Roy Williams Quotes, Post-Miami

UNC vs Miami Post-Game Press Conference 1/5/21
Roy Williams:

Q: Coach, Miami hit only one of their last 10 field goals. Was that the difference, the energy translating to defensive stops?
RW: It was something because I think we were nine down at the 12-minute time out and I said let's win the next four minutes even if we just win it by one point. And we got it to 53-– 50 I think I looked at the score tonight more than I ever have in all my life put together. We got it to 53-50 and Andrew Platek missed a wide open three from the top and then we gave up two dunks in a row and then all of a sudden at the 8-minute timeout, we had only gained one point. So I told them again I said 'okay, let's win this four minutes.' And then I think we did win that four minutes, but we did get some stops down there on defense, they missed a couple easy ones, they missed a free throw or maybe two; I think that helped us, but there were three big shots for us in the game.

I think Leaky (Black) when he goes to the free throw line as a two-shot foul, and I think we might've had the lead then, I didn't look at the clock at that time, but he missed both of them, and then he comes down the next time and makes a three from the corner. Caleb (Love) hadn't made a basket all night … and makes that big three right in front of our bench, and then Andrew made the drive there at the end. Garrison (Brooks) made two big free throws. So all of those things get in there, but we did get a couple of stops, we were trying to platoon a little bit at the end and we were having Kerwin (Walton) in on offense and Andrew on the defensive end of the floor. I think that helped us. Kerwin missed a shot right in front of our bench that I think was a little quicker than I would've wanted with a two-point lead. That helped us a little bit and we got a turnover on the press, when we finally got somebody to beat their guy to the ball and it hit 33's hands and went out of bounds. So I would probably agree and say yeah, that our defense was something that during that stretch that we did some good things but yes they missed some shots too.

Q: What do you notice that's different about Leaky, maybe the way that he's responded from not being in the starting lineup (at Georgia Tech) and is this the best that you've seen him play since he's been in Chapel Hill?
RW: No, the answer to the second question first, this is not the best I've seen him play. Today, he shot the ball really well – I mean 4 for 4 from three, so that was big but at the same time I always expect Leaky to be great defensively and be very intelligent, and his driving there in there and charging late in the game was not a very smart play, but he's been sensational at times defensively. This was probably, not probably, this was the best game that he shot the ball in the hole from outside to say the least, but he can be much better defensively and he can make better decisions with the ball. At one point I started to go with him at the point guard spot because Caleb and RJ (Davis), looking at them now they're 2 for 14, those guys are going to be really good basketball players, they've got to decide to do it before I die, hopefully this year, but they're going to be really good basketball players, and they just got to start making better decisions with their turnovers and at the same time make some more shots.

Q: You mentioned the struggles that Caleb had shooting it a little bit. With both him and RJ, what are some of the areas you've been keying in on to try and get them more acclimated to this level of play?
RW: They've got to stop turning the ball over, that's the biggest thing. They can both be good defensive players so they've got to stay in front of the basketball. I've always said if my point guards will stay in front of the ball and not turn it over, I can stick with them for anything. They're both shooting the ball terribly and they're good shooters; but this is not kindergarten basketball, I can't say, 'Oh you're doing great' when you're shooting 28% like that's fantastic or anything. Sometimes you got to man up and start making shots, that's what they have to do to get their entire game going because they focus so much on their shots going in, and I still say focus on the things that I talk about as a point guard is stay in front of the ball, do the job defensively, and then don't turn it over. But guys, we lost four games early on our schedule (due to Covid), those games would've been really valuable to our kids. We have six freshmen in the top 10. Those games would've been really valuable. One was on the road at Monmouth, three were at home, and we didn't have those and all of a sudden we're playing at Maui, we're playing at Iowa, and we're in the ACC…But the bottom line is I trust them, I believe in them, I'm putting them in the game, now they've got to play better. That's pretty simple, you just got to play better.

Q: Because of what you just said there at the end with how they've had to be pushed into the fire a little bit, have you been a little bit more patient with the freshman with the way you've coached?
RW: I think I've been the most patient I've ever been in my life. Now, the biggest question is what do they think? But I think I've been the most patient I've ever been in my unbelievable life that I've had. But I've never been this patient. Guys, our two point guards were 2 for 14 with 7 turnovers. But you know what, North Carolina won the game, and Caleb made a big three at the end, and that was a big, big play, and let's build from that and go on.

Players Mentioned

Andrew Platek

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