UNC-Florida State Postgame Quotes

Roy Williams Quotes UNC vs. Florida State 1/16/21

Q: What was the energy that Anthony [Harris] gave you when you put him in the game? I saw right before he went in, you went over and talked to (trainer) Doug (Halverson) and said something to him. Can you kind of take us through your thinking and deciding to put him in and the energy that he gave you?

Roy Williams: Well that's what he does, he plays with a tremendous amount of energy. He's good defensively, but just the energy level that he brings. I could've played him the last game but I didn't want to rush things. I didn't think he'd had enough reps of going up and down the court, full court every day in practice which I think is what I said to everybody in the press conference, but we've gotten away from that and had a few more practices. He's been wanting to play and I do think just that the energy level that he has, and every now and then he'll add a bonus like making a three point shot. But just his energy level is extremely important to us and it gave us a little lift at that time.

That's who he is, that's what he does every day. He's an extremely active young man and there are some other things that he doesn't do as well that some of the other guys do better but Anthony does give you a level of energy that's important to you.

Q: You only had three turnovers in the first 18 minutes but then ended up finishing with 14. What were the guys doing right in the first half and what sort of changed later on into the game?

RW: Well, I think we started to turn it over in the second half inside because they were just, they're a scrappy team and they have a sense of urgency that they play with all the time. I think that's one of the characteristics of all of Leonard's (Hamilton) teams. I think most of our turnovers were in there but also I mean, Kerwin [Walton] has the ball and tries to lob it over to Day'Ron [Sharpe] and their guy came from outside the three-point line on the other side and stole the ball. He made a heck of a defensive play. So, it was some of our play not being what we wanted it to be but it's also that's how hard they played today.

Q: I know we ask you all the time about what you learn from wins and losses. But does this, in any way, give you even more of a heightened sense of things, playing a team that hasn't lost at home in a really long time, a good team, and you were right there close and had the chance to take the lead a couple times late?

RW: I just want us to play better. You get the game to a one-possession game and you make some mistakes, miss some shots, you're not quite as powerful going up with it, or you get it to one and then you don't get a defensive stop. We just got to get better in all of those things. They're a good team, I mean on Wednesday night what they did to North Carolina State was as good a performance I've seen all year long except one of Gonzaga's games. So yes, I think that we did some things that I think were good, but I think as coach at the end of the game, you just try to figure out how to take away the mistakes that you made is the biggest thing you spend your time doing. We're going to try go back and try to see if we can correct those mistakes and congratulate them and try to play better our next game.

Q: Are you encouraged though that you made that late game run with three freshman and a red-shirt freshman plus Garrison [Brooks] on the floor?

RW: I'm encouraged when we always make runs. I really feel like for 100 million games, it seems like, when we've been behind we always kept playing. I think we did that today, we just had some mistakes. We couldn't get stops. When we'd do some good things and make some good plays we couldn't get stops at that time. You know again, I'll look at it on tape and yes we'll recognize who we got out there and say that's pretty good. This generation is, who knows if they're going to be around tomorrow? Much less thinking about, "Oh three freshman, we're going to have those guys for four years". It's a different world and so what you have to do is, who's on the court for you at that specific time, how well did they play?

Q: How close do you think you guys are?

RW: Well it's hard to say, again it's a game of runs, we always know that. We've had some teams in the past that had a much, much longer run three or four times than the other team and that usually decided the game. I think we are getting better, I think we are doing some things better. I'm about as frustrated right now as you can possibly be because I just think of the little things that I think we could've done better that would've helped us. But Florida State is really good. They have a coach that's been around for quite a while that's a great, great coach. He's a guy that's going to be in our Hall of Fame in basketball, and should be in the Hall of Fame, and he knows what he's doing too. He has one thing that everybody would love to have is he has depth, or I should say two things. But he's also had four red-shirt juniors and four seniors and those guys know what he wants. And I'm talking to my guys in a huddle about what I want to do at the end and they're looking at me, they had no idea what I was talking about. I think that Leonard just does a great job with his guys and he gets them to buy in on the team. He gets them to buy in on the team does well. Everybody says well God almighty he had two picks in the first 11, in the first round last year. Well he won the league. He knows how to develop his players and they get better. Again, it's not a moral victory that we were close. I don't look at those things, but I do look at things that I think we could improve and try to get an opportunity to improve on for our next game.

Men's Basketball Post-Game Players Press Conference
North Carolina @ Florida State
1/16/21

Garrison Brooks
Q: You guys have been awfully productive on the offensive glass and getting a lot of stuff inside. What did they do to keep you guys from having more than 22 points in the paint and not getting as many offensive rebounds as you have been in some recent games?
Brooks: They are very big and very athletic. One of the most athletic teams we are going to play this year. I think they just did a great job using that and using their size and strength to box out. They know we emphasize the glass every day, and that's what they did.

Q: What kind of boost do you think that Anthony (Harris) gave you guys out there today and did you expect him even to play? Since he didn't even play in the first half of the game were you even expecting that from him?
Brooks: No. I didn't expect Ant (Anthony Harris) to play but he gave us a huge lift. We needed somebody new, some new energy, and that's what he did for us.

