LOCKER ROOM REPORT: G Tre Holloman, G Paul McNeil Jr., and G Quadir Copeland

NC State guards Tre Holloman, Paul McNeil Jr., and Quadir Copeland met with the media to discuss the 82-73 win over Virginia Tech.

NOTE: Click the video player above to watch the full press conference!

Quadir Copeland on his performance...

COPELAND: They've just been in the right spots and, just trusting me. They told me to be stronger at the basket, I've been looking for them all the time. So they told me sometimes to be selfish and, take those easy shots, I guess.

So, I just listened to them and let them trust me and, just got myself up to the floor again. This question goes for any of you. Virginia Tech, they had almost 50 points in the second half. What were they doing offensively that made it tough for you guys to guard?

COPELAND: I don't think they really did nothing. It's basketball, like they didn't make their shots in the beginning.Shots gonna end up starting to fall, it's basketball. I think it was more or less on us, we got lazy on things and it was more or less our fault. It's like being lazy on defense, thinking we got the lead and just relaxing and things like that.

So, any good team gonna hit shots. I think we just lost our intensity toward the beginning of the second half and then we ended up getting it back once they brought the lead to six and things like that. So I think that's really all it was.It was hard on ourselves, but I like it. It wasn't, nothing crazy or nothing new.

MCNEIL JR.:Number two got going, basketball didn't run us in the end of the day, so we knew that. So that's just how it happened. 

HOLLOMAN: We gave up some rebounds too, some offensive rebounds. So I feel like we got to guard. Guards have to come down and then help the bigs rebound too. 

This is for Paul and Tre. Virginia Tech came in with the best three-point defense in the ACC. What were you guys able to do to get going, as a team, hit nine threes?

MCNEIL JR.: Just trust in our work. We don't worry about what other teams have going on. Obviously, we know that he's going to top block and try to run off the line. But we trusted work and, we dedicated these guys.

HOLLOMAN: And then just like staying patient because the ball is gonna come back to us. So, just staying patient and then, trusting our work. Just like Paul said.

COPELAND: The same way they got the best defensive three-point percentage in the ACC, we got the best shooting percentage in the ACC as well. So, like they said, we're trusting our work. Things like that, man.

Q, you passed the 1,000-point milestone today and 400 assists the other night. What do those accomplishments does that mean to you?

COPELAND: It's an amazing feeling, but, like, winning is the best. Of course I knew I was close. I was like, oh, I'm human. I know I was close to it. But it's a great feeling, especially when I'm a point guard and my thing is not – I always get myself going on the pass and things like that. So, reaching that, especially in college, it feels like the feeling when I reached it in high school.

It's that just feeling of just being a 1,000-point scorer, putting your name up in those books. But it's an amazing feeling, but I'm just ready to move on.

Paul, it felt like every shot – every time you touched the ball, a shot went in today. What was going for you?

Just my preparation and mindset. I did everything. I've got to hit shots. I've got to take this next step. And like I said, trusting my work. Staying ready, staying patient, staying solid.

You talk about patience. I know you were the only returning player from Keatts’ staff. To have moments like this this season, what does that mean to you now that you're finally given the chance this season?

MCNEIL JR.: It's what I pray for. It's all I ever wanted. Honestly, this is our – I feel like this is my time to show what I can do. And I'm close to believing in me, and that's all I ever wanted to do. So, I'm thankful for it.

Y'all held two of their leading scores to 1 of 16 in the first half. You know, obviously Hansberry got going in the second. But how important was it to limit them so you could get out to a lead?

COPELAND: Shout out to Jig. He won't – it was because of him. He started – he set the tone on why their guards was what they were in the first half. So, he set the tone. Switching on and off. Switching from a 6'9 guard to a 5'9, 5'11 guard. So, he set the tone. He going to be humble with his answer, but I'm going to let y'all guys know.

HOLLOMAN: Yeah, man. Just taking pride, in defense. Because I feel like this, like, season I've been slacking. So, I just want to, like, set that score for our, like, team. And, just work, man.

Quadir State’s on its longest ACC win streak since 1973-74. In that time frame, you're averaging about 10 assists, 15 points a game. Can you kind of speak on your development as a player and how NC State's been on this road?

COPELAND: Development's been amazing. I feel like this summer and things like that, just working out with my guys, staying working out with my trainer, JoJo, and just being dedicated to it, knowing that this is my last shot. At the end of the day, this is my last shot. This is my last chance to do it the right way.

So there's no excuse behind it. I know I have to tweak some things. I know I have to fix some things with myself. And, I just make sure I just took that step with them. I have a coach that trusts me and I got teammates that trust me. At the end of the day, it's not easy having a guy. And I usually got the ball in my hands at all times. So, that takes trust just for them to be okay with me even doing that.

And knowing I would get them shots, knowing to trust that when I hit them at certain moments that they're open and things like that. It's just trust on both ends. We're so connected. We've been like this since the summer and things of that nature. 

So, it's just, it's a great opportunity. But, like, this is not done by myself. This is from, this is because of Coach Wade. This is because of my teammates. This is because of the guys that work with me on this. This falls in line from everybody doing their part and making my part easy to do. So, I just appreciate everybody.