NCAA MEN'S FINAL FOUR

March 29, 2000

Dick Bennett

Billy Donovan

Bill Guthridge

Tom Izzo

COACH DICK BENNETT: For the benefit of the others, Tony is my son, and he played for me at Green Bay. He played three years with the Hornets, got bad knees and then played over in New Zealand and decided he might want to coach so we brought him back as a manager. And he and his wife, Laurel, graduate of LSU, I might add, are living with us and he's trying to decide whether he's going to go into coaching. He's just a good guy because he's honest with me. If he thinks I'm overdoing it, he'll tell me that. If he thinks I'm underdoing it, he'll tell me that. And he's had to learn what it means to be manager. When I told him the first time to pass the water, he passed it to the players and he drank it, but he's been great to have.

COACH DICK BENNETT: Torreano Smith is doing well. He's going to graduate in May. Talked to him just last week. He lived with my wife and I for about two months, and we were able to get him enrolled at Parkside and he played -- we petitioned the NCAA to get him another year, and he was unable to get that, but he played two years at Parkside. This year he was unable to play, but he's finishing up and will graduate. That's one graduation ceremony I'm going to do everything in my power to attend.

COACH TOM IZZO: (inaudible) ... out the window anymore. I said that three or four years ago. I think the team systems has been one factor, just better college basketball, to put more money into basketball. When you start having eight seeds that are Utah Wisconsin, North Carolina, Kansas, I said all along I was never concerned about having a No. 1 seed because I knew that the road there would be very difficult. And I just think this is going to become the norm, not the exception, because there are so many good teams. It's difficult to play, and I think this is what you're going to see now from here on out.

COACH DICK BENNETT: And I agree totally with Tom, because, you know, for all the reasons that -- things he said, but also, you know, these young fellows have been watching basketball now for a long time, and just the basketball world has shrunk, I think. Kids from small towns are doing the things that kids in the city do. The East and the West Coast are much closer together. I remember when they said they didn't play ball down in Texas, in the warm weather states, that's all been changed. So parity, really, has come about. There are certain teams that are better than others, but the top has moved closer to the bottom or vice versa.

COACH TOM IZZO: There is more interest and I think it's a tough trend right now in my mind because people want to see the elite programs that have been there for all the years. They just aren't used to this new change, but I think in the long run it should be better.

COACH DICK BENNETT: I agree totally. It's -- you know, I think the NCAA Tournament or men's college basketball is the most competitive amateur sport in the world, without question in my mind. 320 schools, all of whom have a chance at the prize. And you need a few good players to build a little nucleus, and you can compete for it. And I don't know how that could be anything but wholesome.

COACH DICK BENNETT: Yeah, he's both of those. He really has a mind set, every team he practices or plays, and sometimes you've got to, you know, pull open the blinders a little bit so he can see a little bit to the sides, too. But he's just a very determined guy. He's a task-oriented guy who sets goals. He's that way with his studies. He's an exceptional student, and a joy to have around because you tell him something once and his mind is kind of like a steel trap; he remembers it, tries to do his best all the time.

COACH DICK BENNETT: It's a testimony to my stupidity because he tried to walk on here after his first year at St. Cloud and I wouldn't let him; talked him into going back there. Then tried to do it the second year, and he decided to come anyhow without a scholarship. And I've got a great eye for talent, obviously, but he just -- he's a hard worker and he can do the one thing that sets people apart, I think, with the three point line is he can shoot the ball.

COACH DICK BENNETT: Well, I'm not so sure. I thought we'd do a little more than that. I think because the perception of us playing ugly is -- it's been kind of a buzz word, I guess, for a few years and when we lose, I guess it's really ugly. You know, I have always thought that working for good shots and trying to play team defense and taking care of the ball was sort of the way you had to play, and if you have some limitations, probably you stay closer to that model, and maybe it eliminates some of the more exciting plays. But I think that's sound; is that if it means it's ugly, then so be it. We have always felt -- maybe he's referring to the past. We felt we had to be in the game defensively at first so perhaps that's why we focus on the other team's offensive abilities initially.

