MODERATOR: Within the student-athletes from Baylor University. Adam Flagler, James Akinjo and Dale Bonner joining us. And we have 20 minutes allotted for the student-athletes.
They'll be followed by Head Coach Scott Drew. Start with questions in the room and move to questions from Zoom, if there are any. On the right, second row.
Q. This one's for James and Dale. How did the first experience of March Madness for y'all live up to what you expected?
MODERATOR: James, you can start with that.
JAMES AKINJO: It was cool. I mean, it was fun. It was intense. But it wasn't nothing, like, too crazy or nothing that I didn't expect. You know, so, I mean, it was cool. It was fun.
MODERATOR: Dale?
DALE BONNER: I would say the same thing. It was definitely exciting. But on to the next game, though.
MODERATOR: Front row on the left.
Q. Adam, what do you see from North Carolina? Do they look like any teams you've played this season?
ADAM FLAGLER: They definitely look like a couple teams in the sense of their size. It will definitely be something that we will new to. But at the end of the day, our confidence really preps us for anybody in the country. So we just going to pride ourselves on focusing on our defensive principles and going out there and execute.
MODERATOR: I'm sorry. Didn't see you there. Third row.
Q. Dale, it seemed liked from Norfolk State you had a really good defensive performance. It seems like you've transitioned to a higher defensive dab. What have you done to improve on the perimeter?
DALE BONNER: I would say consistently bringing the energy. Energy can do a lot for you. And that's what I try to do every time I play.
Q. Adam, I had a question for you about -- you guys like to get in transition. They're a very high transition team. So in terms of those types of styles, defensively, you talked about your principles there. What do you think is going to be key to limit how much they want to get out on the floor and try and run?
ADAM FLAGLER: Just focusing, really, on taking our best shots. And then at the end of the day, they're a really good offensive rebounding team. So as long as we're obligating them out and -- we have a chance. We got a lot of guys that can finish, like James. Lob threats like Matt. So it's me and Dale spacing the floor. We got a lot of key pieces for transition. But at the end of the day, we're obligating them out, giving us a chance, we set ourselves up good.
Q. Adam, obviously, you guys have stressed the hot start or a fast start to each game this season. When you see how North Carolina played against Marquette yesterday, does that maybe emphasize the importance of that a little bit more going into tomorrow?
ADAM FLAGLER: The main focus on any of these games, you know, is one-zero. We can all go home at the end of the day. So we always want to start off on a fresh, fast start and go out there and apply pressure and just make our presence felt.
MODERATOR: Stay on the right side.
Q. Adam, for you offensively, with how consistent you've been in your ability during conference play especially to get into that double figures mark, how much has that been you kind of looking for your shot and how much of it is just the way that the offense flows through you?
ADAM FLAGLER: A lot of it is just the way our offense works with, James. You know, being able to break anybody down. It's making it easy for a lot of us to score the ball. And, you know, with my confidence and the work we put in during the summer allows me to feel a lot more comfortable out there, to be aggressive and just play hard.
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