From Memorial Coliseum for Billy Gillispie press conference:
- That wraps it up.
- Says he’s not concerned about Patterson, no concerns at all. Any time you are out for six months, not going to be easy. Not worried about Pat, all.
- Says Smith Center is tough, but the thing that makes places like that tough is “the team that awaits you.”
- Said that the team did practice “probably 45 minutes” the day of the VMI game, but “that didn’t have anything to do with the game.” Said that over the course of the season, it makes the team tougher.
- On defense: “It wasn’t vey good.” Says the transition defense was “as bad as I’ve ever seen.”
- Says he only played eight guys Friday because he’s not yet ready to put the other players in a game yet.
- Says Meeks plays to exhaustion, and now fights through that much better. For him to become the absolute best player he can become, he needs to handle the ball a little better . . . and get four or five rebounds a game.
- Says VMI was quite a bit quicker than his team.
- Says the team is longer and stronger but not sure it is that quick. His team.
- Says he wants to play a little bit faster than we have in the past. Every time we get an opportunity to pass the ball to Pat we need to.
- Patterson’s lack of touches was about 75 percent the way the game was played, and 25 percent was that he did not respond as well sa “we’ve expected him to respond.” Twenty-five turnovers shows they did not handle the ball well, pass the ball well. But Patterson could have posted up better.
- Asked if Jodie Meeks could be a point guard. Says “we will do some things with him.” Says he was looking for someone to bring a calming effect, not necessarily from a point guard. Doesn’t think it’s a natural position from Meeks.
- Asked about playing on the road, says every year is a new year. It’s a new deal every time you go on the road. Some of these guys have never stayed in a hotel before for a game. Have to see how they focus, and they’ve got a lot on their plate anyway.
- Asked about point guard. Says it will be a tough task to play against UNC and its point guard. They do everything well. Thinks Michael was really nervous on Friday night, for some reason. Didn’t expect that. Had not seen that in practice. DeAndre is inexperienced player. Didn’t think that “we helped them enough. . . . We all have to help them.”
- We have to do everything better, says Gillispie. I have no question that we will. Have some inexperienced players who made some plays they won’t make again. Says he wants his team to be aggressive, and more organized, carry out assignments better. Says he’s disappointed in losing, but there are going to be setbacks, and you just hope that they don’t continue.
- Doesn’t agree that UK is catching North Carolina at a good time. But excited about playing them, even after getting beaten by VMI.
- Compliments Williams for getting the exact guys who fit into a particular spot how he wants to play.
- Says he didn’t think VMI’s speed is not comparable to North Carolina’s speed. Says VMI shot it fast, which is what they wanted to do. Talks about UNC’s point guard, experienced wing, etc.
- Asked about tempo. Doesn’t agree that Hansbrough is slow and that Carolina can go faster without him in the lineup. Says UNC has really good players, Williams has done an unbelievable job in getting “roster the way they need it to be.” Speed of the game is going to be fast.
- Says he wishes Hansbrough was playing because he’s a big fan. Doesn’t like to see anybody get injured. Came back after being Player of the Year. Said he hopes for a speedy recovery.
- Gillispie on Hansbrough: They’re down to four or five pro players inside then, instead of six or seven.
- Gillispie is in the house.
- Gillispie should be with us momentarily.
