Nolan Smith addresses the media.

On what he has learned about the team so far this season:

We've learned a lot about our team. There were very good moments in these first eight games. First thing for us is how competitive our team was in these games. We're very competitive and very together, especially on the defensive end of the court. Defensively, our guys, brought the energy and brought the fight every single night, so that was a big takeaway for us heading into everything. Then offensively, I feel like we're in a good place but know that we can get into a much better place offensively. [We are] using this time right now during exams to really focus on our offense and focus on scoring together more and movement and different things like that on the offensive end of the court. We're using this time wisely.

On the teams half-court offense at Ohio State on Nov. 30:

That's really the game that we all sat down and watched together. Obviously in the second half really, the whole game we saw a lot of things that we didn't like offensively, whether it was movement, just standing and watching each other with the ball, or whether it was missed kicks. There was a lot of missed kicks where obviously a lot of teams going into each game are going to say, We have to make Duke make shots. But if we make the right kicks and our shots are wide open, we know that we have guys that should be shooting close to 40 percent from three, but it has to be connected shots where it's a team shot, not individual. Just focusing on that during this time has been a huge point of emphasis for our guys.

On how the team can improve its three-point shooting:

A lot of that is really a lot of film work, from me working with the guards, showing our guards how we can get better shots. Then when we are getting those shots, are we connected on them? A lot of that is communication, a lot of that is making the right plays, making the right pass, taking tough twos or taking a wide-open three which one is the better shot? We feel like all of our guards can get their own shot, but is that the best shot? So, just really focusing on scoring together. Very often, coach [Jon] Scheyer and I, we try not to talk about our 2010 time and our playing days. We're retired now, but I actually mentioned that to them I was like, In 2010, Scheyer, [Kyle] Singler and myself, we scored together. All three of us one dribble, penetration, kick. We have a good core of guards that can be exactly like that, but they have to see that, they have to know that they need each other to score and just going one-on-one is not going to get it versus a really good defensive team. As we get into conference, were going to play against a lot of really good defensive teams that are going to scout us, are going to know our faults, they're going to know how they can beat us, what they're going to try to do to beat us, but we can't beat ourselves. So, if they're intending on forcing us to kick, that should be something that was really good at, so let's kick the ball.

On what he wants to see from the team before it begins ACC play:

For us, I think the consistency on the offensive end and being connected offensively. Defensively, we're very competitive on the defensive end of the court. We know when we need to get three stops in a row in a game that we can do that against anybody. Were very versatile defensively and we know that we can rebound and get stops and push offensively. But when we get down to the offensive end, are we going to score together, are we going to be able to make enough passes and be connected when teams don't allow us to score quick? Those are things getting into the conference that we know we have to tighten up.

On the teams takeaway from the loss at Ohio State:

The take-home was being in our first true road game, I think our guys definitely relaxed. They will say that. There was a sense of, OK, were coming off a big win. We handled that great, because we put together a good first half, but then at the start of the second half, there was something there that was missing. To come out and be able to put a team away, but do it together. You don't put a team away on the road by yourself, and when you end up trying to do it by yourself, you end up not scoring for a long period of time. I think just staying connected on the road is going to be a big thing for us heading into our next true road game, which will be at Clemson. Just being able to fix that on the road will be key.

On experiencing the first month of the season in his current role of assistant coach:

I'm a little more tired now. I can definitely say that. You start adding in scouts, but before the scouts I'm changing some diapers at home for my two kids, then I'm staying up late doing scouts, then my baby girl is waking me up at 5 a.m. or 6 a.m. I'm getting them ready for daycare, then Im coming in doing more scouts. It's definitely a different role, but I'm loving it. Im loving the involvement I get to have now every game. It's been a very fun time and of course, being on the court working with the guys and working with the guards specifically has been a great time. Obviously, I need to do a better job of getting them to make kicks, so thats my focus right now.

On the growth in junior Wendell Moore Jr.s confidence during his career:

I think it just comes with the natural growth in his game and basketball that sometimes comes with time. He made the choice this summer to stay here and work with coach Will [Stephens], focus on his body and become a better athlete. He worked on his run. People are like, How do you work on your run? He changed his gait he started getting a longer gait to his run, and that was key. Now, you see him making these athletic plays. His hang time is greater than it was last year. Last year, he would go in there and make contact and boom, he's on the ground, he's throwing up a bad shot. Now, hes making contact and hes able to float and still finish. All that started with the work that he put on his body this summer. Then just mentally, now he's a junior. He's been through the ups and downs. He's been through the battles. He's been talked about, he's seen what people might be saying about him. Now, he truly believes in himself and his game. He knows what his game is, he knows what it take and he knows that he's our leader. He's been the best captain and leader that we've had here in a long time. He's really taken a big jump, so I'm just excited to see the remainder of this season. He knows that he needs to put his foot on the gas. He needs to do it earlier and we need him to set the tone in the first half and the second half. He has a long way to go, but his growth has been simply amazing this year.