University of North Carolina Athletics
Henri Veesaar
Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati
UNC-Syracuse Postgame Quotes
February 2, 2026 | Men's Basketball
POSTGAME QUOTES
UNC 87, SYRACUSE 77
FEBRUARY 2, 2026
DEAN E. SMITH CENTER, CHAPEL HILL, N.C.
Syracuse Head Coach Adrian Autry
On playing UNC and their physicality…
"Carolina set the tone at the beginning of the game with their physicality and their inside play… They started switching on everything… They were very disruptive and did a good job moving the ball from side to side… It was Carolina's defense. They pushed out, they switched and got on top."
UNC Head Coach Hubert Davis
"This was not a game between Donnie and Caleb, this was a game between North Carolina and Syracuse."
"We always talk about finishing halves, finishing possessions, finishing games, and that's just unacceptable. Syracuse is a great basketball team, Coach Autry is a fantastic coach, and you can see they're extremely talented, but the last nine minutes and thirty two seconds: just a departure of what allowed us to get the lead."
On closing games & accountability…
"The last nine minutes and 32 seconds was just a departure of what allowed us to get the lead — taking good shots, taking care of the basketball, executing defensively, defending without fouling."
On learning from mistakes…
"Mistakes are good when you can recognize it, admit it, learn from it, and grow from it."
On inconsistency this season…
"We have stretches of brilliance, and then we'll go stretches where we're making multiple mistakes consecutively, and that's something that we have to work on and get better at."
On focus and ignoring distractions…
"Your focus should be real on what's in front of you, and what was in front of us was a very good Syracuse team."
On team culture & what really lasts…
"The things that you'll remember here are experiences. I don't think in five years you'll remember the score of this game, but you'll remember why we wore those shoes and who painted them."
UNC Guard Johnathan Powell
On the mentality levels for the team tonight…
"It was more mental than anything. We need to have a mindset that no matter how much we are up, we have to stay consistent and focus on the little things that we did to get that lead in the first place."
On the importance of depth in each teammate's performance…
"I think that everybody on the team is capable of going out there and scoring double digits. It just depends on whose night it is, and really staying true to that. I think we stay together as a team, and not worry about who scores this and who scores that. And I think that our team can really go far."
On looking forward to this rivalry weekend…
"I'm looking forward to it. It's my first. I mean, I've always watched on TV. Always heard it since I was little. So being blessed with this opportunity to be on this team and to go out there and to compete with my guys, I'm ready."
UNC Center Henri Veessaar
On letting the lead fall dramatically in the last 10 minutes…
"We extended the lead, and then once we got to that 28 mark, we kind of let go. [We] felt like the game was a little bit over. And then [they] just started making shots, and we kind of got in a panic. We didn't stay calm. The situation just shows that you can't ever let off the gas."
On navigating the lack of calmness on the court…
"Just getting to the right places, when they start pressuring. The game gets there, the nerves get there. Just stay calm. Go through your spots. Just trust what's working. Don't make anything up on your own. Just trust the plan that the coaches are giving us."
On processing the win…
I think a big part of it is just knowing that when a coach gives you a plan, execute the way that they tell you…We can play at a really, really high level and compete and win against anybody, but if we lack focus and we don't follow the plan that the coach has given us, we get kind of hit."
UNC Guard Luka Bogavac
On getting comfortable on the court…
"I feel like the guys, they believe more in myself, and so that's great. Also in practice, I feel more involved with the group."
On what to take away from tonight's game…
"I think we have to learn to react faster when we miss a couple shots and we receive a couple baskets, I think we took a lot of time to react. You know we should be faster on this reaction. So this will be the key for us in upcoming games."
On what thoughts arise for the Carolina-Duke rivalry…
"For me, maybe it's the biggest game in United States college basketball, for sure. So I know about North Carolina and Duke for sure."
On finding team chemistry…
"I feel like we needed time to get know each other and now we're on good way".
UNC Power Forward Caleb Wilson
On losing focus late…
"We just lost focus, and really all I can say is we should have just kept focused."
On execution breaking down…
"Probably just poor execution, offensively and defensively; just not being detailed and sticking to what we did to start the game to get us the lead."
On perspective after the win…
"I mean, we still won. It's just something to learn from. Every game is not going to be a 30-point blowout… it's always on to the next."
