University of North Carolina Athletics
UNC-Maryland Postgame Quotes
December 2, 2015 | Men's Basketball
North Carolina Head Coach Roy Williams
Opening Statement
“I thought it was a great basketball game, and I know I feel way better than Mark [Turgeon] does. We played well. We did some things defensively that we haven't done all year long. Our intensity level was higher and better and more consistent than it was all year long. Melo [Trimble] and Rasheed [Sulaimon] put on a show out there from distance, and it would've been a heck of a lot more fun the last 30 seconds if we made a daggum free throw. We were 9-11 at that point in the second half and then missed five out of six. The game was their run, our run, their run, our run. We didn't finish the first half very well. The last three and a half minutes of the first half was the worst part for us. The first part of the game, I was extremely pleased with Brice [Johnson] and Kennedy [Meeks] what they were doing defensively, and if they give us that kind of effort we can be a special basketball team. It was a lot of fun having No. 5 back out there, there's no question. 20 points, five assists, no turnovers, two steals, four for five from the three-point line. One thing I thought that was fantastic is that Theo [Pinson], Nate [Britt], Joel [Berry], Justin [Jackson], all those minutes changed because No. 5 played 34 minutes. Nobody in that locker room cared about it at all. They cared about how our team was doing. Big time Maryland team, and we feel very fortunate and happy as all get out.”
On the team getting energy from Paige
“I think they did get energy from Marcus [Paige]. I think they got a great deal of energy from our crowd. We haven't had the best crowd so far this year, but they were sensational tonight. I think they were a big part of the win. I think that the way we played on the road, we wanted to come home back and play great here. I think that was important to us, and on TV they've been talking about it for a week. We played a week ago and didn't play again until tonight. There were a lot of things that gave us the intensity."
On having contribution from multiple players
“I think that's the best thing about our team. I'd probably say the same thing about Turgeon's team too, except Rasheed and Melo were so big for them. We had four guys in double figures. Justin had nine. I think one of the big plays was when we made two silly plays in a row, and on the second one, we go down and Marcus Paige takes a charge. That's the kind of thing we've been missing the last six games. I don't have any idea what the score was, but I thought that was a heck of a play for us.”
On missing having Maryland in the ACC
“I miss having them around regardless. They're a big time basketball team. [Mark] Turgeon is one of my favorite people in the world. I think he does a great job with his club. That had a feel of an old ACC tournament game; that had a feel of an ACC tournament game; that had a feel of a NCAA tournament game. It was just fortunate for us it was in our building.”
On missing having Maryland in the ACC
“I miss having them around regardless. They're a big time basketball team. [Mark] Turgeon is one of my favorite people in the world. I think he does a great job with his club. That had a feel of an old ACC tournament game; that had a feel of an ACC tournament game; that had a feel of a NCAA tournament game. It was just fortunate for us it was in our building.”
On if having Marcus Paige back in the line-up helps better judge what the team can be
“A better judge, but I think we'll still have to see two or three more games and see if those guys accept those different roles as easily as they did tonight. Seriously, Theo [Pinson], Nate [Britt] probably more than anybody else, those two guys, their minutes went down because Marcus [Paige] played 34. So they've got to be able to buy in and do that continuously. But we feel like we won at Kansas State, but we only played basketball for 3:38 the way we wanted to play. So I think it gave us a big lift, or confidence, as to what we can do down the stretch, but we'll have to wait and see those next two or three. But I think I like my team. I like it a lot better when number five is out there.”
On going up against Mark Turgeon
“I said it earlier in the week in the press conference, as soon as the game is over I look down and I'm waking towards Mark, and that's not a good feeling. I love my team and the feeling I had for them, but also I hurt for him. So it's a lose-lose for us. When you hire someone as an assistant, you're putting your career professionally, your life in their hands, and it was a great decision on my part at Kansas. He was sensational, and he's like a little brother.”
On if Marcus Paige's play was surprising in his first game back
“If I had to bet, and the NCAA says don't bet, but if I had to bet I would say he would have played very, very well, because he was so anxious to play. But you don't ever know because sometimes kids like Marcus, who are so conscientious and care, they put too much pressure on themselves, but I had a feeling the rascal would be pretty good.”
On the evolution of Maryland's program
“I said earlier, they have five guys who can get 20 [points], and that's a hard team to guard. And they play so hard, and do some things around the backboard with their size. They play four big guys, so there's always a fresh big guy in the game. Last year I didn't really see them very much. They weren't in our league, and once the season starts I watch guys we are getting ready to play or I watch us. I know the last couple of years it's been tough on [Mark] Turgeon, but man last year when I did see them I thought they were lights out, and Dez Wells was fantastic. So they had to replace Dez, and Robert Carter coming in and Rasheed [Sulaimon] coming in are big additions. They play like a team, and as a coach that's what you want them to do.”
Player Quotes
On today's intensity
“By far, I think those last three and a half minutes against Kansas State, we played that type of intensity the whole entire time today and so that showed that we can do it every single game and if so we can play with some of the best. Obviously, Maryland's No. 2, and they were No. 2 for a reason. So we really feel good about where we are at now so we just got to keep it going.”
Marcus Paige, G
On starting tonight
“Well I felt good and I wanted to set the tone with some energy and play hard because I know that is one of the things we have been talking about. I got my first shot to go down and that did a lot for me, mentally. It might not have been a great shot but I was feeling it so I just shot it and once that went in, I kind of relaxed and thought just play your game. I'm sure it was relief for the entire crowd, team, everybody. To see that happen it was just a thought of, “Oh he's good”. I know I felt that way and I know the team fed off of that as well. Having the first shot go down, I was very excited about that.”
On the team moving forward
“I don't think that I changed the complexion of the team to the point where it is night and day difference but I think everyone is comfortable with me on the court. I've played a lot of minutes the past three years, and it's kind of like a comfort zone for the team and everyone gets shifted back into regular rotation so that's probably the biggest thing. I stay aggressive and I try to be a leader and you always see me yelling on the court and talking. So having the leadership back on the team is a big thing.”
On Paige's impact
“It 's great to have him out on the court. Everyone is trying to key in on him and it opens up for us. Marcus is so poised in late situations that it just helps all of us. That is what a vocal leader does, that's what a leader does.”
On his performance
“I think I was just able to do the things I was able to do and I was able to do what I am capable outside of myself. With him out there, it makes it easier because I can kick it out to him and he can make a play. With Marcus out there, it just makes everything easy.”
