Chapelboro.com’s coverage of UNC in the NCAA Tournament is proudly presented by Town Hall Grill in Southern Village, and High & Rubish Insurance Agency.

Several Tar Heels met with the media in their locker room following UNC’s 71-64 defeat to Ole Miss in the first round of the NCAA Tournament Friday in Milwaukee. This is a lightly-edited transcript of their answers.

R.J. Davis

On UNC’s comeback attempt in the second half: It wasn’t the great first half that we started off with, but to pull all the way through, all the way to the second half and be right there just speaks on this whole season. It’s been a rollercoaster year, but we persevere. We were resilient and we didn’t go without down without a fight.

On his late basket which cut the deficit to two points at 66-64: I felt like momentum was on our side. It was a two-point game and we just needed one more stop. The crowd got into it just from being down 18 and a half and then pulling all the way through to a two-point game. It was good energy. I felt like, looking up at the clock, ‘This is our time to win.’

Seth Trimble

On the mood at halftime: Nobody was stressed, nobody was worried. Everybody was mad because of the first half that we just played, but obviously we can’t change it after that. That’s how we dealt with it.

On dealing with a late injury to Jae’Lyn Withers which kept him out for the rest of the game: As Jae’Lyn’s teammates, as his best friends, as family, we can’t give up just because he goes down. We have to ratchet up the intensity. We have to ratchet up the pressure and we have to gel even more to fill that void. I’m super proud of how no matter what injury happened, how we still came together, we persevered to do what we can do to get it as close as possible.

Drake Powell

On how Ole Miss built its lead: They just had a sense of urgency that was there and when we were on defense that we didn’t have. It’s like they were in practice just running their offense.

On how he will remember the season: Just happy with the relationships that I built with each and every one of my teammates and coaches and managers as well. I don’t talk a lot, so I didn’t really have opportunities to know them like that. But they’re just good people.

On whether he will come back to Chapel Hill: That’s a big decision to make that I’ll have to talk over with my circle and coaches. I haven’t really put any thought into it.

 

Visit our sports section to find more Carolina basketball coverage from Chapelboro.com, onsite at the NCAA Tournament! Proudly presented by Town Hall Grill in Southern Village and High & Rubish Insurance Agency

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our newsletter.

Related Stories
‹
UNC's Season-Ending Loss Showed the Tar Heels' Identity, For Better And For Worse
UNC ended the season much the same way it began it: consistently inconsistent, and falling a few plays short of a signature win.
Ole Miss Holds Off Comeback, Ends UNC Men's Basketball's Season in NCAA 1st Round
Chapelboro.com’s coverage of UNC in the NCAA Tournament is proudly presented by Town Hall Grill in Southern Village, and High & Rubish Insurance Agency. UNC fell behind early and never recovered against No. 6 seed Ole Miss in the first round of the NCAA Tournament Friday afternoon in Milwaukee, falling to the Rebels 71-64. The Tar Heels’ […]
Chansky's Notebook: Dour Dancing
The ACC needs more than one team to advance into the second round, or it would underscore criticism of the underperforming conference.
The UNC Fan's Travel Guide to Milwaukee
Chapelboro.com’s coverage of UNC in the NCAA Tournament is proudly presented by Town Hall Grill in Southern Village, and High & Rubish Insurance Agency. UNC men’s basketball fans have flocked to Milwaukee to support the Tar Heels in the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament this weekend. It’s a rare trip to Wisconsin for the […]
UNC Men's Basketball NCAA Tournament Opponent Breakdown: Ole Miss
Chapelboro.com’s coverage of UNC in the NCAA Tournament is proudly presented by Town Hall Grill in Southern Village, and High & Rubish Insurance Agency. After beating San Diego State in the First Four Tuesday night in Dayton, Carolina is moving on to the Round of 64 in the NCAA Tournament. The Tar Heels will face No. […]
Chansky's Notebook: Hoops Galore
Between the men's and women's NCAA Tournaments, the Triangle will be the capital of the college basketball world this weekend.
UNC Men's Basketball Crushes San Diego State in NCAA Tournament's First Four
On Tuesday night in Dayton, UNC left no question as to which team should’ve been the NCAA Tournament’s odd one out. The No. 11 seed Tar Heels blew out San Diego State at the First Four in Dayton Tuesday night, leading by as many as 40 points on their way to a 95-68 win. HEELS […]
UNC Men's Basketball NCAA Tournament Opponent Breakdown: San Diego State
No. 11 seed San Diego State is Carolina’s first opponent in the 2025 NCAA Tournament. The Tar Heels and Aztecs will compete in the First Four in Dayton Tuesday night, with the winner taking on No. 6 seed Ole Miss in Milwaukee the following Friday. San Diego State finished tied for fourth in the Mountain […]
UNC Men's Basketball in the 2025 NCAA Tournament: How to Watch, Cord-Cutting Options and Tip-Off Time
Chapelboro.com’s coverage of UNC in the NCAA Tournament is proudly presented by Town Hall Grill in Southern Village, and High & Rubish Insurance Agency. Carolina will continue its NCAA Tournament journey when it takes on No. 6 seed Ole Miss in the tournament’s Round of 64 Friday afternoon in Milwaukee. It’s the first meeting between the Tar […]
Chansky's Notebook: Heels Treated 'Fairly'
Art Chansky breaks down the process which helped UNC get a surprise bid into the 2025 NCAA Tournament Sunday night.
›