by Bill Seals
Opening comments:
“We took Saturday off and got back on the court (Sunday). We watched tape of the Tech game and then practiced for an hour, hour and a half. We met on Baylor (Sunday night and Monday morning) getting ready for them. Obviously, this is a great challenge for our team and our program. We practiced (Monday) at 2 and head over there (today).”
On how the four-guard lineup matches up against Baylor’s size inside:
“If you’re going to play four guards, you’ve got to have great toughness and speed. You’ve got to have a toughness and resolve about you. If you’re just going to play straight man-to-man defense against those guys, against that lineup, you’re going to have to do some things differently. Offensively, it can do some good things like attacking their man or zone. Defensively, that’s where we’re going to have to have great team defense, rebounding and a toughness about the way we compete and battle.”
On whether the four-guard lineup will become what the team is known for this season:
“I just think it’s game to game…for us to be great. We need Deonte (Burton) to be terrific for us. We need Darrell Bowie. We need all those guys to play. If we have to play four guards, we’re working on it more and are getting more in sync with it to where we can do good thing with that. Some games are going to lend itself to where you can and some games you may try it and it’s just not going to be the best thing for you that night. Whatever game it is, we have to put the best on the floor that gives us the best chance to win.”
On what stood out about team’s effort against Red Raiders after he watched the tape:
“The last 13 minutes, just the energy, the offensive execution, the half-court offense out of timeouts, the pace we played with, sharing the basketball, the ball was moving the pace was good…a lot of good things. I think we out-rebounded them by two the last 13 minutes of the game with four guards on the floor. It’s just toughness and focus, is what all presents itself. I’ve got to do a better job of demanding offensive execution, because when we do that we get good looks and good offense. When we get stagnant or do our own free-flow offense…not very good.”
On if the improved play had more to do with the four guards, or the five guys in particular that remained in game:
“I think it had to do with…I think four guards helped, because we did play faster, spread them out and guys that good dribble, pass and shoot. We moved the ball. The only difference was the competitive juices were raised up a little bit more, the toughness was better, the offensive execution was better. It should be like that with whoever was on the floor, but those five guys were the ones getting it done then.”
On if he had the conversation with Deonte Burton he talked about having after the Texas Tech game:
“I just talked to him briefly (Sunday), more so just hello and not anything in depth with him. I may grab him when I’ve got some good quality time. The thing I can’t say enough, and he knows this, is that we need him to be good. We need the Gonzaga Deonte Burton, and it’s not the 29 points but about the 12 rebounds. It’s about the toughness that he showed down in Florida, fighting against Miami and Gonzaga. We’ve got to get him back playing at that level.”
On what needs to be done in order to get that out of Burton more consistently:
“I don’t think it’s missing. I think he has it. We just have to get it consistently from him. You need to continue challenging him, show him tape, and go out on the practice floor and work. There were some plays in the Baylor game (from last year) and he made some tough plays around the basket. I expect him to do that on Wednesday night.”
On what Johnathan Motley brings to the table for Baylor:
“He’s skilled. I didn’t see him as a freshman, but last year, I don’t know if it was his coming out party. He can make threes, he’s skilled. He can pass it and shoot it. He’s gotten so much better. I’ve got to a lot of respect for his game and he’s a tough matchup for us. He’s a key to the game.”
On his impressions of Baylor overall as a team:
“Size, athleticism, activity. Perimeter guys who can make shots. Front-court guys who can change shots at the rim, score around the basket, but can also step out on the perimeter and make plays. Activity and energy are the biggest things. You’ve got to go down there. The teams that have played them really close, when you look at Florida Gulf Coast, VCU and Louisville, those three programs have played them the closest. Florida Gulf Coast was tough, physical, competed, drove the ball. We know Louisville and we know how VCU likes to play. We have to go down there with that kind of edge.”
On the play of the Bears’ point guard Manu Lecomte:
“He’s been great. I don’t know his stats exactly, but he’s shooting the ball really well. You’ve got to do a great job on ball-screen defense against him. He can get into the teeth of your defense to get other guys shots. But you’ve also got to take away his three. He shoots the ball at a really high level. I don’t know if they’ve got a true weakness, whether it’s the point, perimeter or up front. They’ve got a really balanced team and then Scott (Drew) does a good job.”
