Jan. 24, 2013
Recap | Box Score | Photo Gallery
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Georgia Tech Head Coach Brian Gregory
Opening Statement: “I think North Carolina’s starting to kind of come into its own. They’ve got some guys playing at a really high level. Obviously [Reggie] Bullock is playing really well, and I think [James Michael] McAdoo is starting to gain some consistency. So, for 40 minutes I was proud of the way our guys fought and competed, but their defense sped us up and we lacked composure in some key times there. At the end of the first half, we did a good job hanging tough and hanging in there. We had a couple of opportunities to cut it to four or five, but we weren’t able to do that. They’re a good team, a very talented team, and they can get it going offensively. Coach Williams always says when they improve defensively, that’s when they become the North Carolina that everybody expects. They’re a much different team than the one that opened up 0-2 in this league with their third straight win, but I think that people probably saw tonight that one of the teams they lost to was a little better than people thought when they played them.”
On ACC play: “In this league, you need to be able to be aggressive but composed, when you play some of these teams that really deny and try to speed you up. They sped us up. It’s not the hardest thing to do against an inexperienced or younger team like we have. It’s one of the biggest challenges, especially on the road. But when you look at your two starting big guys had seven of the 19 turnovers. Sometimes your big guys get even more sped up because you have to use them to relieve some pressure. It’s something we need to keep getting better at.”
On trying to make a game-changing play: “We could never get that break. Be it one or the other, a big defensive rebound when we needed it or a made basket. The only thing, again this is no discredit to North Carolina because I think their coach has done an underrated job with this team, and before it’s all said and done they’ll be right in the mix, but we did miss some pointblank shots that we have to make.”
North Carolina Head Coach Roy Williams
Opening Statement
“We feel good. We played in spurts, that’s about the best part of it. We got off to a good start offensively moving and running the ball. Then we got stagnant and didn’t, but Georgia Tech – I feel for them. They’ve really gotten better and it’s just they’ve had a tough, tough opening part of the conference play. They’ve had by far the most difficult schedule in the league. They are going to be a load for anybody as the second part of the season starts.”
On if the team is improving
“I think we are close, I really do. I think we are close to being a good basketball team. We’ve got to finish plays more, and as I said, we’ve got to make more shots. No question about that. We had some breakdowns defensively. They shoot 33-percent [in the first half] and 39-percent [in the second half] and we shoot 42-percent [in the first half] and 43-percent [in the second half]. We’re doings some good things…The best news is – now I hope it’s in my lifetime – we can get a lot better. Like I said, I hope it’s in my lifetime but I think every area of the game we can improve on.”
On P.J. Hairston’s consistency
“Well it would be consistency if we got it [ever game], but we don’t have it yet. As you said, [he shot] 1-8 and 5-11 [in previous games]. I’ll take 3-6 from the three point line every time, but we’ve got to get the consistency out of him if he’s going to be the big-time player that we need him to be.”
On the team’s play in transition
“It’s easier to score when the defense is not set, and that generally starts with good play on the defensive end – either getting a turnover or a missed shot and running. We haven’t gotten established yet being able to run after a make, which our teams in the past have always done really well. But we haven’t done that really well.”
