No. 25 NC State's Ven-Allen Lubin, Tre Holloman, and Darrion Williams met with the media following the Wolfpack's 85-79 win over VCU Monday evening.
NOTE: Click on the video in the player above to watch the players’ press conference.
On Williams’ performance…
DW: I think it was more of a collective effort than me putting the team on my back. I had some bad turnovers down the stretch that could have cost us the game, but my teammates had my back, and we came out with it. The points, it's just within the flow of the offense, and Tre, [Quadir Copeland], and the whole team did a good job finding me.
On what was working for Holloman…
TH: It was just my teammates. They trusted me. My coaches trust me. I just put in the work, and the results showed it, but I had five turnovers, and [Will Wade] always talks about the six-minute game, so we've got to be better there. As the point guard, as the leader, I've got to value the ball.
On retaining composure during adversity…
TH: We've got seniors, so we have been through the wars, been through the battles. We just stayed calm and breathed, and we just pulled out with the win.
On Musa Sagnia’s contributions in the front court…
VAL: He was big, just being able to come out and just bring the energy on both ends of the floor: grabbing offensive and defensive rebounds and getting some stops on defense, He's just an incredible player that could really, really help us, and we really value him and the things that he does. We really appreciate him, so we just wanted to encourage him to continue going and to keep being him because it shows he put in the work, and we believe that he can do all things to help his team out.
On what this win says about the team…
DW: I think it's good that we had a close game before, like you said, we start this stretch and before we get into conference because most conference games are going to be close, and being in a six-minute game with a close contest is good for us.
On VCU forcing turnovers…
TH: They're a great team. They're scrappy. They press the ball, but I think that was just on us not being patient. We were rushing and trying to press, but we got them back on defense.
DW: I think it was mainly on us trying to make the hero play, or like he said, not being on balance, or just not being patient with everything.
On the offensive rebounding…
VAL: Well, that was one of our game goals coming into the game: to win the rebounding battle. We know that we're a little undersized team, but we know we've got the heart and the guys who can compete, who can block out, and who can get the rebound on both ends of the floor. It was important for me, knowing that rebounding is something that they see value in me, and it's something I want to come out every game, so I want to make sure that I do that. I want to help the team as best I can, and if that's dominating the glass, then I'll do it.
On the takeaways from the Rams’ ball movement…
DW: Follow the game plan better. There were some things we didn't do that we were supposed to do in those moments when they got to the basket or hit the 45-cut a lot. We’ve just got to play to our potentials better.
On the technical foul…
DW: I don’t know. [Jadrian Tracey] and I, we were just talking, just talking hoops, and I guess the ref thought we were being too serious, so he give me a technical.
On how to clean up the turnovers…
DW: Make the right play.
TH: Just be smarter, and make the simple play. Coach [Adam] Howard always talks about making the simple play, so proudly that.
VAL: It's coming in the next day just to learn from it, watch film together, and continue to work on it. That's something that Coach has always emphasized. [Also, we need to] take care of the ball, especially in critical moments like this. It's just that the great preparation that we need in order to take care of the ball and not put ourselves in this position.
On the message to Paul McNeil, Jr....
TH: “Keep shooting.”
DW: Paul will be fine.
VAL: “Don’t let this game affect you.”
DW: He’s the best, man… No, go ahead, man.
VAL: No, go ahead. I interrupted you. I apologize.
DW: Go ahead, man.
VAL: No, you got it.
DW: Anyway, as I was saying, I think Paul is the best shooter in the country, man. The team held him down, but he can go. If he was four-for-four, he probably would have shot eight or nine of them, but [we told him to] stay confident. He puts more working than anybody, and he'll be fine.
