University of North Carolina Athletics
One on One With Kennedy Meeks
December 31, 2014 | Men's Basketball
By Turner Walston
TW: The Kennedy Meeks narrative this season is going to be the weight loss. You appear to be moving better. Do you feel different on the court?
KM: Last year wasn't about effort with me. It was just about getting done and getting it over with. Really I was losing focus on everything else but the game and this year I'm a lot more focused. I've dedicated myself to just basketball.
TW: Do you think making over your body is a product of that renewed focus, that that's where it all starts?
KM: Absolutely. Just really being disciplined and being smarter with my decisions on the court. Just being a better player all-around.
TW: How's the maintenance of the weight loss going?
KM: It's good. Just really keeping my body right, still in the 270 range, keep eating right just keep my same diet.
TW: Do you feel like you've been through the hard part, and now it's easier?
KM: Yeah, I feel like I've been through the hard part. Like Jonas (Sahratian, strength coach) says, I have a million miles to go. I have a lot more stuff to improve on. That's what I have to start working on now.
TW: Has there been a moment for you on the court, when you did something that you knew you couldn't have done last year?
KM: I couldn't dunk three times in a game last year.
TW: In one of the exhibition games, you got a steal and a dunk. How did that feel?
KM: It felt good. That's something that I always wanted to do, I just never strived toward that. I'm finally there at that point where I can make those kind of hard plays and make me proud of myself. I still remember how I used to be, and I don't want to get back to that anymore.
TW: Is this the most efficient you've been in your basketball life?
KM: I don't know, because high school wasn't as hard as college, but I would say yeah, probably so.
TW: How is this team going about figuring out how to play together to win basketball games?
KM: Play hard, play smart, play together. That's what Coach (Williams) always says. Just really take advantage of the game. Every opportunity is important. When you miss an opportunity, you miss possessions, you miss those easy shots that you can make to be there for your team and win the game.
TW: Does it take time to find out who's good at what in terms of where you need to be on the court and who's in the best position to score?
KM: I feel like as a team, that's something we still have to work on, but Coach knows. I think he knows that as soon as he recruits us, who can do what and who's capable of doing things to the best of their ability, but I think Coach knows but as a team that's something that we have to figure out.
TW: You've got a lot of talent in the post, with you and Brice, Isaiah, Joel, Desmond and Jackson. How is that competition? It seems like everybody is up a level from last year.
KM: It's been good. Coach is just challenging us each practice to really go out there and practice to get better, not practice to get it over with. Just really working for those two hours on our game and the things that we can work on, whether it's running the floor or demanding the ball in the post, something as simple as that. I think all the bigs are doing a great job of that right now, and the guards are really helping us by telling us the spots that they like, us telling them the spots that we like just to get those open looks.
TW: It seems like you're the best 'you' that you've ever been, and the same might be true for the rest of you guys.
KM: Yeah, yeah. I think all of our players are improved. We went to that next level. I think it's a little bit of confusion, because I don't think anybody on our team has really pushed to that level (before). It's something that we've got to get used to because everybody has improved and everybody has new game. We'll figure it out.
TW: Last year you averaged about 16 minutes per game. This year, it's more than 23. But sometimes, you have to spread those minutes out, like when Joel was playing well against UNC-Greensboro. Are you comfortable with that?
KM: Honestly man, it might sound cliché, but I'll do whatever it takes to win. Honestly. I'll say that from the bottom of my heart. Whatever it takes for my team to win, I'm happy with, because I know that Coach is making the right decision. There's a reason for everything, but as a player you don't question Coach, because he always knows what's best.
TW: J.P. Tokoto has become one of the best passers at his position. How have you seen that evolution?
KM: He's one of the best passers in the ACC, maybe in the country. His vision is incredible. Like Coach says all the time, he's just got to think it through, because sometimes that causes turnovers, but you can't be mad because he's really trying to make those easy plays. They can be a little risky, but at the same time, J.P.'s that type of player sometimes, where he takes a chance and it takes a lot of guts to be that type of player all the time.
TW: Thirteen games in, you have three losses, but this has never been a program under Roy Williams that would schedule only to get easy wins before prior conference play. Do you like to get tested, even if it takes a loss, to become a better team?
KM: Yeah, I think so. I don't think our plan is ever to lose, but losing is a part of basketball. Both teams can't win, so it's the better team that night. It's all about effort, though, with our team. We've just got to give effort and hopefully finish. If not, we lose those three games. If we do, we win those nine. It's really important for us just to be together collectively the whole 40 minutes and just keep improving each game.
TW: You've talked about effort, as athletes often do. Where do you need to go to summon that effort?
KM: It's just about the will to win. If you want it bad enough, you'll go get it. Coach Rob says it all the time: don't take plays off. Solve the problem. That's what we're trying to do right now, with no exams or class. Solve the problem.
TW: It's almost 2015. What are your hopes for the new year, on and off the court?
KM: Just get better as a team, honestly . . . I don't know, man. World peace. I know it's kind of hard to do but it's really what I want out of the next year. It's something that's been on my mind for a long time. I think that's what we should be focused on.
TW: What can we do as individuals to try to advance that cause?
KM: Be smart in our decisions. Love for one another, no matter who you are. That's one of my New Year's resolutions, is just to help make a better place.
