONALLY?

>> YEAH.

>> WELL, OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, I REALLY WANT TO BE ABLE TO HELP MY TEAM GET TO THE TOURNAMENT.

I'VE NEVER BEEN BEFORE AND AS SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN A POWER FOUR OR POWER FIVE SCHOOL, IT'S CRAZY I HAVEN'T MADE TO IT THAT YET.

>> EVERYBODY WANTS TO GET THERE.

>> I WANT TO GET THERE.

I REALLY WANT TO BE IN THAT GYM.

I WANT TO PLAY, OBVIOUSLY GO AS FAR AS I THINK-- I THINK WE CAN GO QUITE FAR.

BUT AS FAR AS POSSIBLE.

THOSE ARE BIG GOALS FOR ME.

I WANT TO BE A HUGE CONTRIBUTOR FOR MY TEAM.

LIKE I SAID, I'M WILLING TO DO WHAT IT TAKES TO HELP MY TEAM WHETHER THAT'S ON THE COURT OR ON THE BENCH OR WHATEVER IT IS.

I WANT TO BE THERE AND BE THE BIGGEST SUPPORTER, THE BIGGEST CHEERLEADER.

THE BIGGEST REBOUNDER.

I WANT TO DO WHAT IT TAKES TO HELP MY TEAM WIN.

>> COACH JACK, AS WE START THE NEW CALENDAR YEAR, WHAT EXCITES YOU THE MOST ABOUT SYRACUSE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL IN 2026.

>> CAMARADERIE.

OUR ONENESS, OUR ABILITY TO TELL THE TRUTH TO ETCH AUTO OTHER, EVEN THOUGH IT MAY CAUSE A LITTLE FRICTION BECAUSE THE TRUTH IS WHAT REALLY SETS YOU FREE.

AND FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO BE DOING THAT RIGHT NOW ON OUR TEAM IS REALLY INVIGORATING I LOVE OUR TOUGHNESS.

I LOVE OUR PHYSICAL PLAY, AND OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE TO ADJUST BECAUSE THEY ARE GOING TO CALL CAUSE AND STUFF BUT I LIKE TO BE AT THAT END OF IT OPPOSED TO LAST YEAR WE HAD TO WIND THEM UP TO BE TOUGH.

WE ARE ALREADY TOUGH AND WE ALREADY UNDERSTAND THEIR STORY AND WHAT REALLY MATTERS MORE SO THAN THE GAME IS HOW YOU PLAY THE GAME RIGHT NOW IS WHAT IS GOING TO SUSTAIN YOU FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.

AND THIS TEAM GETS IT.

AND I'M JUST REALLY GRATEFUL THAT I'M ALONG FOR THE RIDE.

I DON'T SLEEP A LOT BECAUSE I'M SO EXCITED.

I'M NOT NERVOUS ABOUT ANYTHING.

I'M EXCITED ABOUT I GOT TO GET THIS AND TELL THAT.

SHOW THEM THIS AND I WANT TO BE A PART OF IT AND I'M LIKE A KID IN THE CANDY STORE AND I'M SO GRATEFUL AND HUMBLE.

>> A LOT OF EXCITEMENT TO COME WITH CONFERENCE PLAY COMING IN, WAKE FOREST, VIRGINIA TECH, VIRGINIA.

EYE KNOW IT'S EARLY TO EVALUATE THEM AS OPPONENTS BUT TELL ME ABOUT YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE STATE OF CONFERENCE PLAY AS A WHOLE?

HOW IS THE ACC SHAPING UP HERE IN THE EARLY GOING?

>> AS I SAID IN THE PAST, I THINK THERE IS SOMEBODY IN OUR CONFERENCE THAT IS GOING TO GO TO THE FINAL FOUR.

I HEARD ROOT CONFERENCE SAY THINGS LIKE IT'S NOT LIKE THE ACC WHERE YOU CAN HAVE TEAMS NOT AS GOOD.

EVERY TEAM IS GOOD.

ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ARE IN A CONFERENCE BECAUSE YOU KNOW THAT IF YOU PLAY AT UNIVERSITY X AND THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE AT THE LOWER END OF OUR CONFERENCE, YOU GOT TO BE READY BECAUSE THEY KNOW YOUR SYSTEM PROBABLY THAN YOU DO.

AND SO EVERY CONFERENCE IS GOING TO PRESENT AN ISSUE AND A CHALLENGE.

