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ATLANTIC COAST CONFERENCE BASKETBALL MEDIA CONFERENCEFebruary 20, 2012Mark GottfriedCOACH GOTTFRIED: We're excited. Obviously, this is a big game for us any time that N.C. State and NorthCarolina play from our perspective is a big game. So our players have treated it as such in the last day or so, and I think they'll be very excited for the opportunity. Q. Everybody's aware of NorthCarolina's starting lineup and their four All‑Star candidates and so on. What impressions have you had of their bench and the contributions they make? COACH GOTTFRIED: I think that their bench is very good. I think Roy has done a very good job of managing injuries, finding the right minutes throughout the game for certain guys off the bench. Using timeouts or using substitutions around timeouts to give the starters some extended break. I think their bench is very good. I also think that they have been used very well within their structure. Q. Impressions in particular of James Michael McAdoo? COACH GOTTFRIED: Well, he's a younger player that's got phenomenal potential. I think he's gotten better as the year has gone on, like most freshmen. I think he's more comfortable or looks more comfortable now than did he maybe in December. I think he's been giving them some very valuable minutes off the bench. Q. NorthCarolina's size was a decisive factor in the first game. So they haven't gotten any shorter since then. I was just wondering what can you do to help offset that size this time and take away the huge influence it had like in the first game? COACH GOTTFRIED: We bought a stretching machine. We're trying to stretch our guys so we get taller. We're trying to stretch ourselves from 6'8" to 7 foot. You know, it's difficult because not only do they have great length, they use it in a very effective way. In other words, offensively. They go the offensive rebounds and use their length there. They can score over you with the basketball defensively. They alter a lot of shots. We've got to be creative, and our guys have to attack their size, especially inside, much smarter than we did. In other words, I don't think you can just back a guy down and shoot a normal, back‑to‑the‑basket, post move. And we've made too many of those attempts. So we've got to be a lot better than that. Q. I know you've had two very disappointing and difficult losses here. How do you judge the mood of your team right now? COACH GOTTFRIED: I think it's good. I think that we were obviously a step slow physically and mentally on Saturday, and that was disappointing. We have to be better. We have to recover quicker from a Thursday night game for a Saturday afternoon game, especially an emotional game. I don't think we handled that very well. But I think now, our guys are disappointed in how we played Saturday. I think they understand this is a big night for us, and I anticipate our team having lots of energy on Tuesday night. Q. In light of your personnel situation and the calendar and the schedule, is this the time of year where you're sort of tempted to dial back the intensity of practice, or is that something you really can't afford because time is, in fact, so important? COACH GOTTFRIED: Well, that's a good question. I don't think we ever dial back the intensity. I think our practices are very demanding, but we do begin to shorten the length. I think it's important to have fresh legs. But at the same time teach proper habits. So that's our philosophy this time of year. Q. Last couple games Scott Wood struggled from the three‑point line. He had a little slump in the free‑throw line. Anything fatigue or the way people are playing him, or is it just a normal slump of the way the guys go through it in the course of the season? COACH GOTTFRIED: I don't know the answer to that question. I wish I did. At times he looks a little fatigued. He's played a lot of minutes. I'm going to cut some of those back just a little bit. He's also sometimes been defended really well, and sometimes he's had some pretty wide open shots too. So it's probably a combination of everything. Somewhat of a slump, maybe a little tired and maybe a little bit how teams have guarded him too. So I don't know that it's just one of those. I just think sometimes basketball's a long season, and he's gone through some periods where he's been very consistent and here recently hasn't been as consistent. So hopefully that's something he can work through. Q. Is it easier to get him a little more rest now that Alex Johnson has hit a streak where he's playing very well? COACH GOTTFRIED: Yeah, I think so. I need to do a better job of finding the right opportunities to rest Scott too. Again, around timeouts, longer breaks, two minutes before a timeout or two minutes after a TV timeout where you get extended minutes. I think we have to do a better job as a staff there. FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports |
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