C.J. Bryce: "I'll Take Us Against Anyone"

NC State redshirt senior guard C.J. Bryce will need to play well if NC State is going to get a win over Duke. He recently discussed the big game with the media.

NOTE: Click the video above to watch the interview.

What is it like to play Duke without Marshall Plumlee?
That’s how we start it off?  I don’t now yet, I haven’t played them.

What’s it like to be home after all these road games?
It’s really refreshing for us, coming off that three-game away streak. I wish we’d got that win against Boston College to go into it with more momentum, but it’s a great game for us to get back on the right track. I’m looking forward to it.

Coach said players don’t get into who they are playing against. They just want to play. Is that the case, or is their more juice because of who you’re playing?
I wouldn’t say it’s because of who we’re playing against, but we understand the opportunity we have with the conference being wide open right now.

We just want to play good basketball right now and obviously have a chance to play in the NCAA Tournament this year, but first of all we have to take care of the conference.

Are you playing with the level of urgency you need to play with at this point in the season?
Yes, I’m very satisfied with how hard we’re playing. Even with the Boston College game we played very, very hard.   A couple of plays didn’t go our way.

We have to prepare for Duke and be ready for the next game.

Defensively, how do you prepare for a team with so many offensive weapons?
Duke is a very good team... a very well-coached team with coach K. I believe in the guys we have in our program. I’ll take us against anyone in the nation.

How important is it to limit their transition opportunities?
It’s important. The point guard they have in Trey Jones is experienced, only being a sophomore. He wants to push the ball, get out, get those guys involved. It starts with him.

We have to take him out as early as we can on offense and worry about everyone else.