Had a nice convo with Grant late this morning and have finally gotten around to typing it up.
Opening Statement:
"Good for our team to get back to practice, just with all the different roster lineups we've had, it was good. We needed some days, and we were actually able to get a couple practices in that, I think, moved us in the right direction. Regarding the A&M game, man, we just, we didn't play well at all, and that's on me. Didn't feel like we had the urgency we needed to start that game. Started off with an offensive rebound three, and really that was kind of the tone of the early part of the game. But man, our team has embraced the fact we didn't play well, and I think we've got the right mindset with this group moving forward. I think the ownership of being honest with what we're not good at, what we need to get better at, has been on the forefront of this team's mind, and we're really embracing it. And I love our group. I love our potential, and we're excited about the Oral Roberts game and getting back in the USA to compete and improve to put ourselves in a better position so we can compete in Big 12 play."
Has it been beneficial to have this month with extra practice time?
"Outside of JT being out, and we haven't gotten him back in practice yet. It's the it's the first time we've had everybody competing in practice besides him. So that was really helpful. And we need to improve on things, especially defensively and guarding the ball, and you can't get that experience without the the games. In the games, there's a lot of different factors going into the games that change who and where on the floors guarding, you've got to learn over the course of the game, because not a lot of it is repeatable as you want it to be in practice. And man, it's good to have practice time in order to continue to drill those things that I think are important. So these long stretches of practices are honestly exactly what we need right now with this team."
Can you take anything from battling back in your losses this season?
"That's the one thing I have been thrilled with in regards to our team, is we've embraced the fact that we haven't been good in stretches, and I do see the fight that it takes, especially in our league, in order to win games on the road and to win games that are going to be filled with the adversity where you don't actually do the things that work out for you over the course of the game, but how do you keep scrapping and finding ways to win? And this team's embraced that part, and we've also got to learn how to close games too. You can see our lack of experience at the point guard position with just the ability to kind of orchestrate the way the game finishes."
Has it been frustrating with the injuries and lack of continuity to this point?
"Yeah, it has been frustrating, I think, for our team and for everybody involved, just to find a continuity. But that's the reality of what we're doing. And I did think we had the right groups to still win the games that we've lost up to this point. And I think it's not just an effort deal, to be real honest, there's a lot that goes into your approach and how you handle things that don't go your way. And I don't think we've done that well as we needed to with the complete depth of our roster. That's where I'll tell you, I love this team. Their ownership to recognizing it that we haven't responded well with our attitude and effort in all areas, they see that, and they see the need to change it, completely open to making sure that it doesn't continue in a way that's detrimental to our team. So really, the frustration with not being able to practice and have lineups is one thing, but really how you respond to it, I think, is the most important part. I'm not saying our guys haven't played hard, but I think just the disappointment of things not going your way. How have we handled that? And we haven't done that as well as we need to, but these guys are improving in that area."
Oral Roberts, anything standing out?
"The biggest thing to me is is, you know, they've got McBride back, who causes a lot of problems anytime you have a point of attack in the middle of the floor that can make threes, get to the foul line and create. They're changing defenses, and I don't think they've played close to their best basketball, and they've got a lot of roster turnover too. I mean, I think they got hit with the transfer portal, and people leaving and transferring up just as much as anybody has. So I don't think anybody's seen their best shot yet, and we've really got to be great defensively and making sure we guard the ball in the middle of floor, which has not been our strength."
When you prepare for a particular team. Just from your experience, how much of what you teach at practice actually carries over onto the court?
