LOCKER ROOM REPORT: Wolfpack Players
Several NC State players met with the media following the Wolfpack's 72-60 win over Appalachian State Sunday evening.
NOTE: Click each player’s respective thumbnail to watch each interview.
Devon Daniels
“I feel like we’re really confident. We’re going to watch film on this game, and we’re just going to get ready for Clemson.”
“It definitely really helps for the whole team. If we see a big come up, we know we can just lob it up, and one of them can go get it. It’s really helpful. It makes us get in a good rhythm or flow because it keeps the defense off-balance.”
“Definitely. We’re always trying to improve and get better, but I feel like we’re steadily getting better every game.”
“We don’t worry too much about missed shots. We’re going to take the best shots that we can, and if it’s open, we’re going to take it. We knew they would start falling eventually if we kept shooting great shots.”
“All of us compete every day. All of us practice hard. With [C.J. Bryce] not playing, we just have to do what we do and win.”
D.J. Funderburk
“Regardless of the career high, we played good as a team. Two of my teammates had a double-double. Manny almost had a double-double. We’re just trying to build off what we’ve been doing in practice because ACC play is going to be hard this year. We just want to build off what we did last year because we felt like we were cheated, and we just want to prove to everybody that we’re one of the best teams in the ACC.”
“I think, right in the thick of it right now, we’re right where we want to be. We’re obviously getting better every day in the gym practicing in the gym and off the court. I feel like, in every way we want to be in, we’re going to be ready for Clemson and whoever else we have to play.”
“I’ve just never felt like I was a back-to-the-basket player, but I’ll play anywhere Coach puts me on the court. He put me at the four, and I just proved I could play the four.”
“I don’t want to give you all my secrets, but I’m just trying to face up, see where his eyes look, see where his feet and hips are set up, and try to take advantage of whatever look he gives me.”
“Guys like C.J., Dev, and Kell are really great at being patient when they get in there. When they don’t see something right away, they get it back out. They’re patient in there, and the bigs help up instead of staying down. They just leave me, Manny [Bates], and Danny [Dixon] open for over-the-top lobs and easy points.”
Markell Johnson
“We get prepared for every game. Our first game of the season was against an ACC opponent, so we kind of know the feeling of what an ACC game’s going to feel like. We’ve got two under our belt with Georgia Tech and Wake Forest, and we’re going to continue to improve.”
“Every game’s a dog fight no matter what, especially in the ACC.”
“It’s good to have Funderburk and Manny being in the paint and helping us out. Whenever we penetrate, they get open so we can hit them.”
“To me, playing with that alignment is crazy. I could come off a D.J. screen, and then there’s Manny coming. You just never know what will happen with those two out there at the same time.”
“Definitely. D.J. is mobile and very versatile. I really feel like he can guard one through five. He can guard everybody on the court. He gives us a whole different look.”