From UNC's 78-58 win over Wofford on Wednesday night at the Smith Center.
Opening statement
I think our team was better today than we were Sunday. I think we were more attentive. We gave better effort defensively. We talked more. We were consistent with it. They are a hard team to guard. They do a great job with their motion; couple of big guys setting screens and hand offs and it’s hard to keep getting through that, but Mike does a great job with his club. They are the kind of team that you like to watch play. If I were a fan, I would enjoy watching them play. We knew it was going to be a difficult game. Saw them last year in the NCAAs against Arkansas. I think it was a three point game. With about four minutes to go I had no clue who was gonna win the game and I had no clue who I’d rather play. Because I thought both teams were effective at that point. Again, they’re a good group of kids I know. I’m so old, I had Mike (Young) in camp when I was working for Coach Smith, he was in our Carolina Basketball Camp for a couple of years. For our team, I thought that Kennedy and Brice were better. I think we outscored them 50 to 18 in the paint. We didn’t shoot it as well tonight as we have shot it from three; I think Nate made our only three. We’d like to do better than one for nine. But we shoot 55% in the second half and they shoot 35%, and that’s with our Blue Steel, or whatever their name is this year, going 0 for 3 in about 15 seconds there at the end of the game. You want them to get some shots up. I’d like it to be a little better shot. Again, I feel a lot better about the game right now than I did after Sunday’s Game.
On your team shooting 3 free throws in the 1st half and 16 in the second half. Was that just being more aggressive?
Yeah. Again, we’ve been trying to get Brice, Kennedy and Isaiah, all those guys, to stop shooting jump shots. If you look at the 1st half, Joel shot a jump shot, Isaiah shot a jump shot, Brice shot one from outside the free throw line. Kennedy shot one out there. Those 4 outside shots were all in about a 6 minute period and we had a size advantage. But what they were doing, they were doing a good job of denying us the low post and instead of trying to move away and repost, we started settling for 10 or 12 foot postup. Second half, I thought we were better and took the ball to the basket area more.
On do you have any concerns about Justin Jackson
Guys, you always have concerns. Again, if he’s the biggest concern I have, I’m in pretty good position, because he’s gonna be a very good player. He’s had a rough stretch here. At least he didn’t get in foul trouble tonight. He played 27 minutes and I told him he had 4 assists and zero turnovers and that helps us, 2 for 8 doesn’t help us. I’ve never been one to tell kids to go jump off a building. At the end of the season, if we’d played 40 games and he’s shooting 25% from the floor and 20% from the free throw line, then I’ll be concerned about it.
On how important Brice’s rebounds and block shots were
Well, his rebounding was big. The block shots shouldn’t have had to happen cause he should have played the previous play better and they wouldn’t have got a shot off. I think he was more active on the back boards tonight. Probably his best rebounding game. Not just because of the numbers (14), but he was more active. Brice and Kennedy, more than anyone, I challenged them for how inactive they were in Sunday’s game. I thought they were much better today.
On right before the block shot, Brice not corralling the ball and you were yelling at him for that
He had two of those today that he’s gotta get the basketball. We’ve worked since his first practice his freshman year to rebound the ball. We call it "chin it". You gotta tuck it and always expect somebody to be there, but he gave up two of them like that.
On are these things creep up with him every once in awhile
With Brice and Kennedy, all guys, you gotta coach em every day. Those guys, I think, I’m just expecting a lot out them. I’m not gonna settle for lack luster play. I liked the way Brice, after the, I don’t know what he was, 7 for 12, what was he in the first half, one for something. So he was more effective posting, 3 for 7, so he had 4, so he missed one shot in the second half.
On Nate’s couple of big steals
Big plays for us. Steve was telling me as we were coming down here that we had a 3 point lead and we outscored them 14 to 2 over the next period. Five different guys scored for us. I thought Nate had two big steals and turned both of them into baskets on the break, that was good.
On when a guy like Justin misses a few shots in a couple of games, how do you approach him
I tell him, you know, you’re a good player, shoot the ball in the basket. What you need to do is see it go in once. We don’t go whoa is me. Basketball is a long season and it goes up and down. He didn’t start it out very warm, hot, or whatever you wanna call it, to start the season last year. He’s played well in practice and he’s shot it well in practice. It’s gonna go in the basket for him. Again, that’s not a big concern of mine.
On Joel Berry looking comfortable
I think as I said the other day, I think Joel had, probably other than Marcus, had the best preseason of any of our guys. And the crazy thing about it I’d probably pick Justin Jackson probably 3rd or Isaiah. Joel had a good preseason, does some good things. Joel and Nate worked on their shot more than anybody else on our team in the off season. Until tonight, it’s really shown up. Give their team defense some credit too. Joel had one right in front of our bench and their guy really closed on him really well. Even the one Nate made, they really closed on him and made it a tough shot. But, Joel’s done a nice job for us.
On Joel penetrating better in this game
I think everybody was. Again, we shot 9 three’s the other day, we had 8 in the first ten minutes of the game.
On Garcia making things go for Wofford
I think he got a little worn out there at the end. Garcia is good. Magee against Missouri on the tape I watched, he scored 22. He and Garcia can shoot the ball. We tried to make sure we didn’t get more than one man removed on them on all the hands off and screens. Those guards and Collins, he didn’t have a great night for him, but he worried us to death. And then I guess Gordon was the one that was tough to handle. I told them, don’t worry about him from outside and then he pulls up and shoots a three and makes it.
