Good convo with the HC today. Here's the bulk of what was said.
Opening Statement: "As always, home games in the Big 12 are our necessity in order to protect home court, and this is no different. We're obviously playing a really talented Baylor team, man. They just have great guard play. They got great inside play. They really rebound the ball well and are a really well coached team. They're coming off a great win too; their comeback in the second half was impressive being against Kansas and we know how talented their team is, so looking, looking forward to Tuesday night."
How important was Jeff Linder on Saturday?: "Coach Linder, he's one of my best friends. I mean it doesn't have anything to do with coaching. I mean just a guy I trust that I love. We started at Midland college together as young coaches back in 2004 and we were sitting in a residence hall lobby in Sterling, Colorado, talking about, you know, how to how to get better as a coach 20 plus years ago when we both started this. So it's just someone that I explicitly trust. We talk all the time, and I'm so thankful he's here, and he did a tremendous job to finish that game, and our whole staff did, I mean what they did to keep our team together and how we approach it every day. If you come to our practices, you know that this is a team. This isn't one person, and I think that was on full display at the end of that game."
Your run back to the huddle. One last thing, I guess, what was mentioned there?: "Well, we showed on film and we talked about explicitly how well Houston competes over the entire game. I mean, it's their cumulative approach and that we were going to need. We were going to go through some adversity. I mean, I don't think anyone anticipated it would happen that quickly. So really, the communication to the team was just to look at everybody's eyes and make sure that they knew we were going to win this game still. This wasn't part of what we were supposed to do. This is what we were supposed to go through. I didn't even stay in that huddle very long. I mean, they were already ready to go, and then Chance (McMillian) pulled them together. I may as well have not gone back to them because they were together."
How has your team evolved from those early losses to gut through like they did on Saturday?: "I think we're moving in the right direction, but we're nowhere near the end of this. If you look at league play, and everybody wants to talk about where we were 10 games ago, people had half written us off, and now that we're 10 games in I think Kansas state's a great example. They got one of the best rosters in the country, not only in the Big 12, and they've got some quality wins now, and there's still 10 games left, that team could go 10-0 the rest of the way. So it's a unique thing with this world that we live in, that everybody wants to talk about where you are now, but I think our focus is where we want to be. And I do not think we've reached our potential in any way, shape or form, and there's a long journey, but we're definitely moving in the right direction in the way we compete together."
How do you avoid a letdown spot here after such an emotional win?: "I mean, we had a workman like approach yesterday, and we went together and actually just went outside and went on a walk. And I think we talked about the things that matter to us as a team, and we let the team do a film session with just them to communicate where we need to be better defensively and rebounding. And I think the ownership of the team is really the most important part of this in regards to a letdown. And then, just don't let people tell you how great you are be any part of what you think still needs to be improved. Like, what is the heart to improve still? And that's our only focus, and that's the only thing that matters right now, I think the team does understand that. So let downs. I mean, it's just like, I don't even concern myself with that. My concern is like, are we moving in the right direction as a team."
What the challenge of game planning for Baylor with so many injuries on their side?: "I think the key to playing against a team like Baylor that might have some injuries like we have, is like, you got to prepare for everybody. Like you've better assume that everybody's playing in the game. VJ (Edgecombe), whatever, anybody you got to sit here and play. And then, two, to your point, just focus on the things that you do well and you know what you need to do in order to win. And I think the effort based component of rebounding, going against Baylor, is going to be huge. And then I do think we're close to who they have in the ball screen coverages, and the way you defend their actions and the way you rebound is going to be on repeat. You just got to make sure they're doing with the personnel in mind and prepare for all personnel. And they've got one of the best teams in the country with arguably the best coach in the country."
What do you feel you have to do against Baylor to win tomorrow?: "Ultimately, it starts with your ability to guard in transition defense and keep them out of the paint. Make them uncomfortable as you can even though they've gotten a lot of talent at the guard spots, and then finish it with a rebound so you can run in transition. I don't think it gets any farther than that, and they do turn people over this year more than they have in the past because of the switching, so it's about how can we take care of the basketball."
With what EY was able to do, is there a bigger role for him moving forward?: "Yeah, I will tell you, it's probably the most difficult part of what we got going on. I mean, you know, Kevin Overton missed the game, but we expect him to be back very soon, and I mean, we'll just basically be back to a full compliment. We'll have everybody ready to go, and who plays when we play them, EY has been tremendous, and the approach is what gives us the best chance, and everybody to be ready. And EY was ready. We started practicing like I told you guys three weeks ago, and he had an unbelievable practice. He was playing two on two. He's playing three on three, on days when we weren't practicing as a team, we were watching the film, and he would go out there and get extra work in. He's stayed ready. I do think what it does is it encourages everybody to stay ready because of those moments. It's kind of that reminder, like, oh, it could be me, even if you don't play. But I do think the heart of this team understands that, you know, there may be some limited playing time even though people are capable of helping us in this game, but really the best part about being a part of the team is just staying ready and doing whatever the team needs to win and we have the right character, and EY is a great example of that."
