March 8, 2002

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2002 ACC Tournament on TheACC.com | All-ACCess

Duke Head Coach Mike Krzyzweski:
Opening statement: "That was a heck of a basketball game. That is a tournament game. North Carolina was superb. I think immense credit has to be given to them for their preparation for this game. It was a well-conceived, well-drilled game plan. I thought we played really well in a game we had not played in before, this season definitely and last season either. I thought our defense was excellent and that is why we won. At the end of the game, to be put in that type of game pressure allowed our kids to respond. Matt had his team ready to play. I thought it was one of the finer games played in the 30 games we have played this season. Both teams played so hard, so well, so clean. It was a classic game. We feel very fortunate to win and go on. I'm proud of my guys making big plays to put us in that position."

What were you thinking after UNC's first few possessions? "We anticipated they were going to do something-four corners or open middle motion. We tried to prepare for that. We put in a couple of things to counteract that. I thought when we went up 26-14 we had a chance to change the way the game was going to be played. That was the only time in the game we didn't take good shots. And we fouled twice ninety feet from the basket. All of a sudden it is a six-point game at the half. If you make it a 16-18 point game you have forced them to change the way they played."

Jason Williams
On playing this type of game: "I think this game was great for us because this is a NCAA-type game. In the tournament, games are not going to be as high scoring. It is going to be teams that really take care of the ball and execute. It was just a really good game for us."

How tiring was it playing perimeter defense? "If you guys can see the way we have been practicing lately, I don't think this game was difficult because our guys are in really good shape. We just go out there and play each possession hard. Of course it is a little tiring at times, but I think we are in great shape and played that way tonight."

On the type of defense played: "We were out there talking. We were yelling at each other to stay down in our stances and get out there and play aggressively. I think Carlos (Boozer) was doing a great job in the back. He was in the middle and stopping them from all the back doors.

Carlos Boozer
Defense on Kris Lang at the foul line: "It is going to be less physical because you don't have to move your feet. After I got my fourth foul I had to adjust and I was playing a little less physical with my body.

North Carolina Head Coach Matt Doherty:
Opening Statement: "First of all, I just want to thank the seniors, especially these two guys (Kris Lang and Jason Capel). You might think I'm crazy, but it's been a great year. We came in that locker room, and it hit me that this group will never be together again. I've had people ask me 'Aren't you looking forward to the end of the season?' I'm not. These kids are great kids, great character, they never point fingers. They trusted, they believed, they listened and they led.

"We thought we were going to win tonight. We played as hard as we could. There were a lot of good chances during the year for our guys to quit and point fingers, but they never did. I want to keep coaching these guys and I thought we were going to get to keep playing, but we came up against a team that's a great team and they made great plays down the stretch. Turnovers got us again early. They had 17 more shots at the basket than we did."

On the slowed pace of play: "It was a flashback of how this game was played. These guys aren't old enough, but I remember it. I remember a game at Duke when it was 7-0 at halftime. You don't want to have to play this way, but it was our best chance to win. Our games previously showed that we struggled with the tempo and the pressure. This week our team dedicated to changing our style of play. These guys listened, believed and trusted, and they just about pulled it off. I thought before we played Duke last week, we needed to do this, but we couldn't do it in two days. We had too quick a turnaround before last time we played. After the regular season, we had a longer break.

"Our coaching staff had come up with some things to do and we met for a whole night and the next morning. I talked to Jason about it first and he said 'Let's do it, I'm with you.' We put in some new plays and again they believed in it.

Jason Capel
On the end of his career: "I really don't think it's hit me yet that my career is over. I still see the guys, I've still got my uniform on, so I really don't think it's hit me yet. It's been a tough season, but we stuck together. We continued to believe in one another. I've had a great career here, I've made so many friends, I've had so many memories, so many great times on and off the floor and I've been coached by great coaches. I just feel blessed. It's a dream come true for me."

On what he knows about the four corners: "Playing for Coach Ford-he's going to tell you about his stuff every day. We've heard it all. We heard about his career every day."

Kris Lang
On the end of his career: "It was very emotional for me. It's already hit me once and I imagine it will hit me again back at the hotel. Right now I'm just trying to smile and enjoy the moment."

On the Duke bench and players talking with him after the game and the rivalry: "That showed a lot of respect for Duke, they're a class act. Coach K is a great guy, along with the players. It's just a rivalry the media goes with on the games, but off the court we're friends. We hang out in the summer time and play our pickup games. It's been a blessing playing with those guys, they're a great bunch of guys and they're very good on the court."