UNC-Virginia Postgame Quotes

2/22/2025
NORTH CAROLINA 81, VIRGINIA 66
DEAN E. SMITH CENTER
CHAPEL HILL, N.C.

UNC Head Coach Hubert Davis
On whether or not there has been a sense of urgency since Clemson…
"Our practices from that point on have been different. They've been feisty, extremely competitive, and short-tempered. The competitive fight has been there and whatever ends up in terms of what it looks like, I feel like we're getting better. I'm just really proud of the guys."

On if Drake Powell has been getting comfortable in his position on the wing…
"I'm a position-less coach… What I recruit, what we individually develop, and what I play are basketball players at various different sizes. And so, you have to be able to defend and rebound, you have to be able to handle the ball, shoot, make plays. And so, you know, Drake's in the same spots– and maybe different spots– that he was earlier in the year. But you know, Drake goes from quote-unquote the three to the four all throughout the game. He checks so many boxes defensively… He can rebound, he can shoot threes, he can attack the basket, finish above the rim, get second-chance opportunities, knock down free throws. And I think the combination with him and [Jae'Lyn Withers] gave us a really nice, big, athletic lineup that really helps us on both ends."

On Jae'Lyn Withers…
"Yes, he's produced 16 and 11, but I think the consistency of his defense, his rebounding, his shot making, his play making… We need his experience. One of the things that I have told him over and over again– and a lot over the last two weeks– is that this team desperately needs his wisdom in terms of experience. He's seen everything. So, Ian and Drake, they need to see it. Seth and [Jalen Washington], they need to see it. Everybody, they need to hear it from you. They need it from you. And he's really taking that ownership and really running with it, and I'm just really really proud of him."

Virginia Head Coach Ron Sanchez
On the biggest issue coming back from large deficits…
"When you dig a hole that deep, you're going to be climbing uphill the entire game. Especially against a team that plays with that pace offensively and in transition. For us, we never kept the ball in front. We tried a couple different coverages and they were able to get downhill. And then we lost vision off the ball and some of their three point shooters. When we did have vision and closed out correctly, we ended up fouling the three point shooters. Something we have to look at and address and get better. We have to contest the three point line better without fouling. We have to overall get a better start defensively. I know we missed a couple of layups and a couple of dunks. Early on, those things are a bit deflating, but it was the proper way to play."

On Carolina shooting and rebounding well…
"Carolina has been shooting the ball really well. Jae'Lyn Withers in particular has been having a fantastic stretch. Contesting the three point line was part of the scouting report. RJ Davis has been a prolific scorer in this league for a long time. Guys like that have the opportunity and ability to make shots. We didn't close out correctly. Carolina's talented. Their guards are good. Some of the shots they made weren't wide open threes. Some were at the end of the clock, one-on-one, separation stepbacks. The best you can do is contest and try not to foul. Times we tried to be a little bit more aggressive, we ended up putting them at the free throw line after trying to contest a little harder. I think they are a pretty good shooting team. I think they are pretty good at putting the ball on the floor and getting downhill. I think they did a really good job going after rebounds and getting some second chance points."

Ven-Allen Lubin
On the winning streak…
"It feels great. We're just getting started. Knowing the potential we have as a team and the belief that we have, we can continue to stack wins like this. We have the confidence moving forward and have to prepare for Monday night."

On the commitment…
"The losses early in the season definitely took a toll on all of us. We want to have a remarkable season and the only way to do that is to continue to commit to the small details each and every day in practice and in games as well in order to seize what we want."

On Jae'Lyn Withers…
"He just opens up the floor for us. For me, for the bigs, and for the guards, to have a four who can stretch the floor out, knock down shots, and attack the rim that well has definitely been helping us all around."

On the team chemistry…
"I feel a lot more comfortable. All the credit to the guys just having my back. The way that we have each other's back definitely gives us freedom and confidence."

Ian Jackson
On the three game win streak…
"It feels good, especially in ACC play… We can go on a three game streak and hopefully kick start something. It's good for the future."

On Jae'Lyn Withers' recent performances…
"Even before how he's been playing now, he's been great. He has never let what's going on the court affect him personally or in the locker room. He is playing great right now and we need him to keep playing great. [Jae'Lyn] has been amazing."

On the boost in team confidence…
"We take a challenge defensively, we have been more locked in on defense and have taken more pride in it. Our preparation has been amazing, from practice to understand what's coming. It's been great… Seeing guys shots go in, guys having good games, we're trusting in ourselves."

Jae'Lyn Withers
On changes he has made in his play…
"I think it's just confidence. My teammates have been picking me up, telling me to be aggressive, if I see anything, let it go. They understand how well I shoot and how much work I put in during the off season, so I think they're just really emphasizing the confidence."

On what makes this year different for him…
"It's the last one. It's go big or go home. Trying to get everything I can out of it."

On his position in impacting everyone's performance…
"I would say it's just been not only the leadership that I guess I bring just being a six year player, but as well as me being more expressive with my emotions and energy. I think that it's contagious at times."

On how the team can keep the same energy and effort…
"Keep it up in practice. I think it starts in practice, and we've had a lot more energetic and vocal practices. We're held to a really high standard, just leading up to the back end of the season, and we're just making sure that we take care of the small things, making sure that the small things aren't really the issue."

RJ Davis
On how strongly they have played the last two games…
"I think we did a good job just buying into the game plan and I feel like the past two games, we've been bringing a lot of energy on both ends of the floor. I think it's kind of just been setting the tone for the rest of the game."

On what the biggest difference has been in their play…
"I would say our mindset and our intent in the game. We really are diving into the game plan. We've been having a lot of great practices lately. I just think our competitive spirit is there, especially the past two games and even this Syracuse game."

On Jae'Lyn Withers performance…
"I'm super proud of JWith (Jae'Lyn Withers). The past three games, he's been playing extremely well, from shooting the ball, from defending. That's something that we know JWith (Jae'Lyn Withers) is capable of, and I'm just glad that he's kind of just utilizing that because it's helping us a lot.

Drake Powell
On the team's newfound spark…
"We just want to find a love for competing against each other. We have a dog-like mentality in practice, so that has carried over into the games."

On playing the three and Jae'Lyn playing the four…
"Our coaches have a good scheme to put us in the right positions to be successful. So whatever they're trying, it is important to trust them the most and trust your teammates."

On starting off games hot…
"We have been emphasizing defense all year. We want to be fueled by our defense. With the amount of talent we have there, it will carry into offense."

Players Mentioned

RJ Davis

Ian Jackson

Ven-Allen Lubin

Drake Powell

Jalen Washington

Jae'Lyn Withers

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