@ALL HANDS
Opening Statement: "As always, home games in the Big 12 are our necessity in order to protect home court, and this is no different. We're obviously playing a really talented Baylor team, man. They just have great guard play. They got great inside play. They really rebound the ball well and are a really well coached team. They're coming off a great win too; their comeback in the second half was impressive being against Kansas and we know how talented their team is, so looking, looking forward to Tuesday night."
How important was Jeff Linder on Saturday?: "Coach Linder, he's one of my best friends. I mean it doesn't have anything to do with coaching. I mean just a guy I trust that I love. We started at Midland college together as young coaches back in 2004 and we were sitting in a residence hall lobby in Sterling, Colorado, talking about, you know, how to how to get better as a coach 20 plus years ago when we both started this. So it's just someone that I explicitly trust. We talk all the time, and I'm so thankful he's here, and he did a tremendous job to finish that game, and our whole staff did, I mean what they did to keep our team together and how we approach it every day. If you come to our practices, you know that this is a team. This isn't one person, and I think that was on full display at the end of that game."
Your run back to the huddle. One last thing, I guess, what was mentioned there?: "Well, we showed on film and we talked about explicitly how well Houston competes over the entire game. I mean, it's their cumulative approach and that we were going to need. We were going to go through some adversity. I mean, I don't think anyone anticipated it would happen that quickly. So really, the communication to the team was just to look at everybody's eyes and make sure that they knew we were going to win this game still. This wasn't part of what we were supposed to do. This is what we were supposed to go through. I didn't even stay in that huddle very long. I mean, they were already ready to go, and then Chance (McMillian) pulled them together. I may as well have not gone back to them because they were together."
How has your team evolved from those early losses to gut through like they did on Saturday?: "I think we're moving in the right direction, but we're nowhere near the end of this. If you look at league play, and everybody wants to talk about where we were 10 games ago, people had half written us off, and now that we're 10 games in I think Kansas state's a great example. They got one of the best rosters in the country, not only in the Big 12, and they've got some quality wins now, and there's still 10 games left, that team could go 10-0 the rest of the way. So it's a unique thing with this world that we live in, that everybody wants to talk about where you are now, but I think our focus is where we want to be. And I do not think we've reached our potential in any way, shape or form, and there's a long journey, but we're definitely moving in the right direction in the way we compete together."
How do you avoid a letdown spot here after such an emotional win?: "I mean, we had a workman like approach yesterday, and we went together and actually just went outside and went on a walk. And I think we talked about the things that matter to us as a team, and we let the team do a film session with just them to communicate where we need to be better defensively and rebounding. And I think the ownership of the team is really the most important part of this in regards to a letdown. And then, just don't let people tell you how great you are be any part of what you think still needs to be improved. Like, what is the heart to improve still? And that's our only focus, and that's the only thing that matters right now, I think the team does understand that. So let downs. I mean, it's just like, I don't even concern myself with that. My concern is like, are we moving in the right direction as a team."
What the challenge of game planning for Baylor with so many injuries on their side?: "I think the key to playing against a team like Baylor that might have some injuries like we have, is like, you got to prepare for everybody. Like you've better assume that everybody's playing in the game. VJ (Edgecombe), whatever, anybody you got to sit here and play. And then, two, to your point, just focus on the things that you do well and you know what you need to do in order to win. And I think the effort based component of rebounding, going against Baylor, is going to be huge. And then I do think we're close to who they have in the ball screen coverages, and the way you defend their actions and the way you rebound is going to be on repeat. You just got to make sure they're doing with the personnel in mind and prepare for all personnel. And they've got one of the best teams in the country with arguably the best coach in the country."
What do you feel you have to do against Baylor to win tomorrow?: "Ultimately, it starts with your ability to guard in transition defense and keep them out of the paint. Make them uncomfortable as you can even though they've gotten a lot of talent at the guard spots, and then finish it with a rebound so you can run in transition. I don't think it gets any farther than that, and they do turn people over this year more than they have in the past because of the switching, so it's about how can we take care of the basketball."
With what EY was able to do, is there a bigger role for him moving forward?: "Yeah, I will tell you, it's probably the most difficult part of what we got going on. I mean, you know, Kevin Overton missed the game, but we expect him to be back very soon, and I mean, we'll just basically be back to a full compliment. We'll have everybody ready to go, and who plays when we play them, EY has been tremendous, and the approach is what gives us the best chance, and everybody to be ready. And EY was ready. We started practicing like I told you guys three weeks ago, and he had an unbelievable practice. He was playing two on two. He's playing three on three, on days when we weren't practicing as a team, we were watching the film, and he would go out there and get extra work in. He's stayed ready. I do think what it does is it encourages everybody to stay ready because of those moments. It's kind of that reminder, like, oh, it could be me, even if you don't play. But I do think the heart of this team understands that, you know, there may be some limited playing time even though people are capable of helping us in this game, but really the best part about being a part of the team is just staying ready and doing whatever the team needs to win and we have the right character, and EY is a great example of that."
@ALL HANDS
