Summer Q&A: Freddie McSwain Jr.
7/15/2017 6:33:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BLOOMINGTON, Indiana – This week's Summer Q&A is with senior Freddie McSwain Jr. The Hinesville, Georgia, native joined the IU program prior to the 2016-17 season after playing his first two seasons at Neosho County Community College. He averaged 2.7 points and 2.5 rebounds in his first season wearing the Cream and Crimson and shot 55.2 percent from the floor. Over the last seven games of the regular season, McSwain shot 12-of-17 from the floor and averaged 4.4 points per game.
On being able to spend the summer with the program this year after not being able to last summer:
"It has helped me a lot. I've been able to stay in shape and get my body right. I've also been able to get to know the entire team better as we get ready for the season."
How have you seen progress this offseason in the weight room and with skill development?
"Everything is great. I'm just taking it one day at a time. I'm working to get my skills better to have a bigger role on the team this year. And I want to try to do what a senior is supposed to do and that's be a leader on the team."
What did you learn early in the year last year that allowed you to contribute off the bench down the stretch of the season?
"At the beginning of the season, the game was going kind of fast for me. But during the second half of the year, I was able to get more comfortable and things came easier for me. I was able to slow myself down and read the game so I could crash the boards and pick."
What are some of your personal goals for this upcoming season?
"My personal goal is to be a senior and be a leader and do what the team needs me to do. I'm working hard to improve my offensive game – shooting, dribbling – and work to be a better all-around player."
How can being a strong defender help you on the offensive end?
"It can help me a lot, but it can help the whole team a lot too. Being active on the court on defense can really help us get going as a team."
Being one of the seniors on the team, what have you guys talked about as a group as something that you can provide to the team?
"We have talked that this is obviously our last year so let's go out with a bang and have fun doing it."
Have you had an opportunity to take any of the newcomers under your wing and help them out?
"When I came in last year, I had Juwan Morgan and Collin Hartman and guys like that on the sidelines telling me what to do to be a better player and how I could fit on the team. Now that I have the year under my belt, I'm trying to show these guys the same thing."
What were your thoughts on playing in Assembly Hall last year in front of all the fans?
"It's a fantastic place. I just loved it. The energy that the crowd brings is wonderful. And no matter who puts on the Indiana jersey, whether it was in the past or in the future, I know they will feel the same way."
What are you majoring in and what are your goals after graduation?
"My major is biology and I hope to use that to go into discovery and research."
On being able to spend the summer with the program this year after not being able to last summer:
"It has helped me a lot. I've been able to stay in shape and get my body right. I've also been able to get to know the entire team better as we get ready for the season."
How have you seen progress this offseason in the weight room and with skill development?
"Everything is great. I'm just taking it one day at a time. I'm working to get my skills better to have a bigger role on the team this year. And I want to try to do what a senior is supposed to do and that's be a leader on the team."
What did you learn early in the year last year that allowed you to contribute off the bench down the stretch of the season?
"At the beginning of the season, the game was going kind of fast for me. But during the second half of the year, I was able to get more comfortable and things came easier for me. I was able to slow myself down and read the game so I could crash the boards and pick."
What are some of your personal goals for this upcoming season?
"My personal goal is to be a senior and be a leader and do what the team needs me to do. I'm working hard to improve my offensive game – shooting, dribbling – and work to be a better all-around player."
How can being a strong defender help you on the offensive end?
"It can help me a lot, but it can help the whole team a lot too. Being active on the court on defense can really help us get going as a team."
Being one of the seniors on the team, what have you guys talked about as a group as something that you can provide to the team?
"We have talked that this is obviously our last year so let's go out with a bang and have fun doing it."
Have you had an opportunity to take any of the newcomers under your wing and help them out?
"When I came in last year, I had Juwan Morgan and Collin Hartman and guys like that on the sidelines telling me what to do to be a better player and how I could fit on the team. Now that I have the year under my belt, I'm trying to show these guys the same thing."
What were your thoughts on playing in Assembly Hall last year in front of all the fans?
"It's a fantastic place. I just loved it. The energy that the crowd brings is wonderful. And no matter who puts on the Indiana jersey, whether it was in the past or in the future, I know they will feel the same way."
What are you majoring in and what are your goals after graduation?
"My major is biology and I hope to use that to go into discovery and research."
Players Mentioned
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