UNC-Tenn. St. Postgame Q and As

Following North Carolina's 102-69 victory over Tennessee State Tuesday evening in the Smith Center, the opposing head coaches, as well as UNC players Reggie Bullock, John Henson, and Kendall Marshall, spoke with reporters.

Bullock and Henson combined for 39 points in the win, with Bullock having a career high with 23 points, while Marshall had his third 15 assist game so far in his UNC career.

UNC HEAD COACH ROY WILLIAMS

On John Henson's development in passing the basketball......

"It's strange, because when I saw John in high schoolI thought, 'He's going to be a really good passer,' He has a feel for it. He has a knack for it. But he didn't show that his first two years. I think he's getting more settled, more experienced, and more comfortable, and he had some really great passes (tonight)."

On Carolina's defense......

"This team has got to do a better job guarding the basketball. We were silly on the last play (of the first half) because we always say we do a great job of our execution in the last play, but Kendall (Marshall) shouldn't have been in there. He should've been out on the wing. And we turned it over."

On the team's success shooting from the perimeter......

"It helps, to say the least. Everything looks better when the ball goes in the basket. I really believe we have good shooting from the three-point line with Harrison (Barnes), Reggie (Bullock), P.J. (Hairston), and Dexter (Strickland), and I really think it's important for us to have that as part of our game."

On Reggie Bullock's performance......

"I'm going to challenge him now. He had four three's against Boston (College last year) and then the next game he wasn't as good. You can't be up and down. You have to be consistent with it, and that's what I'm going to challenge him with."

TENNESSEE STATE HEAD COACH JOHN COOPER

Opening Statement......

"Well obviously they (UNC) shot the ball extremely well, especially in the first half. I thought they did so many good things offensively. They were going out in transition and knocking down shots, and when they can do that with the level of ability and talent---and playing so unselfishly and then doing such a good jo on the defensive end---it's hard to beat them."

I was proud of our guy because I was looking for our guys to compete, to keep working, and to get better. I thought we did do that, and obviously it's hard to tell when you look at the score, but I still think we were able to do some things to get better. We understand that it's a long season, and the goal is to get better every game."

On how playing UNC will help his team down the road......

"I think anytime you have the opportunity to play against good competition it helps. It helps build you as a group. It also gives you a standard to achieve to. And obviously that standard is very high when you talk about the Tar Heels. I think this will be good for our guys going against that kind of size and everything else.

UNC PLAYER QUOTES

POWER FORWARD JOHN HENSON

On Reggie Bullock's game Tuesday......

"It was beautiful. He's been in the gym the last couple of days a lot and putting up a lot of shots. I told him the Basketball Gods want him to put some shots up in their kingdom, and you'll be fine. I used that analogy before the game, and you see what kind of game he had."

SHOOTING GUARD REGGIE BULLOCK

On his performance Tuesday night......

"I just had to come out and just play my game. I'm a shooter so I know I just had to catch and shoot, and not think about it. The first couple of games I was thinking about my shot too much. I know coming off the bench I just have to bring something to add to this team and I know my shooting ability will open up the floor for John (Henson) and 'Z' (Tyler Zeller)."

On being more consistent......

"Being more confident and coming out and starting on the defensive end. Getting steals, leak outs, playing as a team. Once I start rolling on the defensive end, my offense will come."

POINT GUARD KENDALL MARSHALL

On eventually attaining the single-game assist record at UNC......

"If it do, it's great. If not, it's not the first goal on my list. I want to win a national championship. As far as individually, it would be a great goal to accomplish, and I wouldn't mind if I got it. At the same time, there are bigger things ahead to focus on."