MAUI JIM MAUI INVITATIONAL

November 22, 2022

Mark Adams

Robert Jennings

Kevin Obanor

Lahaina Civic Center

Texas Tech Red Raiders

Postgame Press Conference

Texas Tech - 70, Louisville - 38

THE MODERATOR: We'll get started with an opening statement from coach and then take questions for the student-athletes.

MARK ADAMS: Sure. Just pleased that we were able to come back after that tough and disappointing, frustrating, loss against Creighton. Very, very good basketball team. Exposed a lot of our weaknesses. I thought we came back today strong and focused on defense, things that we believe in in our identity. So I was really proud of our guys.

THE MODERATOR: Questions for our student-athletes?

Q. Robert, you got a lot of time today, over 15 minutes, and produced. Can you give us an idea of your progression so far your first year at Texas Tech?

ROBERT JENNINGS II: It's definitely been an adjustment. I give most of my credit, first off, to God, and my teammates for pushing me every day in practice, Coach Adams pushing me. He's on me making me a better player. So I just, I'm thankful for the opportunity.

Q. Kevin, held Louisville to just 38 points. That's one off the tournament record for a low. What was it like to bounce back and have this kind of defensive performance a day after yesterday?

KEVIN OBANOR: Yeah, that's just a testimony to our defense. We still have a ways to go, but I think we responded the right way, just being a resilient team.

So I'm just proud of the guys and we got to look forward to the one that we got tomorrow.

Q. Robert, wondering if you could also speak to your team's defensive identity. And when you play for this program, what's kind of expected of you on that end of the floor.

ROBERT JENNINGS II: To come and play hard every day. We're going to dive on the floor. We're going to play hard. Like, every play, when we get it to the side, we're going to side it. Like, we're going to make teams feel uncomfortable. We're going to be the team that people don't want to play. I feel like we did that today and we came out with a win.

THE MODERATOR: All right. Thank you, guys. Take questions for coach.

Q. Batcho is averaging 13 points, eight and a half rebounds, two blocks, and two steals so far here in Maui. I know he's had a good season and expectations were high coming into this season, but what has his performance here and then so far this season meant to the team?

MARK ADAMS: Yeah, he's been the most consistent player, especially on defense. But he's been scoring a lot, in double figures offensively. He had 12 rebounds today. We always can count on him getting two or three blocks and then adjusting some of those shots as well, not just blocking 'em.

So he's a great rim protector and he's kind of the cornerstone of our defense. Actually, though, I wish we could get him more touches on the offensive end because he's doing much better. I thought he played well yesterday against Creighton. So we've got to find other ways to get him the ball.

Q. So early in the season and so many new faces. Do you feel like you learned something about the team and how they responded today, and if so, what?

MARK ADAMS: Well, I was on 'em pretty hard yesterday. I don't necessarily like to be that way. But we just got so many new and young players and we got to get 'em to grow up. Sometimes you have to do that different ways. We've been a little bit, kind of more stern with 'em and talk more about discipline and toughness.

Still have a long ways to go, but it was really satisfying to see these guys at least listen, be coachable, and I think make a step forward.

Q. You have a defensive identity but you talked about wanting to grow on the offensive side of the floor. You got to score points. What have you seen so far that has shown some of that growth that you want to see on that side of the floor?

MARK ADAMS: Well, the problem is I have an identity. I just haven't gotten my players to be able to figure it out yet and go ahead and adopt that type of scheme and philosophy as I do. But they're getting there. You do that with some success.

On the other side of the ball we're trying to score off our defense, trying to push the ball. We like just to be really aggressive on both ends and attack. I think slowly but surely we're getting there.