TCU's JaKobe Coles and Jameer Nelson Jr. talk about their 81-65 win over West Virginia postgame.
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00:10 >> I know your minutes haven't been that much different since you've been on
00:18 the bench, but obviously it puts you back in the starting lineup.
00:21 I guess what was the mentality now, especially on defense,
00:23 career high, 30 blocks free?
00:24 >> I was told to try to lead a team with defense.
00:29 So they put me in the starting lineup, so
00:31 I've just had that mentality since they told me, so that's what it is.
00:36 >> Jacob, you look like you're feeling more comfortable coming back from that foot
00:40 injury over these last four games or so.
00:42 How are you feeling, like you're getting back into the rhythm of things?
00:45 >> Yeah, it took me a little bit.
00:47 I've been struggling with this injury pretty much the whole year,
00:50 just trying to figure out ways to feel comfortable and feel better.
00:53 But since I took that time off, I've kind of figured out what I need to do.
00:57 And coming back from the injury and coming back to the Big 12 has been good.
01:01 And the first few games I struggled a little bit, but
01:04 I'm starting to catch my rhythm now.
01:06 My confidence is feeling really good, and the coach's confidence and
01:09 other players' confidence in me has been good.
01:10 So I just hope to continue to keep getting better.
01:13 >> You mentioned the support of teammates.
01:15 Talk to me a little bit about how they've helped you and
01:17 been in your corner as you've been working through this.
01:19 >> It's been good.
01:20 I mean, I've had a lot of talks with different guys and just trying to stay,
01:25 especially when I was out, just trying to stay around,
01:27 just to let them know I'm here, just taking their voice.
01:29 But it's been good.
01:31 This is a very high character team, surrounded by a good group of guys.
01:35 And they've always been huge supporters for me and also everybody else.
01:39 And I just appreciate them.
01:41 And it's time to win now, at the end of the day.
01:44 So I'm excited.
01:45 >> How much was there a relief to finally win one of these games comfortable and
01:50 not be in an overtime, bar and burger type of game?
01:53 >> It definitely was a relief.
01:55 This part of the first game, it hasn't been between a couple of possessions.
01:58 So I think it was really good for us as well just to play a game like this.
02:03 But I'm sure things are gonna be close.
02:05 I hope not, but we'll see.
02:08 >> Jameer, you have four blocks tonight.
02:10 Do you take pride in being a rim protector and a leaper like that?
02:13 >> Absolutely.
02:15 I may not look like it, but I feel like my teammates did a good job of walling up and
02:20 making them take tough shots.
02:21 I just came in there to clean it up.
02:23 So it was just there a lot today.
02:27 It was tough opportunities.
02:29 >> What do you think, I guess,
02:30 what was the toughest part of your rehab trying to get back to where you kind of
02:33 were at the beginning of the season?
02:34 >> At the beginning of the season, I was probably around 80, 85%.
02:43 But kind of knowing going deeper into the season,
02:45 it was probably gonna get worse just because dealing with plantar fasciitis,
02:49 it's the only, race only takes time.
02:52 And I think when I went to Hawaii, it's when stuff got worse,
02:55 we was playing those back to back games.
02:57 So it's one of those weird injuries that it's hard to kind of recover from in such
03:03 a quick time span.
03:03 So I think during that time where I took a couple weeks off,
03:07 was just trying to figure out the best ways to keep it stable to where I can come
03:12 back and be able to play.
03:14 I might not come back 100%, but at least I can come back enough to where I can
03:18 be very effective like I was at the beginning of the year.
03:20 So it was a tough struggle, but I thank the trainers,
03:26 I thank the strength coach, I thank the coaching staff.
03:29 But ultimately, it was something I had to figure out for myself.
03:34 And I'm glad I kind of took that time to do that.
03:37 So it's helped a lot, and I'm feeling a lot more comfortable, and
03:41 I'm feeling back to myself now, so it's been good.
03:44 >> Jameer, it looked like the first few minutes of that second half,
03:47 team was scrambling a little bit on offense.
03:49 Coach Dixon calls that time out to try and settle you guys down.
03:52 What did he say in that time out?
03:54 Because afterwards, it looked like you guys gained control and
03:57 really just took over from there.
04:00 >> He always reminds us of the principles of our offense, just swinging the ball and
04:04 getting everybody involved.
04:06 And I feel like we did that, we made an effort to do that after he talked to us in
04:09 that time out.
04:10 And that's a great job by him, just reminding us and keeping us.
04:17 >> Jacob, we did see Mike on the sideline give you guys a little lift tonight.
04:20 >> Yeah, no, it's always good to see Mike.
04:22 I mean, me and Mike go way back to high school days, so
04:24 it's always good to see him.
04:25 And we always check up on each other, so it was definitely good to see him for sure.
04:29 >> After the last couple of games,
04:33 did it feel like tonight was one that you really needed to get?
04:35 >> Yeah, no, this was a must win.
04:39 And every game is a must win, but this one, especially just because
04:44 coming off two losses is pretty tough, and that bounce back game is tough to deal with.
04:49 But I think we handled practice good, I think we handled walk throughs, and
04:52 I thought we were a lot more focused coming into the game.
04:55 And I thought we stepped more into the game plan today than we have in the past.
04:58 And if we continue to do that, but do it even better,
05:01 then we're gonna see more positive results at the end, so.
05:04 >> Any other questions?
05:08 Okay, thank you.
05:08 Thank you.