Iowa junior shooter
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SportsTranscript
00:00 What's up, guys?
00:03 All right, go right to questions from Peyton.
00:05 Peyton, 110 points, first game of the season,
00:08 new group of guys.
00:09 Can I talk about what the game plan was coming in
00:12 and how you guys executed today?
00:14 It's just kind of our identity to be that up-tempo team that
00:17 can score a lot of points.
00:19 I'm really honestly more proud of our defensive intensity.
00:22 We came out really flat against Quincy,
00:24 and we had to make a change.
00:25 So that's all we've been emphasizing in practice,
00:27 and I was really proud of our effort there.
00:29 They got a really good group over there
00:30 and who can really shoot the ball,
00:32 and they got some good players.
00:33 And we handled them really well.
00:34 And getting those defensive rebounds
00:36 led to a lot of transition points.
00:38 And we got so many guys that can make plays.
00:41 And I think you're going to see that
00:43 throughout the rest of the season.
00:45 You mentioned the defense, but you started hot,
00:47 specifically on the offensive side of the floor, 13 minutes
00:49 in the first five-- or sorry, 13 points in the first five
00:52 minutes, I think, three from-- or three
00:55 from four from three.
00:56 What was working for you?
00:57 Yeah, I think, kind of like I said,
00:59 we came out really flat against Quincy.
01:01 And we were talking about we wanted to come out
01:02 and punch them in the mouth, which I'm really
01:04 proud of the way that we did that.
01:06 I was focused.
01:08 I had some of those first game nerves,
01:09 but I was able to channel those into just becoming really
01:14 ready to go and really focused.
01:15 And hopefully I can do that every time,
01:18 but it might be hard.
01:19 Sante Bowen just seems like he's in full control
01:21 and in full command of the point.
01:23 I know last year he had a couple of turnovers,
01:25 maybe just trying to adjust to the pace of the game.
01:26 But it really just seems like he has
01:28 a good grasp on the offense.
01:29 Is that sort of what you've seen throughout the offseason?
01:31 Yeah, he's really improved.
01:33 I mean, working his tail off, and I'm
01:34 really proud of him for that.
01:35 And I think we know what we're going to get out of him.
01:37 He's going to play really hard.
01:39 And like you said, he has a very good grasp of the offense.
01:42 Now I think last year he was still kind of learning,
01:45 which it's hard at first.
01:46 But he was finding guys.
01:47 He was getting to the rim.
01:48 He was phenomenal tonight.
01:50 Seven turnovers in the season opener,
01:52 one in the first 24 minutes.
01:55 What's that say about the way you guys are connecting right
01:57 now?
01:57 Yeah.
01:57 Well, we had one in the first eight seconds.
01:59 And then we didn't have one for a while.
02:01 So that was my bad.
02:02 But I think that's something coaches always
02:04 had an emphasis on.
02:05 And we had a few too many against Quincy the other day.
02:08 So just taking care of it, making smart plays.
02:10 And it wasn't like we weren't trying to make plays.
02:13 I think we still had quite a few assists.
02:15 So just really taking care of the ball.
02:17 And if we do that, we have good enough players
02:19 that we're going to make a lot of those shots.
02:21 When Ben got here, what was your first impression of him?
02:26 I hosted him when he came on his recruiting visit.
02:29 And we kind of hit it off right away.
02:31 And then we got to know each other.
02:33 And then once we went to Europe, that's
02:34 kind of where we started to bond.
02:35 And it's been a lot of fun playing with him.
02:37 We have a lot of fun in kind of the two-man action together.
02:40 And he's a great guy.
02:41 And obviously, he can really play, really score it.
02:43 And he's going to be huge for us this year.
02:45 What way you guys were able to do defensive and force
02:47 19 turnovers and turn that into 31 points?
02:49 Yeah.
02:50 We came out punching.
02:52 We wanted to have a lot of ball pressure.
02:54 They have a lot of good shooters.
02:55 So we had to be in their space early and really close out
02:58 hard.
