UNC-Duke Postgame Quotes

Roy Williams
Postgame Media Conference
UNC vs. Duke 3-6-21

Opening Statement: The only thing to open it with is I'm very pleased to win a game on Senior Day, that's always been extremely important to me. When I was an assistant here, for 10 years we never lost Senior Day and 15 years at Kansas, we never lost Senior Day. We messed it up and lost three of them in the 18 years that I've been here. But it's always extremely important to me to allow those seniors to go out the right way the last game they play in their building, regardless of where it is, whether its Carmichael, Smith Center, or Allen Field House. That was important to me. I thought that one of the greatest things, the start of the game, starting seniors and Walker Miller to take a charge on the first possession. I've been after our guys all year long, I don't think we do anything close to what we want to do about taking the charge on the defensive end of the floor. I thought early in the game, we got off to a great start to say the least and we were doing a great job on the backboards and getting some offensive rebound points. And then all of a sudden, we quit. I think we only got one, I think Armando [Bacot] got fouled once in the second half was the only time we got an offensive rebound score. We shot the ball in the basket both halves 55%. They missed some easy shots early, I thought that was good for us. Really, if I'm looking down there at the stat sheet, the only thing that gets me a little disappointed, again is the 20 turnovers and the fact that they pressed us and we were way too conservative against the press. I've always felt that I loved it when someone pressed us so we could attack. And we did not attack and a lot of that even though they're 24, 25 games and 83 practices, they're still freshmen. We were way too conservative and turned it over way too many times against their press. We did get the break going a little bit…Garrison [Brooks], six for nine and two for three from three-point line. Again, Kerwin Walton, four of seven from three-point line and I think Caleb's [Love] offense in the first half was important to us. They may have gotten it down to 12 or 13 or something like that, you know you've heard me before, I don't ever spend time looking at the score, I look at the time but that's about it. But Caleb had a big drive, made the basket, and got a free throw that sort of steadied us a little bit. It's a win on the last game of the regular season, Senior Day at home. We're as happy as we can be.

Q: Was there any particular significance to you kissing the court when you left?

Roy Williams: Yeah. We only lost one game there. And I've always thought I loved the home arena and what we were doing and this year the home court was not fans. It was the familiarity of the basket, familiarity with the floor, familiarity with the backdrop background. I'd like to go back over and play that Marquette game again but it's not like golf, you don't get a mulligan.

Q: You mentioned those 20 turnovers and yet in the second half, it was never even a single digit game. What does that sort of speak to about these guys' ability to sort of play through it and get out of their own way to some extent?

RW: They need to do a better job of playing through and getting out of their own way by stop turning the daggum ball over is what it means. Again guys, I don't spend a lot of time looking at the score, told you that a thousand times. If you turn it over 20 times, you're going to lose a lot of games. I don't care if you shoot 55% or not. We caught Duke on a day where, look down there, they're a better three-point shooting team than we are and they were five for 27 so those kinds of things helps.

Q: I know you often say, "it looks a lot better when the ball goes in the basket". You hit eight threes today and got some early just seemed to get you going. Does it seem like for your team in particular, that when those shots from three-point range go in, it just seems to open up things more and get you sort of just a better rhythm offensively?

RW: I don't think there's any question, that is the reason I say that about, "when the ball goes in everything looks better." I think Kerwin Walton, Kerwin makes those threes, he makes some difficult threes, the whole team gets enthusiastic about it. Garrison made two today, one of them was a last desperation shot at the shot clock, right in front of their bench. I've always said, I think you need to have a great mix. We need to have guys that can score inside and we need to be able to have some guys who can make shots from the perimeter and we need to make free throws. We got a little bit of a good mix today and I think that was helpful.

Q: You've certainly tried to build your team in a way that it'd be balanced, but how tough do you think you guys will be to beat in the post-season when you get contributions like this that you did tonight from a little bit of everywhere?

RW: I think that's the reason I like it because it's hard to focus on one area or one guy. We shoot 55 from the floor, 44 from three, and 80 from free throw line, and you're outrebounding the other team so the only thing you did poorly offensively is turn the daggum ball over. And we can't do that, but I've always felt that the best teams were the teams that were balanced. You didn't say, "We've got to guard the three-point line" or "We've got to shut them out inside". Our better teams have always had good balance. But making those shots from the outside. Kerwin again, makes those baskets and he made one in the first half after he took one between his legs and he had everybody on my team jumping around. I'm looking forward to seeing that over again.

Q: You talked about it a little bit after the game but I just wanted to ask, what was the importance of having fans in the stadium and having players' families out for the last game of the season here?

