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UNC Post Game Quotes
November 9, 2002 | Men's Basketball
Nov. 9, 2002
Recap| Box Score| Photo Gallery
UNC Head Coach Matt Doherty:
"It's nice to win. Granted, it is an exhibition game, but I liked the way our kids played. I like the way we came out and got a lead. It was a good test."
"Everyone contributed. It got sloppy at the end, but it was good for us because it gives us a chance to work on some things."
"I am just happy that we won, that everyone contributed and that we had a good crowd."
On freshman big man Sean May:
"Sean [May] was not supposed to play over 24 minutes."
"He's banged up, everyone's banged up because they've been going hard at each other in practice. So it's good to finally go at somebody else."
On Carolina's ball movement:
"That is great team basketball, unselfish play, hitting the open man. I thought we made some good plays, and [it wasn't] just Raymond. That is fun basketball; I think that's Carolina basketball."
On Rashad McCants:
"I thought [Rashad] took a couple bad shots in the first half. In the second half [he had] maybe one quick one, but we put him in the post a couple times and he is pretty good in there. I think Rashad is really understanding [things], he's listening and he's very coachable. He didn't gripe about not starting. He said, 'No problem,' came off the bench, had a great attitude and came in and had a very good game."
'I love the fact that he had five offensive rebounds, because I've been on him and Jawad a little bit to get to the offensive boards. I thought we did a decent job on the boards especially in the second half."
On the team right now:
"We've got pretty good players. Granted, they're young so they are going to make some mistakes. But, we've got good speed and quickness. I think we can go out and pressure people. We caused some turnovers, they had 18 turnovers and we had 11 steals. We have some talent."
Player Quotes:
Jawad Williams:
"We have fun. We don't look at it as a job. We look at it as a chance to go out there, get better and have a good time. We're a more athletic team. We get the ball out faster, and we've got a lot of scorers on the team - and we're having a lot of fun."
On the crowd's energy:
"It's a great feeling. People are behind us even after our bad season last year, and now we've got to go out and get better every day and give the crowd what they want."
On the defense:
"They shot the ball really well. We got pressure on the ball. I did what I had to do to win: I didn't have to score all the points, I didn't have to grab all the rebounds, I didn't have to make the big plays. I let the game come to me."
Will Johnson:
"It's a totally different team. There are five returning players so obviously we remember last year - we understand what happened and don't ever want to forget that. We've got six new guys who all contribute - it's really a fresh start. I see a lot of athleticism and a lot of guys who can pass the ball, a lot of guys who can handle the ball. It's just a lot of skilled players."
On skill of the team:
"We have some skilled players on offense. Tonight we hit shots. There will be some nights when we don't hit shots. They're going to be fewer assists because we don't get a shot. But that's why we've got our defense."
On the defense:
"You've got to give them credit. They're experienced players. As far as adjustments, we wanted to come out with a lot of energy and get in those passing lanes and pressure them."
On being a senior:
"I feel good about it. This is a good start. I think there's a lot of positive energy on our team. I couldn't ask for a better group of guys to really end with."
Jonathan Holmes:
"I can't remember thus far having that much excitement generate from a crowd. I think that was a product of the way the Blue and White game went last week. I think a lot of people were excited. There was excitement all week building up to the game. And the way things went last year, I think we wanted to come out with more excitement and have a fresh start. It was a great atmosphere to go out and play in - even though it was an exhibition game we treat it like a real game. We definitely have something to prove."
On the game:
"Once we got into the flow and got the nerves out of the way we did some nice things and were able to get some stops on defense and get the game in our favor."
On Head Coach Matt Doherty:
"I think the relationship has gotten better and better. We've been able to get closer and closer to him as the years have gone by. Whether it's going to town to get something to eat or just stopping by the basketball office and talking about what's going on on-campus or in class. It's something that's made relationship between player and coach much better."
On being a senior:
"It's definitely a great experience. I've been through a lot since I've been here. Will and I have been to a Final Four. We've been on a roller coaster the past four years. It feels good to be one of only two seniors. I think Will and I have a big responsibility as far as providing leadership and guidance for these young guys - there are so many new faces. It's been great so far. The chemistry on this team is great. Everyone's getting along and having a lot of fun."
Melvin Scott:
"We were unselfish. That's why I was so happy out there. We were having a good time, executing and being ourselves. It's a complete turnaround. We've got great guys and incoming freshman. We're playing great and we're playing together - it's a good feeling. Everybody was happy because we were sharing the ball and we were getting the job done offensively, and we stuck together defensively also. We were all pleased."
On defense:
"Essentially as a team we contested all their shots, we were there on the catch. They made tough shots, but we were there to contest them. That's all we can ask for. We're smaller and fast. We've got a lot of guys that can defend and get after cats. That's going to be a key for us this year defensively because we're so small and fast."
