Penn State Men's Basketball
Student-Athlete Press Conference
vs. UMBC - December 29, 2018
Rasir Bolton | G | Fr.
Q: If you could go back before the first game, would you have been able to predict those numbers for yourself for the nonconference in your first two months of your collegiate career?
A: I mean, I have a lot of confidence in the work that I put in for myself. I mean, I go out there and play every game to win. If that means scoring in double figures than that's what I have to do or getting 10 assists or 10 rebounds. It's whatever we need to do to win. I don't really focus on a specific stat line.
Q: Would you agree with what Coach Chambers just said, that you guys needed a little bit of a break? And how would you kind of characterize that need for that?
A: You are just around the team every day, all day, for a long time. So sometimes you know, it can get a little annoying and you are kind of tired for seeing them, but going home and coming back was really good for us because we are still a family. We all went home but we talked with each other over the phone and text messages, motivating each other to come back and work even harder. I felt like we did that, came together as a team for this game got the win. I feel that we are on a good roll right now.
Q: You look like a guy that measures up his shot, it looks like time slows down when you have the ball. What is your mindset when you are lining up for those three-point shots? What's the first thought that pops in your head, what's the second?
A: My pops. Since I was like seven he was telling me shooting is just like breathing. Breathe in, breathe out. Bring the ball up, breathe in, shoot it, breathe out. So that's all I think every time I touch the ball. Now it is getting easier as I am older and I am stronger. I could back up a little bit or the game slows down for me. The shot just becomes easier, but it is always just breathing.
Q: Talk about the transition. The non-conference schedule is done. You've had a taste of the Big Ten. How have you guys improved since the beginning of the season?
A: We have gotten tougher as a team, we've come more together. Just really focusing on Coach and principles, defensive rebounding, playing all 200 minutes and playing Penn State basketball. I felt like we did that today and we are coming together as a team, practing hard. Everything is on a roll right now, I feel pretty good going back into the conference schedule.
Q: In terms of the end of game situations, you've had a couple go your way, Virginia Tech, Duquesne, and you've had few not go your way, Alabama, NC State. How valuable is that knowing that probably for the next 18 games every game is likely to be a one possession game?
A: It's fun. You can't relax, you can't take the foot off the gas. You have to learn from our mistakes and our successes and just keep grinding, keep fighting. That's what this team is. We are a bunch of fighters, a bunch of champions just trying to win and that's what we are going to continue to do.