RW: It's pretty easy to figure out. The only time that I did not like it was the last play of the first half. It was the last play of the first half, we still had a foul to give, three fouls to give in fact. If they had been going to just play we would've used all three up. But they sort of held the ball for the last shot and I said I do not want a double-team because we double-team, somebody's going to get an open three. So they double-teamed on their own when I'm screaming "No, no, no, no, no". So that's the only point that I didn't like it. But when you come to play basketball at North Carolina, you talk about or hear former players talking about running through that tunnel and hearing that crowd and getting on the court and seeing that Carolina Blue wave out there. And so that's something they've missed and I think the last two games, as I said, has been the loudest 3,200 crowd I've ever seen in my life. They were enthused about it. The students were great. I think that it helps and it gives them a little bit of look what Carolina Basketball normally is and they have not had that this year.

Players Postgame Press Conference
Vs. Duke
3/6/21

Armando Bacot
Q: What did it mean to see Garrison (Brooks) have the game that he did today on Senior Night and hit those two threes as well?
Bacot: I mean it was just huge for him. All season he has been unselfish and just been trying to make sure everyone else is good. So just seeing him going out there and showing all of the stuff that he got in his bag, it was great.

Q: You put together strong performances after a bit of a struggling period. What's been the key for you to kind of bounce back the last week?
Bacot: Just not getting too caught up in fouling and letting that affect me, getting mad that I am in foul trouble and stuff like that, just going out there and playing.

Q: You guys opened up a 26-6 lead about 10 minutes into the game. Was that the best you guys have played this year? And how much higher was the energy than it has been maybe the other times you guys have been near or at the top of your game?
Bacot: I'd definitely say that's the best we've played all year, maybe other than the second half vs. Florida State. When we all locked in we are a great team. When we all come to play and go out there and play Carolina basketball we're gonna be a great team. It's just when is it going to happen and can we keep it going?

Q: What was it like to see Sterling (Manley) actually take the floor again and to get that lob at the end?
Bacot: I mean I'm definitely not surprised. Adam (Lucas), he sees it (at practice) all the time. Sterling, he's a really good player. He's just as good as everybody in the front court, so going and seeing him do that is kind of funny. I mean he's been good on the defensive end in practice just challenging us, scoring and blocking shots. He do everything he do every day in practice, so I wasn't surprised.

Kerwin Walton
Q: This team's been on a little bit of a rollercoaster ride in recent weeks with strong performances and then somewhat weak performances. What's the key to maintaining this level of play that you had tonight into next week?
Walton: I think it's just playing with a sense of urgency. As long as we keep our energy levels up every single game we're going to be fine. When Walker Miller took that charge that kind of set the tone for us, gave us a huge energy boost and convinced everybody that we can't just have one guy hustling and making big plays, so we all got to make sure we are bringing the energy for the whole game.

Q: What is it about Duke's defense that seems to bring the best out of your team's three-point shooting? You had a great night over in Cameron and tonight, a hot start. Is it something they are doing or is the ball just moving better against them.
Walton: I feel like we just got some unselfish guys, and as long as we keep moving and cutting hard and passing the ball we're getting good looks. We started off early getting some good looks in the post and after they started collapsing in the post we got some good looks on the outside and we started knocking down shots. So it really just comes down to us being able to make shots, getting the ball into the post and finish.

Q: You mention as long as you guys play with a sense of urgency, and Armando said when you guys are locked in. So what's kind of the key to getting to that state before games to kind of abing that sense of urgency before you come out. Have you noticed the difference between a game like today, and you know, the game at Syracuse or something like that where you don't feel like you had the same level or intensity?
Walton: I think it comes down to a sense of pride and just what's important to you. I think we came into this game really strong because we figured this was like one of the most important games for a lot of guys, especially for the seniors. You know, it's the last game they'll play here, it's a night for them. You got fans in the crowd, all everybody's family is coming and watching the game. So it's kind of like, you know, you're playing for all of them. You're playing for the coaches, you're playing for the fans, you're playing for your family, and it kind of gets you a lot of energy. It kind of gets you super excited to play. As long as we keep carrying out that same kind of energy every single game we're going to be fine.

Caleb Love
Q: Given that most of the team that's in the rotation has never played in the postseason before, what are your expectations, especially coming off a solid win like this, going into Greensboro next week?
Love: Just not to lay an egg. We always take two steps forward and one step back. So just not trying to lay an egg. Enjoy this win for the couple of days we have it, but we gotta get back locked in because it's a new season now. As long as we stay locked in, do what we gotta do and listen to Coach and what he tells us to do, I think we'll be good.