COACH TOM IZZO: I agree 100% (inaudible) -- I grew up knowing Coach Bennett and just like he said, defense wins championships. And now I've attended a school that has a great hockey program and a great football program, I really don't think it changes no matter what the sport is. And, you know, I think they look at it as Wisconsin, and everybody says, well, they don't have the players that some other -- I've recruited a couple of those guys. Andy Kowske we died to have (inaudible) in a long way, I think every good coach from North Carolina to Kansas (inaudible) puts a lot into the defense and I know we watch film. We watch a lot more of the opponent's offense and defense more than anything else, too.

COACH TOM IZZO: (inaudible) -- quite often, and I haven't really spent much time on them now. My assistants start the day looking more at them and the other teams in the tournament, but I think they do have a very athletic team. I think they are very deep, as you say. The advantage I think we have in our conference is we play all kinds of teams, some are bigger, some are smaller more athletic. But we've had a chance to play different kinds of teams and one of the reasons we scheduled such a tough non-conference is, I think, too, playing teams like Texas and Temple you is get used to playing different zones, mans, slow down, speed up and I think we'll both be prepared for that if that happens.

COACH TOM IZZO: Like Iowa in the past, they have pressed a lot. I think Illinois has a lot of depth and very good athletes, and can come at you in different ways. At the time we played Texas, they didn't have as much depth because they had a couple guys hurt, but I don't know exactly, really, because I haven't played against Florida, but I am impressed at what he has done in the period of time he's done it.

COACH DICK BENNETT: Well, I think Michigan State has a tremendous running game. In fact, I've not in my years of coaching have not seen a more complete approach to the game. I admire that, because they will play any way you want, and perfectly comfortable if you want to run. But Tom mentioned Iowa last year, Iowa was a team that clearly wanted to play 94 feet and press everything, including every inbounds pass from every spot on the floor, and, you know, we've had that experience in the Big-10. I also agree that Illinois is capable and I think would like to play a full-court game. I think Michigan would probably like to do that also. I think even Indiana, at least offensively, really pushes the ball. And then Purdue, at least somewhat in the past, they wanted to press and go and really wear you out. So we've had some of that, maybe not to the full extent that Florida has shown, that full commitment to traps and really push and so on, but we've seen a degree of that quite a bit in our league.

COACH DICK BENNETT: I don't know, we've never been there. And I think you're right in that we're somewhat surprised. I would be lying if I said, you know, that this was a goal that was really prominent in our thinking. We just -- what happened is we got our backs against the wall and developed a sense of urgency every time out, pretty much throughout February. Maybe that was a blessing because maybe we learned to concentrate and forget everything else. I don't know if it's possible to do that at this stage of the game, but we're certainly going to find out in a short while.

COACH DICK BENNETT: The great excitement, everything that's -- everything you dream about in your chosen profession, I think is present in the Final Four. I mean, as a player or a coach, that is the pinnacle. So the thoughts I have and having sat in the stand for a lot of years is this is what I've dreamed of having a chance to do. And if that makes me -- if that sets us up or me up for a major fall, so be it. But there's tremendous excitement. There's a feeling inside that is hard to describe, and it just seems to stay there. It's probably is going to give me memories for the rest of my life.

COACH DICK BENNETT: I was not at that game. Of course I watched.

COACH DICK BENNETT: Well, I remember Villanova really controlled Temple and made big shots, and, you know, they had some mighty tough kids taking care of the ball, and it was, you know, it was very impressive.

COACH DICK BENNETT: To me, it would be bigger.

COACH DICK BENNETT: Well, candidly, I'd rather be playing someone else. Without any reservation I can say that. I don't know if it's an advantage or disadvantage. I truly don't know that. People have tried to make a case for the fact that, you know, we have lost three times; so that means it should be a little better. On the other hand, you know, we don't know if we can beat them. I prefer to look at this as a separate issue, because it's really a different situation. As I said before, I've lived this game for a long time, and I just -- what I admire about Michigan State is their completeness. I mean, they are good; they are tough; they are sound. I just -- I said before, I saw them coming three years ago, and I said I love the way Tom has molded this group and now I hate the way he's molded this group.