"Well, one area that we really lacked growth in for a month was just like, how physical can we be? And I think it showed in that A&M game. I didn't think we backed down from it, but I obviously with the offensive rebounds that we gave up that it showed that we're not as physical as we need to be, and JT does make a big difference, in regard to that, because of his size, we missed it. And obviously we had other guys that were playing that offer the same physicality that are no longer with us. So that part of it is a real part of it. But the truth is, you have to do it in practice consistently. And we were playing those stretch of games that were pretty consecutive with guys that have been injured, and with the lack of depth, you honestly start second guessing, like, how physical do we really want these practices to be so that we can stay healthy? And I've struggled with it as a coach. I mean, through my career, I've always erred on the side, let's just go be physical and figure it out when we get out there, but when you get out into six guys, and you've had guys that are kind of pulling in and out of practice with just previous injuries, I think it's difficult to determine, like, Hey, we got a long, long term plan for this group. How do we put ourselves in the best position for the entire season? And I probably made plenty of mistakes in regard to that, but I do think we've lacked physicality, defensively and rebounding in the games that we've lost, and I've got to do a better job of coach, of finding that line of how do we keep improving in those areas so that we don't have those problems when we get to games that matter. So I do think what we practice carries over. Unfortunately, I think the areas that we've practiced haven't been as effective as we needed to be."
With regard to Elijah Hawkins, up to this point, how well do you feel he is mesh with his teammates on the offensive end, it's settled into the offensive system that you're running?
"Yeah, I think you could ask Elijah, and he would tell you this, in our conversations recently, it hasn't been what he hoped. And I think two things, one, he's been used to playing almost the entire game that every place he's been, and he's played really fast, and it's kind of been in his hands a lot, and I don't know if that's the most effective way for our team to play. And so he recognizes it. Take the Syracuse game for example, I mean, he played his best game in the season, in the Syracuse game. We won the game. I thought his ability to move the ball. And then I think when you get in crunch time and the game gets competitive, you have a tendency to err on the side of what you're comfortable with and what you've done in the past. And I think he errs on the side of keeping the ball and trying to create opportunities and maybe get a little too deep in the possession, or defensively, kind of go for steals and put himself in some bad positions and not be as effective without fouling as he needs to. And those are two areas that you got to go through these games to figure it out he hasn't been able to practice. I mean, if there's anybody on our roster that probably hasn't been able to practice the way he wants to, it's been him, just because he did have a lower leg deal that he was dealing with, and it didn't put it didn't allow him to practice like he wanted to. And so I think he's probably had the large, the biggest area of growth going into going into the year, just because of the way we want to play and the lack of practice time, but I will tell you his heart to get better and his willingness to do we need has been unbelievable this week. I mean, just as good as I could have hoped, and he's embraced it. And I think he sees the needs for things to change, and I think we got to keep getting stopped, so that his effectiveness of playing and transition can be highlighted. But I can tell you one area that he's really good, he can really shoot, and I think we just got to keep involving him, where he keeps moving the ball so he can get those opportunities."
You alluded to it, but how does losing Devan (Cambridge) change things for you?
"Yeah, definitely. With Devan no longer being with us, EY gets opportunities, but I think also it gives us an opportunity when JT comes back to play Fede with JT. And that's something we haven't been able to do much just because we've had other lineups going on that we've played with more consistency, and that's kind of throwing more guards out there. But as you know, we played teams with more size. I mean, I think the A&M game would have been a great opportunity to play Fede with JT, and we just didn't get that opportunity to look at that lineup. And I do think that's an effective one, where you put D5 more as a true perimeter spot instead of kind of a combo forward spot. So as much as anything, I think EY will play but I'm looking forward to putting that line up out there more."
Has there been a setback for JT?
"I think a lot of people ask me that going into the A&M game and what I would tell you is that, you know, after it initially happened in practice, JT came to me, it's like, I want to play an A&M game. I mean, he was adamant about it, and didn't have a lot of swelling. And I felt like the way we looked at it, there was a possibility of it. I think, as we got closer to it, and the more he moved, the more we saw that it was better for us in the long run if he didn't play. He looks at it as he wants to play, and I think everybody is just evaluating it on a daily basis. I mean, I do feel like it is a true day to day. We're seeing him do more in practice. That gives me a lot of hope that we're ready to see what he can do, but we're definitely not going to put him in live action until we know he's fully healed. That's what I will tell you. So a lot of different ways you can err on this one, this one, we feel like we need to wait till he's he's full go and he doesn't feel any restrictions before we put them out there and playing live action."
