ATLANTIC COAST CONFERENCE MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

March 9, 2021

Mark Williams

Duke Blue Devils

Postgame Press Conference

Duke 86, Boston College 51

Q. Mark, how important was it for you guys to get off to a good start, to get the tournament off to a good start. You got the game off to a good start, I think 10-2 right out of the gate. Seemed like that was a pretty important factor.

MARK WILLIAMS: Yeah, it's huge. It's always important to start quick. That translates to most of the game. I think we did a good job preparing ourselves today.

Q. Did you feel like you guys had a chance to get refreshed after the way the regular season ended? Because you certainly looked like a fresh team today.

MARK WILLIAMS: Yeah, definitely. We know that the ACC Tournament is a new season. We're 0-0, now 1-0, but we just have to take it one game at a time and go from there.

Q. What were the emotions of the team like the last couple of days as you tried to flush that game at Chapel Hill and get ready for tonight?

MARK WILLIAMS: Again, as I said, I think the most important thing for us was to just always remember that feeling in the back of our head of us losing, and at the same time acknowledge it's the ACC Tournament, it's a new season, and we've got to win one game at a time.

Q. Not just getting the win tonight and, like you said, going on to the next round of the ACC Tournament, but the way you guys played, the three-point shooting from really everyone, Jordan, Joey, everybody was hitting threes. How important is that to have played so well in addition to actually coming away with the win?

MARK WILLIAMS: Yeah, I think everybody played well today. Everybody was prepared. We were locked in from the beginning of the game on.

Q. I think you've hit something like 22 of your last 26 shots in the last three games. What do you attribute that offensive success to?

MARK WILLIAMS: I mean, my teammates just finding me in the right place. They're finding me in the right places, it's easier for me to just go up and make a shot or catch a lob or something like that. But yeah, honestly, my teammates, they were finding me in the right places. I tried to return the favor a little bit, so...

Q. With this being you guys' first neutral site game and then obviously no fans at Cameron, what was it like for you guys finally getting to play in front of a crowd of mostly your supporters?

MARK WILLIAMS: It's nice. It's been a while since I've felt that feeling. It's always nice to play in front of fans.

Q. When you guys are able to win the turnover battle like you did tonight as well as have as many assists as you guys did, how does that help the whole game and offense?

MARK WILLIAMS: You know, it helps us -- I think it helps us flow. You don't turn the ball over, you're in good sets, good continuation, good flow, and, you know, that leads to good shots. So I would say probably that.

Q. When you're sort of faced with what you guys are faced with and playing in the first round and wanting to stay here as long as possible and make a run, what is your approach to that in terms of taking care of your body? I assume you're trying to rest as much as possible. Was it important to be able to get off your feet there for the last three or four minutes of this game to sort of start the recovery process a little bit earlier?

MARK WILLIAMS: I mean, yeah, I think we're just all going to have to take care of our bodies. Playing game after game, it's going to be tough. Yeah, definitely just taking care of our bodies is important, getting rest and going from there.

Q. Today was your fourth game and the last five in double figures. You've been known for your defensive presence all year, but how good is it or how much confidence does it give you knowing that your teammates are looking for you more on the offensive end?

MARK WILLIAMS: It gives me a bunch of confidence. Them finding in the right places makes life a lot easier for me and for the team. So yeah, all credit goes to them.

Q. Just what you can say about the fact that your team was up on the bench throughout the entire game, just supporting one another, what that means to you and that sign to each other, that camaraderie, especially with the season that you've had.

MARK WILLIAMS: Yeah, I think that just shows how together we are as a team. We're all supportive of one another, and we all want to see each other be successful.

Q. What do you remember about the two games with Louisville as you get ready to face them again tomorrow?

MARK WILLIAMS: I think the biggest thing for us is just knowing our match-ups, being aggressive and being confident. Knowing we've lost to them twice, we have to remember that feeling in the locker room after that game and can't repeat that feeling. Just going from there, and then, again, preparing and recovering, all those sort of things.