COACH TOM IZZO: You know, I think we both played physical and I honestly believe that all it does for either one of us is, as Dick said earlier, I think we're both able to adjust to a lot of different styles. And I think when you get this far in the tournament, both as coaches and players, you always have to adjust. Officiating is different every game. You always have to adjust to that. I don't see it as a major problem.

COACH DICK BENNETT: And I agree, because, you know, physical play is one thing, but crude, awkward play or another, and our league is physical, but it's -- it's good physical. I mean, it's bodies banging. It's not so much holding or tripping, pushing; it's just physical play. And when you get ten guys playing hard, there's going to be a lot of that, and officials are smart in that they know when it's right and when it's wrong. So I think it's going to take care of itself.

COACH TOM IZZO: You know, ours (Mateen) brings to us the kind of mentality that we play with, speed and quickness. We like to push the ball through the floor. He's definitely an extension of our staff on the floor. I think he knows how to push players. He has the respect of players. He is my pointguard, I think my best player and I know my hardest worker so that makes it maybe a little easier. He's got his strengths and he's got his weaknesses, and believe it or not, I think he does know that, just as Mike Kelley does for Wisconsin. I think they both have a tremendous will to win and do whatever it takes to win, whether it be score 1 or 21.

COACH DICK BENNETT: And of course, I argue with agree with Coach, except for one thing; I don't think Kelley is capable of scoring 21. I know he's capable of scoring 1. But really, there's so many similarities, and yet they are very different players. But the one thing that makes them kindred spirits is this incredible desire to lead a team to victory, to do whatever it takes. And both have what I call an uncommon position the floor where you just don't distract them easily. A lot of the biggest problem is distraction, kids not being able to think on their feet -- and it appears, I've watched Mateen and I know he does that and I've marveled at Mike, because he's always at peace on the floor, whether he's playing well or not, he's thinking. You have to have that. He's different in that he doesn't push the ball, he doesn't get a lot of penetration, but for what we do, he's perfect, just like Mateen is perfect for what Michigan State needs to do.

COACH TOM IZZO: I think you all should ask Krzyzewski because he's been so many of them. The things I've learned unfortunately are not going to help on the court, the hotels, getting around, the practice times, what you do. They are not really things that I think are going to make a major difference. Is there a little bit more of a comfort level when you see all those media cameras coming, but do I think when you get this far you play in a league like we have with the exposure we get in the Big-10, do I think it's going to make an incredible difference? Unfortunately, no. I wish I could say that it was. But yet, I think it's got to help a little bit.

COACH DICK BENNETT: Those were special times. I wish I could grab that -- the MVP of that tournament and let him suit up, Terry Porter. That's when you played about five games in about six days. We played one game at nine in the morning; I remember that. And then we played another game, finished another game about 12:30 midnight, after midnight and I was so excited and all of that. But there weren't that many folks to get excited with me at that time; that was the difference. And you did your interviews outside your locker room, you know, with about six or eight reporters. But it was still, I thought, terrific basketball in those years with the NAI, and that was a very special -- special team. In fact, Brad was Terry Porter's running mate at guard.

COACH DICK BENNETT: I guess if you were to take an opinion poll on that, they would say poor coaching, and they are probably right. But we did play a good schedule, and so, you know, if you're going to go into the Carrier Dome as we did or down to Wake Forest, chance is you're going to lose some of those games, and we did. But we were struggling to score enough points; that's always been our problem. We were just -- I think we were playing together, and I think we were trying hard, but it just wasn't there. Perhaps we were feeling a little sorry for ourselves. I know one thing we were doing is we were trying to please everybody. I remember that distinctly, worrying about, are we living up to what we were supposed to. And the kids said -- in fact, it was after Michigan State came in here and really played a great game at our place, and it was very humbling. I remember after that, the kids said -- and we talked about it, listen, everybody is on our back now, we'd better circle these wagons, we'd better start pleasing one another. Forget about the media; in fact, I remember not letting the kids interview any more until after the season ended, and of course that was very warmly received. I just think we came together in a way that you have to. You know, the old siege mentality. I remember growing up in Green Bay and they always talked about the Packers had that siege mentality; you know, take control of everything and don't let anybody break down your walls, and that's kind of what happened to us. We just did it that way.