Opening Statement:
"Good for our team to get back to practice, just with all the different roster lineups we've had, it was good. We needed some days, and we were actually able to get a couple practices in that, I think, moved us in the right direction. Regarding the A&M game, man, we just, we didn't play well at all, and that's on me. Didn't feel like we had the urgency we needed to start that game. Started off with an offensive rebound three, and really that was kind of the tone of the early part of the game. But man, our team has embraced the fact we didn't play well, and I think we've got the right mindset with this group moving forward. I think the ownership of being honest with what we're not good at, what we need to get better at, has been on the forefront of this team's mind, and we're really embracing it. And I love our group. I love our potential, and we're excited about the Oral Roberts game and getting back in the USA to compete and improve to put ourselves in a better position so we can compete in Big 12 play."
Has it been beneficial to have this month with extra practice time?
"Outside of JT being out, and we haven't gotten him back in practice yet. It's the it's the first time we've had everybody competing in practice besides him. So that was really helpful. And we need to improve on things, especially defensively and guarding the ball, and you can't get that experience without the the games. In the games, there's a lot of different factors going into the games that change who and where on the floors guarding, you've got to learn over the course of the game, because not a lot of it is repeatable as you want it to be in practice. And man, it's good to have practice time in order to continue to drill those things that I think are important. So these long stretches of practices are honestly exactly what we need right now with this team."
Can you take anything from battling back in your losses this season?
"That's the one thing I have been thrilled with in regards to our team, is we've embraced the fact that we haven't been good in stretches, and I do see the fight that it takes, especially in our league, in order to win games on the road and to win games that are going to be filled with the adversity where you don't actually do the things that work out for you over the course of the game, but how do you keep scrapping and finding ways to win? And this team's embraced that part, and we've also got to learn how to close games too. You can see our lack of experience at the point guard position with just the ability to kind of orchestrate the way the game finishes."
Has it been frustrating with the injuries and lack of continuity to this point?
"Yeah, it has been frustrating, I think, for our team and for everybody involved, just to find a continuity. But that's the reality of what we're doing. And I did think we had the right groups to still win the games that we've lost up to this point. And I think it's not just an effort deal, to be real honest, there's a lot that goes into your approach and how you handle things that don't go your way. And I don't think we've done that well as we needed to with the complete depth of our roster. That's where I'll tell you, I love this team. Their ownership to recognizing it that we haven't responded well with our attitude and effort in all areas, they see that, and they see the need to change it, completely open to making sure that it doesn't continue in a way that's detrimental to our team. So really, the frustration with not being able to practice and have lineups is one thing, but really how you respond to it, I think, is the most important part. I'm not saying our guys haven't played hard, but I think just the disappointment of things not going your way. How have we handled that? And we haven't done that as well as we need to, but these guys are improving in that area."
Oral Roberts, anything standing out?
"The biggest thing to me is is, you know, they've got McBride back, who causes a lot of problems anytime you have a point of attack in the middle of the floor that can make threes, get to the foul line and create. They're changing defenses, and I don't think they've played close to their best basketball, and they've got a lot of roster turnover too. I mean, I think they got hit with the transfer portal, and people leaving and transferring up just as much as anybody has. So I don't think anybody's seen their best shot yet, and we've really got to be great defensively and making sure we guard the ball in the middle of floor, which has not been our strength."
When you prepare for a particular team. Just from your experience, how much of what you teach at practice actually carries over onto the court?
