March 16, 2006
North Carolina Head Coach Roy Williams
On the biggest difference from last year
"Last year's team was so much more familiar with everything. We had gone the year before. I had challenged them to work over the off-season to have a chance to be the last team standing. That team had a legitimate goal and that focus the entire time. Now this is the start of it. Everything is new to them. We have dreams and hopes. We're still going to have those. The kids are going to be wide-eyed, bushy- tailed for a little while. We've got to let them have a little fun but at the same time make sure they are focused and understand what's important."
On Tyler Hansbrough not getting into foul trouble often
"I hope he can continue to do that here. We do make some substitutions. There have been times where we've gone zone to try to help protect him. He has a tremendous understanding that you can't play, you can't score or rebound or any of those things when you're in foul trouble, sitting on the sidelines. He makes good decisions. The other thing is we practice all the time to not foul. We practice playing defense without fouling. Some kids do a better job than others. Nick Collison who played for me at Kansas, we use to do that. I watch him in the NBA now, and he has three fouls before they finish the National Anthem. Tyler really does a nice job, and we try to focus on it."
What are your plans for tomorrow (Friday)?
"9:30 tomorrow night makes it a long day. We'll have a shoot around. I'll go for a nice brisk walk. Brisk meaning the temperature, not my pace. I'll try to be outside a little bit to get a lot of fresh air. Other than that, try to enjoy the games a little bit. I'll probably watch a little bit of a game, take a 10-minute nap, watch a little bit of another game, take a 10-minute nap. If I watch five games, that's five 10-minute naps. That's a pretty good day."
On the younger players being in the tournament for the first time
"We try to continue to play and focus the way we've been doing all year. It's worked okay so far. The tournament is different. Guys have been laying around watching games all day. I still think the basic thing is to try and prepare yourself the way you have prepared yourself all year and do the best you can and go from there."
How do you feel about the off-site practice?
"I don't like what we're doing. I've brought that up to the committee. 40 minutes is too short to get things accomplished. Now you practice 40 and you gotta stay the whole 40. It is a farce what we have to do out there, but practice this morning was good. We got some things accomplished. Here, we'll let the guys see what this gym looks like. They haven't been in too many gyms, so this will be good for them."
Upperclassman given enough credit?
"I don't know that they have gotten the recognition that they have deserved. I think that they have done a marvelous job for us. They have been great leaders. I have said before David [Noel] may be the best leader I have ever been around. Both of those kids [Noel and Reyshawn Terry], in addition to Wes [Miller], have had great moments for us, and they have done a big-time job of leading our team.
On this being Roy's fourth time in Dayton
"I'm pretty old, but I think it is just my fourth time. This is the fourth time we're 5-1. I'd like to have that the rest of my career. Winning five out of every six games would be good. The media had convinced me we were going to Greensboro (NC), so I believed those guys. I was a little surprised, but at the same time I always felt like you have to go play wherever they send you. I knew we had had some success here. I remember the restaurants. I've had good memories here. The people here in town do a great job with the tournament. Everybody around it - the workers, the ushers, everyone's been really nice. They have done this a few times before, and they have done it well enough that people keep asking them to do it again. So I think that is a pretty good compliment. It all boils down to how we play on the court. The people here have supported the regionals that they have had and have really done a nice job."
Senior Forward David Noel
On defending their title
"I wouldn't necessarily call it a title defense, because no one can take away from what we got last year. It will always be a part of our lives. We want to start a new journey, and hopefully we will get the same results as last year."
What they know about Murray State
"Before the tournament we knew nothing about them, now we know a lot more. Defensively, we need to be aware of their guys, like Shawn Witherspoon and Keith Jennifer. I think he leads the team in assists, and I'll be matched up with him. It's definitely a situation now where we are more aware of them and their capabilities."
On remembering Keith Jennifer
"Yes, I definitely remember him. He gave us fits at Virginia. He is a hard guy to stay in front of, very good; and we definitely have to buckle down and play defense. Watching film, he is able to break down defenses and handles the ball very well. For the most part, we have to stay in front of him and play defense."
On starting a journey tomorrow
"I told most of the guys `look, it's one loss and your gone now, so we can't afford to make the little mistakes that we have been making all season and during the Boston College game.' We have to take little pieces out of that game and turn it around. For the most part, we have to execute the best way we can on every night and day, and play the way we have all year."
Plans for tomorrow while waiting to go to the arena for the game
I'm going to sit around and play the Play Station and try to stay relaxed; [any particular game] `Knockout Round 3'; it's a boxing game. Try to stay away from watching basketball on TV."
On Tyler being goofy
"Psycho T, that's Tyler. He is a great dude and a pleasure to have around in the locker room, especially in the weight room. He has this thing where he [impersonates someone doing arm curls]. He is definitely a character and keeps the locker room up at times."
Freshman Forward Tyler Hansbrough
On Murray State's inside presence
"I don't think our game plan is to get people in foul trouble. We try to do the little things, do well and play our game. The ACC gets a lot of good post players, and there's a lot I could name and we will be ready to play inside tomorrow night."
On David Noel's leadership
"David has shown a lot to me by being a leader. He never gets discouraged or mad at us, always tries to lead us and tells us what to do. He really takes on the role of being a leader."
Plans for tomorrow while waiting to go to the arena for the game
"I like to not sleep all day. We have shoot around, a chance to get loose. Stretching will help us. Then, we will concentrate and watch game film and then prepare for the game tomorrow night."
On playing in a high level at every phase of amateur basketball
"This is a lot different than situations I've been in before. I've never been in the NCAA tournament, but I'm going to have to not get too nervous and try to stay calm and look at every opponent as a quality opponent and use my technique to try and raise the bar."
On having only fouled out of one game this season and avoiding foul trouble
"It's something I concentrate on throughout the game. I'm always trying to keep count of how many fouls I have and be aware of the situation I'm in and avoid fouls."