On team depth and trust…
"It's big to have guys on the bench that you can trust to make timely shots down the clutch, and I feel like we just have that."
UNC 87, SYRACUSE 77
FEBRUARY 2, 2026
DEAN E. SMITH CENTER, CHAPEL HILL, N.C.
Syracuse Head Coach Adrian Autry
On playing UNC and their physicality…
"Carolina set the tone at the beginning of the game with their physicality and their inside play… They started switching on everything… They were very disruptive and did a good job moving the ball from side to side… It was Carolina's defense. They pushed out, they switched and got on top."
UNC Head Coach Hubert Davis
"This was not a game between Donnie and Caleb, this was a game between North Carolina and Syracuse."
"We always talk about finishing halves, finishing possessions, finishing games, and that's just unacceptable. Syracuse is a great basketball team, Coach Autry is a fantastic coach, and you can see they're extremely talented, but the last nine minutes and thirty two seconds: just a departure of what allowed us to get the lead."
On closing games & accountability…
"The last nine minutes and 32 seconds was just a departure of what allowed us to get the lead — taking good shots, taking care of the basketball, executing defensively, defending without fouling."
On learning from mistakes…
"Mistakes are good when you can recognize it, admit it, learn from it, and grow from it."
On inconsistency this season…
"We have stretches of brilliance, and then we'll go stretches where we're making multiple mistakes consecutively, and that's something that we have to work on and get better at."
On focus and ignoring distractions…
"Your focus should be real on what's in front of you, and what was in front of us was a very good Syracuse team."
On team culture & what really lasts…
"The things that you'll remember here are experiences. I don't think in five years you'll remember the score of this game, but you'll remember why we wore those shoes and who painted them."
UNC Guard Johnathan Powell
On the mentality levels for the team tonight…
"It was more mental than anything. We need to have a mindset that no matter how much we are up, we have to stay consistent and focus on the little things that we did to get that lead in the first place."
On the importance of depth in each teammate's performance…
"I think that everybody on the team is capable of going out there and scoring double digits. It just depends on whose night it is, and really staying true to that. I think we stay together as a team, and not worry about who scores this and who scores that. And I think that our team can really go far."
On looking forward to this rivalry weekend…
"I'm looking forward to it. It's my first. I mean, I've always watched on TV. Always heard it since I was little. So being blessed with this opportunity to be on this team and to go out there and to compete with my guys, I'm ready."
UNC Center Henri Veessaar
On letting the lead fall dramatically in the last 10 minutes…
"We extended the lead, and then once we got to that 28 mark, we kind of let go. [We] felt like the game was a little bit over. And then [they] just started making shots, and we kind of got in a panic. We didn't stay calm. The situation just shows that you can't ever let off the gas."
On navigating the lack of calmness on the court…
"Just getting to the right places, when they start pressuring. The game gets there, the nerves get there. Just stay calm. Go through your spots. Just trust what's working. Don't make anything up on your own. Just trust the plan that the coaches are giving us."
On processing the win…
I think a big part of it is just knowing that when a coach gives you a plan, execute the way that they tell you…We can play at a really, really high level and compete and win against anybody, but if we lack focus and we don't follow the plan that the coach has given us, we get kind of hit."
UNC Guard Luka Bogavac
On getting comfortable on the court…
"I feel like the guys, they believe more in myself, and so that's great. Also in practice, I feel more involved with the group."
On what to take away from tonight's game…
"I think we have to learn to react faster when we miss a couple shots and we receive a couple baskets, I think we took a lot of time to react. You know we should be faster on this reaction. So this will be the key for us in upcoming games."
On what thoughts arise for the Carolina-Duke rivalry…
"For me, maybe it's the biggest game in United States college basketball, for sure. So I know about North Carolina and Duke for sure."
On finding team chemistry…
"I feel like we needed time to get know each other and now we're on good way".
UNC Power Forward Caleb Wilson
On losing focus late…
"We just lost focus, and really all I can say is we should have just kept focused."
On execution breaking down…
"Probably just poor execution, offensively and defensively; just not being detailed and sticking to what we did to start the game to get us the lead."
On perspective after the win…
"I mean, we still won. It's just something to learn from. Every game is not going to be a 30-point blowout… it's always on to the next."
On team depth and trust…
"It's big to have guys on the bench that you can trust to make timely shots down the clutch, and I feel like we just have that."
Players Mentioned
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