Jermel Kennedy is a 24 year old 201cm forward from Toronto Canada that is playing his first season in the German Pro B with TV Langen. He started his basketball career in 2008 with Iowa Central Community College (NJCAA) playing 26 games: 4.3ppg, 3.8rpg, FGP:47.3%, FT: 57.1%. In 2009-2010, he played for Volunteer State Community College (NJCAA) playing 27 games: 11.7ppg, 8.2rpg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 26.0%, FT: 83.0%. He finished his college basketball career at Lander in 2012 playing two seasons there and as a senior played 27 games: 11.0ppg, 7.0rpg, 1.2spg, FGP: 66.1%, FT: 70.5%. Last summer he was drafted by Moncton Miracles (NBL Canada,1rd(6). He spoke to German Hoops after the 73-58 win against Leipzig
Congrats on the 73-58 win against Leipzig. TV Langen are riding a two game winning streak. Life feels very good for you guys. What has been the turn around for the team in the last two weeks?
On the defensive end we been bonding much better as a team and continuosly communicating which has been working
It was a tale of two halves as there was offense in the first half and more defense in the second half. Is this something that one could have predicted at halftime that there would be les scoring in the second half?
Well coach Thomas continuously emphasizes defense so I guess we picked it up more in the second half and coach utilized the fresh legs on the bench to combatant there limited rotation
TV Langen had the comfortable 46-36 lead at halftime. You held Leipzig to six points in the third quarter. What adjustments defensively did TV Langen make in the third quarter?
We simply kept our original game plan and it consistently worked. They lost most of their momentum in the third and we benefited from it
TV Langen was up 65-42 after the third quarter. Thanks to the big lead, TV Langen weren´t punished for scoring only eight points in the fourth quarter. Was the team mentally tired in the last quarter?
Not necessarily we decided to be more patient and value more our possessions and most of our offensive threats weren’t on the court at this time
Martins Woody had a monster game with 22 points and 10 rebounds. Would TV Langen have won the game without his services?
Woody got it going early in the game and we definitely needed his offensive prowess around the rim it was very effective
You had more a quiet game with six points and three rebounds and you only took three shots. Was what the defense was giving you something that didn´t get you into a healthy rhythm?
Well Woody was playing extremely well and the team was focusing on finding more shots for him so that’s what we concentrated on. Also they played a zone a good part of the game and I couldn’t find much offensive opportunities there during the time I was on the floor
TV Langen gave up 58 points the last two weekends. You held Leipzig to 36% from the field and 20% from outside. Was this a better defensive performance than last weekend and what has improved on the defensive end the last weeks?
We have been playing well defensively lately and we will just continue to do that. I wouldn’t measure it with our last win but I’m sure we came in with the same mentality
Did Sebastian Barth treat the team after the win since it was his birthday or will he make amends on another day?
He will make his amends tomorrow Super Bowl Sunday he knows he has too
Thanks Jermel for the chat.