March 23, 2013
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March 23, 2013 An interview with: As a team, they score the ball a lot of different ways. We just have to go out and compete a lot different than we did last year. Q. James Michael, I wanted to ask you about Withey, what you remember last year or what you've seen on tape this year. Is there a difference in how he plays? JAMES MICHAEL McADOO: I know last year he was still a good shot-blocker. But I feel like going into the game last year, we didn't really look at that as one of the biggest things we were JOE DALFONSO: We are joined by North worried about. But definitely this year knowing that Carolina student-athletes. Questions, please. they have him down there, I think he's, if not leading the nation in blocked shots, he's really Q. James Michael, when the lineup comfortable with that. switch happened, how did your role and I feel like he's great on the offensive end, responsibilities change? too. His teammates look to find him. I think that's JAMES MICHAEL McADOO: I think the a big thing that we just need to limit his touches biggest thing was playing the center position. I was deep in the post. going to have to block more shots and really pick up the rebounding. With offense, a lot of screens Q. Considering some of the places have to be set. Being the center, that's really one you've played this year, the reception you of my primary things I have to do on offense, usually get when you go on the road, is playing getting open. Now that we have four other Kansas in Kansas City that big of a deal? shooters on the court, it makes my job a lot easier. P.J. HAIRSTON: Well, I'm pretty sure it has something to do with it because that's most of Q. You're playing Kansas, you played their fan base. I don't know how far Lawrence is them last year in the tournament as well. What from here, but I'm pretty sure it's closer for are your lasting recollections of that game? everyone to get here. JAMES MICHAEL McADOO: I mean, it I feel like their crowd will be a big part of was a hard-fought game. It hurts that we lost. We their game. That will be like the sixth man on the didn't have Kendall, but we still had an opportunity court. to win the game even without him. MARCUS PAIGE: Yeah, we've played in They're a great team. They're not the some hostile environments this year. We had to same team they were last year. But it was a go to Indiana and that was a crazy game. At NC competitive game, so that was the big thing I State it was crazy this year, too. Even Cameron, remember. like it always is. We're used to hostile REGGIE BULLOCK: We fought hard last environments, largely against us. year. This year we're matched up against them It hopefully won't have much effect on the again. We just have to go out and get our face game. We just have to worry about what's back. It was a pretty good team last year. Like happening on the court. Mac said, they're not the same team this year. They have Withey down low, blocking a lot of Q. Jeff Withey said last night they're shots. North Carolina 3-23-13 1 visit our archives at asapsports.com mainly a defensive team, they did that last year. three-point arc. We had a lot of open looks we From watching them, what do they do on missed. Hopefully this year it will just be better out defense that tends to slow the game down a there shooting the three. little bit? P.J. HAIRSTON: From what I remember REGGIE BULLOCK: I feel like they play a last year, Kansas did make it an ugly game for us. saggy defense. They don't really get out and deny Like Reggie said, we did miss some shots down the ball. They try to make you get out of your sets, the stretch. That's when Kansas went on their little limiting touches to the bigs down low. run and expanded the lead for them and hit some Last year they just fought hard on the big shots. defensive end. They took us out of things we That's pretty much what I remember. wanted to run. Hopefully this year will be a better outcome. Q. Dexter, I don't know if it will be you JAMES MICHAEL McADOO: Like Reggie on McLemore. What makes him such a said, the first thing coach said when we were dangerous defensive guy? talking about them is they're the No. 1 defensive DEXTER STRICKLAND: I think you have team in the nation. They just do a lot of things to ask Reggie. He'll be guarding him tomorrow. really well. We will just try to limit touches and take REGGIE BULLOCK: I'm just up for the them out of what they're comfortable running, I challenge. I mean, I drew that assignment for the guess that leads to a lot of turnovers. They do a defense. I'm just up for the challenge to be able to great job of rebounding the basketball as well, just contain him. We have a similar game. I just have limiting you to one shot. to limit his touches from getting wide-open jumpers. It’s just going to be my challenge Q. For any of the wing players, Kansas tomorrow on the defensive end. I'm ready for it. has been beaten a few times or susceptible from the outside, three-pointers and the like. Q. James Michael and Marcus, you've Considering you do that pretty well, how do played some really good defensive teams this you feel you match up on the outside? year in the ACC. This won't be necessarily a REGGIE BULLOCK: I feel like we match big shock going against a team like that. What up pretty solid against them for the wings. We can have you learned since going small what this score the ball from the outside. They can score offense can do against quality defense from the outside. Talent-wise on the wings, I feel abundance? we match up comfortably. JAMES MICHAEL McADOO: Probably the DEXTER STRICKLAND: I think they're a biggest thing that coach really emphasizes is great team. We're a great team also. I don't think taking it possession by possession, limiting bad there's a disadvantage or anything. We just have shots, because when you're playing such a good to be ready to play. team, bad shots and turnovers just lead to run-outs for them. Q. Dexter, if it's one of those days So that's probably the two biggest things where the three-pointers aren't going down, is we've learned. Really just taking our time in there a Plan B? everything we do and just execute. DEXTER STRICKLAND: I think we're a MARCUS PAIGE: I would say being a good enough team to have another option. Go little bit more patient instead of taking early shots. down low in the post. With the shooters we have, I Being smart with the ball, driving, trying to set up think it allows the floor to open up, so myself, our teammates. We've been playing unselfish Marcus, being aggressive, going to the basket, lately and that's been helping. getting easy buckets like that, is something we can Against Virginia, we put up 90. We had do. some of our better offensive games against Maryland. It's not surprising to us to play against a Q. Last year against Kansas you really team that has a good defensive field goal struggled from three. I think you were 2-for-17. percentage. We just have to do what we do best, Do you remember why it was you struggled? that's move the ball, share the ball, and take good REGGIE BULLOCK: I felt like last year we shots. were missing open shots that we usually make. Like you said, we went 2-for-17 from the North Carolina 3-23-13 2 visit our archives at asapsports.com JOE DALFONSO: Gentlemen, thank you were scoring. We weren't getting it out on our very much. Best of luck tomorrow. break as well. We've had great teams in the past Head Coach Roy Williams, going to ask that could run the break after a miss and also run him to make a statement, then we'll go to the break after a make. We're not as good after a questions. make this year. COACH WILLIAMS: We feel very Their defense got stronger themselves. comfortable, very confident, yet we know we've got They got more physical with us. I'm not implying at a tremendous challenge in front of us. We're all it was dirty basketball, they just got more excited about still playing. physical with us. We shied away from the Last night was a very frustrating game at challenge. times, there's no question about that. We felt like We always say you have to face the fire. I we were trying things like you're standing on the think we backed up away from the fire for a long, sideline drawing plays up in the dirt a couple times.