02:58 And with that ball pressure came kind of them
03:00 just being a little rushed and out of their game, which
03:02 is what we want to do, disrupt them.
03:03 And obviously, we were in the press.
03:04 And that really worked for us.
03:06 So it was a really good night defensively.
03:08 Seems like DeSante was kind of leading that in his minutes
03:12 on the floor, too.
03:14 Just overall aggressive on offense and defense tonight.
03:17 What does that add to the team?
03:19 Yeah, I think, like I said, he was terrific.
03:22 If he can keep that ball pressure,
03:24 it really takes them out of their offense.
03:25 And he was great in the press.
03:26 He was great on the ball, which is huge for us.
03:28 And the bench guys came in, did a great job of that, too,
03:31 just staying into him.
03:32 So the more versatile guys and the more guys
03:35 that we have out there that can really be into the ball
03:37 and make plays on the offensive end
03:39 is going to help us be more successful.
03:41 I was very impressed by the freshmen, all four of them.
03:44 You played on the court at the same time.
03:45 You guys were talking about them.
03:47 Even that surprised me.
03:48 Were you surprised at all how clean
03:50 they played outside of, I think, four turnovers from Brock
03:52 Allen?
03:53 I don't think we were surprised at all.
03:54 I mean, we've been battling them every day in practice.
03:57 And they've been--
03:58 I mean, they're really tough to guard.
03:59 Brock and Owen have something special together.
04:01 And Price didn't have his best night.
04:03 But I mean, it was a really special moment
04:05 having him out there for me.
04:06 And him hitting that first shot was pretty cool.
04:09 And then Lodgy shot it well.
04:10 And I think you've seen flashes from all of them.
04:12 And they're going to be huge for us this season.
04:15 They're really a great class, great group of kids.
04:17 And they play hard.
04:18 And I mean, they're phenomenal players.
04:20 So it's going to be fun.
04:21 This might seem like an unfair question
04:23 because it's so early in the season.
04:25 But what don't people know about this team?
04:26 Or what would you say to outsiders
04:28 that would maybe surprise them about the group
04:30 that you guys have this year?
04:31 I think this is really one of the most hardworking teams
04:34 that I've ever been around.
04:35 People are constantly in in the mornings,
04:38 coming in throughout the day.
04:39 When we're at practice, I mean, everyone's intentional.
04:42 We have so many good players.
04:43 And I don't think a lot of people
04:43 know that is really how deep we are.
04:45 And Coach said it.
04:46 But I mean, the freshmen and the transfers
04:51 that we got coming in-- I know Evan didn't play tonight.
04:53 But Evan is a really good athlete.
04:54 And he's going to do some special things for us.
04:57 I think it's a really connected group.
04:58 I think the trip over to Europe was good for that.
05:01 And we're going to continue to improve throughout the season.
05:03 I think this is far from a finished product.
05:05 And we've had some mistakes tonight.
05:07 But the ability of a lot of our guys
05:09 is going to really show throughout the year.
05:11 I think you'll see constant improvement.
05:13 Owen, 7 of 8 tonight, 14 points.
05:16 Obviously does a lot of things well.
05:18 I mean, you've had experience at Big 10.
05:21 As a freshman, do you think he's capable of starting right now?
05:24 If he were called upon, something like that
05:26 would happen?
05:27 I think we have a lot of guys on this team who
05:28 are capable of starting.
05:30 Obviously, Owen is a fantastic player.
05:32 He's been-- since the day he stepped on campus,
05:34 he's been unbelievably impressive, just the way
05:37 that he can score around the rim and protect the rim.
05:39 And that's going to be something that we need.
05:40 And obviously, he's a terrific rebounder.
05:42 So I'm really excited for him.
05:44 I'm really excited for a lot of the guys.
05:45 And the good thing about this team is that we're so deep.
05:48 So anybody who's called on can really make an impact.
05:50 All right.
05:51 Thanks, Peyton.
05:51 Thanks, guys.
05:52 Thanks, Peyton.