CHAPEL HILL — North Carolina Roy Williams said earlier today that the N.C. State team the Tar Heels will play on Tuesday night in Raleigh is far different than the one that suffered a 74-55 defeat against UNC at the Smith Center on Jan. 20.
“The more you play together under a new system, I think with each week, you get more accustomed to what the coaching staff wants,” Williams said during his portion of the weekly ACC teleconference. “You get more accustomed to getting the shots the way that the new style, the new philosophy of play is going to help. And so I think the experience of playing that, every week, you get better and better.”
After losing at UNC, the Wolfpack suffered a 61-60 loss at home against Virginia but then won three consecutive games. N.C. State then led Duke by 20 points with about 11 minutes to play last week before the Blue Devils rallied – sound familiar, Tar Heels fans? – for an improbable 78-73 victory.
The Wolfpack endured perhaps its most disappointing loss of the season on Saturday – a 76-62 defeat against Florida State in which N.C. State appeared to be playing amid an emotional hangover after the loss against the Blue Devils.
Still, Williams on Monday went out of his way to compliment the Pack.
“I just think they’re more experienced in what Mark [Gottfried] and his staff want them to do,” Williams said. “They’ve gotten better defensively. To me, they’re better in every phase of the game. And you know, I hope that we’re better. But I do believe they’re better right now in every phase than at that time.”
Some other notes from Williams’ conference call:
--Both sophomore Harrison Barnes (ankle) and freshman P.J. Hairston (foot) continue to be affected by their lingering injuries. “They’re better,” Williams said. “I think that’s the best way to say it. I think as we talked about the other day, these things just tend to linger unless you’re to have a two-week break. And this of year you don’t have a two-week break.”
--That said, Williams said the Tar Heels had a light practice on Sunday and they’d have another light work day today. This will be UNC’s third game in seven days. After Tuesday, the Tar Heels don’t play again until Saturday at Virginia.
Comments
Ha !
Mon, 02/20/2012 - 23:07 — gvillegatrIf Roy really said what the headline reads - that's a damn lie. Roy getting into some K shenanigans if you ask me.
Good old Roy
Tue, 02/21/2012 - 11:11 — JPDOhioWhy in the world would he say that when everyone knows it's not true? Well, he knows there is only one way the Tar Heels lose this game. That is, if they come in too cocky and decide to just mail it in.
UNC has been solid since mid-January, with the 2 minute blip against Duke the only exception. In its last two games, State has been as good as it has been all year for 30 minutes and as bad as it has been all year for 50 minutes. What if State can channel those 50 embarrassing minutes into energy and focus to replicate the first 30 against Duke? What if UNC comes in believing what many of its fans think, that this game will be a repeat of the last one?
Perfect set-up for an upset and an Emily Lattella moment regarding State's NCAA Tournament prospects. Go Pack!