COACH BILL GUTHRIDGE: Well, Florida certainly has a good press and it's been very successful for them this year and we hope that we can -- can handle it and take advantage of it and know when not to.

COACH BILLY DONOVAN: Well, I think, you know, for us, it's been a process because our backcourt has been young, freshman and sophomores and I think like anything else when you're young as the season goes on they get better and better. I think the biggest thing our guy seniors done for our program is they really listened, they have learned, they have gotten better. They are dedicated to the team, dedicated to the team winning, dedicated to trying to improve. And I think like anything else, your pointguard is an extension of the coach on the floor. He is your leader. And for me, it's been a lot of fun coaching those guys because of their willingness to learn and try to get better and try to improve.

COACH BILLY DONOVAN: I think there was so much made of Brett Nelson when he came in as a freshman that, you know, best player since Jerry West at West Virginia and all these expectations and when he struggled early in the year, I think it was very, very difficult on Brett, but I think because of his humanity, the type of kid he is, the way he was brought up and raised he really worked very hard to try and figure things out. He watched a lot of tape on his own. I had a chance to meet him as did our assistant coaches and he basically just tried to commit himself, and did everything we asked him to do. And I think really the second half of the year he has played very, very well for us.

COACH BILL GUTHRIDGE: I think there's a lot of parity in college basketball. There are a lot of very good coaches, very good players, and consequently, there are a lot of very good teams. I think there were a lot of teams in the NIT that could have won games in the NCAA Tournament. And on a given day, one game and you're out, a lot of the top seeds are going to lose, and I think that's happened this year.

COACH BILLY DONOVAN: I agree with Coach Guthridge there. I think that obviously the parity, the coaching, I think maybe the reduction in scholarship has played a role a little bit. Going from 15 to 13 has probably helped as well, but there's still a lot of great players. If you look at a NBA All-Star teams over the past years, Dennis Rodman, these guys were not highly profiled guys coming out of high school, but what happens is guys improve and get better, and I think sometimes with some kids, because of a lot of guys leaving, going early, you have a kid that's staying in school for four years. And when you have a lot of seniors on a team, experience can earn certainly win a lot of basketball games for you. By I think there's a lot of combination, why there's so much parity right now.

COACH BILL GUTHRIDGE: I think it's good for college basketball and I always wished there were just enough good players that wanted to come to Carolina and not want to go any place else, but that of course is a selfish -- but I think it's good for the game and good for the interest.

COACH BILL GUTHRIDGE: During the course of the season, you play against all different styles, and when you get into the tournament, you don't have a lot of time to prepare; although, the first time -- in the first round, and then again in the first round of the Regionals and then you do have some more time to prepare. But throughout the course of the season, you have to work through all different types of situations, and as a coach make sure your team is prepared for any situation that arises.

COACH BILL GUTHRIDGE: I think it's good, yeah, to play against different styles.

COACH BILLY DONOVAN: I think with our non-conference schedule, certainly playing against a lot of different styles starting in Hawaii and moving through until we got into the SEC, but I think our style of play is unique. I think it's little bit different. I think going into to play against North Carolina a little bit to adjust because there has been some time to prepare for both teams. But I think with the way we play we try to use our depth, we try to use ten people. But I think out there the one thing that's been so impressive about Coach Guthridge and is their system that's the thing that stands out is their system. I think when you talk about Indiana, Bobby Knight's system. Generally, I think at the collegiate level, the programs that are really good have a system in place and the players buy into that system and they execute that system to the best of their ability.

COACH BILL GUTHRIDGE: I might add, I think Billy has done a great job of establishing a system there at Florida and getting the players that he likes to fulfill his system. He's done a great job both in recruiting and in coaching.

