Player Q&A: Malik Reneau reacts to Indiana basketball’s 83-66 win over North Alabama

Indiana basketball player Malik Reneau spoke to reporters following Indiana’s win versus North Alabama on Thursday at Assembly Hall.

Renau spoke about his performance, working with Calbert Cheaney, the ball movement, and more.

Below is the full video Q&A and transcript.

Q. Malik, the three-point shooting, what went into a performance like this from you and your team?

MALIK RENEAU: A lot of improvement from the three. I think we really coming in, like, this past week or so, you could see a lot of people had been in the gym getting up shots, getting up extra shots. Even during practice, after practice, before practice.

I think that contributed to having so much confidence on the court and being able to knock down shots.

Q. With you personally, what has kind of gone into your development in terms of outside shooting, finding the places on the court?

MALIK RENEAU: Yeah, I mean, building confidence. I’ve been working out with Coach Cheaney a lot, just understanding how he played the game, how he was able to work around the court, be able to get his shot wherever he wanted on the court. Just getting reps up, man, being confident when you go out there, not being scared to shoot the ball. I think that was the main part for me.

Q. You talked about what went into your confidence. To have a game where they did fall, what does that do going forward? What does it do for the team to know that teams are going to have to account for that shot?

MALIK RENEAU: Yeah, I mean, that brings a lot of planning that I can space the floor out, be able to knock one down or be able to shoot the ball and make a couple. Teams got to defend for that now. It just brings so much confidence to myself coming in after this break, coming into the Big Ten play.

Q. What was working so well for the team as a whole tonight with the off-ball movement, moving the ball around?

MALIK RENEAU: Yeah, I mean, just being able to get the ball side to side, be able to move the defense, get it to the third side, the fourth side, then the defense finally breaking down and getting easy lobs over the top and stuff like that. Just having a lot of movement, off-ball cutting and stuff like that to free up Kel’el on the lobs, get open threes around the paint.

They were double-teaming a lot in the post from the feeder. We made the adjustment to either cut down to the short three, the corner three, or just to cut through the nail to make the layup. It opened up a lot in the post. Just being able to set stronger screens and be able to connect on the screens to get open. I think we did a great job on that.

Q. What effect does it have when the ball is hitting everybody’s hands like that before the shot goes up?

MALIK RENEAU: Everybody’s touching the ball. Everybody feels like they’re a part of the team. We had a lot of assists tonight. I think it was 25. That’s a lot of assists to have in a game.

Just being able to move the ball and get everybody a touch and get everybody a feel of the ball to not feel like you left out on the court or you just out there.

I feel like when you touching the ball, you get more confidence and the ball’s moving around, you get more shots, everybody is getting a shot. That was a great thing to see.

Q. Trey had nine assists today, a new high for him. What enabled his success?

MALIK RENEAU: I feel it was the court opening up. We hit 12 threes tonight. Just opening up the court, being able to space the floor out, opened it up a lot for Gallo to get in the lane and kick out for threes and lobs over the top to Kel’el. I think that was a great job by Gallo. He played great today.

Q. You get a break here, get to go home to Miami where it’s warmer. Will you take some time off from basketball or be putting up a few shots?

MALIK RENEAU: No, absolutely not. Basketball is year-round over here (smiling). I’ll be working out and all that stuff, training, conditioning for the four days I’m gone for.

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