Opening statement
I think our team was better today than we were Sunday. I think we were more attentive. We gave better effort defensively. We talked more. We were consistent with it. They are a hard team to guard. They do a great job with their motion; couple of big guys setting screens and hand offs and it’s hard to keep getting through that, but Mike does a great job with his club. They are the kind of team that you like to watch play. If I were a fan, I would enjoy watching them play. We knew it was going to be a difficult game. Saw them last year in the NCAAs against Arkansas. I think it was a three point game. With about four minutes to go I had no clue who was gonna win the game and I had no clue who I’d rather play. Because I thought both teams were effective at that point. Again, they’re a good group of kids I know. I’m so old, I had Mike (Young) in camp when I was working for Coach Smith, he was in our Carolina Basketball Camp for a couple of years. For our team, I thought that Kennedy and Brice were better. I think we outscored them 50 to 18 in the paint. We didn’t shoot it as well tonight as we have shot it from three; I think Nate made our only three. We’d like to do better than one for nine. But we shoot 55% in the second half and they shoot 35%, and that’s with our Blue Steel, or whatever their name is this year, going 0 for 3 in about 15 seconds there at the end of the game. You want them to get some shots up. I’d like it to be a little better shot. Again, I feel a lot better about the game right now than I did after Sunday’s Game.
On your team shooting 3 free throws in the 1st half and 16 in the second half. Was that just being more aggressive?
Yeah. Again, we’ve been trying to get Brice, Kennedy and Isaiah, all those guys, to stop shooting jump shots. If you look at the 1st half, Joel shot a jump shot, Isaiah shot a jump shot, Brice shot one from outside the free throw line. Kennedy shot one out there. Those 4 outside shots were all in about a 6 minute period and we had a size advantage. But what they were doing, they were doing a good job of denying us the low post and instead of trying to move away and repost, we started settling for 10 or 12 foot postup. Second half, I thought we were better and took the ball to the basket area more.
On do you have any concerns about Justin Jackson
Guys, you always have concerns. Again, if he’s the biggest concern I have, I’m in pretty good position, because he’s gonna be a very good player. He’s had a rough stretch here. At least he didn’t get in foul trouble tonight. He played 27 minutes and I told him he had 4 assists and zero turnovers and that helps us, 2 for 8 doesn’t help us. I’ve never been one to tell kids to go jump off a building. At the end of the season, if we’d played 40 games and he’s shooting 25% from the floor and 20% from the free throw line, then I’ll be concerned about it.
On how important Brice’s rebounds and block shots were
Well, his rebounding was big. The block shots shouldn’t have had to happen cause he should have played the previous play better and they wouldn’t have got a shot off. I think he was more active on the back boards tonight. Probably his best rebounding game. Not just because of the numbers (14), but he was more active. Brice and Kennedy, more than anyone, I challenged them for how inactive they were in Sunday’s game. I thought they were much better today.
On right before the block shot, Brice not corralling the ball and you were yelling at him for that
He had two of those today that he’s gotta get the basketball. We’ve worked since his first practice his freshman year to rebound the ball. We call it "chin it". You gotta tuck it and always expect somebody to be there, but he gave up two of them like that.
On are these things creep up with him every once in awhile
With Brice and Kennedy, all guys, you gotta coach em every day. Those guys, I think, I’m just expecting a lot out them. I’m not gonna settle for lack luster play. I liked the way Brice, after the, I don’t know what he was, 7 for 12, what was he in the first half, one for something. So he was more effective posting, 3 for 7, so he had 4, so he missed one shot in the second half.
On Nate’s couple of big steals
Big plays for us. Steve was telling me as we were coming down here that we had a 3 point lead and we outscored them 14 to 2 over the next period. Five different guys scored for us. I thought Nate had two big steals and turned both of them into baskets on the break, that was good.
On when a guy like Justin misses a few shots in a couple of games, how do you approach him
I tell him, you know, you’re a good player, shoot the ball in the basket. What you need to do is see it go in once. We don’t go whoa is me. Basketball is a long season and it goes up and down. He didn’t start it out very warm, hot, or whatever you wanna call it, to start the season last year. He’s played well in practice and he’s shot it well in practice. It’s gonna go in the basket for him. Again, that’s not a big concern of mine.
On Joel Berry looking comfortable
I think as I said the other day, I think Joel had, probably other than Marcus, had the best preseason of any of our guys. And the crazy thing about it I’d probably pick Justin Jackson probably 3rd or Isaiah. Joel had a good preseason, does some good things. Joel and Nate worked on their shot more than anybody else on our team in the off season. Until tonight, it’s really shown up. Give their team defense some credit too. Joel had one right in front of our bench and their guy really closed on him really well. Even the one Nate made, they really closed on him and made it a tough shot. But, Joel’s done a nice job for us.
On Joel penetrating better in this game
I think everybody was. Again, we shot 9 three’s the other day, we had 8 in the first ten minutes of the game.
On Garcia making things go for Wofford
I think he got a little worn out there at the end. Garcia is good. Magee against Missouri on the tape I watched, he scored 22. He and Garcia can shoot the ball. We tried to make sure we didn’t get more than one man removed on them on all the hands off and screens. Those guards and Collins, he didn’t have a great night for him, but he worried us to death. And then I guess Gordon was the one that was tough to handle. I told them, don’t worry about him from outside and then he pulls up and shoots a three and makes it.