COACH BILL GUTHRIDGE: I liked our team all year and we were pretty close and I'm really proud of the way they hung in there and each -- after each defeat, they have still come back ready to go. I think I might have overscheduled us. I think our schedule is probably too tough and we lost some confidence. But as far as areas we've improved, I think we've improved in all areas. I think we've gotten better defensively and individually and making it collectively, and just like any team that's still playing now, you have to keep improving.

COACH BILL GUTHRIDGE: Billy was a great player, and I was just happy to be on the team, but there's so much more interest in that now than there was at that time. And with television and the media blitz, it's become quite a thing. But it was exciting then and certainly exciting now. This is what you play and coach for is to have the opportunity to get to the Final Four.

COACH BILLY DONOVAN: I think from my perspective, Coach Guthridge has probably got a much much better perspective of how the tournament and the publicity has probably heightened over the years, just because being an assistant coach and now a head coach he's had a chance to participate in quite a few over his career and could better than anybody talk in great detail about that. For me I think going in as a player you just kind of overwhelmed -- when I was at Providence we had not played in the NCAA my first three years and we went in my senior year and it ways a great run went, very quick, went by in the blink of an eye, and as time went on you realize how special that was to have an opportunity to play in that. Obviously I think because of each year the media exposure, the attention it's turned out to be obviously a great basketball event and I'm just so happy our kids are going to have a chance to experience this on Saturday.

COACH BILLY DONOVAN: I would say this, I think that Coach Guthridge has done an outstanding job. I don't think that -- certainly them being an 8 seed is any indication of the job that coach has done this year and the way their team is playing right now. I think like anything else, what's been so impressive to me about Carolina was we had a chance to see them play in Hawaii is they are a team in my opinion, obviously gotten better and better and better and Coach Gutheridge has got them playing their best basketball at the time of the year when you want to do that. And I think for any coach to take the first three years of a -- take teams to the Final Four speaks volumes of what he has done there. So we realize that we are going against once of the most tradition-research programs in all of college basketball that's had great coaching and Coach Guthridge has obviously done a terrific job there. And me looking at Carolina, I think the one thing you realize is that they are a great team, regardless of seeding.

COACH BILL GUTHRIDGE: As far as us being an underdog, it has been different this year. It's kind of fun right now but I hope that we haven't the underdog all the time because if you are the underdog, you haven't succeeded very well and we were disappointed that with our regular season, and I take the blame for that that we couldn't quite get things going. But as I said many times, I really like our team and they have hung in there and I'm really happy for them that we are having this opportunity.

COACH BILLY DONOVAN: Well, I think Teddy being 5'9, there's a reason why he's playing at this level and that's because of his ability to shoot the ball from the perimeter, and I think Teddy from a pointguard situation went through some adjustments last year. Last year he was able to play alongside Eddie Shannon (ph) quite a bit and Eddie was a guy that got Teddy a lot of shots. This year, it was Teddy trying to set everybody else up, and I think it was a huge adjustment for him and we were probably not in my opinion getting out of him what he could provide for our team. So I would say later in the year we decided to move him over to the two line. I think the first few games of doing that Teddy had an adjustment period where he didn't shoot the ball particularly well, but I think he feels a lot more comfortable in that role right now, and we've been able to take advantage of his ability to shoot the ball from the perimeter a little bit better at the two spot than at the pointguard position.

COACH BILL GUTHRIDGE: No. I'm just happy for the team. I feel good about myself. And I don't get on the Internet and I don't listen to talk shows. But there's tremendous interest in Carolina basketball, and I know that any time we lose, there are people out there; when there is interest, there are opinions. So I haven't let that bother me. I'm just happy for the young men on our team, that they have had some success and had the opportunity to go to the Final Four, because it's a real thrill to go to the Final Four. And all of us, coaching staff and all those that are really closely connected to Carolina basketball, are thrilled.

