March 8, 2002

Recap | Box Score | Photo Gallery

2002 ACC Tournament on TheACC.com | All-ACCess

NC State Head Coach Herb Sendek:
Opening statement: "We were very fortunate today to get brilliant performances from these young men seated to my left (Anthony Grundy and Archie Miller). The guard play and the leadership that Anthony and Archie gave us was simply outstanding. As they have all season, our younger guys have been able to gain confidence in every sort with their playing as well as their leadership. Today they were as good as they have been all season."

On outside shooting: "Certainly that made things a lot easier for us. I can't remember a team making 13 out of 18 threes. That was outstanding. Ilian, Anthony and Arch-all of those guys were really on target. We really capitalized when we had open shots. The guys have been really working hard every day and today they realized some of the fruits of those labors."

On breaking Virginia down: "They kept coming, it was a hard fought game. You get a real sense that when you're on the floor in these ACC contests how hard guys play and how much energy is expended. Virginia battled, but we were at the top of our offensive game today and made shots."

On Anthony's playmaking ability: "Anthony has that ability and sometimes it works out for us. I like it a little bit better when he doesn't have to work so hard to create one and it comes within the framework of our offense. He has special talents and gifts and at times he is able to bail us out of offensive possessions that are out of sync-especially as the shot clock goes down. I think Anthony's been at his best this year, more than any other point in his career. He's been able to score, make his teammates better and get his shots within the framework of our system. I think that's one area where he's really come a long way."

On the importance of Grundy and Miller to team success: "The performances, as well as the leadership that we have gotten from Anthony and Archie have been priceless to our basketball team. It's one thing to be an older guy that has some wisdom of nuggets, but it's another thing to provide assurance under fire like these guys have done, and still yet another to play really well. Today, what these two guys did in the backcourt, was nothing short of sensational."

Anthony Grundy:
"It has been a storybook year for me personally, but our team has done a really great job of sticking together and winning games. We've got to keep it going. It's still a long way before our season's over."

On playing Maryland: "We have to be at our best, we have to also maintain a consistent level mentally. The game is much more mental than it is physical. If we do that, it will play in to our hands."

On his shooting: "As coach said, half the time I don't know where (the ball) is going to end up. Luckily it ends up in the hoop more often. It's about knowing where my teammates are going to be. Our system is really good for me. It's just a matter of knowing where my teammates are and having the basketball knowledge that I have."

Archie Miller:
"It was a great team effort out their tonight. Everyone contributed, even the young guys, Anthony had another big game. The young guys really stepped up and now we're on to the next one."

On second-half scoring (three straight three-pointers): "In the first half, I played off other guys. In the first half, (Virginia) was really guarding against the three-point shot. We tried to put it on the floor and make plays. In the second half, we were really staying in the scheme of things. When the first one goes down, you always feel a lot better about taking the next one."

Virginia Head Coach Pete Gillen:
Opening Statement: "I am disappointed. I thought we had three good days of practice and preparation. Unfortunately we did not carry that over to the game. When a game gets very intense you have to keep matching that intensity. We didn't do that. They beat us on the boards in the first half by seven or eight and the game by nine. That should not happen. We are a little bigger team than them so we should do a better job on the boards."

"They got on fire and hit 13 three's in the second half. I can't remember a team I coached against hitting 13-18 three's. We got back in the game in the second half and then we made some turnovers on the break. We had some fast break opportunities and then had two or three turnovers. They came down and scored and that was the game."

"N.C. State played very well. Those senior guards (Grundy and Miller) certainly helped. Those are two veteran guys who have certainly been around. You have to give them credit."

On N.C. State shooting "I thought we played them pretty well, but we did not have a hand up. They were deep but we did not have a hand in their face all the time. You have to do that. We have to contest three's better. I thought we defended their offense pretty well in the first half, but Grundy just beat us one on one. He did that all year against everybody."

Roger Mason, Jr.
On performance by Anthony Grundy: "Anthony is the heart of the team. All year he has been doing what he did tonight. He is first-team (All-ACC) for a reason. He does what they need him to do. In the first half they needed him to score and he did that."

On possible NCAA Bid: "I guess I'm supposed to say no comment. But of 64 teams I think we deserve to be in it. We beat the defending National Champions and I wish we could have won today. It is like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Some games we are in it, others we are not."

On not winning ACC Championship during his career at Virginia: "It is very frustrating. I have a lot of goals and aspirations. This is the best time of the year for a lot of college athletes. I have not won an ACC Tournament Championship yet and it is very frustrating. But that is how things happen and you have no control over it afterwards."