by Bill Seals
On the discussion he mentioned having with Mitrou-Long on Friday:
“Kind of where our struggles are at right now, what you’re thinking and what’s on your mind, so I know what he’s thinking. I never want to lose, but when I’ve been in this position before it kind of refocuses you. You get humbled a little bit of what you’ve got to do to get better. You’ve got to start from the ground up and work. You’re really evaluating everything based on one bad game. When you look at the whole…Gonzaga is (undefeated) and we had four shots to take the lead against them in the last two minutes. Shots that, three of the four shots, I could live with. Cincinnati, they controlled the tempo here, but we’re up two with 20 seconds to go and the ball.
“We’ve really played one bad game. We didn’t play well the other night. Nothing against Iowa…I think they’re better than people think. What Iowa did the other night is played their best defensive game of the year and we gave them too many easy baskets. Iowa has scored the ball all season long. We gave them too many easy baskets. We didn’t have the correct coverages on Jok a couple times. We’ve got to clean some things up and when we do that we’ll be good.”
“You get hit in the mouth in this business, that’s just how it is. It starts with me. You’re the one that’s going to take most of the heat. You take more of the heat when you lose and get too much credit when you win. The thing that we’ve got in this team that needs to separate us is our seniors and character. Those are really good. Our work ethic from those guys is good. All of those guys were in the gym yesterday afternoon. We’ll get there.”
On if he’s reviewed entire games with point guards in the most as he did Morris yesterday:
“I’ve never really done the length of a full game, but I just wanted to really watch the game. The thing you’ve got to understand is these dudes care a ton. They’ve had great success here and great careers here. It’s my job and their job to make sure that continues and they finish. We talked Friday night for a long time during text, but you can only get so much out of that. I told him I’d be back Sunday and let’s just sit down. We just went through play after play, what are you thinking and here’s what I’m thinking.
“We’ve got a really good relationship and I love him to death, but we’ve got to continue to tighten it up even more to where we’re always communicating even more to a higher level. The things I was able to show him there is I need him attacking, attacking, attacking, attacking. That’s your mindset. Not just attacking to score, but attack to put pressure on that defense. I thought it was really good and I texted him last night. He touched on all the same things we talked about. I never really done the length of a game. I met with Georges (Niang) a ton last year, but we never really went through a whole game. We’ll have a good week of practice and be ready to go.”
On if Nick Weiler-Babb has been the player he thinks he can be:
“He shows flashes of it. I still think he’s got so much of a higher ceiling and I’m going to keep challenging him to max himself out. He’s just another guy on our team that can really make plays for others and put pressure on the rim, whether it’s in transition or the half-court. I don’t know his stats altogether, but the 3-point shot is not his thing. He can make one, but he’s more about putting pressure on the rim and mid-range. We’ve got to continue to develop him, because I think he has a chance to do some good things.”
On preparing to play Drake and the situation that has played out with coaching change:
“My best wishes are to Ray (Giacoletti). He and (Gonzaga coach) Mark Few are best of friends. I talked to Mark for a while when we were down there in Florida. Ray is a terrific coach, did a good job and had a great year at Utah, and did a great job at Eastern Washington. Sometimes it just doesn’t work out. I don’t know Coach (Jeff) Rutter, but I’m sure he’ll do a good job. It’s a tough situation I’m sure. I played Drake one time before. It’s funny, it’s kind of the same situation. I was at Murray in my last year and we were 2-4. I stunk, my players stunk, we beat them and won 25 games in a row. I don’t know Drake’s situation well and I haven’t seen them on tape. I probably won’t watch them until Thursday. I don’t know how they play, but we’ve just got to be about Iowa State until Christmas.”
On what he has in mind for the team activity on Wednesday:
“I’ll probably take them bowling or something like that. That was something Monte said. He wanted to do something as a team. You get so caught up in just practice, winning the next game, practice, winning the next game. You’ve got to make sure you’re invested in these guys and they’re invested in each other. They all like bowling, the coaches like bowling.”
On the status of Cameron Lard as first-semester classes draw to a close:
“He’s in finals this week doing his last three classes. We’ll probably head down there this week to check on him. We’re meeting with compliance right now to see once he’s done how it works. Can we get him here (December) 26th or does it have to be January 3rd? This time, and I know it has been a long process, I would be blown away if he’s not here sometime between December 26th and January 10th.”
On the process that will take place once his finals are completed:
“They’ll take his transcript and we’ll send that in. They know the process. They’ll give him the final. We know what he needs to make and these are his last three courses. Here’s what he needs, here’s what he’s in, so we’ve just got to send the grades in.”
On if he fully expects Lard to join the program in the coming weeks:
“I would be surprised (if he doesn’t). Everybody has been working through this for a long time. I think Cameron has a chance. Obviously he can’t play this year, but he’s playing down there right now against junior colleges with the prep league. He’s doing really well. It will be good to get him here for a semester to integrate him into what he needs to do academically and basketball-wise. And then this summer will be great for him.”
On closing out non-conference play soon and getting ready for the Big 12 slate:
“Our league, one through 10, is really good this year. The balance in our league is probably a lot better than last year. Last year you had a couple teams you would probably circle a win here and there. One through 10 is really good. We’ll work this week on offense and transition defense, communicating better, and making sure we know exactly what we’re doing at all times. I think we’ll have a very good performance Saturday in Des Moines.”
