.png&width=36&height=36&type=webp)
University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina 91, Boston College 69
January 31, 2008 | Men's Basketball
Jan. 31, 2008
Recap |
Box Score |
Notes |
AP Gallery 
|
Photo Gallery
North Carolina Head Coach Roy Williams
Opening Remarks:
"I thought it was a heck of a lot better than that last game here when we played Maryland to say the least. I thought around the nine-minute mark down in the end of the first half, it was the most active defensively that we had been all year. We got some turnovers and some deflections, all of the sudden we were running out in the break. It goes from a four or six point game to sixteen at half. And I thought that was biggest part of the game really--how active we were at that point defensively. We came in after halftime, and we thought we had been really active, but they still shot 43% but I think they had turned it over 11 times in the first half. We had 16 points off the break at that point. It was a big key to the game. Then early in the second half, they missed their first four or five shots, and we made our first four or five. Then after that we couldn't throw it in the ocean, but I'm very pleased to have five guys in double figures.
You like to look down there and see your point guard with 10 assists and zero turnovers, Deon [Thompson] being eight for 10, and then Alex [Stepheson] coming off the bench and having 11 rebounds. There are a lot of things to be happy about and give their defense some credit. I said we couldn't throw it in the ocean, but I think their defense had something to do with that. We had some good looks that I thought we would make that we didn't, but we really played pretty doggone well. I told Al [Skinner] that when I went by him and shook his hand that I really thought we played well--it doesn't make the other coach feel any better--but I do think that's what it was."
On if the team was itching to play after eight days off:
"I think so--I was itching to go out there. We had four days of travel and then came back. We had practice Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. So, I think everyone was anxious to play."
On how key that massive substitution in the first half was in activating the defense:
"I don't know, but I was ready to choke someone. I don't care who you are or how good you played or whatever. Your butt is going to come out if you don't hustle at that time. So, I think the guys that got in there did a nice job for a few minutes and then when the [first] guys came back in, I think those guys themselves--I yelled at them a little bit---I think it was the players themselves getting refocused to do a better job defensively."
Boston College Head Coach Al Skinner
On keeping up with UNC's transitions:
"I mean, that's what they want to do. It's about transition for them and when we don't control our offense and turn the ball over then that's going to allow them to do that. We did not do a good job, particularly in the first half, of running our offense. And again it led to run outs for them. In order for us to have any successes there are two things we needed to do. We needed to control ourselves on the offensive end and try to cut down on some transition and try to keep them off the free throw line a little bit."
On turnovers:
"Again, I think we got a little casual thinking that it was going to be like that and that's what happens with young teams...being able to maintain your mental toughness and your discipline and continue to execute. We got a little careless. Came down, shot a three in transition, that led to a transition basket for them. Next time down we didn't run our offense well and either missed a shot or turnover, I can't remember which, I just remember them coming back with two or three opportunities after that, after we got close. And then that set the table for the remainder of the game."
On this year's Carolina team compared to previous years:
"They are much more committed to a transition game and playing that way. They'll making mistakes but that won't prevent them from continuing to run. They're pretty persistent."
On his big men being in foul trouble:
"It had a lot to do with us especially on the defensive end. I mean, the fouls came so early. There were some things we wanted to do that we really never got to do because of our foul situation. And we have to play with a little better control than what we did. The fouls that we got weren't good fouls for our big people and that really was a problem. I thought they were bad fouls. When I'm talking about bad fouls, bad fouls that we committed. I'm not talking about bad officiating. Hopefully that's clear. Even though I might have another opinion about that."
On Josh Southern:
"I was going to give him an opportunity to play tonight anyway because I thought it was a good match-up for him but he had a chance to really get extended minutes. But again, you know, we had some bad fouls by our big people in the first half and, you know, those things happen."
On playing better defense:
"I think we played way better. We were getting in their lanes, denying balls, getting steals, we were rotating good. I think we played a lot better on defense than we played in the past."
On his 20-1 Assist/Turnover ratio since Maryland game:
"I'm just taking care of the ball a lot more, making sure that the passes I make always get through, and not putting the ball in jeopardy. I'm just trying to take care of the ball, because that's a big thing with us, turnovers. I'm trying to limit that and it makes us a lot better."
On guarding Tyrese Rice:
"Oh we go way back, I played with him in AAU, and that's how I know him. We talk all the time. I know his game mostly: he likes to go to his left and shoot a floater, and he likes to shoot the outside three, so it was really easy guarding him. I just knew exactly what he wanted to do."
On his career high in points and having confidence tonight:
"I was playing really good tonight. I was going to the basket, so it was good...When the ball is in to you, and the first couple shots you take go in the basket, it just kind of gets you rolling and gets you going, so that was good."
On defensive intensity:
"Once we start getting some defensive stops, we kind of get our offense going. That was big for us because we got energy off of our defense, so that was really helpful."
On Deon's play and confidence:
"He had a really good game tonight, did a lot of things. He made some good moves, and got some boards, and had some defensive stops for us, he played a big role for us tonight...I think that has to give anybody confidence, a game like that. Hopefully, he's gaining some confidence, and a little self-esteem booster, whatever you want to call it, and I think he'll be ready for next game, and hopefully it will carry over."
On defense:
"I think sometimes our defense led into our offense tonight, which was really good for us. We played a little better defense than we're used to playing, and hopefully we'll keep making strides to where coach wants us to be."
