Wake Forest Athletics
Post-Game Quotes
3/10/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
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March 10, 2006
ACC Men's Basketball Tournament
March 10, 2006
#12 Wake Forest 82, #4 NC State 71
WAKE FOREST HEAD COACH Skip Prosser
Opening remarks
PROSSER: Most of all, I'm really pleased for our kids. We got off to a great start, but what's been really important these two days is that we've been getting contributions from a lot of people and not just the two guys sitting up here to my left (Justin Gray, Eric Williams). We beat a very good team, a top 25 team, an NCAA Tournament team. There's no coach in this league that I respect more than Coach (Herb) Sendek.
On Justin Gray's floor game
PROSSER: As I've said before, it begins at the beginning. Offensively and defensively, it starts with the point guard. It has been a revolving door at that position for us all season, which has led to a revolving door at the off-guard position. But we don't win the game either yesterday or today without taking care of the basketball and that's been primarily Justin's responsibility.
On contribution of Michael Drum
PROSSER: Mike and Chris Ellis kept us in within hailing distance yesterday against Florida State. Today, as is always the case, Eric and Justin get most of the attention, so it really helped us to have contributions from Mike and other players. Mike is a guy that we've had to encourage to shoot, but he is doing it well. I'm very happy for him. To grow up in Rural Hall (near Winston-Salem) in a Wake Forest family, and to be able to make a contribution as he is now is very exciting for him.
On whether playing on the first day is an advantage
PROSSER: There is some advantage to having played a game and getting the jitters out. But it's also one more game that you can lose. Given a choice, I think you'd rather have the bye even though there may be some advantage to playing the first day.
On facing Duke in the semifinals on Saturday
PROSSER: They beat us handily both times we played this season. They have a Hall of Fame coach and two of the premier players in our conference. They have a stupendous record in this tournament. We hope we honor them by playing to our potential. Duke makes you do that in order to even have a chance of winning.
WAKE FOREST SENIOR Justin Gray
On what the team is doing better this week than it was all season
GRAY: We've got more than myself and Eric (Williams) playing big in the tournament. That's the thing with college basketball - when confidence comes, you play better. Guys like Cameron Stanley playing big for us, Kyle Visser, Harvey (Hale) coming in. Even if it's buying five or six minutes, those are the things we need from them. I'm just proud of those guys, and hopefully that confidence will keep growing.
On his play at the point in the tournament
GRAY: I've tried to work hard all season, to try to just get better game-by-game. I guess it took a little bit longer, and I have a little bit more confidence at the position, but then again, I don't get assists if guys don't make shots. My job is just to try to get the best shot for Wake Forest, and when I give it up, my guys now are knocking down shots. Chris Ellis, Mike Drum, Trent Strickland - I have zero assists if nobody makes a basket.
On the play of Michael Drum
GRAY: I've been trying to tell him all year to be more aggressive. Like coach (Skip Prosser) said, Eric and myself get a lot of attention, so when we drive in, that's just the right thing to do. The basketball play is to kick it to the open guy, and a lot of times, he's been the open guy, and he's been knocking down shots.
WAKE FOREST SENIOR Eric Williams
On what the team is doing better this week than it was all season WILLIAMS: We have a lot of team chemistry. A lot of guys are playing to their potential. Like the great man always said, better late than never, and I'm glad we're doing it now. We just have to keep this team chemistry running.
On playing Saturday for the third time in three days, and what the team has left for Duke
WILLIAMS: You don't have time to worry. You can't sit there and think, "Third game in a row, do you have it in you?" You have to have it in you. So, playing against a great player like Shelden Williams, I'm going to have to wake up and just have a great amount of energy.
NC STATE HEAD COACH HERB SENDEK
Opening remarks
SENDEK: Certainly, we want to congratulate Wake Forest. They're really playing outstanding basketball. I thought they were especially good today. They were physical. Eric Williams did a tremendous job in the paint; we really didn't have any good counter for his tremendous presence down low. A lot of things revolved around his ability to be dominant inside.
Our guys obviously have had a tough patch here at the end of the year and a lot of attention has been drawn to that part of our season. I don't want that to take away from the fact that this team has played outstanding basketball and really enjoyed a heck of a season. So now our challenge is to rest up a little bit and regroup and prepare for the tournament next week. That's where our focus is going to be.
Our guys are still doing some really good things. In some cases we've played excellent basketball during this stretch. We've overcome some adversity with some health issues and hopefully we'll continue to heal and get better as we move forward into next week. We have a good group of guys who have consistently worked really hard. I can't tell you how hard they've worked in practice and how well they've prepared. It's not as if the focus or the intent isn't there. I really admire the way that they just keep coming and working hard. When you do that you put yourself in position to have a chance. And we've played against some excellent basketball teams. Let's give them some credit.
On how your confidence grows as you continue to advance in the ACC Tournament
SENDEK: I think you certainly can get on a roll, you can catch fire. Each day though, except for today obviously, you play a team who has also won a game, so that feeling grows on both sides.
On trying to get the ball inside early
SENDEK: Much to the surprise of many, we don't go into the game trying to predetermine where our shots are going to come from and how many are going to come from each area on the court. So much of that is a function of the defense and how they're playing us. When people are taking 3s, that doesn't mean our mindset isn't to go inside. It's not one or the other like that. It's important that we have balance and we do both, go inside, that we dribble penetrate, that we have all the fundamental concepts of an offense.
NC STATE SENIOR ILIAN EVTIMOV
On Wake Forest's perimeter defense
EVTIMOV: We know going into the game that Wake Forest tries to take away the 3. Therefore, we want to penetrate, go by their guys, make them play more help-oriented defense, and later on we will have more opportunities to shoot 3s. We do one thing to set them up to do another. That's the great part of our offense. Whatever we do, we're going to counter with something else later.
On getting things turned around for the NCAA Tournament
EVTIMOV: I just know that I have great teammates and they inspire me to try and get as healthy as possible. I try and do as many things as I can, within my control, during this period where I haven't been able to practice. I just want to give everything I have to the team and contribute in any way that I can contribute. That's part of adversity - somebody going down and somebody else stepping up. I think Gavin Grant has been playing great for us. We just need to have more guys playing well.
EVTIMOV: It's a new season starting next week. Everyone is going to be 0-and-0. It's one and done and if we have the right mindset, we're going to advance.
