LOCKER ROOM REPORT: Wolfpack Players
NC State guard Dereon Seabron and forward Jaylon Gibson met with the media following the Wolfpack's 89-82 loss to Syracuse Wednesday night.
Seabron finished second on the team in scoring with 17 points, trailing Terquavion Smith’s 25, on 5-for-11 shooting from the field, 6-for-6 from the free-throw line. He also added a team-high eight rebounds and tied with Cam Hayes for the team lead in assists with five. In his first career start, Gibson scored a season-high 14 points on 6-for-9 shooting. He also brought down six boards in the loss to the Orange.
NOTE: Click on the video in the player above to watch the players’ press conference.
Dereon Seabron
On the team playing with more energy tonight and if that has been an emphasis in practice...
Yeah, the main emphasis was playing hard on defense and not giving up easy baskets. During our last two games, UNC made 15 threes, and Notre Dame made 11, so there was a big emphasis on guarding the three-point line, and we knew Syracuse was a great three-point shooting team.
On the team’s ball movement tonight...
It was very important because we knew they were going to play zone, so we couldn’t have the ball sticking. We had to keep moving it and try to get it to the middle and just break down the zone. I think today was our season high for assists, so that was good. That was a positive note on our end.
On seeing Jaylon Gibson have a breakout game...
It felt good because, even in the previous practices, I was telling him this next game could be your opportunity to have a breakout game and show everybody what you can do.
On playing enter and point guard while having four other guards out on the floor...
Yesterday in practice and today during shootaround, we worked on going small because we knew we were outnumbered with [Ebenezer Dowuona], Ernest [Ross], and Manny [Bates] out. It was weird seeing it, but we did it earlier today in shootarounds so it kind of felt normal. I just had to adjust.
On if Syracuse switched up its zone in the second half...
They switched it up by having one man playing the ball up top and another one in the middle, but we just adjusted. We saw that on film in previous days before practice, so we knew what plays we could run against it.
On trying to defend Syracuse in the second half when it seemed like every shot was falling...
In the second half, the first three or four minutes, I wouldn’t have ever thought they were 11-for-11 from the field. Everything was going on. Coming into the game, we knew that they were a bad-shot taking team, but a bad-shot making team. We knew that they could make those shots. We just tried to keep pressing them to keep them down so later on in the game they wouldn’t fall, but they were still hitting them.
Jaylon Gibson
On having a breakout game and where was he finding his spot...
Just hiding behind that 2-3 [zone]. I knew once I caught it I had to make a quick move. The coach put a big emphasis on it, I have to dunk everything. I practiced shooting around today and did a couple of dunking drills just making sure I went up strong.
On his mindset coming into the game knowing Dowuona was out and if he felt pressure...
I mean, not really a lot of pressure, just going in and playing freely, with a lot of energy. I knew if I made a mistake I’m not coming out of the game so just get past that mistake and keep playing hard.
On if it felt weird pregame to be the last big man standing...
It most definitely feels weird. Unfortunately, we have some guys out, I really miss my brothers.
On his teammates clearly being excited for him...
“Yes, for sure. Before the game, [Seabron] was saying, “This is your breakout game. Go hoop.”