COACH BILLY DONOVAN: I think when you're young you realize you're going to make mistakes. And as the season goes along you try to minimize and have guys grow mature as players. I think the big thing for us is we have a high energy team. Guys play hard. I think guys lay it on the line. I think all you want from a coaching standpoint is guys to play with a tremendous amounts of confidence and play fearless and not be afraid to make mistakes, but at the same point there's got to be a responsibility and accountability for decisions that are made out there on the floor. I think as each game has gone by for our younger guys, they have had a much, much better awareness of what they can and cannot get away with at this level. And I think there's been a tremendous improvement from the first day of practice obviously to now. So I think for a lot of players right now, you know, these kids really aren't freshman and sophomores. They are 30 games into the season right now, and hopefully with the level of competition we've played against with a non-conference schedule in the SEC that's hopefully made them better and learn to grow at a rapid rate, because they have been forced to learn to play at a very, very young age.

COACH BILLY DONOVAN: I think that these guys have really overachieved. I think they have put aside egos. They have committed themselves to winning. That's been the most important thing. I think it's been fun for me as a coach to see these guys gel and mesh as a basketball team. A lot of kids coming in with a lot of big, inflated egos were told how great they are, told to come in and sacrifice for one another, it is a unique situation. And I'm proud of the way they have handled the season so far this year, being young.

COACH BILL GUTHRIDGE: Well, Ed's been a great pointguard for us, four-year starter. This is his third Final Four and as Billy said about their young guards being an extension of the coach and I think that's so important. I know through the years when we've had our best teams is when the pointguard is thinking the same way as the head coach and even makes the call before the head coach has an opportunity to tell him what he'd like to do, and Ed has certainly been that. He and I are on the same wavelength and he holds the career assist record here, and we have had some pretty fair country pointguards, too. He's just been tremendous and I know he's looking forward to this game and all of us are. It's an exciting time. Even though he's been two other times, he's really excited.

COACH BILL GUTHRIDGE: We don't compare our players; so that wouldn't be fair to Ed or any of the other players. But he's a great pointguard and we're certainly glad we have him.

COACH BILLY DONOVAN: I would say there's probably more similarities. There's obviously -- we had a lot of seniors on that Providence team. This year he only have one, but the one thing I've always taken from Coach Petino is a guy that has been as success as he's been, having the ability to listen, I think, to be innovative, to take educated risks. I think those things have always impressed me, certainly the style of play. The one thing I always remember him talking about was take the system in place and try to make it better and try to build on it, and that's what I've tried to do since I've been a head coach is take the system, make it better, try to improve it. But obviously, I've taken a lot from Coach Petino over the years, just because I had a chance to play with him for three years and obviously work with him for five.

COACH BILLY DONOVAN: I think for us being young, and I've almost compared our team to being like a family a little bit, because we're young, I think the more emotional experiences you go through, and especially games you can win has a tendency to bring your team closer together. And I think we had some games throughout the course of our year that came down to the wire and some we were able to win and there was some we lost. But there's probably none more emotional than our Butler game, and I think everybody felt like after the Butler game would we have enough emotion to play Illinois, because it was obviously such a moving experience for four basketball team, but to go in the locker room after our game and seeing guys crying and hugging, I really felt that that game brought us closer together. You look back at teams that have played in the Final Four, there's always one game that you can always point back to that maybe could have gone either way and you could be obviously sitting at home right now. So we feel fortunate that in that first round game against Butler, an outstanding team that we were able to move and advance and be in the situation we're in now. I think that game and that experience made us better.

COACH BILL GUTHRIDGE: I think what Billy is saying is exactly right. You go into -- I think anybody that's ever won the NCAA championship has had a scary game like they did against Butler or all four of our games we could have lost very easily. They went right down to the wire. So I know our '82 team, we almost lost in the first round to James Madison, and Michigan State could have lost Iowa State and Wisconsin could have lost. There are so many good teams out there and I think it's great experience to win those games and advance and had the thrill and excitement of coming out on top.

COACH BILL GUTHRIDGE: It's different. TV time-outs are two and a half minutes and the 30-second time-outs are 45 seconds to a minute; so it is different. That it's something that you have to adjust to and get used to. We're just glad we're playing in this type of environment.