Q: Building off the stuff with Anthony. What have you seen from him in practice? Do you think it was easier, he's a red-shirt freshman, but he's been with the team for longer than some of the other guys, to have someone a little more familiar with the plays and the system out there?
Brooks: It's always good to have someone out there that knows what they're doing and is comfortable with pressure. It's great having him, especially having him on defense. I think that's where he really makes a difference. It also helps when he makes shots, so it's great to have him out there.

Q: The team shot 41% from three today. Did that help you guys on the inside? Did you see an improvement when you were able to space out the floor?
Brooks: It helps a lot. Especially on the inside for us, it opens things up a lot. I think that's something we really struggle with at the beginning of the season. I think we are really getting into stride now hitting threes. Caleb (Love) shot three of six, that's a step in the right direction. It is good to see him get a couple going in.

Anthony Harris
Q: How did it feel to be able to check into the game? Were you expecting today? Coach said that he wanted to make sure that he didn't rush you back by playing you last week.
Harris: It felt great to be back onto the court. I've been out for over a year now so just getting a run in is always going to be good. I was ready to play today. I didn't fully expect to play but he told me to stay ready so that's what I did.

Q: From the games you've had to observe this season sitting and waiting to play, in what ways did you observe and feel like you could make a difference or contribute in these kinds of ways? This team needs this and I can fill that.
Harris: Just pretty much energy. Bringing some new energy to the team, energy on defense, being vocal on the court. I feel like everyone feeds off of a vocal leader, someone that is going to stay locked in the whole game.

Q: You said that coach tells you to stay ready, but when you didn't play in the first half did you figure it was going to be the next game and you weren't going to get in this game?
Harris: Not really, I was locked into the game. First half ended and I talked to my trainer, did a little bit of stretching. I knew if I didn't play in the first half we were still going to warm up the same way in the second half because there was still a possibility that I would get in. I feel like me and coach had a good talk about what would happen today and what did happen. I was pretty ready.

Q: When Roy (Williams) went up and talked to Doug (Halverson) and then Doug immediately went over to you, you got up and got on the bike for like 10 seconds and started limbering around. What was going through your mind knowing that moment had finally come right before you checked into the game?
Harris: I was pretty excited, I can't lie to you. A lot of emotion is going through me. Like I said, I was still locked in. I'm just waiting on the next play. When Doug came over there and talked to me it pretty much just clicked. I was pretty much already warm so it wasn't too much I had to do. I was ready to go.

Q: Roy said you asked out of the game when you first excited. Just wondering, what's you conditioning like right now? You played nine minutes, do you think that's where you're going to be for the foreseeable future?
Harris: Nah. I was a little tired today, I can't fake anything. I have had limited practices, I'm still trying to get my wind back. Other than I feel great. I'm just trying to give my all to the team. When I need a sub I let them know and we're able to put ourselves back in.

RJ Davis
Q: Very clean and efficient game today for you personally. What worked well for you out there?
Davis: I just wanted to come in with confidence and do whatever I can to help my team win this game. I wanted to come in with the mindset of playing hard. Take the open shots, get my teammates involved, and be a point guard overall.

Q: Just got the chance to talk to Anthony. Must have been cool to be able to play with him in a game for the first time. Beyond just the energy he brings, how is he able to open up the court for your fellow guards and perimeter players? How does he make your lives easier?
Davis: I was happy to see Ant out there. I was kind of surprised, I was at the free throw line and saw Ant and had to double check for a second. Ant is a ball of energy, on ball, off the ball, on both ends of the court. For him to be on the court with us, he changed the game. You could tell by the way that as soon as he came in, everyone was just locked in. He had a couple of possessions where he played good defense and then got a backdoor layup and a corner three. For him to step into the five like that and for the amount of time he was out there he brought a lot of energy. It kind of changed the game.

Q: You guys in terms of guard play shot really well from behind the arc, the team finished 41%. How much does shooting well from three help with the rest of your game? Not having to overthink about missing a lot of shots translate to defense, to passing, ball movement and all things in between?
Davis: It helps a lot spacing the floor, especially getting some dribble penetration in defensive players will collapse. It was big for us. The guards really stepped in with some confidence today and made shots, some key shots. That was big for us. I feel like it was an all-around game for everyone, it's just that in the last two or four minutes of the game we have to take control of it.

Q: Speaking of playing with confidence, you seemed to play with a lot of confidence and composure today. Shooting shots in the flow of the offense you didn't seem rattled at all. With Anthony Harris coming into the game you guys seemed to feed off each other. What is it going to take for you guys to take it to the next level? Last three games you pretty much closed it out, close tight games. But what is it going to take for UNC to take it to the next level?
Davis: Just that extra step, be that extra leader, floor general, extra coach on the floor to lead our team to victory. We have to take control of the game and help each other get a win. It's not just us two but the whole team. Team chemistry goes a long way.

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University of North Carolina Athletics

Players Mentioned

Garrison Brooks

RJ Davis

Anthony Harris

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