Q: When Garrison (Brooks) was coming off the court and he was hugging everybody, it looked like the tears were really flowing for him. Were you in any way surprised to see that much emotion or outward emotion from a guy who, you know, who's pretty tough guy on the exterior? What did you make of all that?
Love: I didn't think nothing of it. I thought he's a guy, he is a great guy, a great teammate. He's like a big brother to me. He works hard on his game and he cares about the game so much. Just seeing him cry shows how much he cares about the game and cares about his time here. As you can see, he played his heart out and had a great game. So, I just need that Garrison all the time.

Q: Did you know Garrison had a fade away three in his arsenal?
Love: No, I did not.

Q: During the last game you said that you wanted Carolina to make a statement for their last regular season game. Was tonight that perfect statement and is this the team opponents should be afraid of?
Love: Oh yeah for sure. As I said before, we're locked in. We go in the game knowing what we're doing and what's at stake. Not going into any games starting out slow, because we usually start out slow. Just coming into the game, what started off this game was Walker's (Miller) charge. He got us really on our feet and we were excited from that moment on. He really set the tempo for us. Just us coming out and making winning plays and doing what we gotta do to get each other going. I think, like I said, we're hard to beat.

Garrison Brooks
Q: After everything that's happened this year and just how difficult life has been personally, you know, what are your emotions right now, finishing the regular season on such a high note like that?
Brooks: You got to be grateful for moments like these. Thinking about the tough times this year, being in quarantine and having to separate yourself from everyone else, I mean you just got to cherish moments with your team. That's all it came down to tonight, cherishing moments with them and appreciating them and going out the right way.

Q: On one of those final field goals in the final seconds, you're on the sideline with your arms raised in jubilation and tears were streaming down your face. Is it possible to put those emotions into words?
Brooks: Nah, it's not real. Thinking back to all four years. Think back to me coming in here at 17, it's something I can't really put to words. That's most of the time why you smile and cry. It looks weird but it's just something you cherish. Can't be more grateful for these moments.

Q: It's been mentioned a couple of times by Coach Williams and I think Kerwin said it too about Walker Miller taking that charge to start the game. Why was that such a big boost for you guys? Is it because he's not in there a lot? Or is it because coaches emphasize charging? What was that so special?
Brooks: He's a guy that comes in and works his butt off every day. Just a guy that cares about this program, he's the definition of Carolina basketball. He's the guy that comes in every day and does everything the right way. For him to go in the game and do the right thing, it meant a lot for us, and we couldn't let our energy fall from that one possession.

Q: I know it's hard to put those emotions into words, but how valuable can this feeling be going forward? You know, feeling this good, feeling this cherished, feeling like Carolina basketball is back to where it is supposed to be. How high can this sort of life you guys these next couple of weeks potentially?
Brooks: Can't get too happy. We can enjoy this one until Sunday. Enjoy this one until Sunday, and then come back ready to work again and raise our level even more. To win the ACC Tournament, we're far from done, I think we really need to understand it.

Q: To be able to take the moment at the end. To be able to hug Roy (Williams) on your way off the court with a win, a convincing win over Duke, just to be able to experience that moment, what was that like? Were you two able to say anything to each other or was it just sort of unspoken stuff?
Brooks: Just unspoken man, just embracing each other. Both so happy we came out and played the way we did with a victory. We didn't need to speak, just a terrific feeling for us.

Q: What were the keys to stopping Matthew Hurt from going on a scoring spree like he has been the last couple of games?
Brooks: Just playing team defense. Pretty much doing our presses. Now I would say the crowd has an effect on teams. 3,000 fans, it doesn't matter to me. Those guys, those people made a heck of a difference for us. Just by their noise, they get the other team rattled. They help us go on runs too.

Q: Tonight was emotional for various reasons. Can you just speak to what Sterling's perseverance means for this Carolina program? Like what does it represent for you guys?
Brooks: It means a lot to me. You saw tears coming out of my eyes when I saw him score again. He's been through a lot. It's indescribable, he's so consistent, he never quits. He'll never quit. He never quit a day in his life. I appreciate him just coming in every day and working hard every day to get right, to come out there and be ready when his name's called. I couldn't be more grateful to be around him every day. I think it helps everyone a little bit more every day because he works so hard. He drives, keeps our team going in practice. If you know his story, it means a lot. It means a lot to me personally, but I think as a team, you understand how hard he has worked.

Players Mentioned

Armando Bacot

Garrison Brooks

Caleb Love

Walker Miller

Kerwin Walton

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