2017 Southern Conference Basketball Championship Presented by General Shale

2017 Southern Conference Basketball Championship presented by General Shale

No. 1 UNCG 77, No. 5 Wofford 73 March 5, 2017

UNCG Spartans Coach Wes Miller Opening statement “I was really proud of my group in the second half. We challenged them at halftime to raise their level of energy defensively to build out their pressure. I thought our three-quarter-court press was huge for us to start the second half. We had the energy for it, and we got a couple of stops. I knew [Wofford] would make some big plays. They are a tough team to defend because they always keep moving and keep screening. There was a segment there where I just wanted us to get just one more rebound. I am proud of my team tonight. They stayed in that next-play mentality … I am really proud of the way my team fought to win a really tough game to get to the championship.”

On the way his team played down the stretch “I thought we [played with poise]. We pushed [the lead] out to eight or nine, and we had some offensive possessions that we executed really well, but for whatever reason we didn’t make the play. We did not score, but I liked our execution. And then [Wofford] made some good plays on the other end, and sometimes that can be deflating because you executed, you got a good look, you got the ball where you wanted, and you didn’t score. And then [the other team] comes down and hits big shots, and the momentum can change. Our guys did a great job in staying in the next play regardless what happened. It is something we preach, we practice and we talk about. These guys really bought into it, and they executed that type of mentality tonight.”

On how he has changed the UNCG program “I am really not trying to reflect right now. I have told my guys all year that when good things happen, we are not going to reflect, we are going to try to stay in the moment. We are going to have plenty of time to reflect after the year, so we are going to stay in the moment right now.”

UNCG senior guard Diante Baldwin On his play tonight “I just wanted to come out and be aggressive and play as hard as I can. We have one [game], and if we lose it, then we are done, but if we win it, then we keep going. I just want to keep advancing and keep winning.”

On reaching the championship “This was our goal at the beginning of the season. It means the world to us right now.”

UNCG junior forward Marvin Smith Jr. On playing in the championship “Since we lost last year [at the Southern Conference tournament], we set the goal to come back here and win on Monday. We put ourselves in the position to do that. We just have to take care of our bodies and prepare for whoever wins [the other semifinal game].

The Citadel · East Tennessee State University · Furman University Mercer University · University of North Carolina at Greensboro · Samford University University of Tennessee at Chattanooga · Virginia Military Institute · Western Carolina University · Wofford College

Wofford Terriers Coach Mike Young On UNCG’s Diante Baldwin “Well you can’t prepare for that because you can’t simulate him. He’s an old guy with a big strong body. He plays off two feet so he’s not off-balance. What I’m most impressed with about Baldwin is that he couldn’t shoot a lick when he first got to Greensboro and he’s really matured that part of his game. That really makes him a hard matchup. He can get by you, get in the lane, turn and twist, and he’s athletic to get above you and make that shot. He’s a good foul shooter and just a good player.”

On how the game changed at the end of the second half “Our guys fought and did everything I asked of them. I thought we had a couple of great possessions that we just didn’t get the ball to go down. I credit Greensboro. They’re been a great defensive team all season. They have guys that know how to play and get thing contested. I thought they did a nice job down the stretch.”

Wofford sophomore forward Cameron Jackson On teammates coming off the bench “Every day we’ve been up here, we’ve been talking about coming together as a fist and playing together. I think when you have guys come in and do their jobs and bring the energy they did for us, it’s huge. We can’t ask any more of our guys. We played as hard as we could the whole time.”

Wofford sophomore guard Fletcher Magee On trying to come back “They came out and got a good run on us in the first half, but I knew if we played defense that we could get back in the game. I knew that I could hit some shots. I know Cameron [Jackson] could score some down low pretty easily. I knew we could get back in the game, but they got a couple big stops when they needed to. We just fell a little bit short.”