Wake Forest Athletics
Wake Forest Holds Basketball Media Day
10/8/2013 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Oct. 8, 2013
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Wake Forest held its annual Basketball Media Day on Tuesday on campus at Budd Gym in the Miller Center.
Members of the local and national print media along with local television stations met with Wake Forest coaches and student-athletes.
Below are quotes from Media Day.
Head Coach Jeff Bzdelik
On the sophomore class' development...
"They're older, they're wiser, and they're stronger. They're more mature. It's just common sense. When you come out of high school, you have no understanding of what it's like to play at this level. To go through the year that they did, having some great success but also having some tough losses, they gained a valuable understanding of what's expected at this level. They've improved their bodies. They've improved their minds. They've improved their skill. In a collective way, they're very excited about their future."
On Codi Miller-McIntyre's presence on this year's team...
"We all know that in college basketball, to win, you need great guard play. We all know that. Codi has worked really hard on that. He's improved his body, which makes him quicker. He spent a lot of time in the gym every day. He went to Chris Paul's camp. He went to a variety of other camps. He's worked hard at watching and studying film. He needs to improve his outside shooting. He needs to improve his decision-making and his leadership. Leaders inspire people. Sometimes, as a young player, they come in and they're really concerned about their own game. You have to worry about everybody else. You put your own game aside and get more involved in everybody else."
On in-game strategy this season...
"We're going to press to speed up the game, and we're going to press to slow the game. We're going to play some zone. We're going to play some man. We're going to utilize our depth. Everybody knows that they have a piece in this. It's involved everybody. Everybody's going to have a piece of this puzzle. You might play five or six minutes, but it's got to be the most important five or six minutes you've ever played in your life. That one minute could make a ball game swing one way or the other."
Senior Forward Travis McKie
On the sophomore class' development...
"I think they're coming along quite well. I think this year, you see a lot more confidence in their movements. They're sure about themselves, so I think that's going to carry a long way into the season."
On the new facets of his game this season...
"I'm not going to be just catch-and-shoot or in the post. I'm going to be doing a lot more with the ball. I'm going to be more involved with the offensive movements. I'm going to do whatever I need to do to help the team win. I think I'll be better mentally. I've learned a lot about the game since last year."
On expanding his game from under the basket...
"There's no substitute for hard work. I've been here since June, working out every day with Coach Randolph (Childress). We've been in the gym, just getting better. I've done ball-handling drills, coming off the pick and roll, understanding how to think like a guard. Ball management is the biggest thing."
Sophomore Guard Codi Miller-McIntyre
On the possibility of becoming an All-ACC player...
"I think anybody can be an All-ACC player. It depends on how bad you want it. I want it bad. I work hard every day. There's not a moment that goes by where I don't think about basketball. Every time I think about it, I get aggravated because I'm ready to start playing."
On the importance of post presence...
"I think a lot of it comes down to the big men. Big men don't get a lot of credit. Big men like Devin (Thomas), Andre (Washington), Tyler (Cavanaugh) and Arnaud William Adala Moto. They're great, and we couldn't do it without them."
On getting to the rim...
"The thing that always works for me is getting to the basket. I shied away from that a lot last year. That's my bread and butter, getting to the rim and then working my way out."
