University of North Carolina Athletics
UNC-Kentucky Quotes
December 4, 2010 | Men's Basketball
Dec. 4, 2010
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UNC Head Coach Roy Williams
Opening statement:
"I'm ecstatic with the win. It was a hard fought, hand to hand combat kind of game. It was an ugly win, but I'll take that. I was extremely impressed with our toughness down the stretch, except for one time where they shoot the ball, miss it, the ball gets on the floor and they come up with the offensive rebound. But other than that I loved our toughness going to the free throw line making the free throws, we're down six, uh, we ran a set play, I think it was Leslie who looked up and did a penetrate and I didn't want him to shoot the three, but he made the basket and then we get a basket and a foul on the next possession and then all of a sudden it's a one point game again but they're hard to guard. Uh, when they went so small out there it's hard to try to keep John [Henson] and Z [Tyler Zeller] in the game, but we want to keep something in there with size so we can go inside ourselves and I think Z was extremely important to us but uh, didn't make a lot of shots, uh, but we made free throws and we were tough enough on the defensive end of the floor and I feel very fortunate."
Kentucky Head Coach John Calipari
Opening Statement
"To have the run that they were on, and then make those free throws, and make plays down the stretch and beat us to balls and beat us the way we did, my hat's off to them. I'm stunned we were in the game at the end. For us to have a chance to win the game, I was happy. Obviously, you all watched the game, we were not fouling 44 [Tyler Zeller]. Do not touch him. So we kind of broke down there a little bit. But that happens with a young team. And it was 2 young teams. There were some plays made that I just shook my head. Roy said to me after, 'Not real well played, but a good game.' And I said, 'Well said coach, well said.' But we got a lot of work to do. I have a young team, we didn't have leadership on the court. WE weren't running into stuff. Believe me, there were a lot of things that were happening. But we had a chance to win on the road at North Carolina and in this environment. That made me feel good. But we got things to work on.
North Carolina Player Quotes
Forward Tyler Zeller
On stepping up in a big game...
On the importance of beating a top-10 team...
It's going to be great for us, I think. Obviously, we can't get content with just winning one. We have to continue to grow, continue to build on it. But it does show us and give us the confidence that we can beat that caliber of teams and we are that caliber of a team.
On the toughness and physicality of the game...
I knew going into it that it was going to be a tough game. They're a young team but a very talented team. I knew that they were going to work for every thing that they get, so I knew we were going to have to work just as hard if not harder.
Forward John Henson
On the importance of this game...
It was a big game, just showing ourselves that we could do it and what would happen if we listen to each other, play with each other and play as a team.
On his matchup with Kentucky freshman Terrance Jones...
He's a tough player. I did my best to guard him - I think he was 3-for-17 - so I think we as a team did a good job on him. I think sometimes when my matchup shoots the ball, they're not used to seeing an arm that close to their shot.
Forward Harrison Barnes
On the impact of the win...
This was a big win for us. This team hasn't a played a team of that caliber yet, so for us to go out there and perform the way we did, not give in, not get down on ourselves as the lead got bigger, that showed a lot.
On contributing in ways other than scoring...
It's just being a good teammate. Whether it's getting defensive stops, running the floor, setting good screens or cheering on the bench, you have to provide for the team what they need at the time.
On having more fun on the court...
When we came back from Illinois, we agreed that as a team we didn't have enough energy, enough passion while we were playing. It was more of over-thinking things and not being good teammates. So we definitely tried to step up our emotion, and let it show.
