Preparing As Though They'd Won

Earlier today during his segment of the ACC coaches teleconference, Gary Williams was asked how he elected to deal with Saturday's 41-point loss at Duke in regards to his players: focus on the errors made against the Blue Devils or look forward to future contests.

Williams's response indicated he leaned more toward the latter.

"Well, whatever you'd like to do, there's not a lot of time," Williams said. "We play Saturday-Tuesday, so by the time you get back from the road game and get settled, you know, we talked a little bit about it, about how we need to play to be at our best more than what happened at Duke. I think that's just the key is to prepare for the next game.

"In other words, you have to look at it as if you'd won that game."

I know coaches like to say that one game has no carry-over and no after-effect into the next, but is it just as simple as pretending you'd beaten a team that, in reality, clobbered you up and down the court? Perhaps it is, but I have my doubts.

Regardless, Williams insisted the focus now has to be on game planning for the Eagles.

"You'd have to do the same thing to get ready for Boston College, and it's just a different set of circumstances because of the way that game went at Duke," Williams said. "In terms of preparation, you know, we have to get ready for BC. We can't dwell on whatever happened Saturday."