Morrison, Bersticker, Holmes and Melendez On Men's Hoops Season

October 17, 2001 | Men's Basketball

By: UNC Athletic Communications

Oct. 17, 2001

The UNC men's basketball team held its annual preseason media day last Thursday at the Smith Center. The team assembled for a team picture, players were available for media interviews and head coach Matt Doherty addressed the media on his prospects for the 2001-02 Tar Heels.

Today we hear from from Jonathan Holmes, Orlando Melendez, Brian Bersticker and Brian Morrison.

Comments from Melendez:
We are going to be up there in the top two teams this year. People are not thinking about how athletic and how good this team is going to be this year, people are just thinking 'Well, Joe Forte left and Brendan Haywood left, so they're not going to be as good as they were last year.' Actually, we have three players who are great freshmen and we've got nine people who were here last year and had that great season last year. We have experience, we just need to get everything together and work hard and we'll be all right....continued

Comments from Holmes:
We have great team chemistry. We've spent a lot of time together between pickup games and individual workouts. Even off the court we've been spending a lot of time together....continued

Comments from Bersticker:
My role will be to go in for Capel if he gets tired and play the four, and then if Kris gets tired I'll step in and play the five. So I think I'll be bouncing back and forth between them both....continued

Comments from Bersticker:
I think we'll probably pressure more, play more pressure defense. We're going to be faster and quicker, we're going to be able to get in the lanes, hopefully get some steals and get easier buckets. I think that might be a difference from last year, I think you might see us get some easier buckets because last year, sometimes, we really had to work hard for points....continued

Comments from Capel, Johnson and Fingleton (October 17)

Comments from Coach Doherty, Boone and Lang (October 12).

Photo Galleries

Smith Center Renovations Complete
See exclusive pictures of new men's basketball locker room, weight room and player's lounge.

The Carolina Veterans
Jason Capel, Kris Lang, Orlando Melendez and Brian Bersticker lead the Tar Heels into the 2001-02 season.

The Carolina Newcomers
Jackie Manuel, Jawad Williams, Melvin Scott, red-shirt freshman Neil Fingleton and strength coach Thomas McKinney.

Fielding Questions
The local media crowds the floor of the Smith Center to ask the Tar Heels questions about the upcoming season.