University of North Carolina Athletics
Q&A With James Michael McAdoo
October 11, 2012 | Men's Basketball
By Jared Burleyson, UNC Athletic Communications
UNC Basketball Media Day, October 11, 2012
On his summer and offseason
"I didn't really get a chance to go home that much. There was about a two-week period after second summer school session ended and where we had to be back here for fall semester where I got to go home and just relax, kind of get away from everything. Mostly I've just been here working out in the weight room and on the court."
On preparations for a more significant role
"I've done basically what I've done my whole life and that's just staying in the gym and doing everything at a high pace and just being serious when I'm out there doing it. Trying to be really crisp in everything that I do. That's in the weight room, out here working out, just trying to add elements to my game and get better at things that I found out that I needed to work on last year."
On his increased expectations
"It really is a big opportunity. Some people might look at it as pressure, but I look at it as a blessing from God, just being where I'm at right now, and to have the teammates I have and the coaching staff and just to be here at Carolina."
On what he can pass on to the freshmen
"Every day is an opportunity, every day is a try out. Look at it as an opportunity just to get better, even if you're not getting that many minutes in the game, you still have an opportunity to work on your game, work on your craft and do what you love, which is to play for North Carolina."
On when the light bulb went on last year
"I think when we played NC State at home. I had three fouls in the first half, but it was just the practices before that. I didn't have a good game at all, but in my mind I knew I was there and I knew I was where I wanted to be. Towards the end of ACC play and then definitely in the ACC Tournament and into March Madness, the results showed on the court. Those results were being shown in practice, but people just weren't seeing it."
On the skill he's worked on most this summer
"Working on my touch down low. Most of the time I want to face up, and that's something that I really had to work on. Not just on that, but being multi-dimensional in the post. Having that 'back-you-down' mentality, where I'm not afraid to draw contact."
On being a go-to guy offensively
"It's a weird feeling. Even two years ago, coming in here as a freshman, I never thought I'd be the face of North Carolina basketball my sophomore season, but then if you asked me four years ago if I thought I'd play D-1 basketball I'd have said no. It's just a blessing from God just to be here and put this jersey on. Carolina basketball is so big, and I just try to be as humble as I can.
On his teammates in the low post
"Going off what I've seen from them, Desmond has come so far from when he first got here. A lot of his work has been in the weight room, he's probably the most consistent player we have in there, just trying to gain weight. That's really starting to show out on the court. He's really finishing plays and he's really been working on his skill.
"Joel, from when I first saw him to where he is now, he's come light years. I actually had the opportunity to play against him in high school which was kind of weird because he just this 300 pound kid. He got here and put in extra time over the summer. When we went home he stayed here and worked out and that just showed me that he's ready to work."
