Owen Freeman interview
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SportsTranscript
00:00 (laughing)
00:02 - Dogs out.
00:03 - Have to.
00:04 - All right, any questions from?
00:08 - So you've seen, I've seen tape of Clifford Moore,
00:13 just your approach, he's been around a long time,
00:16 he's known as a defensive specialist,
00:17 just talk about the challenge of facing someone like that.
00:19 - I mean, yeah, I mean, he's leading the Big 10
00:21 in block shots, he's obviously a great player,
00:23 has been since he's been at Rutgers.
00:26 Coaches have a game plan, I mean,
00:27 obviously a great defender, I'm gonna come in
00:29 and try and use shot fakes, but like,
00:31 coach is gonna set me up to be able to play the best
00:35 that I can and be able to use my own advantages against him.
00:39 - It's like every night in this conference,
00:40 you're going up against somebody who's probably
00:43 maybe as big as you, stronger, more experienced,
00:47 what is that baptism like for you?
00:49 - I mean, yeah, that's just how,
00:50 it just shows the level of basketball in the Big 10,
00:53 I mean, every night you're facing a monster,
00:56 each in their own different kind of way, you know?
01:00 I mean, it just shows how competitive this league is
01:03 and I feel like it kind of shows
01:05 that I can compete with them too.
01:07 My confidence is getting there
01:09 and I'm just becoming more comfortable with the game,
01:11 I mean, it's a great opportunity to showcase
01:14 how good I feel I am going up against them
01:17 and then just how good this team is.
01:19 - Do you expect to be getting double doubles
01:20 this early in your career?
01:22 - I didn't expect it, but it's obviously something
01:25 that you work for, I mean, coaches gave me the opportunity
01:28 and to be out there on the floor
01:30 and I tried to take every second
01:32 and just put all my effort into it.
01:37 - One of the things you do really well
01:39 is you're not bringing the ball down.
01:41 How did you work on that?
01:44 Because a lot of young bigs don't have that
01:46 in their repertoire.
01:48 - Yeah, I credit that a lot to my parents,
01:50 I mean, they've worked with me ever since I was young,
01:52 always told me that you got to keep the ball up
01:55 and 'cause guards will be down there and try and swipe,
01:57 so it's something that they've instilled
01:59 and obviously coming here,
02:00 coaches have emphasized it even more.
02:02 - So you were always tall?
02:04 - Yeah, I've always kind of been head and shoulders
02:06 above everybody else, so yeah.
02:08 - Did your parents play basketball?
02:10 - They did, they both were All-Americans
02:13 at Olivet Nazarene University,
02:14 it's the NNI school in Bourbon, Illinois.
02:16 - You just have any favorite memories
02:18 playing basketball with them growing up or anything like that?
02:21 - Yeah, so we had a family church
02:24 and there was a blacktop court
02:25 and that's where they kind of taught me the ropes
02:28 and just where we grew up playing with family.
02:30 - You remember the first time you beat your dad?
02:33 - Ooh, first time I beat my dad,
02:34 it was probably, it was in high school,
02:38 probably like freshman or sophomore year, yeah.
02:41 I won't let him live it down either.
02:42 First time I dunked, my dad, they both were, yeah.
02:45 Yeah, both my parents were, so.
02:47 My dad's like 6'9".
02:48 - Oh, okay.
02:49 - Yeah, my mom was like six foot.
02:50 - Okay. - Yeah.
02:51 - How competitive were those games, kid?
02:53 - Oh, they're really competitive.
02:54 There was one where my dad kind of threw the ball at me.
02:57 I mean, games just get heated, you know?
02:59 But that's where the competitive edge kind of comes in
03:01 and it's just been in the blood.
03:04 - Did you throw it back?
03:05 - I mean, I just, I didn't have to throw it back.
03:07 I was just, I was working him, you know?
03:09 He couldn't guard me.
03:10 - Okay.
03:11 - All right, you guys good?
03:14 - Yeah, that's good. - All right.
03:15 - Thanks, all. - Thanks a lot.
03:16 - Thanks, guys.
03:17 Yeah, I love that.