On the thinking that Baylor has won games in spite of its coach Scott Drew:
“We recruit against him, so I don’t want to give him too much praise. I have a lot of respect for him as a person, first and foremost. I think he’s done an unbelievable job with the situation he took over there. You look at the resume he’s built, whether it’s the Elite Eight, Sweet 16s, NCAA Tournament appearances, pros…he’s done an amazing job.
“Whether they want to call you a good coach or bad coach, I think he’s OK with that if he just keeps winning games, making great postseason runs and having players that go on and do well. If we’re winning a lot of games and we’re going to tournaments, you can call me a bad coach. I want to win. He’s done that at a high level. I have a lot of respect for him as a coach. He’s one of the elite coaches in the country. His record shows it. His style of play is a little different, but it’s very effective for him and his program.”
On his thoughts about the Big 12 one week into conference play:
“The last three years it was the number one league in the country and I think we’re headed on that path again this year. A little bit of the difference this year…where eight, nine and 10 last year you could say you had a great chance to sweep them, every game (is going to tough). I saw Chris (Beard’s) quote after our game that this was round one of an 18-round fight. I told our guys in the locker room that I bet you anything that Kansas-TCU is close tonight, a dogfight to the end. It came down to the last minute of the game. The league is really good. From TCU to Oklahoma State to Texas Tech to Kansas State to West Virginia, everybody is really good. You’ve got to be ready each and every night. The depth of our league is really good, one through 10. When you only have 10 teams in your league, that 18-game league schedule is a beast. It’s also a positive for you to get quality wins all year long.”
On the status of injured senior starter Matt Thomas:
“He didn’t practice (Sunday) and I don’t know if he’s going to practice (Monday) or not. He knows what we’re doing and knows our attack. This was probably the first practice he’s missed in four years. If he can’t practice, we’ll sit him out (Monday). I’d rather have him ready for Wednesday, because we’re going to need him and his perimeter shooting. If he sits out (Monday) that’s not a big deal, but he’ll play Wednesday for sure.”
Opening comments:
“We took Saturday off and got back on the court (Sunday). We watched tape of the Tech game and then practiced for an hour, hour and a half. We met on Baylor (Sunday night and Monday morning) getting ready for them. Obviously, this is a great challenge for our team and our program. We practiced (Monday) at 2 and head over there (today).”
On how the four-guard lineup matches up against Baylor’s size inside:
“If you’re going to play four guards, you’ve got to have great toughness and speed. You’ve got to have a toughness and resolve about you. If you’re just going to play straight man-to-man defense against those guys, against that lineup, you’re going to have to do some things differently. Offensively, it can do some good things like attacking their man or zone. Defensively, that’s where we’re going to have to have great team defense, rebounding and a toughness about the way we compete and battle.”
On whether the four-guard lineup will become what the team is known for this season:
“I just think it’s game to game…for us to be great. We need Deonte (Burton) to be terrific for us. We need Darrell Bowie. We need all those guys to play. If we have to play four guards, we’re working on it more and are getting more in sync with it to where we can do good thing with that. Some games are going to lend itself to where you can and some games you may try it and it’s just not going to be the best thing for you that night. Whatever game it is, we have to put the best on the floor that gives us the best chance to win.”
On what stood out about team’s effort against Red Raiders after he watched the tape:
“The last 13 minutes, just the energy, the offensive execution, the half-court offense out of timeouts, the pace we played with, sharing the basketball, the ball was moving the pace was good…a lot of good things. I think we out-rebounded them by two the last 13 minutes of the game with four guards on the floor. It’s just toughness and focus, is what all presents itself. I’ve got to do a better job of demanding offensive execution, because when we do that we get good looks and good offense. When we get stagnant or do our own free-flow offense…not very good.”
On if the improved play had more to do with the four guards, or the five guys in particular that remained in game:
“I think it had to do with…I think four guards helped, because we did play faster, spread them out and guys that good dribble, pass and shoot. We moved the ball. The only difference was the competitive juices were raised up a little bit more, the toughness was better, the offensive execution was better. It should be like that with whoever was on the floor, but those five guys were the ones getting it done then.”
