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Roy Williams Press Conference Quotes
December 18, 2003 | Men's Basketball
Dec. 18, 2003
Q: After watching the Akron game film, were you pleased with the shots you were getting?
A: I was pleased with the shots we were getting. Melvin Scott and Rashad McCants had some open looks, they just didn't go in. I wasn't that discouraged with us on the offensive end, in fact I thought it was great preparation for us, it was a little bit of an unusual zone. It gave us more practice against a zone then we have had before. I was not that disappointed with our play on the offensive end. I was more disappointed with our play on the defensive end and our concentration.
Q: After the Akron game, have you gotten back to where you want to be?
A: No, and I don't think you can get things back until you get out on to the court. We played better and had a very good practice yesterday. We originally had scheduled a run and shoot for yesterday but we made it a full practice and the kids came in with a great attitude. They had great work ethic during the practice and great concentration. I'm trying to figure out why we didn't have that kind of concentration during the game. I was disappointed, there is no question about it.
Q: Wake Forest plays a three-guard lineup a lot. What kind of challenges does that present?
A: The third guy is always either small or big, most of the time it doesn't matchup to what you have, so there is always a challenge. I do believe that a three-guard lineup and particularly three guys who can play point guard, which is what I had once at Kansas, is the most comfortable thing you can possibly have as a coach. You have three guys who think the game somewhat like a coach. In 2002, we started three guys who had started for me once at the point. It couldn't be any easier or fun coaching then that. So, number one, it brings a calming influence to the coach that has that, because he knows he has people who are used to being responsible for everybody's play, not just their own. That is very reassuring as a coach. The part on our end is that we realize that we have to be able to play (defense on) three ball handlers, not just two guys who are going to run around screens and try to cover one ball handler. So it does create a problem for us because Rashad is used to playing a three, and all of a sudden he could be playing a guy who is running around screens, or he could be playing a guy who is setting the offense up. It creates problems, but then again if the other team's three is 6-8, that creates problems.
Q: When you look at Skip Prosser's team, what do you appreciate about the way they play?
A: I think two things; first, how hard they play; second how they play so well as a team. But I think both of them are really at the top level. If you were going to give a coach some accolades, those would be two pretty good things to say about him.
Q: What impresses you most about Sean May?
A: His hands, no question about that to start with from a basketball perspective. From a personal perspective, he is really a nice young man. You can joke and kid around with him and then 30 seconds later you can be encouraging him, criticizing him, you can be coaching him and it's an easy deal to walk from one side to the other because he is such a good kid. I enjoy coaching people who have a sense of humor. I enjoy coaching people that are going to do the best they absolutely can do and then still be able to carry on a conversation. But from a basketball perspective, he has great hands and realizes what he has to do for us. He is a great rebounder, he has great feet and he can go get the ball. If he is seven feet tall, then it is unfair athletically. The lord gave him that 6-8 body and added a little extra weight, just to make it fair.
Q: How is the team's health overall?
A: We held Jackie Manuel out a little bit in yesterday's practice. His ankle is still sore. When you look at the play on tape, he banged his head harder than anything. Then he realized his ankle was hurt, so it showed how hard his head is. I'd say there is no doubt he is going to play, but he won't be 100 percent. He won't be fully healthy until that five days after break when he can rest his ankle and knee. I'd say that is how it is with all of us. Whether it is Sean's tendonitis in his shoulder, Jawad's hip pointer or Rashad's tendonitis in his knee, or David Noel's wrist, or whatever it is, this time of year you just have to put those things behind you.
