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University of North Carolina Athletics
RJ Davis
Photo by: ANTHONY SORBELLINI
UNC-Syracuse Postgame Quotes
January 13, 2024 | Men's Basketball
Postgame Quotes
Jan. 13, 2024
Chapel Hill, N.C.
North Carolina: 103, Syracuse: 67
Hubert Davis
On Carolina's stifling defense:
"If we can defend, if we can take care of the basketball, that's going to put us in position to be able to be successful against whomever we play."
On the effort:
"These things go by quickly and I tried to tell them I would do anything to put that uniform on again, and so they have that chance and it's special to put on that uniform and run through that tunnel and play on that floor in front of these fans. They played with a lot of emotion today coming off an emotional win on Wednesday against NC State and I was really proud of their effort."
On the speed
"I thought our pace was really good. I thought the way we advanced the ball from defense to offense was at a good pace. We were pitching the ball ahead. We were playing point five offense where as soon as we touched it, we were shooting, passing, or driving. The ball wasn't sticking at all."
On the paint
"We talked about dominating points in the paint. As good as Syracuse is, they are limited in the front court. So we wanted to get the ball inside, whether through post penetration and offensive rebounding. Regardless of if they were in a man or zone, those were the things we were looking for on the offensive end and those were the things we did consistently."
On being composed
"With the schedule and teams that we have played, there have been a lot of situations. One of the things that I'm just so pleased about is this group doesn't get rattled easily. So in these situations, we can just get back to what we need to do and be able to extend the lead."
On playing with joy
"For me, having a front row seat to be able to see their growth, not just on the court but off the court in the classroom as well, is something that I find great joy in and it's very enjoyable to be around. I like when the guys are having fun and they have smiles on their faces because they are enjoying something that they love and they're doing it with teammates that they love. If you can check those boxes, you're going to have joy, and that's what our team has."
RJ Davis
On his career-high tying five steals and his defensive improvements:
"I think just knowing my abilities. I am a smaller guard, so just being able to be a pest and be aggressive on the defensive without fouling. I have really taken pride in my defense this year, and it is showing, being in the right position to get those steals. I am going to continue to keep working. It all starts with defense."
On the team's scoring abilities
"It's amazing knowing that everyone's gonna go out there and get a bucket. I think that is what is so dynamic about this team, everyone is able to score double-digits any given night. We share the basketball really well to the point where it could be anyone. That's what is needed. That's team basketball right there.
On his scoring hot streak
"My teammates do a good job of finding me. A lot of teams are trying to game plan for me now, but I trust my teammates. I just stay ready and knock it down when I get an open shot. It's all about me being aggressive as well, looking for my shot, and so far it's been working."
Harrison Ingram:
On playing at Carolina
"I mean it's the most fun I have ever had playing basketball. These are my best friends in the world. We play hard, we play with energy. We hate to lose and we're all competitive…and we like to win.
On the team's rebounding effort
"That's the main thing we were working on the last couple of weeks and in the last five games we java out rebounded every other team. It's taking pride and going to box out your man and get the ball. We are doing a better job getting the ball even though we are playing small."
On the team's performance after the holiday break
"I think it's chemistry. Every game we are building chemistry and we still haven't reached our final product…There are still some things, some turnovers, some missed shots, running the wrong play, or not knowing where we are supposed to be on offense and defense that we can clean up."
On playing in the ACC
"The crowds and how much people care about basketball here is way different than the PAC-12."
Armando Bacot:
On the team's goals:
"We are starving. We want to keep winning. We want to win as much as we can. We want to go undefeated."
"We all have one goal and that's just to win. I think in the past we have had different goals and aspirations. This team's main goal is to win."
On how Coach Davis coaches rebounding:
"Really just through punishments. That's really it. Everyday box out and rebound and if we don't, we run. We don't like running."
On the development of Jae'Lyn Withers and Jalen Washington
"They have been great. Jalen Washington came in and played a great game today and so did Jae'Lyn Withers. Like I've been saying every day, it has been huge for us having guys that can step up and play good minutes."
Jalen Washington:
On the team's consistent scoring
"Staying resilient stays the same with us. We were able to get second-chance opportunities, get to the rim and free throw line."
On the team's increased defensive urgency and efficiency
"We always need to make it our focal point to be a defensive minded team. Whoever is guarding their best scorers, we have to have their back."
On UNC attacking down low
"It was one of our key points and it has always been one of our key points throughout this year. We got Mondo [Bacot]…the best big in the country, so we just want to get the ball inside and work inside out.
Syracuse Head Coach Adrian Autry
"I thought today's game was started right from the beginning. I thought Carolina was a tougher team. This is the first time all year that we didn't come off in the beginning. They jumped on us, and they kept their character. They just kept the pressure up. They were very good defensively, and rebounding. I give all the credit to them, they came out in the beginning, set the tone, and we just never got to get our ability to bounce back, it had all to do with the way they played."
On the lack of ball movement:
"I thought they did a good job of being physical. Physical going to the ball, physical with screens. I just thought with their physicality and with that pressure had a lot to do with it."
On playing zone:
"That was a response. Again, when we knew we were going to have to switch it up a little bit, you know, Carolina is a team that has it all, they check every box. They are physical on the inside, they have outside shooters,and they have veterans. So we knew we could stand the game a little bit and going to have to play some zone but not as much as we had to do today. I thought when we went there we really kind of slowed them down, and in the second half we cut it down to about 15 and we got some momentum. But then we just again, too many turnovers, costly turnovers in the game, just counting the long way back up."
