University of North Carolina Athletics
UNC-UAB Postgame Quotes
December 28, 2014 | Men's Basketball
North Carolina 89, UAB 58
Dec. 27, 2014 • Postgame Quotes
North Carolina Head Coach Roy Williams
Opening Statement
“At some points during the game today, I thought we were pretty daggum good. I thought we were really good defensively early and then after that I got on some of the guys with substitutions because I thought our play and intensity fell off quite a bit. Then I thought we were pretty good late, we made three three's in a row, when you do those kind of things, and the ball goes in the basket everything, I've said it a million times, looks better. The only disappointing thing, in the second half, was the turnovers. Everybody's trying to hit a home run. Just make the easiest play and don't try and make something when its not there. So we instituted a rule that when you turn it over you had the opportunity to come over and sit down. So that's the reason we made a few more substitutions there. Thirteen turnovers in the second half is way to many. Defensively, I thought we did some good things. If you don't put them on the foul line, I would have really been happy. We had some really good moments, six guys in double figures and 10 guys in double-figure minutes.”
On the energy after the break
“We should have [had energy] because we had so much time at home. We haven't practiced. They were shocked because the first night, Christmas night, at nine o'clock they probably thought I was going to kill them but I told them that wasn't a sensible thing to do. We went fairly short and tried to make sure nobody got banged up or sore because they hadn't practiced. Yesterday, we practiced in the morning and then came back and shot some last night. This coming week will be a really good week for us because it is the first time in quite awhile where we'll be able to get some practice time. We had no practice time, hardly at all, before Kentucky and then a week off this time, so next week will be extremely important for us.”
On Justin Jackson gaining confidence
“I think that was really good for him, but it was also good for our team. We need somebody to step up and I've said all year I really think he is going to be a good shooter, and I think those were big for his confidence today.”
UNC Players
Kennedy Meeks, So., F
On trapping and pressing early
“That's something we've been working on. From the break, it's a new team, a new beginning, starting over fresh, and I think that's what we did tonight.”
On Iowa and the difference between then and tonight
“Effort. I say that all the time in interviews. Just giving effort. In the Iowa game, I don't think we gave effort as a team. As a team, I think we gave a lot of effort today.”
On spacing on the perimeter and spreading out the defense
“It helps for the big guys, because sometimes they tend to forget about us. People like Justin [Jackson] and Marcus [Paige] hitting those three-point shots are important to us, even Theo on some occasions when he is hitting his shots. I think it helps us all around.”
On Justin Jackson, did we see his full potential
“No, he has a lot more potential. You definitely saw a spurt of it today, especially with his three-point shots. Coach was yelling at him today to shoot the ball and he finally shot it and had two three's in a row.
Justin Jackson, Fr. F
On his confidence
“My confidence level never really gets down. If I miss a shot, I miss a shot, but with repetition it will eventually come. I'm just trying to always get in the gym and get shots up.”
On how he continues to shoot despite his collegiate experience
“It's difficult at times. Obviously, you love to see the ball go in the hoop, so whenever you don't see it go through every once in a while, it can kind of get to you…I just try to contribute as much as I can.”
Reflecting on his performance against Ohio State and getting into a groove
“I think my thing is just being aggressive when I step onto the court. Sometimes I can get out there and look more timid. I just try to get out there after the jump ball and do whatever I need to do to get into the game.”
Brice Johnson, Jr., F
What do you think you could have done better
“Just play with a little more sense of urgency on the defensive end.”
On preparing for the Atlantic Coast Conference games
“It's a momentum thing for us; it's a learning experience. The ACC is a whole different ball game. We just have to go ahead and finish out the preseason and be ready for the next challenge.”
On the team's three-point shooting confidence
“It's big, just because it's been the one thing we've been lacking the past couple of years. The point guards and the small forwards haven't really been making as many shots as we would want them to. They were really knocking them down, so that's a confidence booster for them. That's what we need because it opens everything else up.”
UAB Head Coach Jerod Haase
Opening Statement
“I'm extremely disappointed in the outcome and the process we went about it. Coach [Roy] Williams and the Carolina team are fantastic. We do have a team that's inexperienced. We haven't had a lot of tests like this on the road and it's something we'll have to learn from and grow from. I thought we had playing mistakes. Obviously we didn't shoot the ball well, but the thing we have to go back and adjust is the 50-50 balls I thought went Carolina's way. Effort and intent defensively was not where it needed to be and those are things we will correct the best we possibly can this next week.”
On how it changes outcomes for North Carolina when they are successful behind the three-point line
“The three-point shot for them, when it is going in, they're almost unstoppable to guard. And they are so good in transition, they're so good getting the ball inside, they're so good getting fouled, and so when they are hitting some threes, and it doesn't have to be 10-12-14 three's in a game to have a big-time effect. Like you said, seven three's, that's not in this particular game a defining thing. But for them to move forward, for them to hit the variety of shots like that and score in a variety of ways is what we're looking for.”
