North Carolina State University Athletics
NC State-Fairleigh Dickinson Coaches Quotes
1/3/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
JIM VALVANO, NC State head coach
"Yes, Terry (Gannon) is a pretty fine shooter. I told him after our last practice I was going to give him a lot of playing time. I have great confidence in his shooting ability. Some players play like they practice, and some don't when the lights go on. He's the kind that plays like he practices, and he's been playing well in practice. I just gave him his opportunity. He figures when he's on a roll, he can throw it iin from Apex. I believe he can, too.
"Clemson scouted us tonight. If I were them, I'd put somebody on Whitt, and someone on Terry and make us score from inside.
"Give Fairleigh Dickinson a lot of credit for the way they come after you. Coach Feeley has done a fine job. They were only one game away from the NCAA Tournament last year. They have a nice club.
"We've got a tough road ahead of us with Clemson Friday, at Missouri on Sunday and then Virginia on Wednesday. I'm not mentioning Georgia Tech and North Carolina, who follow those three. I think it's a very demanding schedule. I don't know when's the last time we've won at Clemson. I know I've never won down there.
"I've really been pleased with our play against Michigan State, Louisville and West Virginia. We've been pretty consistent. We have to stay that way. We can't get too high after a win, and we can't get too down after a loss. We'll have to be exceptional to come away with Ws in our next three games.
"Yes, Bailey has played well on defense. He's been blocking a lot of shots. But he's got to be careful. When you're blocking a lot of shots, you can get exuberant and have a tendency to foul. I've got to talk to him and make sure he doesn't get into early foul trouble. We can't afford that."
J. DONALD FEELEY, Fairleigh Dickinson head coach
"I think North Carolina State shoots a lot better than Valvano did when he was at Rutgers. I guess it was a mistake for us to agree to play the 3-pointer. They've been practicing. It seemed like their baskets counted three points and ours two.
"We've played most of the top teams in the country now and according to the Feeley poll NC State is No. 1. They were just too big and strong for us to handle inside.
"I didn't think we played that poorly. At least we forced them to call a timeout in the second half. I think that's a positive sign for us. I wish he waited a little longer. Our season starts now. Our first conference game is Saturday night at home and I think our guys will be ready. We're already a game better than most people thought we would be at this time."
NOTES
Thurl Bailey and Dereck Whittenburg joined the 1,000-point club in tonight's game. Whittenburg's 21 points boosted his career total to 1,013 and Bailey's 16 hiked his total to 1,001. ... State's 111 points is the most for a Wolfpack team since the third game of the 1975-76 season when State defeated UNC-Asheville, 111-60. ... Terry Gannon's 17 points is his career high, his previous best was nine versus Clemson last year. Myers' 22 was also his career high since enrolling last fall.
