ON S&C
One of the things we assessed was certain guys needed strength and some guys who needed better conditioning and body fat % and a better opportunity to get in shape. Charles has lost 23 pounds and incredible amount of body fat. Lammers is up to 230, 19 pounds or so. He came in really heavy because of the injury and had to build him back up. It's not just the weight lost, but the discipline in your lifestyle and being more committed to be successful.
ON GT PLAYERS BEING VERY CLOSE AND CHEMISTRY
I think it is a big factor and there is different types and one of the things we have stressed is the cultural piece and every team is different and every team is different. All our guys get along, but I do think there is a greater bond with this team. The strongest bonds are forged through adversity. Our guys are buying into that. That is something you work on every day.
ON TADRIC
We play multiple guards and we look at our guards as playmakers, when to score and when to create. He has improved everyday. The amount
ON ADAM
He is the 4th leading scorer in the ACC and he fits in prominently and we have the 4th and 7th leading scorers in the ACC and the leading 3-pt shooter in the ACC and a sincere need and he fills those needs. He is a guy who can play both positions and he can make plays and maybe better at it than originally expected. Very mature as a 5th year senior and knows what he wants as a player and an individual, he wants a more prominent role.
ON JACOBS
He did play well and he only played the last two games this summer, had 31 pts in 20 minutes of play. He gives us a low post scorer and his redshirt year helped him with the transition and the redshirt year you have to make positive use of it. He graduates in the spring and he can score and he needs to rebound better and defensively he has shown he can do that. Over the next six weeks, buying into the consistency will be big.
ON WHITE
We just talked about Nick and with James it is a good combination with the size/strength, Nick has an old school game, James is our best athlete and long and lean, had good numbers but moving up a level and is hungry to learn. He is a joy to be around, he works hard and he understands, tries to make the most of it. He is a good complement to Chuck and Nick.
ON PUSHING TEMPO
If you look at we played best last year we played at a faster pace, the shot clock is also a little bit of a factor. When we are best we are blasting up the court. Guys get swarmed and you play faster. I want our guys to do that and I want quality shots and possessions. Both areas we need to improve in.
ON TEMPO
We need to push with our twos and threes and we have one rule if a guy is ahead of you throw it ahead and attack the defense. Now that our guys are older you give them more freedom and our guys have embraced that. Sometimes it is harder for our PG who wants the ball, we want him to get ahead sometimes.
ON TRAVIS
He is fully recovered, you get to play the next year, but you are not yourself, his lift on his shot and he worked hard on his shooting and off the dribble and his catch, he needs to be aggressive and some of that is a little confidence and some of it is inexperience. He was basically a first year player and Josh was like that too. In the 40 minutes 8 ppg, 6 assists and you would say that is pretty successful season at that spot. Both Josh and Travis has vastly improved and we should get more production.
ON QUINTON
Well in terms of strength he is doing better, he will never been Hercules, he is steady at over 200 now, he added eight pounds of muscle and you can see it and that has improved his play. We utilize him as the versatile player he is and he has to make open shots and he has to be better with the ball. He is a good post feeder and he can make open jump shots and he can pull up. We will play four perimeter guys and sometimes he will play the wing, I think he will be much more efficient.
ON FINISHING ACC GAMES BETTER
It is part of the process, that is where we are at, we were competitive in most games, we had a problem with UNC and UVA we had matchup nightmares in those ones, in the other 15 games we competed and weren't able to finish. Part of the process is competing and the learning and growing from that. You have to understand how those things work, we need to finish those games, there is nothing like that.
ON MARCUS GEORGES-HUNT
It is really important with our injured guys and older guys we take it easy. Those guys understand, Marcus is a full go and went through every minute of every workout and will be a full go this week. We have to keep accessing how he is feeling. He isn't in his best running basketball shape, but cardio and conditioning he has done a great job. In the first three or four months when he couldn't jump working on his form shooting and I think he is poised to have a huge senior year. His injury was disappointing for him, but as well as anyone can do to prepare for a great senior year Marcus did.
