WRAL Sports Fan

North Carolina

Williams assesses UNC's defense

By Dane Huffman

Jan 6, 2009

North Carolina coach Roy Williams said Monday that Boston College “totally outplayed us last night” in a stunning game at the Smith Center, but he also made some interesting points about his own team and its play.

“We didn’t play as well as we wanted to play, to say the least,” Williams said in opening the ACC’s media teleconference Monday morning. “They came in and did a nice job. …

“They did a great job and deserved to win and we’ve got to get some things going, period.”

One issue for UNC is defense, which was lacking at times Sunday night. But Williams, asked to assess this team defensively, expressed confidence in the team’s progression.

“I think that we were really good defensively early [in the season],” he said. “We hit a little lull when missed all the practice time in exams and Christmas.

“We were better the last week in practice.”

Williams said the Eagles’ Rakim Sanders simply had a sensational shooting game, and that UNC coaches felt he was well-defended on two of his three-pointers when they graded the tape.

He said that Carolina is even playing better defense at times than it did at the end of last year and said that Sunday’s breakdowns were related to UNC’s inability to force turnovers.

Williams said his three best defenders are Tyler Hansbrough, Bobby Frasor and Marcus Ginyard, and Ginyard has played only three games after preseason surgery.

“We don’t see him doing the things we’ve seen him do in the past, moving the way he’s moved in the past,” Williams said of Ginyard. “I’m not frustrated because I know the kid is giving me everything he has.”

Carolina plays College of Charleston – coached by former Georgia Tech coach Bobby Cremins - Wednesday night in the Smith Center. The Heels play at Charleston next season.