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 loss in Dresden

A tough 91-76 loss in Dresden. A long bus ride is always longer after a loss. What was on your mind most after the loss in Dresden as you were sorting your thoughts on the trip home?

Plenty of things were invading my mind on the long train ride back but the one that stood at most to me is why we rebound the ball so poorly. I couldn’t put my finger on it I have to review the game and pin point our mistakes.

Dresden only had a 39-38 lead at halftime. Where there any indications in the play of TV Langen in the first 20 minutes that a lull could occur in the second half?

Im sure everyone figured they would come out aggressive. As a team we were supposed to hold our ground and push ahead but it didnt work out like that

Dresden led by 11 points after three quarters. The German players of Dresden gave them a lot of support in getting this big lead. It seemed like they were getting many easy buckets in the zone. Wasn´t TV Langen to make any defensive adjustments?

Well Coach Thomas wanted to slow down there penetration a bit more heading to the second half he thought the zone would be a better fit under the circumstances of us being short handed and Max and I being in foul trouble, so we dealt with what we could in the zone

Dresden kept their healthy lead in the fourth quarter and never trailed by less than eight points. TV Langen was playing on a small rotation. Did you guys get more tired in the fourth quarter or what were the reasons for not being able to make a run?

The line up he had in at the time was the most uncommon with me at the Center position and four guards. Thomas does this so we can be the fastest and most aggressive on defense but offensively we didn’t have much going on simply because we don’t have any plays designed for that line up

What was it like battling Damon Smith who had a solid game scoring 22 points? He got them going early and was more the go to guy as usual go to guy Andrew Jones had a quiet game with eight points.

Damon Smith can play when he wants to unfortunately for us that day was yesterday. He wasn’t as passive as he usually is and he had great presence of mind to attack me more in the second half because of my foul count situation. Andrew just got back in the line up he was hurt and out for a couple games so we didn’t expect too much from him anyway.

You scored 19 points in 22 minutes and was the most effective TV Langen player and second in the game behind Damon Smith. Do you go back and watch your own games on film the day after?

I usually watch my games and my opponents games to see where I can be more effective and also to get an insight on what we as a team do wrong or not so well. Also try to fix some of these things in practice during the week.

The rebounding result has to be of some concern as Dresden outrebounded TV Langen 44-24. It seems like a real real big man with length is missing. Martins Woody is a work horse and can´t do everything by himself.

This is a reoccurring problem on this team right now we can’t seem to rebound out our spots at the moment and it starts with me. I haven’t rebounded that well the last couple of games I need to do a better job crashing the boards after guarding a perimeter defender.

Even after a loss like that, is there anything positive that you could take out of the game that will motivate you for preparation for the next team Baunach?

The positive is that we know what are emphasis is on Saturday and it has to be rebounding .Hopefully everyone knows the importance of this game and we don’t lose in front of our home crowd. We play well there so I’m sure we will come hungry.

What was the last DVD movie that you saw?

Transformers.

Thanks Jermel for the chat.