COACH BILLY DONOVAN: I agree with Coach. It certainly is an adjust. I think, too, I notice time especially in our first two games in Winston Salem your guys have a tendency to want to get up a lot sooner because they have been programmed over the year of how long those time-outs are, and in essence on those 20-second time-outs they have moved to 50 seconds, almost a minute. You really can almost sit down. So there is some adjustment. I think it gives you probably a little bit more time to talk with your coaches, for the guys more time to rinse out, and as a coach a lot more you can speak about in those time-outs but it's certainly a lot different.

COACH BILLY DONOVAN: Obviously Mitchell is a very unique place and I know it means a great deal to Mike. It's small town, but I would say a basketball town. His high school has had tremendous tradition over the years. He comes from a basketball family. For me, recruiting Mike, it was a great experience, just because I got a chance to know Mike's family and they are quality people and I think Mike is a quality kid, as well. The first time I really had a chance to see Mike I think that people were kind of surprised with his talent that he could be from South Dakota, but obviously he has got a lot of skills. He can shoot it, pass it, handle it. I think the best part of his game is his ability and his understanding of the game at such a young age. It was a great experience and obviously had he has really excelled and improved and gotten a lot better.

COACH BILLY DONOVAN: It's certainly up there. Obviously, you needed three flights to get there, but I had to spend some time recruiting in California, didn't have much luck in California, but that was certainly a long one as well. Getting to Mitchell was a difficult trip because you could only fly at certain days, times, three connections to get there. You spend most of your day traveling.

COACH BILL GUTHRIDGE: I think it reminded Billy a lot of his hometown.

COACH BILLY DONOVAN: (Laughs).

COACH BILL GUTHRIDGE: Well, of course, working for Dean Smith for a few years and before that, for Tex Winter for five years, I pretty much knew how to be an assistant coach, and I enjoyed it, and then when I became the head coach, I still get advice from Dean Smith. He doesn't come and tell me how to do this or that, but I go to him quite often. But it's certainly nice to have him as a resource but I've always felt that -- I was part of the Carolina program and I still feel part of it. The main difference is that instead of making suggestions now, I make decisions; that each day I have gotten more comfortable as the head coach. I enjoy it and I look forward to coming to work. And I think the key to any coach is how his players responds and all three of my teams, the players have been great and that makes it a lot of fun.

COACH BILLY DONOVAN: Obviously I have to think Coach Guthridge probably feels the same way I think for probably Coach Smith and obviously for Coach Petino, you realize you had been forwarded a tremendous opportunity and you have learned quite a bit. But the I think the one thing I realize after leaving Coach Petino I needed to be myself and I think what Coach Guthridge said is 100% true how your guys react to you is important. And I think if you're trying to be something you're not I think players can see through that; so I realize, I think when I first took over at a young age that I needed to be Billy Donovan, I realized because I've worked with Coach Petino and played with him there, it is always going to identify with me, linked to him just as Coach Guthridge is linked to Coach Smith. I feel honored and I'm sure Coach Guthridge feels honored by the comparison because I think both people have played large influences in both people's lives, but I also realize too, from my perspective, I needed to be Billy Donovan .

COACH BILL GUTHRIDGE: Throughout the course of the season, teams have ups and downs and players have ups and downs, but most of Ed's has been up. He's playing at his best basketball right now, but I don't think he's had any bad games. He's had maybe some that were better than others. He's certainly performed well and been a very good lead in getting these young players better. I think it's always an adjustment for any pointguard to go play with one group of young men one year and another the next. Playing with Williams and Vince Carter and Antoine Jamison (ph) for a couple years and then to play with these guys, I think there are always have adjustments to be made but I think he has made them very well.

COACH BILL GUTHRIDGE: I haven't watched the Duke game. I intend to watch that tonight. I've watched five or six of the Florida tapes, and I know that Duke was a tremendous team this year. Mike Krzyzewski sure did a great job of rebuilding that team in losing all of these great players and he has two rocks that were the rocks of their team a year ago. I know for anybody to defeat Duke, they have to be very good. But I have seen Florida play a lot on television through the year. We were in Hawaii with them and we were in -- at the Jimmy B Classic when they beat Rutgers. I know they are a very good team and it was a very impressive win. I have had some people tell me that that game, the best team won and I can see why.

End of FastScripts….