On the discussion he mentioned having with Mitrou-Long on Friday:
“Kind of where our struggles are at right now, what you’re thinking and what’s on your mind, so I know what he’s thinking. I never want to lose, but when I’ve been in this position before it kind of refocuses you. You get humbled a little bit of what you’ve got to do to get better. You’ve got to start from the ground up and work. You’re really evaluating everything based on one bad game. When you look at the whole…Gonzaga is (undefeated) and we had four shots to take the lead against them in the last two minutes. Shots that, three of the four shots, I could live with. Cincinnati, they controlled the tempo here, but we’re up two with 20 seconds to go and the ball.
“We’ve really played one bad game. We didn’t play well the other night. Nothing against Iowa…I think they’re better than people think. What Iowa did the other night is played their best defensive game of the year and we gave them too many easy baskets. Iowa has scored the ball all season long. We gave them too many easy baskets. We didn’t have the correct coverages on Jok a couple times. We’ve got to clean some things up and when we do that we’ll be good.”
“You get hit in the mouth in this business, that’s just how it is. It starts with me. You’re the one that’s going to take most of the heat. You take more of the heat when you lose and get too much credit when you win. The thing that we’ve got in this team that needs to separate us is our seniors and character. Those are really good. Our work ethic from those guys is good. All of those guys were in the gym yesterday afternoon. We’ll get there.”
On if he’s reviewed entire games with point guards in the most as he did Morris yesterday:
“I’ve never really done the length of a full game, but I just wanted to really watch the game. The thing you’ve got to understand is these dudes care a ton. They’ve had great success here and great careers here. It’s my job and their job to make sure that continues and they finish. We talked Friday night for a long time during text, but you can only get so much out of that. I told him I’d be back Sunday and let’s just sit down. We just went through play after play, what are you thinking and here’s what I’m thinking.
“We’ve got a really good relationship and I love him to death, but we’ve got to continue to tighten it up even more to where we’re always communicating even more to a higher level. The things I was able to show him there is I need him attacking, attacking, attacking, attacking. That’s your mindset. Not just attacking to score, but attack to put pressure on that defense. I thought it was really good and I texted him last night. He touched on all the same things we talked about. I never really done the length of a game. I met with Georges (Niang) a ton last year, but we never really went through a whole game. We’ll have a good week of practice and be ready to go.”
On if Nick Weiler-Babb has been the player he thinks he can be:
“He shows flashes of it. I still think he’s got so much of a higher ceiling and I’m going to keep challenging him to max himself out. He’s just another guy on our team that can really make plays for others and put pressure on the rim, whether it’s in transition or the half-court. I don’t know his stats altogether, but the 3-point shot is not his thing. He can make one, but he’s more about putting pressure on the rim and mid-range. We’ve got to continue to develop him, because I think he has a chance to do some good things.”
On preparing to play Drake and the situation that has played out with coaching change:
“My best wishes are to Ray (Giacoletti). He and (Gonzaga coach) Mark Few are best of friends. I talked to Mark for a while when we were down there in Florida. Ray is a terrific coach, did a good job and had a great year at Utah, and did a great job at Eastern Washington. Sometimes it just doesn’t work out. I don’t know Coach (Jeff) Rutter, but I’m sure he’ll do a good job. It’s a tough situation I’m sure. I played Drake one time before. It’s funny, it’s kind of the same situation. I was at Murray in my last year and we were 2-4. I stunk, my players stunk, we beat them and won 25 games in a row. I don’t know Drake’s situation well and I haven’t seen them on tape. I probably won’t watch them until Thursday. I don’t know how they play, but we’ve just got to be about Iowa State until Christmas.”
On what he has in mind for the team activity on Wednesday:
“I’ll probably take them bowling or something like that. That was something Monte said. He wanted to do something as a team. You get so caught up in just practice, winning the next game, practice, winning the next game. You’ve got to make sure you’re invested in these guys and they’re invested in each other. They all like bowling, the coaches like bowling.”
On the status of Cameron Lard as first-semester classes draw to a close:
“He’s in finals this week doing his last three classes. We’ll probably head down there this week to check on him. We’re meeting with compliance right now to see once he’s done how it works. Can we get him here (December) 26th or does it have to be January 3rd? This time, and I know it has been a long process, I would be blown away if he’s not here sometime between December 26th and January 10th.”
On the process that will take place once his finals are completed:
“They’ll take his transcript and we’ll send that in. They know the process. They’ll give him the final. We know what he needs to make and these are his last three courses. Here’s what he needs, here’s what he’s in, so we’ve just got to send the grades in.”
On if he fully expects Lard to join the program in the coming weeks:
“I would be surprised (if he doesn’t). Everybody has been working through this for a long time. I think Cameron has a chance. Obviously he can’t play this year, but he’s playing down there right now against junior colleges with the prep league. He’s doing really well. It will be good to get him here for a semester to integrate him into what he needs to do academically and basketball-wise. And then this summer will be great for him.”
On closing out non-conference play soon and getting ready for the Big 12 slate:
“Our league, one through 10, is really good this year. The balance in our league is probably a lot better than last year. Last year you had a couple teams you would probably circle a win here and there. One through 10 is really good. We’ll work this week on offense and transition defense, communicating better, and making sure we know exactly what we’re doing at all times. I think we’ll have a very good performance Saturday in Des Moines.”