ON ADAM'S ROLE
I don't really see him as a point or two, he can shot on the move or off the dribble or catch and shoot. He will be out there with Josh or Travis and sometimes with neither. That is something that evolves in the six weeks, that is something that evolves during the season. We have a great non-conference schedule where we are prepared for ACC play.
ON END OF GAME ROLES
We added Adam to the mix who has proven he can hit game winners and Charles and Nick can be in the post and the ball doesn't have to be in Marcus' hands every time, you have to be willing to miss those too to be a great player. Some of those misses came in several games in a row. He did that against Charlotte last year then didn't against ND. Having other options will make us a better team down the stretch. I hope we are in a better position at the end of games and don't need that.
ON HAVING ADAM'S LEADERSHIP AT GUARD
He is a tremendous communicator and has a great work ethic and sometimes we have to get him out of the gym and he would sneak in there when he was recovering. He is a great addition to the program and his core values match ours and the handing down of that to the guards is huge for us.
ON LAMMERS GOALS
I thought through the summer he was our most improved player confidence wise. He is a good compliment to those guys and he is the best shooter of the bigs and at 6'11" is a big weapon and his passing and ability to knock down shots makes him special, he has a chance to have a huge sophomore year. Once those guys leave, he could have two years as a go to guy with his ability to put the ball in the hoop, he is almost a stretch five man.
ON WHOLE EXPECTATIONS FOR THE TEAM
I think for us, the number one thing is certain things you want your team identified by and our whole concept is being unselfish and playing as one. Our effort and energy level we play at has been good and we can play better. There are things we did well and we were good defensively and there are areas we need to improve in. We need to shot the ball better and we have to finish more plays around the basket. All three of our bigs in our career have shot up in 50-52%, we will be better FTs, our returning guys shot 70% and adding a good FT shooter in Adam, adds two, three points here and there. We will play 32 games or more and half of those will be a possession here or there. Being committed to that is a key.
ON FIRST PRACTICE RITUALS
It has changed so much over the years because of the new rules. We will have a 1-hour practice and another on Tuesday then more. The ritual is we go hard. Because of the summer trip and other stuff we will be able to play harder from jump street. You have to make it different to signal to the guys it is different. Sometimes you long for the days when you have less time with the guys, but that has been watered down because you can do so much with the team.
One of the things we assessed was certain guys needed strength and some guys who needed better conditioning and body fat % and a better opportunity to get in shape. Charles has lost 23 pounds and incredible amount of body fat. Lammers is up to 230, 19 pounds or so. He came in really heavy because of the injury and had to build him back up. It's not just the weight lost, but the discipline in your lifestyle and being more committed to be successful.
ON GT PLAYERS BEING VERY CLOSE AND CHEMISTRY
I think it is a big factor and there is different types and one of the things we have stressed is the cultural piece and every team is different and every team is different. All our guys get along, but I do think there is a greater bond with this team. The strongest bonds are forged through adversity. Our guys are buying into that. That is something you work on every day.
ON TADRIC
We play multiple guards and we look at our guards as playmakers, when to score and when to create. He has improved everyday. The amount
ON ADAM
He is the 4th leading scorer in the ACC and he fits in prominently and we have the 4th and 7th leading scorers in the ACC and the leading 3-pt shooter in the ACC and a sincere need and he fills those needs. He is a guy who can play both positions and he can make plays and maybe better at it than originally expected. Very mature as a 5th year senior and knows what he wants as a player and an individual, he wants a more prominent role.
ON JACOBS
He did play well and he only played the last two games this summer, had 31 pts in 20 minutes of play. He gives us a low post scorer and his redshirt year helped him with the transition and the redshirt year you have to make positive use of it. He graduates in the spring and he can score and he needs to rebound better and defensively he has shown he can do that. Over the next six weeks, buying into the consistency will be big.
ON WHITE
We just talked about Nick and with James it is a good combination with the size/strength, Nick has an old school game, James is our best athlete and long and lean, had good numbers but moving up a level and is hungry to learn. He is a joy to be around, he works hard and he understands, tries to make the most of it. He is a good complement to Chuck and Nick.
ON PUSHING TEMPO
If you look at we played best last year we played at a faster pace, the shot clock is also a little bit of a factor. When we are best we are blasting up the court. Guys get swarmed and you play faster. I want our guys to do that and I want quality shots and possessions. Both areas we need to improve in.
