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Oct. 6, 2015

#33 Shep Garner, sophomore guard

Q: What are some you things that you're trying to focus on this year? Things that you're trying to improve on.

A: Being consistent and making sure that I'm doing everything right day-by day. Setting a good example for my teammates and just trying to get better everyday.

Q: When you look at it, obviously no DJ [Newbill] and coach said he thinks that you're going to be more spread out. What do you think that kind of does for your team when you don't have one guy so dominate, but maybe distribute a little more?

A: I think it's a great thing. With the scoring being spread out it will hopefully make us harder to stop. Last year we were a little bit easier to stop at times, but this year it is going to be way more spread out so we should be better offensively.

Q: We talked to coach about recruiting pitches - what do you think Coach Chambers is selling so well right now because obviously he is having quite a bit of success?

A: The same thing he preaches every day, that we just want to come in and get better everyday. We want to be the best team that we can be and they believe it in. They fell in love with the school and they fell in love with the process and so they chose Penn State.

#5 Donovon Jack, senior forward

Q: How has the program evolved during your time?   Have you seen differences in the program?

A: I think we have definitely gotten better each year. The coaches are learning, we as players are learning and we're in the Big Ten so it's a big challenge for us. Everyday is something new, but like I said, every year is getting better and better. We have great coaches and great players and that starts to create chemistry, so I'm happy where this program is heading.

Q: What aspects of your game do you feel really good about and what have you worked on over the summer that you thought you needed to improve on after last season?

A: I think it's really just consistency.  I worked on getting my shot back and being consistent with that. I also worked on fundamentals of course. Playing basketball is all about the fundamentals and doing the simple things. The simpler the better.

Q: When you look at the end of last season, how did that help in the offseason? Did that help carry over and give the guys confidence that you can have success within the Big Ten and in the postseason?

A: Definitely. I think it's something that we got motivation from. It showed us that we can play with other teams and so we're just going to keep battling to get better each and every day with a positive attitude. We're going to try and win every game we can win.

#0 Payton Banks, sophomore forward

Q: As a shooter do you think this team needs that shooting presence with DJ [Newbill] graduating and Geno [Thorpe] transferring? Are you looking to step up in that area?

A: Definitely. I'm just trying to do everything my team needs from me. Whether that's hitting a three or driving more. We're going to try and spread it out more so there is going to be more driving lanes which will open up a lot more shots.

Q: With the shot clock losing five seconds going from 35 down to 30, do you expect a faster offensive pace this year?

A: Yes, it's very much of a kick-up. Instead of stopping and running plays, now we added Josh [Reaves] and a lot of people who can run the floor, it should be interesting. It's going to be a lot faster and hopefully we put up a lot more points.

#44 Julian Moore, sophomore forward

Q: You lost two big guards in DJ [Newbill] and Geno [Thorpe], where do you see the scoring coming from?

A: It's going to come from all of us. We're all working together to make up for the loss in point production from those two. We have a lot of talent on this team so the scoring could come from anywhere.

Q: Coach was talking about how he wants the defense to lead into the offense and how having shot blockers is going to help. How do you think you're going to fit into that defensively and blocking shots?

A: Pretty well. All of the bigger players have been working a lot on our defense, especially in the off-season on shot blocking and rebounding. We're all getting better and working hard.

Q: Is that the mentality that you guys want to have, being a really solid defensively efficient team this year?

A: Definitely, it's always been the mentality here. We've always been defense first. We just want to try and keep that going.

#10  Brandon Taylor, senior forward

Q: For you as a senior, you've been out here a little while. Do you pay attention to the recruiting buzz and the positivity kind of surrounding the program of preseason, and how do you feel with some of these young guys coming in as a guy who has been around for a little while?

A: I am happy with the class that we have this year. We have great guys and with the recruits coming, I am happy for them and I am grateful that they are coming here. But I am just focused on this year and the guys that we have now.

Q: And the guys that you do have now, these freshman, how do you walk that line? Where is the balance for you, an older guy helping them or maybe they are going to help you guys too on the court?

A: I just help them with the little things such as showing them the ropes and what the Big Ten is really about and what we are about as a program. I show them the little things such as being on time and things that Coach [Chambers] has taught me in my four years here.

Q: What is the Big Ten about? What do you tell a true freshman coming in? How do you describe this league?

A: I tell them that it is not high school anymore where you just go out there and dominate. Every game is going to be a big game, against players who are going to be stronger than you, faster than you and we just have to go out there and play Penn State basketball.

Q: How much did the team learn, from that late run success last year and how much has it carried over into the offseason as you get ready to start the season this year?

A: I think it showed that we have more to give and that we are not going to sell ourselves short. We have a great bunch of guys who are still here, we lost a few players but we still have good guys who are going to step up. We are just going to try and keep that momentum flowing from last year.

#32  Jordan Dickerson, senior center

Q: It seemed as a team, a lot of times, as your defense went, the whole team went with it and a lot of the starting breaks out on offense. Is that something that Pat [Chambers] has really been stressing to you and do you sort of feel the burden on your shoulders to try and get things going?

A: I understand defense, our defense really gets our offense flowing. That is something that I don't really feel pressure to do. I have grown to be that player. That is where I get my energy. A lot of people might think that I get excited from a dunk but I actually get more excited when I make a block. So, just to know that it helps my teammates get more energy, it just pushes me to do better. There is no pressure.

Q: Can you describe the energy that goes into a block and the crowd getting pumped up? What is that like?

A: I don't know how to explain it. It is a sensational feeling. You really have to get the sense that somebody is trying to come into your house and be like "get that out of here." I get that feeling, so when I get that going, I get a block or two, which gets the team pumped and it is just crazy from there. It is just something you have to get a feeling for.

Q: How do you guys carry over the early success like you had in the non-conference last year into the Big Ten schedule in which was so tough for you?

A: I think that we just have to stay mentally strong and I think that we had a great non-conference season but toward December and January, we became comfortable and we cannot allow ourselves to do that. We have to stay focused, keep our minds on the prize and take everyday like it is our last. We have to bring it everyday in practice, work hard, get extra shots up and stay on the courts.

Q: When you look at some of these small programs in college basketball that make the tournament runs and whatever it may be, do you ever think "hey, we are Penn State, why not us?" sort of thing?

A: I see other teams and think to myself that we are just as good as they are and I try to pick out what they do that we do not do. A lot of times teams know how to execute and it's the little plays that make a big difference. That is something we have to take real pride in. When it is the last second of the game, we have to really learn how to focus in and execute plays. I think that is something that we are really going to work on this year.

#23  Josh Reaves, freshman guard

Q: How was the process of going to Oak Hill Academy and making that decision to play there your senior year? How much do you think that made a difference in preparing you to go into this year?

A: The competitiveness of everything - being the number one team in the country for a while and just everything about it. The competiveness during practice really helped me understand that things are going to change a lot in college and this is a college level competition.

Q: Being around this team so far this offseason and getting that exposure at least initially into the college game, what is maybe the biggest take away, the biggest thing you've learned so far before the real practices start here tomorrow?

A: I realized that things are going to change a lot. The speed, the competiveness, the strength, everything is going to change. I just have to adjust and work with my teammates and get as much information as I can from them in reference to college games and just work from there.

Q: Coach Chambers said that he has had a bunch of conversations with you about what freshman year is going to be like. What may be the expectations he set for you through those conversations?

A: It is not a certain individual goal for me to reach. It is a goal as a team. Meaning, everybody is just working together to become as good as we can as a team for the season and just go from there.