University of North Carolina Athletics
Postgame Quotes
February 27, 2002 | Men's Basketball
Feb. 27, 2002
North Carolina Head Coach Matt Doherty:
"I thought our team played maybe their best game of the year from start to finish. I think our defense, in spite of Stockman getting 28 points [in the first half], was real active."
"People ask me, `are you glad this season's coming to an end?' No, I am not. I think, in spite of our Ohio game, that we've been playing better basketball. We are getting better each day in practice. Our kids are still coming to work. We had one of our best practices on Monday. I like my kids, so I wish we could go on for a long, long time."
"I am proud of this group and I am proud of our seniors. Ideally, this is the way you'd like your senior game to go. It doesn't always happen. To make it more perfect, maybe Kris Lang would have scored more than six points and not fouled out. Otherwise, we couldn't have written a better script."
Freshman forward Jawad Williams on the win against Clemson...
"It's a big burden off our shoulders. We've been working hard but kept falling short. It felt good to send the seniors off on a good note. We broke every other record, so we had to keep one in tact. It was a team effort. We all came out and played well and it showed."
Williams on the next game against Duke...
"We are going to enjoy tonight, but tomorrow it's back to the drawing board to get ready to play Duke."
Williams on the difference tonight...
"We managed to put together 40 minutes of defense. Against Ohio we came out sluggish in the second half and they buried us. Tonight we put a good effort forward for the whole game and we can up with a good win."
Senior forward Jason Capel on the win...
"It feels really good. I thought we had a great team effort, and to win like we did on Senior Night, its a great way to go out. Last game at home and it's a win -- to hear the crowd cheering for you is a great experience. To play out there for the last time was really special. To hear them cheer for us one last time, it's something I'll always remember."
Capel on scoring a career high in points...
"It feels good, but it feels better just to get the win. With everything we've been to, we could have packed it in and gave up, but we stuck together. We still have a couple of weeks of basketball left."
Senior center Kris Lang on playing his last game at the Smith Center...
"It was fun. I might have fouled out of the game, but it was fun. We came out with a win, and I just had a great time. For me it was exciting. I believe I was prepared for this. As a freshman I saw people crying. I knew I wouldn't get emotional -- I told my mother not to get emotional so I wouldn't get emotional. This is a happy time. It's time to move on and have great success in life."
Lang on the Carolina crowd...
"The crowd has been there all year long even though we've had a tough season. They've supported us, and I have to thank them for their support. I'm glad to get the win to keep the streak alive."
Lang on beating Clemson...
"It helps... to get a win over a good Clemson team. They started playing well, and they beat Wake Forest in Double overtime so they had a lot of confidence. It was good for us."
