LOCKER ROOM REPORT: Wolfpack Players

Several NC State players met with the media after the loss to Georgia Tech.

Senior Forward Pat Andree

On his first ACC game as a member of the Wolfpack...
Got a lot of things to learn from. It was a great environment. We were there most of the game. We’re a little banged up right now, so we need to get some guys back. We kind of had a group of five on the floor that we hadn’t been playing with throughout the whole off-season.

We started off strong, and we have to stay like that for the rest of the game. I feel like we let up a little bit of energy, and we all started to get tired. We weren’t playing as many guys because some of us got banged up. We have to learn from it and move on.

On what happened in the second half with the dwindling lead...
Just let us up a little bit. We were upwards of 15 points in the first half and kind of worked it down a little bit, and come halftime we were up seven. Coming out of the half we knew we had to play it like a new half, and we were fighting for most of that second half. We were up three or four for most of that second half, and they chipped it down in that last media. That's where we have to lock it in the most and we have to learn from that.

On if the team was missing something with Markell Johnson and D.J. Funderburk out...
I think the guys who play give good energy. We all did our best. We all put it out on the floor, but it is different playing without those two guys. Obviously Markell (Johnson) and the great talent he is, he can make things happen himself just with his presence on the floor and same with D.J. We need those guys to come back soon. They’re getting there and they’re working hard.

Junior Guard Devon Daniels

On the final moments of the game...
I stole the ball and dribbled up the sideline. I thought I saw Manny (Bates) open. I should have kept the ball though. I’ll just watch the film, learn from it and next time I’ll keep the ball.

On trying to make a play at the end...
I wasn’t trying to make a play. I was trying to get past half court.

On early season mistakes...
It was the first game. We’re not as polished as we need to be: nobody is. We are going to learn from it, watch some film and get better.

On frustration of this game...
It was real frustrating. We worked all summer. We wanted to come out and get a win, but we’re going to bounce back and learn from it and get better.

On Coach Keatts’ comments to the team after the game...
He didn’t say anything about it (the play at the end of the game). There were a lot of plays in the final five minutes of overtime that we needed to capitalize on. We are going to learn from it.

On feelings and takeaways from playing shorthanded...
We don’t take moral victories, but we fought hard and we have to get more polished.

On the first game atmosphere...
It was really fun. The fans and the crowd were really into it. I loved their energy. They were really into it. They helped us out when we were down. They were right there with us.

Senior Guard CJ Bryce

On playing without two of their best players...
We are a little banged up right now, and we’re going to get guys back. We had some good looks out there.

On the progression of the game...
We played very hard. It definitely felt like we had it in the first half, and maybe had a little fatigue in the second half. We have to pay attention to those small details.

On James Banks III getting the game-winning points again...
It’s all a part of the game. It’s a coincidence that it happened that way. 

On Coach Keatts’ comments to the team after the game...
We have to get back to work. All we can do is go up from here. We have to get back to work tomorrow.

On maintaining play without key contributors (Markell and D.J.)...
They are two very big parts of our team. We were a little shorthanded tonight. Looking forward to getting those guys healthy.

On starting the season with an Atlantic Coast Conference game...
We had to prepare a little earlier this year. I feel like we came out and played a very hard-fought game. I wish we came out with the W, but we’re going to get back to work in practice. 

On if the loss stings...
No, not really. We would rather make those mistakes early in the season so we can get better and progress.

On having Manny Bates...
Manny (Bates) has been a great presence for us in the paint. We need that presence in the paint with D.J. Funderburk out.