On if he had the conversation with Deonte Burton he talked about having after the Texas Tech game:
“I just talked to him briefly (Sunday), more so just hello and not anything in depth with him. I may grab him when I’ve got some good quality time. The thing I can’t say enough, and he knows this, is that we need him to be good. We need the Gonzaga Deonte Burton, and it’s not the 29 points but about the 12 rebounds. It’s about the toughness that he showed down in Florida, fighting against Miami and Gonzaga. We’ve got to get him back playing at that level.”
On what needs to be done in order to get that out of Burton more consistently:
“I don’t think it’s missing. I think he has it. We just have to get it consistently from him. You need to continue challenging him, show him tape, and go out on the practice floor and work. There were some plays in the Baylor game (from last year) and he made some tough plays around the basket. I expect him to do that on Wednesday night.”
On what Johnathan Motley brings to the table for Baylor:
“He’s skilled. I didn’t see him as a freshman, but last year, I don’t know if it was his coming out party. He can make threes, he’s skilled. He can pass it and shoot it. He’s gotten so much better. I’ve got to a lot of respect for his game and he’s a tough matchup for us. He’s a key to the game.”
On his impressions of Baylor overall as a team:
“Size, athleticism, activity. Perimeter guys who can make shots. Front-court guys who can change shots at the rim, score around the basket, but can also step out on the perimeter and make plays. Activity and energy are the biggest things. You’ve got to go down there. The teams that have played them really close, when you look at Florida Gulf Coast, VCU and Louisville, those three programs have played them the closest. Florida Gulf Coast was tough, physical, competed, drove the ball. We know Louisville and we know how VCU likes to play. We have to go down there with that kind of edge.”
On the play of the Bears’ point guard Manu Lecomte:
“He’s been great. I don’t know his stats exactly, but he’s shooting the ball really well. You’ve got to do a great job on ball-screen defense against him. He can get into the teeth of your defense to get other guys shots. But you’ve also got to take away his three. He shoots the ball at a really high level. I don’t know if they’ve got a true weakness, whether it’s the point, perimeter or up front. They’ve got a really balanced team and then Scott (Drew) does a good job.”
On the thinking that Baylor has won games in spite of its coach Scott Drew:
“We recruit against him, so I don’t want to give him too much praise. I have a lot of respect for him as a person, first and foremost. I think he’s done an unbelievable job with the situation he took over there. You look at the resume he’s built, whether it’s the Elite Eight, Sweet 16s, NCAA Tournament appearances, pros…he’s done an amazing job.
“Whether they want to call you a good coach or bad coach, I think he’s OK with that if he just keeps winning games, making great postseason runs and having players that go on and do well. If we’re winning a lot of games and we’re going to tournaments, you can call me a bad coach. I want to win. He’s done that at a high level. I have a lot of respect for him as a coach. He’s one of the elite coaches in the country. His record shows it. His style of play is a little different, but it’s very effective for him and his program.”
On his thoughts about the Big 12 one week into conference play:
“The last three years it was the number one league in the country and I think we’re headed on that path again this year. A little bit of the difference this year…where eight, nine and 10 last year you could say you had a great chance to sweep them, every game (is going to tough). I saw Chris (Beard’s) quote after our game that this was round one of an 18-round fight. I told our guys in the locker room that I bet you anything that Kansas-TCU is close tonight, a dogfight to the end. It came down to the last minute of the game. The league is really good. From TCU to Oklahoma State to Texas Tech to Kansas State to West Virginia, everybody is really good. You’ve got to be ready each and every night. The depth of our league is really good, one through 10. When you only have 10 teams in your league, that 18-game league schedule is a beast. It’s also a positive for you to get quality wins all year long.”
On the status of injured senior starter Matt Thomas:
“He didn’t practice (Sunday) and I don’t know if he’s going to practice (Monday) or not. He knows what we’re doing and knows our attack. This was probably the first practice he’s missed in four years. If he can’t practice, we’ll sit him out (Monday). I’d rather have him ready for Wednesday, because we’re going to need him and his perimeter shooting. If he sits out (Monday) that’s not a big deal, but he’ll play Wednesday for sure.”
