D.J. Funderburk: "We're Definitely Ready"
NC State redshirt senior forward D.J. Funderburk met with the media via Zoom ahead of the Wolfpack's season opener against Charleston Southern as part of the Mako Medical Wolfpack Invitational.
The Cleveland native averaged 12.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 25.9 minutes per game last season. Funderburk shot 60.9 percent from the field and also tallied 24 blocks in 2019.
A transcript of Funderburk’s comments to the media is posted below.
How’s it going to be having to bring your own energy on Wednesday with a smaller crowd that normal?
“To be completely honest with you, I’d rather play with no fans. I think it really shows who can play the game in any type of situation. For instance, if we play in practice in those times before COVID where we’d play a private scrimmage, you could see who could really ball because it’s quiet. There’s no way to get nervous by the crowd. There’s no way to play up to the crowd. Those two types of players are eliminated. I just feel like it eliminates a lot of distractions and other worries that you don’t have to worry about. Playing without fans will be better for us. Other than that, I hope we don’t go anywhere where they play artificial music after every bucket or something like that. I’d rather just play, hear my teammates, and hear their team call out their calls and see who comes out on top."
Do you not typically feed off the fans’ energy when you play?
“I don’t need it to get going, but when you get a big play, you definitely feed off of it, hearing them and everything. I don’t necessarily need it. I feel like I could play without it and still have an impact on the game."
Is there more anxiety in starting the season later than usual?
“The best analogy I can give you in terms of anticipation is like constantly winding up one of those little toy cars and letting it go before you put it on the tracks, and then it just shoots off. I feel like that’s how everyone on our team is right now. We’re tired of beating each other up in practice and going hard in that form. We’re definitely ready. Personally, I’m not anxious or nervous or anything. I’m just ready to play. I’m ready to go. It’s been a long time. I’m just happy to get out there and play with my team.”
What have you seen out of Charleston Southern?
“We haven’t looked at them on film yet, but from what I’ve heard, they have some pretty good players, they’re pretty athletic, and they’re a solid core defense team. It’ll be fun to get out there, get it going in our first game, and see what they’ve got."
What’s the number one thing we should be looking for that you’ve been working on?
“I don’t really want to help the other team’s scouting reports, but I definitely feel like an overall better player in general. The mental aspect of the game for me has gotten way better. I think that was really the biggest part for me: just knowing how to play the game within the game and playing my game within the system. That was probably my biggest jump this season other than the stuff that everyone works on in the summer like ball-handling, shooting, and getting stronger and faster. That’s going to come from being in the gym every day, but for sure the mental aspect for me was a big jump."
How’s the chemistry with Manny Bates in the post?
“I can tell you that I contest a lot more shots. I don’t know about blocking, but I’m definitely contesting a lot more shots. Manny, on the other hand, he’s gotten extremely bigger, way more confident offensively, and still keeping up the defensive side. He’s definitely consistent, if not better, as far as blocking shots. He’s moving his feet, contesting jumpers, and stuff like that, trusting his defense a little bit more. It’s going to be a great little tandem between me and him. We complement one another’s game. We both know what we like to do, where we want the ball, and stuff like that. It’s going to be fun playing side by side with him finally."
Do you ever think ‘Why is this crazy year happening on what should be my best year of basketball?’
“It’s not hard for me because I don’t really think about it anymore. I was just thinking about this the other day talking with one of my friends. I’m class of 2016, so growing up mainly from eighth grade to 10th grade, I played against a lot of the top guys you see in the league now from the 2016 class. From that year on for four years, I’ve been seeing people that I either played against or watched on TV or on the phone on YouTube with their highlights. Seeing them go to the NBA, sometimes I think to myself, ‘Man, I’m still in college?’ I always come back to thinking, ‘Everybody has their own route. Everybody has their own time.’ That’s what I think about anytime any thoughts like that pop up. If I feel like it’s taking too long or I’ve been in college this long for X amount of years or the season isn’t going how it’s supposed to go or whatever, it’s just God’s plan; I feel like everybody’s got a different path. I don’t really think about anybody else’s path. I just try to worry about mine. That worry doesn’t really come up."