Senior forward Lennard Freeman spoke to the media after NC State’s 102-76
On what was most important to him tonight
“Most importantly, we got the win. We had to start off on the right track. It’s cool that I got my career-high and everything, but most importantly, I’m just trying to win.”
On having a balanced scoring attack tonight
“When we have multiple people in double figures, that’s like Thanksgiving on the basketball court. Everybody got a little piece of the pie, so that’s the goal every day. Coach Keatts said that there is going to be so many possessions with the way we play. We’re going to get a lot more steals. We’re going to take a lot more shots than the other team. You can get used to multiple people being in double figures because there are so many shots for everybody.”
On Coach Keatts
“You have to start out strong. You have to make a statement from the first game. Coach Keatts, he’s a great coach, so I’m just stating facts when I’m talking about Coach Keatts and the way he coaches and his attitude. I’m just speaking from the heart, and I guess he’s just that great of a person that it’s easy for me to talk about him.”
On his pregame ritual
“First, you have to pray. You have to thank God just for being here, and then you have to put some Meek Mill on, get your mind right. Just music and God, that’s all you need.”
On his first regular season game back
“The exhibition game, I’m glad we had that. That felt like a real game to me. Our fans came out. Shout out to our fans. Great fan support made it feel like a real game, so the exhibition game kind of warmed me up and settled me down a little bit, just to get the feel back. But every game feels like a championship to me. I haven’t played in so long. Every game is going to be like ‘Oh it’s my last one.’”
On what he and Omer Yurtseven bring to the game
“We have to bring toughness. The league’s a little different now. You’re not allowed to touch the people on the perimeter and everything. We have to bring toughness and we have to rebound since we’re the only traditional bigs out there. We’re like the quarterback of the whole thing, just have to keep everybody organized, rebound, and just bring toughness. Set the tone.”
On Coach Keatts limiting his minutes
“Whenever my name was called, I was out there. He didn’t say anything to me about minutes. Whenever he tells me to sub in, that’s what I do, and then whatever minutes I end up with, that’s what it is.”
On if anything is holding him back
“Knock on wood, I feel great right now. I don’t even know what leg injury you all are talking about. That’s how great I feel right now. Hopefully, it can keep feeling the same way.”