Louisville Friday PC Quotes & Audio

Inside Carolina's Friday press conference coverage includes quotes and audio from Louisville head coach Rick Pitino, David Padgett, Juan Palacios, Jerry Smith, Terrance Williams and Andre McGee, who spoke to the media at the Charlotte Bobcats Arena as they prepare to face top-seeded North Carolina on Saturday night.

(Inside Carolina audio is available to IC premium subscribers. To listen to the audio, you'll need an updated version of Windows Media Player - click here to download the software.)

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RICK PITINO (including all five players)

Listen to Audio (28:40)

Opening remarks:
"We didn't get in too early, as a matter of fact. Wasn't a whole lot of time to do much, but we were excited to be playing in the Elite Eight. Our players are just starting to watch film now for the first time. By the time they do the random drug testing, most of our guys got back at quarter to three in the morning or 2:30 and it's late. It was a late night. So we'll take it easy today and lay by the pool and just relax."

On Roy Williams:
"I think everybody in this tournament can flat out coach. As you prepare for tournaments, they don't have high exposure of Roy but whether it's Tony Bennett or whether it's the coach from Oklahoma, the coach from Boise, as I turn on the television set I just marvel at the ability of these coaches and the way they get their kids to play their systems.

"So I think this entire tournament, many years ago you couldn't say that. You know, you look at the older coaches like Roy, who are in the game and they're tremendous and the younger coaches are tremendous. So many good coaching going on right now. I think the technology is such that you can study so many different systems, and learn so many different things, and pick up so many things that the coaches have the ability to get better on a daily basis because they can pick up something new every night out."

On Williams saying playing in Charlotte wasn't that big of a deal:
"Tell Roy to get on a plane for the first time and let's play the game at Freedom Hall if he feels that way.

"I won't disagree with him, let's go to Freedom Hall and I'll admit to a home-court advantage. Go to Lexington for that matter. Let's go to Lexington and play at the Rupp. No, I think those are mostly mannequins dressed in powder blue. I don't believe there is a home-court advantage.

"There is a very strong home-court advantage but they deserve it. That's the bottom line. They're the No. 1 seed, but to say there is not a home-court advantage, that doesn't mean we don't have the ability to win, but they deserve the home-court advantage. They deserve the people because they were the No. 1 ranked team in the country."

On North Carolina:
"You don't see too many plus 11 teams on the glass that play against great competition. Like last night Tennessee was ranked No. 1 in the nation. They had a plus 1 on the backboard. Carolina has the highest number. They have a great assist/turnover ratio. They don't beat themselves. So at every phase of the game, they're a very good team defensively, they handle the ball, make the good passes and that's why they're the No. 1 ranked team in the country because they do all those things. They do it with great teamwork, great speed and terrific athleticism, and when you watch them you're very impressed."

On Tyler Hansbrough's NBA potential:
"I think he's going to be a terrific NBA player because obviously there are certain things that are herky-jerky right now. But NBA players, they're like good stock; they keep rising and get better at all phases. And I think he's going to be a great NBA player because he brings it every possession. The one thing we looked at in scouting and coaching in the pros is to try and get a talented ballplayer, but someone who wouldn't take a night off.

"Four out of five nights, players get tired so you look for guys like Tyler Hansbrough, guys are that are not going to take possessions off. They're few and far between. There aren't many like him in college basketball. There aren't many like him at the professional level, and that's what makes him so great. He plays every possession as if the game is on the line. He plays every possession as if they're down five with a minute to go in the game.

"So I'm a big admirer of the energy that he brings and the way that he plays, and I think a lot of the guys up here do the same thing, especially these guys sitting up. They play every possession and they've had a great year because they play every possession."