"Well, one area that we really lacked growth in for a month was just like, how physical can we be? And I think it showed in that A&M game. I didn't think we backed down from it, but I obviously with the offensive rebounds that we gave up that it showed that we're not as physical as we need to be, and JT does make a big difference, in regard to that, because of his size, we missed it. And obviously we had other guys that were playing that offer the same physicality that are no longer with us. So that part of it is a real part of it. But the truth is, you have to do it in practice consistently. And we were playing those stretch of games that were pretty consecutive with guys that have been injured, and with the lack of depth, you honestly start second guessing, like, how physical do we really want these practices to be so that we can stay healthy? And I've struggled with it as a coach. I mean, through my career, I've always erred on the side, let's just go be physical and figure it out when we get out there, but when you get out into six guys, and you've had guys that are kind of pulling in and out of practice with just previous injuries, I think it's difficult to determine, like, Hey, we got a long, long term plan for this group. How do we put ourselves in the best position for the entire season? And I probably made plenty of mistakes in regard to that, but I do think we've lacked physicality, defensively and rebounding in the games that we've lost, and I've got to do a better job of coach, of finding that line of how do we keep improving in those areas so that we don't have those problems when we get to games that matter. So I do think what we practice carries over. Unfortunately, I think the areas that we've practiced haven't been as effective as we needed to be."
With regard to Elijah Hawkins, up to this point, how well do you feel he is mesh with his teammates on the offensive end, it's settled into the offensive system that you're running?
"Yeah, I think you could ask Elijah, and he would tell you this, in our conversations recently, it hasn't been what he hoped. And I think two things, one, he's been used to playing almost the entire game that every place he's been, and he's played really fast, and it's kind of been in his hands a lot, and I don't know if that's the most effective way for our team to play. And so he recognizes it. Take the Syracuse game for example, I mean, he played his best game in the season, in the Syracuse game. We won the game. I thought his ability to move the ball. And then I think when you get in crunch time and the game gets competitive, you have a tendency to err on the side of what you're comfortable with and what you've done in the past. And I think he errs on the side of keeping the ball and trying to create opportunities and maybe get a little too deep in the possession, or defensively, kind of go for steals and put himself in some bad positions and not be as effective without fouling as he needs to. And those are two areas that you got to go through these games to figure it out he hasn't been able to practice. I mean, if there's anybody on our roster that probably hasn't been able to practice the way he wants to, it's been him, just because he did have a lower leg deal that he was dealing with, and it didn't put it didn't allow him to practice like he wanted to. And so I think he's probably had the large, the biggest area of growth going into going into the year, just because of the way we want to play and the lack of practice time, but I will tell you his heart to get better and his willingness to do we need has been unbelievable this week. I mean, just as good as I could have hoped, and he's embraced it. And I think he sees the needs for things to change, and I think we got to keep getting stopped, so that his effectiveness of playing and transition can be highlighted. But I can tell you one area that he's really good, he can really shoot, and I think we just got to keep involving him, where he keeps moving the ball so he can get those opportunities."
You alluded to it, but how does losing Devan (Cambridge) change things for you?
"Yeah, definitely. With Devan no longer being with us, EY gets opportunities, but I think also it gives us an opportunity when JT comes back to play Fede with JT. And that's something we haven't been able to do much just because we've had other lineups going on that we've played with more consistency, and that's kind of throwing more guards out there. But as you know, we played teams with more size. I mean, I think the A&M game would have been a great opportunity to play Fede with JT, and we just didn't get that opportunity to look at that lineup. And I do think that's an effective one, where you put D5 more as a true perimeter spot instead of kind of a combo forward spot. So as much as anything, I think EY will play but I'm looking forward to putting that line up out there more."
Has there been a setback for JT?
"I think a lot of people ask me that going into the A&M game and what I would tell you is that, you know, after it initially happened in practice, JT came to me, it's like, I want to play an A&M game. I mean, he was adamant about it, and didn't have a lot of swelling. And I felt like the way we looked at it, there was a possibility of it. I think, as we got closer to it, and the more he moved, the more we saw that it was better for us in the long run if he didn't play. He looks at it as he wants to play, and I think everybody is just evaluating it on a daily basis. I mean, I do feel like it is a true day to day. We're seeing him do more in practice. That gives me a lot of hope that we're ready to see what he can do, but we're definitely not going to put him in live action until we know he's fully healed. That's what I will tell you. So a lot of different ways you can err on this one, this one, we feel like we need to wait till he's he's full go and he doesn't feel any restrictions before we put them out there and playing live action."
