Debbie Ryan Team Quotations

We started off like gangbusters and everything was going down. With us, it is all about whether or not we are making shots. We are a young team -- that is the way it happens.

I don't know what happened to us, but the doors blew off. Carolina exposed about everything that was wrong about our team in that one stretch there, and that was all she wrote.

I am glad to play at home in front of our fans. I would never be upset to play at home. I am glad to put this team in front of its fans. Our fans love this team, and I am sure they are going to prove that in the next couple of days. They love watching them, and they love being a part of them.

I thought defensively we did a really good job on a team that averages 83 points per game. I was very pleased with our execution at both ends of the court.

It is going to be exciting because we have a chance to win a championship. I think that is how you get them excited. This is a championship. You are not just playing games. You are playing for a championship. I think this team would like to prove something with this. It is a great opportunity for us.

Our team has to step up and have a good start. It is important, and it is going to be critical for us.

We showed a lot of character and courage in the first half to match them point-for-point. But we just seemed to get tired, or I don't know what happened to us, but the doors blew off and Carolina exposed about everything that was wrong about our team in that stretch. That was all she wrote.

The physicality of the game is something that you have to adjust to. You have to adjust to those things and this team usually adjusts to that. They're pretty good with the physical part of the game, but tonight I didn't feel like we were as physical as we normally are.

Our defense is usually pretty good. I'm pleased where we are now. This team has bought into the fact that if we want to win, we have to play defense.

They are a team that doesn't quit on you. They are very feisty, aggressive and difficult to defend. The clock was at a snail's pace at the end.

No team could get a rhythm out there. That's what made it an ugly game.