EXHIBITION WITH MARIAN
Q. Logan, double-double today, how did it feel just to be out there and playing well a lot and contributing like you did?
LOGAN DUNCOMB: It felt awesome. It's super rewarding because I felt like I put in a lot more effort this year, over the summer, trying to get better to be able to go out there and play and contribute. So super rewarding, super exciting. I had a giant smile on my face after the game.
Q. Your thoughts on how you played and sort of where do you feel your game is at as you get ready for this season?
JORDAN GERONIMO: I felt I played decent. The first half I had some trouble with fouls but I feel like I picked it up in the second half. I was able to do what I do, shoot a three, straight line drives to the bucket and get rebounds, offensive rebounds. I feel like my game is coming long.
Q. Talk about getting those invaluable minutes early on, first game out and getting some serious minutes tonight. How important is that for you and guys like you trying to get into the flow of the season?
LOGAN DUNCOMB: Just being able to go out there and play minutes in a real game, it makes you more comfortable for games ahead.
So like I feel better about where my game is at right now. But yeah, play or not, I mean, all the guys, you do what you can. You do what you can with the minutes you're given and do what the coaches asked you to do.
Q. How do you feel about the new guys coming in, and how Logan played today, especially Malik, how are they going to help the ballclub?
JORDAN GERONIMO: They will help a great deal. As you see tonight, Malik was able to contribute a lot, so was fine oh, and Logan got in there and got a double-double. We have more depth to the team, you know what I mean, and we have a lot more options to go to, and I feel great about that because with a couple more weapons on the team, you're a better team. I feel great about that.
Q. You talked about taking more responsibility for the work you put in over the summer. Was there something that spurred that or what led to that change?
LOGAN DUNCOMB: Well, just last year, I didn't get a ton of playing time because I didn't put in all the work I needed to, do all the things I had to, and so just wanting to be out there on the court to contributing to our team, to do something to help out.
Q. In terms of emphasis as a team coming into this game, what did the coaching staff stress for you as a team and do you feel like you guys, whatever they stressed, did you guys get that done today?
LOGAN DUNCOMB: Yeah, just like this is the first step in like a long journey and go out here and do what we've been working on doing for like five months, just do what we've been doing in practice and win this game, and it's the first step in a long journey of the season.
Q. When you talk about the work you did in the off-season to get here, what did that look like for you? What specifically were you doing and how do you see it make a difference for you when you're out on the court now?
LOGAN DUNCOMB: Mostly putting on, like, weight. Putting on weight over the off-season, Coach Clif had --
JORDAN GERONIMO: Funky Monkeys.
LOGAN DUNCOMB: Funky Monkeys. After practice, so I could hold my own in there and then getting in extra shots before or after practice. Not a whole lot but something to work on my game.
Q. There's a lot of talk about the depth on this team, especially the second unit being able to hang with the first unit at times. Take us inside that at times. What do practices look like and how competitive are practices and how good is the second unit on this team?
JORDAN GERONIMO: Well, Coach Woodson always says the people on the bench are just as important as the people who start the game. So you know, we kind of -- every time we practice against each other starters versus bench players, it's always like a competition, you know what I mean. The team is full of competitors.
You always want to win, and so with everybody wanting to win, we just make each other better, you know what I mean. We just really push each other to be great and practice always us encouraging each other and playing hard, and it's at a point where we have enough depth and talent to that the second squad is as good as good as the first squad, you know what I mean.
Q. Jordan, this is for you. You've been around a lot of really good point guards and you've played against good point guards. What makes Jalen as good as he is?
JORDAN GERONIMO: He plays like a vet a little bit, I would say. He plays with great pace. He knows when to take shots, take good shots. He knows when to pass the ball and he passes the ball really well. He plays like he's been in college for a while you know what I mean but he's only a freshman so that's really impressive to see as a junior.
Q. I'm sure you go against Malik a lot and see his total package inside and outside. What impresses you?
JORDAN GERONIMO: Malik is a great man with a great touch, you know what I mean, and he can do everything, you know what I mean. As you've seen it, he can bring the ball up himself. He can shoot the ball. He can work in the post as you all saw tonight. Malik, he can do everything, you know what I mean, at I believe like 6-9, I think he's like 235. He's a monster down there.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports