Syracuse Guard Judah Mintz Excited For Upcoming Season

The Orange's star point guard discusses expectations under new head coach Adrian Autry.

We spoke with Syracuse guard Judah Mintz about new head coach Adrian Autry, his decision to return, team chemistry, man vs. zone and other topics with the start of the basketball season on the horizon. 

Q: What's the biggest difference this year with coach Autry compared to coach Boeheim?

Mintz: "Our style of play has changed. Our personnel, from a team standpoint, is a lot different. Also just the way he coaches, the way he speaks to us, is a little bit different. Different coaches have different styles."

Q: What's different about coach Autry himself as a head coach as opposed to being an assistant?

Mintz: "Not much. He just has a bigger role. He has big shoes to fill, but he's the same person he was last year." 

Q: What has been the process for you with the draft combine and deciding to come back?

Mintz: "Just trying to make it. I was trying to make it to the NBA. That's really what was on my mind, to be honest. I was talking to Red and coach G-Mac a lot. Weekly I would say. I was really just focused on what was ahead of me." 

Q: Now that you're back, what are your goals as an individual and as a team?

Mintz: "We don't want to just make the (NCAA) Tournament, but we want to make a run. We want to be really good, from a Syracuse standpoint. That's why I came back. That's what everyone here is trying to accomplish this year." 

Q: What do you think JJ Starling can bring to this team?

Mintz: "I've always known JJ as an opponent. Never a teammate. I've always respected him, respected his game. He's gotten me in matchups, I've gotten him. He's a great player. I knew that before he got here, but being on the court with him this fall has been tremendous." 

Q: What is the team chemistry like?

Mintz: "It kind of starts with Quadir (Copeland). Just laughing and joking. Always cracking jokes on people and stuff like that. We have long practices, we have treatment days, but usually we aren't here for a good part of our day. Just being in here battling it out every day and still coming together as a team after, it's something I haven't had in past teams, I would say." 

Q: What are the new players adding to this team?

Mintz: "Just their own flare, their own games. Also, fitting right in with our athletic guys that we had last year. Being able to show that with our style of play this year. It's a good mix of new guys and old guys. It should be fun." 

Q: What is the one thing you feel can make you guys dangerous?

Mintz: "I feel like the way we can get out and run. Our pace of play. It's going to be hard for a lot of teams to keep up with us. Then our guard play and our ability to break the paint. We have more playmakers. I don't know how many teams in the country have as many guards as us that are really good at what we do." 

Q: What is the difference in the defense approach?

Mintz: "Playing man or zone are completely two different things. Just our intensity, I would say, is a lot better this year. It starts from the guards and trickles down to the wings and bigs. Just being able to pick up our man and get in people's faces, I feel like it fits the talent we have on this team and the athleticism we have." 

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