University of North Carolina Athletics
Post-game Quotes Following Carolina's Win Over Air Force
March 19, 2004 | Men's Basketball
March 19, 2004
Recap| Box Score| Photo Gallery
2004 NCAA Men's Basketball Championships
Pepsi Center
Denver, Colo.
Thursday March 18, 2004
North Carolina Coach Roy Williams News Conference
Opening Statements
"They (Air Force) shouldn't allow tonight's game to destroy what they have done this season. They have had a great season and I hope the Air Force players remember that."
"I'm extremely pleased with our team we knew it was going to be a very difficult game. I don't think we played very well in the first half."
"We challenged the kids a little bit at halftime about not allowing somebody to play harder. We also knew we couldn't have ten turnovers in a low possession game."
"I think our work on the backboards kept us in the game in the first half and we continued it in the second half."
"The biggest play of the game to me was when we were down by six and Sean May made a basket inside and was fouled and the score was cut to three. We came down and scored and cut it to one."
"I've said it many times the way I like my team to play is to move the ball and be unselfish."
"On the defensive end we did a much better job in the second half. The last 10-12 minutes of the game we played good defense."
On relationship with Rick Barnes and playing Texas
"I know much more about Texas then these guys (UNC Players), because they have not seen them play enough to form opinions. I have a good relationship with Coach Barnes, and I think we enjoy competing against one another. We have a great history playing each other, and I think their front line is a lot like the NBA's front line. His kids (Texas players) only think about one thing, and that's winning. I respect that a lot."
On Altitude
"People say it's a factor, but we downplay that kind of stuff. I think it's a mind of matter kind of thing, and we don't talk about it much."
On being down by six in the first half
"I hardly look at the score in the first half, but I think you have to in the second half, because of the time. When we were down by six I knew that was not where I wanted to be, but I don't look ahead either. I am more worried and concerned with the next possession than I am with the possibility of losing. I focus on the specific moment."
North Carolina Players News Conference
North Carolina Player Raymond Felton
On the 3-pointer as the shot clock wound down
"It was a prayer. I was about three feet behind the 3-point NBA line and I just went up and made a big shot. It was luck if you want to call it that, but it was a big shot."
On first NCAA appearance
"It was exciting. It was our first time here and it was different. Every team is going to come out hard, 100 percent, and play with intensity. In the first half, Air Force wanted it more than we did. They played hard, got the lose balls and rebounds. Our coach challenged us in the second half and we got better rebounds and played better defense and came away with the win."
On North Carolina's defense
"We were just trying to take them out of their offense. They were trying to make cuts and get open threes but we put more pressure on them to make them drive to the basket. We caused them to make turnovers and we took the lead."
North Carolina Player Jawad Williams
On first NCAA appearance
"This was the biggest game of my entire career. My freshman year we went 8-20, last year we made it into the NIT and finally making it into the NCAA tournament is a dream come true. I'm just happy we got the win."
On finding rhythm against Air Force
"It was very difficult. They slowed us down and did a great job of controlling the tempo. We couldn't get the shots we were used to getting. We just had to stay tough. They made us work for 35 seconds and that's something we're not really used to."
On everyone shaving their head
"It was team unity thing. We knew if we did this, we could do anything. There are a lot of guys that look real silly. Everyone dedicated themselves and it was a small step, but a big step into our season."
