UNC Basketball: Roy Williams, players speak after win over Duke

Roy Williams, Tar Heels talk victory over Duke

After a thrilling victory over Duke on Thursday night, one that saw the Tar Heels hit 11 three-pointers, out-rebound the bigger Blue Devils and commit just two turnovers, North Carolina head coach Roy Williams and his players spoke to the media.

Williams’ opening statement acknowledged his teams’ ability to knock down shots from the perimeter against Duke and having multiple players score in double-figures, but it also touched on the Tar Heels’ inability to hit shots with a three-point lead late in the game.

"“We feel great,” Williams said. “Winning is a lot more fun than losing. There’s no question about that. So many big plays that you could talk about, but we had a three-point lead and usually I’m not even watching the clock but when it gets down late in the game I watch the clock and the score, too.We had a three-point lead and we missed about 77 shots in a row it seemed like. You run a set play and don’t get anything out of it, but Kenny [Williams] penetrates and hits Cam [Johnson] out on the left wing across from our bench, and he made the three and I thought that was huge for us.”"

He also noted that the Tar Heels didn’t shoot the ball particularly well, but hit shots when they needed to. He was noticeably pleased, however, with his team’s assist-to-turnover ratio against the Blue Devils, dishing out 15 assists to just two Theo Pinson turnovers.

Pinson, though, despite a poor shooting night and four fouls that forced him to the bench in the second half, was paramount to the Tar Heels’ 82-78 victory over the Blue Devils. While he scored just four points, he nabbed seven rebounds and had four assists, two steals and a block in 30 minutes of play. His ability to defend multiple Duke players, though, may have been his most valuable contribution of all.

"“Yeah, tonight was one of those nights,” Pinson replied when asked if he ever gets to look around and appreciate the game. “You know you’re going to miss this. It was just one of those nights. Especially when you win it. Everybody played well, everybody played together and it was a fun night.”"

During post game interviews, Pinson poked fun at teammates Joel Berry II and Kenny Williams for the amount of shots they took in the game. Berry, who scored a game-high 21 points, took 20 shots. Williams, who hit six three-pointers and also recorded two rebounds, two assists, two blocks and two steals, took 15 shots.

At times, particularly late in the second half, Berry was the best player on the court. Despite struggling from three-point range, hitting just one of his eight attempts, his 21 points, six assists, four rebounds, two steals and zero turnovers helped lead the Tar Heels to victory over the No. 9 Blue Devils.

He also hit 6-of-7 free throws, several of which came in the game’s closing minutes, that helped North Carolina seal the deal against Duke. And his defensive effort against freshman point guard Trevon Duval was invaluable.

"“I’m a competitor and I take pride in this rivalry and I take pride in any game that I go out there and play,” Berry said. “He [Trevon Duval] went down and dunked it and even though it might’ve been my fault, it might not have been, I just don’t want to see that and that’s why I started picking him up full court and letting him know that you’re still a freshman, I don’t care how good you are, one and done, that doesn’t scare me. I’m a competitor and I’m going to come and compete each and every day.”"

The victory improved the Tar Heels to 18-7 overall and 7-5 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. They now sit in a tie with Louisville for fifth-place in the conference, hoping to finish in the top-four and receive a double-bye in the ACC Tournament.

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Duke, who now finds itself in a tie with Miami for third-place in the league, has just a half-game lead on the Tar Heels with seven conference games left.