.png&width=36&height=36&type=webp)
UNC 105, Florida Atlantic 52
December 19, 2006 | Men's Basketball
Dec. 19, 2006
Recap |
Box Score |
Notes |
Photo Gallery 1 
|
Photo Gallery 2
UNC Head Coach Roy Williams
Opening Statement:
"The bottom line is we're more gifted anyway and then when you get to a point that they don't have their two leading scorers in the game it's really difficult for Rex's club to have much intent, but I loved our intensity in the first half, I loved our attention to detail, and I loved just about everything we did. We started building on some defensive play in the game on Saturday against [UNC] Asheville and I think our youngsters wanted to try and build on that today, and I think we did. [Florida Atlantic] had a difficult time completing passes and getting looks at the basket at all in the first half. It's hard to maintain that in the second half, but we also got some good work in because we played zone basically for the first time all year. I think that will help us in the long run as well. We didn't play it very well, but I think it's getting the experience of that. At halftime I think we had seven guys already in double figure minutes at halftime. I like when you look down there and the starter who had the most minutes was 22 minutes so that means a lot of guys got some extra time as well."
"It's one of those things that you hate because I look down to the bench and see Rex standing there coming to me and I told him, "I know it's hard, but try to be positive." You guys have no idea what it's like to coach a youngster who gave you every ounce of his heart, body and soul, and then to see him down on the other end of the bench, he didn't have the weapons we had. That youngster is going to be a great college coach, and he was truly a great college player. I'm where I am today because of Rex Walters and some other guys. I felt sorry for him, but at the same time he doesn't like that because he's as competitive as you can possibly be. Their leading scorer from last year just got eligible today and then two leading scorers from this year didn't get to play so he just didn't have enough weapons."
On making substitutions:
"The one thing I wanted to try to see if we could get a couple of possessions in the zone with the starters still in there. Then I told the staff once we got to the 10-minute mark I knew that none of those guys would get back in the game. I left Ty [Lawson] and Wayne [Ellington] in for example eight straight minutes and didn't take them out. I would have taken Tyler [Hansbrough] out if he had given me the tired signal. You still want to get some things that you can work on it yourself. I think we did that. Playing the point was better with that first group in than it was with the last group because that first group has had more time to work on it in practice. Again, I look down and see that four of the five starters played less than 20 minutes. I like that part. It was good for Danny [Green] to get that many minutes. I think he didn't have his legs there at the end because he had a couple of open shots that I think he would normally make. Wes [Miller] made one and the other two misses were right on line and just maybe another bounce or step and that might have been good."
On the defensive progress:
"First of all we have to understand we are more gifted than the other two opponents we've played since exams. I think the idea is that the guys are moving together more, and when you're on the ball you're supposed to be pressing. When you're one pass away you're supposed to be denying, and when you're more than one pass you're supposed to be helping. I think that's what we did Saturday and definitely during stretches in the game tonight. Hopefully we'll continue doing that and be able to do that when the other opponent is similar to us as opposed to someone who's not as gifted."
UNC Player Quotes
On his dunk:
"I just wanted to prove a point to the team because everybody was saying that I couldn't dunk. I mean, I got a fast break opportunity so I just decided to throw it down."
On the team's offensive power:
"Everybody was moving the ball, setting screens for each other, and trying to make shots for other people. That's why we scored so much."
On the defensive performance the last two games:
"In practice coach has really been stressing defense. We've been working really hard on defense. We've been working on denying and making it hard to change sides. That's basically what we did these last two games. They just weren't able to change sides. They weren't able to do what they wanted to do and run their plays."
On feeling bad for the other team in a blowout:
"Sometimes I might feel sorry for them. But, we keep playing hard. The wrath of coach would be worse than feeling sorry for them. So we just keep putting it on them."
On the large margin of victory:
"We just play hard and that's what coach wants us to do. We're going to continue to play hard no matter what the score is. That's just the kind of team we are. Fortunately, I haven't been in that position so far. So, I'm not sure what that feels like and I hope I won't ever be in that position."
On staying motivated:
"It wasn't hard to stay motivated because we had so much intensity and we were having fun. When you're having fun the game goes along easier."
On Ty Lawson's dunk:
"I knew he had it because he had a full head of steam and when he took off he was already way above the rim. I knew it was in as soon as he got the steal. But, he might never get another one again."
On Ty Lawson's game:
"He's the advantage we need going against other point guards. There's not too many guards who can match his speed and quickness. When he pushes the ball and takes it all the way to the hole it makes it a lot easier for us.
On what coach Williams said at halftime:
"We had some careless turnovers in the first half. So, we talked about those. But, we also talked about keeping up the intensity."
On the key to Carolina's victory:
"It was just one of those nights when everything seemed to be falling for us. We tried to play the way that we do and things just went well for us. They were competing and the ball just fell in the hole for us."
On defense:
"Before the game coach really stressed defense. So, that was on our mind the whole game. Before the game it was something that coached talked a lot about and we just took it out to the game. We really improved defensively tonight."
On returning to Missouri to play St. Louis:
"I'm really excited. I've talked to pretty much all my friends. It's great to go back to play a game around my hometown. A lot of people from my hometown who grew up watching me in high school will get to watch me play in college. It'll be great."