AND ONE THING I WOULDN'T PUT MYSELF IN THE SITUATION IF I WAS ANOTHER CONFERENCE SAYING, OH, THIS IS JUST AN ACC TEAM BECAUSE I AM TELLING YOU, MY COLLEAGUES ARE THE REAL DEAL AND I'M EXCITED TO BE PART OF IT AND OUR GOAL AT SYRACUSE IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ONE OF THE TOP TEAMS IN THE CONFERENCE THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO HAVE TO PLAY IN POSTSEASON.

>> WHO IS ONE PLAYER THAT YOU WANT TO SEE GET GOING IN THIS COMING WEEK?

>> YOU KNOW, SOPHIE IS MY GIRL, MAN.

I JUST REALLY KNOW DEFENSIVELY SHE IS ASSISTING THE BALL, DEFENDING THE BALL BUT SCORER NEEDS TO SEE THE BALL GO THROUGH THE TWINE AND I NEED THAT BALL TO GO THROUGH THE TWINE FOR MY GIRL BECAUSE SHE HAS WORKED ON HER GAME RELENTLESSLY AND I NEED HER TO SCORE BUCKETS BECAUSE WHAT SHE SCORES BUCKETS, THE FREEDOM THAT COMES THROUGH HER BODY, IT TOUCHES OUR SOUL AND I'M HOPEFUL SHE IS GOING TO SHOW HERSELF IN HER FIRST CAREER DOUBLE-DOUBLE.

WHAT DID SHE DO TO EARN THIS NICE PRIZE RIGHT HERE.

>> I'LL TELL YOU ONE THING, THE MOST EXHILARATING MOMENT OF A PLAYER'S LIVES, TO HAVE EVERYBODY ON THE TEAM KIND OF GIVING THE LOVE, A FEW DAYS BEFORE THE GAME.

IT'S WHAT YOU DO PRIOR TO THE GAME THAT GETS US TO SEE YOU AND HOW YOU BECOME WHAT YOU THINK YOU ARE, A PERSON THAT CAN BE A VIABLE OPTION.

SHE HAS BEEN GETTING IN THE GYM, WORKING MARRED,-- WORKING HARD, ASKING QUESTIONS, WATCHING FILM WITH HER COACHES.

AND IT DOESN'T ALWAYS WORK OUT WHERE YOU GET TO SEE WHAT YOUR WORK ETHIC DOES BUT THIS TIME IT DID.

DOUBLE-DOUBLE.

EVERYBODY WAS SMACKING THE HAT SO HARD THAT THE BLING, BLING CAUGHT SOMEBODY IN THE HAND AND WE SOME AN INJURY BECAUSE OF THIS BANK OF AMERICA HARD HAT, BUT WE ARE ALL BETTER NOW AND I JUST LOVE WHAT IT STANDS FOR.

OUR FAVORITE RECORD IS RESOLUTE FOR THE YEAR, WE ARE GOING TO BE UP WAIVERING WHAT ABOUT WHAT WE STAND FOR AND THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF SOME PEOPLE BECOMING GREAT AND GUESS WHAT?

IT SUSTAINS HOPEFULLY THE REST OF THE SEASON, YOU KNOW.

I'M LOVING WHERE WE ARE GOING WITH THIS HARD HAT.

IT'S ONLY GIVEN OUT AFTER WINS WE GOT TO WIN MORE GAMES TO GIVE THIS TO MORE PLAYERS.

>> WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO MORE WINS AND MORE HARD HATS HANDED OUT COURTESY OF BANK OF AMERICA.

>> LET'S GO.

LET'S GO.

>> DOUBLE-DOUBLE!

FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER IN HER CAREER,BANK OF AMERICA HARD HAT KEIRA SCOTT!

[ CHEERING ] >> CAN I SPEAK?

THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

THE TEAM FROM LAST YEAR AND JUST LIKE THE SEVEN OF US LIKE WORKING TOWARDS EVERYTHING THIS SUMMER AND KNOWING THAT WE NEVER WANT TO FEEL THAT AGAIN AND ENIN JUST COMING HERE, HAVING TO MEND WITH ALL THE NEW TEAMMATES, I DON'T KNOW, I JUST LOVE SEEING THINGS CLICK AND LITTLE THINGS CLICKED TODAY.

IT WASN'T THE BEST TEAM IN THE WORLD BUT, UM YEAH.

[ CHEERING ]