LOCKER ROOM REPORT: Wolfpack Players
NC State's D.J. Horne, Dennis Parker, Jr., Jayden Taylor, and D.J. Burns, Jr. met with the media following the Wolfpack's 81-67 win over Tennessee-Martin Tuesday evening.
Horne led the way offensively with 22 points on 7-for-12 shooting from the floor, 6-for-10 from three-point range, while adding three assists and three rebounds. Parker picked up a double-double with 14 points and 10 boards to go along with one assist and one steal. Taylor tacked on 13 points, five rebounds, three steals, and one assist. Burns joined Parker in the double-double club, scoring 10 points and pulling down 12 rebounds while also tallying five blocks, four assists, and one steal.
NOTE: Click on each player’s respective thumbnail to watch each interview in the player above.
D.J. Horne
“I felt like I started getting hot, and my teammates did a good job of finding me in position to score. After I saw a fuse go off, my confidence level started to raise.”
“They’re definitely a tough team. We’re going to have to bring our A game. They’ve got some very talented guys. We’re going to have to come with everything we have.”
“It can be tough. As a veteran guy, that’s where I have to step in and try to help some of the younger guys stay locked in. It’s mostly a mental thing when this time comes around. People want to go see family. Guys who aren’t from the area miss home, especially for the holidays. We just try to stay locked in and remember we have a job to do."
Dennis Parker, Jr.
“We’ve got to study and focus on the game in the same night. For me, it was an adjustment. It was something I wasn’t used to in my first year. Most of these guys have been through it.”
“It can a little bit. I’m a big Christmas guy. You can get distracted, but that’s only if you let yourself get distracted. We’ll handle it just like the Vanderbilt situation. We can go to different places and play basketball; regardless of the area, we’ll play our game.”
“I know they’re a Top 25 team. They’ve got some pretty good players and a national player of the year candidate. We’re just going to go play basketball."
Jayden Taylor
“The feeling of getting a ranked win should be enough motivation. We’ve got a ranked opponent and a big opportunity. That should be enough.”
“Exams just finished, so we don’t have class anymore. We can just focus on basketball right now. That’s the good part, and it’s fun to be able to go home soon and see family. We’ve got games, too, and we get to go home for Christmas, so it’ll be fun.”
“[Parker] works hard in practice everyday. I’m happy for him. Seeing him succeed is special."
D.J. Burns, Jr.
“There’s a lot going on right now. We’re just waiting for the comedown.”
“We’re always fired up. Like I said, there’s a lot going on. It’s getting harder to adjust. We’re taking finals every single day of the week. We’ve got scouting. We’ve got to do everything that we’re doing plus study for four extra hours more than usual. We’re passing out.”
“It’s been too long. It does feel good to be back in the crib. It’s always good to be back home. Commissioner Burns wants more home games. We need to figure out how to make that happen."