Jan. 13, 2024
Chapel Hill, N.C.
North Carolina: 103, Syracuse: 67
Hubert Davis
On Carolina's stifling defense:
"If we can defend, if we can take care of the basketball, that's going to put us in position to be able to be successful against whomever we play."
On the effort:
"These things go by quickly and I tried to tell them I would do anything to put that uniform on again, and so they have that chance and it's special to put on that uniform and run through that tunnel and play on that floor in front of these fans. They played with a lot of emotion today coming off an emotional win on Wednesday against NC State and I was really proud of their effort."
On the speed
"I thought our pace was really good. I thought the way we advanced the ball from defense to offense was at a good pace. We were pitching the ball ahead. We were playing point five offense where as soon as we touched it, we were shooting, passing, or driving. The ball wasn't sticking at all."
On the paint
"We talked about dominating points in the paint. As good as Syracuse is, they are limited in the front court. So we wanted to get the ball inside, whether through post penetration and offensive rebounding. Regardless of if they were in a man or zone, those were the things we were looking for on the offensive end and those were the things we did consistently."
On being composed
"With the schedule and teams that we have played, there have been a lot of situations. One of the things that I'm just so pleased about is this group doesn't get rattled easily. So in these situations, we can just get back to what we need to do and be able to extend the lead."
On playing with joy
"For me, having a front row seat to be able to see their growth, not just on the court but off the court in the classroom as well, is something that I find great joy in and it's very enjoyable to be around. I like when the guys are having fun and they have smiles on their faces because they are enjoying something that they love and they're doing it with teammates that they love. If you can check those boxes, you're going to have joy, and that's what our team has."
RJ Davis
On his career-high tying five steals and his defensive improvements:
"I think just knowing my abilities. I am a smaller guard, so just being able to be a pest and be aggressive on the defensive without fouling. I have really taken pride in my defense this year, and it is showing, being in the right position to get those steals. I am going to continue to keep working. It all starts with defense."
On the team's scoring abilities
"It's amazing knowing that everyone's gonna go out there and get a bucket. I think that is what is so dynamic about this team, everyone is able to score double-digits any given night. We share the basketball really well to the point where it could be anyone. That's what is needed. That's team basketball right there.
On his scoring hot streak
"My teammates do a good job of finding me. A lot of teams are trying to game plan for me now, but I trust my teammates. I just stay ready and knock it down when I get an open shot. It's all about me being aggressive as well, looking for my shot, and so far it's been working."
Harrison Ingram:
On playing at Carolina
"I mean it's the most fun I have ever had playing basketball. These are my best friends in the world. We play hard, we play with energy. We hate to lose and we're all competitive…and we like to win.
On the team's rebounding effort
"That's the main thing we were working on the last couple of weeks and in the last five games we java out rebounded every other team. It's taking pride and going to box out your man and get the ball. We are doing a better job getting the ball even though we are playing small."
On the team's performance after the holiday break
"I think it's chemistry. Every game we are building chemistry and we still haven't reached our final product…There are still some things, some turnovers, some missed shots, running the wrong play, or not knowing where we are supposed to be on offense and defense that we can clean up."
On playing in the ACC
"The crowds and how much people care about basketball here is way different than the PAC-12."
Armando Bacot:
On the team's goals:
"We are starving. We want to keep winning. We want to win as much as we can. We want to go undefeated."
"We all have one goal and that's just to win. I think in the past we have had different goals and aspirations. This team's main goal is to win."
On how Coach Davis coaches rebounding:
"Really just through punishments. That's really it. Everyday box out and rebound and if we don't, we run. We don't like running."
On the development of Jae'Lyn Withers and Jalen Washington
"They have been great. Jalen Washington came in and played a great game today and so did Jae'Lyn Withers. Like I've been saying every day, it has been huge for us having guys that can step up and play good minutes."
Jalen Washington:
On the team's consistent scoring
"Staying resilient stays the same with us. We were able to get second-chance opportunities, get to the rim and free throw line."
On the team's increased defensive urgency and efficiency
"We always need to make it our focal point to be a defensive minded team. Whoever is guarding their best scorers, we have to have their back."
On UNC attacking down low
"It was one of our key points and it has always been one of our key points throughout this year. We got Mondo [Bacot]…the best big in the country, so we just want to get the ball inside and work inside out.
Syracuse Head Coach Adrian Autry
"I thought today's game was started right from the beginning. I thought Carolina was a tougher team. This is the first time all year that we didn't come off in the beginning. They jumped on us, and they kept their character. They just kept the pressure up. They were very good defensively, and rebounding. I give all the credit to them, they came out in the beginning, set the tone, and we just never got to get our ability to bounce back, it had all to do with the way they played."
On the lack of ball movement:
"I thought they did a good job of being physical. Physical going to the ball, physical with screens. I just thought with their physicality and with that pressure had a lot to do with it."
On playing zone:
"That was a response. Again, when we knew we were going to have to switch it up a little bit, you know, Carolina is a team that has it all, they check every box. They are physical on the inside, they have outside shooters,and they have veterans. So we knew we could stand the game a little bit and going to have to play some zone but not as much as we had to do today. I thought when we went there we really kind of slowed them down, and in the second half we cut it down to about 15 and we got some momentum. But then we just again, too many turnovers, costly turnovers in the game, just counting the long way back up."
Players Mentioned
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