Here are the post-game remarks from NC State head coach Mark Gottfried after the Wolfpack’s 81-66 victory at home against Wake Forest.
On the start of the game
“We had a slow start and they had a quick start offensively, but once we got our feet and hands moving, we picked up our defensive pressure a little more. For the last 16 minutes of the first half, we really defended well. It’s a good win for us and something we can build on, but we just need to keep improving on some things, whether it’s our defensive pressure, our rebounding or our offense. We just have to keep working.”
On the rebounding numbers
“We rebounded pretty well and Richard Howell only had five [rebounds], which is unusual, but a lot of different guys did a pretty good job. Our perimeter defense and our ball pressure helped us keep the ball out of the post. They couldn’t get the ball inside. Defensively, I think it was a good thing for our team.”
On C.J. Leslie’s performance
“He used his quickness four or five times to get to the rim. When he has some space, he’s a hard guy to contain one on one. I thought he had a matchup we could take advantage of.”
On the senior ceremonies for Scott Wood and Richard Howell
“One of the joys of coaching is to watch guys improve and watch them grow up. Even though I joined those guys when they were midway through their college careers, I think both of those guys have taken big steps in the last two years. When you’re coaching, we all love to win and that’s what you’re hired to do, but that relationship you build with your guys and watching them develop – it’s great to watch them have phenomenal senior years.”
On the team’s 11 ACC wins this season
“We’re taking some steps in the right direction. We have big goals. I came to this program with dreams of one day winning a national championship, and you’ve got to make progress toward that, and we’ve been able to do some of that. Hopefully this year we can continue to win and put ourselves in position to get into the NCAA tournament. It’s the greatest show on earth and once you’re in that tournament, anything can happen. Everything that has happened along the way is good, but I know what our goal is.”