Everything that head coach Kevin Willard, Rodney Rice and Ja’Kobi Gillespie said after Maryland’s 86-52 win vs. Mount St. Mary’s:
Willard on Rodney Rice’s career night vs. Mount St. Mary’s
“When Ja’Kobi [Gillespie] and Rodney are out there, it’s two guys that can really shoot it, score it. This is the way Rod has been playing for the last two or three weeks in practice. It's the way he played the other night, to be honest with you when he came in the second half and kind of did the same things. He's got a great knack to score. He knows how to score and he's been working hard so he's playing well.”
Rice on whether he’s officially shaken off the rust
“Yes I have.”
Rice on what that process has been like, 26 points in the first half
“Knocking the rust off, it’s just staying with it, being consistent every day in practice, playing hard as well. It felt good to be out there.”
Willard on how Ja’Kobi Gillespie has settled in
“I don't think – he's not. I think he's still trying to figure a lot of stuff out, which is the good thing. I think he's trying to figure out playing with two really talented big guys. When do I pass it and when do I shoot it? So I think we're just starting to see a little bit of how good Ja’Kobi can be. It's just he's – I think everyone's still trying to figure out a little bit like, when do I shoot? When do I not shoot? What I do like is, though, everyone's defensive energy has been really good to start the season.”
Gillespie on how settled he feels running PG
“The scrimmages really helped just kind of find my role and find when to get my teammates tomorrow so I feel a lot more comfortable now.”
Willard on turning 25 turnovers into 27 points
“They press and run and jump, and I think that's part of the way they do it. And I like the way they play. I do think the fact that we can play two different styles within the game, I thought Tafara [Gapare] and Jordan [Geronimo] came in with energy and we switched up our pick-and-roll defense. We went from drop to pretty much trapping and rotating instead of just drop with [Julian Reese] and [Derik Queen]. So I think within the game, then Ja’Kobi takes a break. You bring Jay in, so you don't really get a break. Jay’s is as good as Ja’Kobi. So I think we're a little bit more athletic and the fact that we can play technically three different pick-and-roll defenses in the same half I think has really helped us.”
Willard on whether Tafara Gapare has a consistent role in the rotation
“Absolutely. Tafara is going to be one of those guys – I love having Tafara. He's so talented. He gets his hands on loose balls and deflections again. He's legit, [6-foot-10], [6-foot-11], he just has – it's kind of weird – he has kind of short arms. But he’s definitely going to see more time.”
Willard on the transfer additions accounting for all nine of Maryland’s three-pointers
“It’s why we brought them in.”
Gillespie on the three-point shooting and importance of the high-low offense
“If we’re knocking down threes consistently like that, they can't double [Julian Reese] or Derik [Queen] when we throw it in there.”
Willard on Selton Miguel’s health status
“A little bit. We didn't practice on Tuesday, election day. We practiced Wednesday. He looked better. We didn’t really practice Thursday. So I think he just needs a couple more. Again, Selton’s one of those guys that he's played – this is his third school. Everyone's got to take a deep breath and just kind of realize it's going to take him a little bit of time to figure out there's times when he thinks he's still playing a different, whole different style. So I mean, in the new era of the transfer portal, and I told the players is, you got to take a deep breath every once while I realize you're going to make a mistake just because of the fact that sometimes your reflexes are going to go back to something that he did for 36 games last year. Now I'm asking you to do something totally different. So I’m not worried about Selton.”
Willard on the early 7-0 deficit and the response
“They played two scrimmages really well. They run press. I think the biggest difference is, I probably would have called timeouts last year and this year, I just, I understand that coming off the bench, but I have guys that can really pick us up coming off the bench, defensively and offensively. And I just have a – you got two big guys out there that eventually got to get the ball, something that's going to happen. So I think there's just teams are going to come in and they're going to give you your best shot the first five to ten minutes and we weathered the storm and then we kind of imposed our will.”
Gillespie on the early 7-0 deficit
“We responded really well and then our bench players came in and kind of helped us turn it around and bring more energy because we came out flat. So I feel like we responded well.”
Willard on Derik Queen’s status after limping off the floor
“I have no comment on that.”
Willard on the frontcourt pairing of Gapare-Geronimo
“No, I haven't figured it out yet, to be honest with you. I don't like not having Derik Queen or JuJu in the game. It hasn't worked so far. They do really well when Jordan or Tafara with one of the main guys. Not that they're not playing good and we're definitely going to continue to do it. But yeah, I'm not happy with when they're both out of the game. I just think again, I think I'm giving the other team a free pass.”
Willard on 12 players playing at least five minutes
“I think the biggest thing as I look at the numbers, I think the highest – Ja’Kobi played 23 [minutes], Ju played 23 [minutes]. I think in the long run for Ju, Ja’Kobi, all these guys, getting the experience playing against guys are going after him, showing them different looks is great but at the same time, not putting a lot of mileage on guys this time of year I think will pay dividends for all those guys when they do have to put a lot of mileage on come December.”
Rice on whether everything was coming together
“The ball found me a lot as you said. I was very fortunate for that. And yeah, I felt that rhythm when I got it as well.”
Rice on whether coming off the bench provided a spark
“It’s just coach’s gameplan. I mean, we're gonna stick with that but we're just gonna execute regardless of the team.”
Rice on improved shot selection vs. Mount St. Mary’s
“Everyone is capable of hitting that shot from three. As a team, we can stretch it out. We can go down low, outside. Don't matter. We're very versatile as a team. We can get the job done anywhere.”
Rice on benefitting from the passing ability that Derik Queen showcases, his and-one off Queen’s fullcourt pass
“He's a very good passer. The ball went into the air, hit the court, I just went after it. The defender wasn't going to get there before. I was just determined and finished the play.”
Rice on whether the bench can provide the scoring lift
“When we need it, that's what we going to do. That's what we're going to come in and do. We're going to play with energy and assert ourselves.”
Rice on Willard’s message after hitting consecutive threes
“Just basically keep letting it go.”
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