ON TEMPO
We need to push with our twos and threes and we have one rule if a guy is ahead of you throw it ahead and attack the defense. Now that our guys are older you give them more freedom and our guys have embraced that. Sometimes it is harder for our PG who wants the ball, we want him to get ahead sometimes.
ON TRAVIS
He is fully recovered, you get to play the next year, but you are not yourself, his lift on his shot and he worked hard on his shooting and off the dribble and his catch, he needs to be aggressive and some of that is a little confidence and some of it is inexperience. He was basically a first year player and Josh was like that too. In the 40 minutes 8 ppg, 6 assists and you would say that is pretty successful season at that spot. Both Josh and Travis has vastly improved and we should get more production.
ON QUINTON
Well in terms of strength he is doing better, he will never been Hercules, he is steady at over 200 now, he added eight pounds of muscle and you can see it and that has improved his play. We utilize him as the versatile player he is and he has to make open shots and he has to be better with the ball. He is a good post feeder and he can make open jump shots and he can pull up. We will play four perimeter guys and sometimes he will play the wing, I think he will be much more efficient.
ON FINISHING ACC GAMES BETTER
It is part of the process, that is where we are at, we were competitive in most games, we had a problem with UNC and UVA we had matchup nightmares in those ones, in the other 15 games we competed and weren't able to finish. Part of the process is competing and the learning and growing from that. You have to understand how those things work, we need to finish those games, there is nothing like that.
ON MARCUS GEORGES-HUNT
It is really important with our injured guys and older guys we take it easy. Those guys understand, Marcus is a full go and went through every minute of every workout and will be a full go this week. We have to keep accessing how he is feeling. He isn't in his best running basketball shape, but cardio and conditioning he has done a great job. In the first three or four months when he couldn't jump working on his form shooting and I think he is poised to have a huge senior year. His injury was disappointing for him, but as well as anyone can do to prepare for a great senior year Marcus did.
ON ADAM'S ROLE
I don't really see him as a point or two, he can shot on the move or off the dribble or catch and shoot. He will be out there with Josh or Travis and sometimes with neither. That is something that evolves in the six weeks, that is something that evolves during the season. We have a great non-conference schedule where we are prepared for ACC play.
ON END OF GAME ROLES
We added Adam to the mix who has proven he can hit game winners and Charles and Nick can be in the post and the ball doesn't have to be in Marcus' hands every time, you have to be willing to miss those too to be a great player. Some of those misses came in several games in a row. He did that against Charlotte last year then didn't against ND. Having other options will make us a better team down the stretch. I hope we are in a better position at the end of games and don't need that.
ON HAVING ADAM'S LEADERSHIP AT GUARD
He is a tremendous communicator and has a great work ethic and sometimes we have to get him out of the gym and he would sneak in there when he was recovering. He is a great addition to the program and his core values match ours and the handing down of that to the guards is huge for us.
ON LAMMERS GOALS
I thought through the summer he was our most improved player confidence wise. He is a good compliment to those guys and he is the best shooter of the bigs and at 6'11" is a big weapon and his passing and ability to knock down shots makes him special, he has a chance to have a huge sophomore year. Once those guys leave, he could have two years as a go to guy with his ability to put the ball in the hoop, he is almost a stretch five man.
ON WHOLE EXPECTATIONS FOR THE TEAM
I think for us, the number one thing is certain things you want your team identified by and our whole concept is being unselfish and playing as one. Our effort and energy level we play at has been good and we can play better. There are things we did well and we were good defensively and there are areas we need to improve in. We need to shot the ball better and we have to finish more plays around the basket. All three of our bigs in our career have shot up in 50-52%, we will be better FTs, our returning guys shot 70% and adding a good FT shooter in Adam, adds two, three points here and there. We will play 32 games or more and half of those will be a possession here or there. Being committed to that is a key.
ON FIRST PRACTICE RITUALS
It has changed so much over the years because of the new rules. We will have a 1-hour practice and another on Tuesday then more. The ritual is we go hard. Because of the summer trip and other stuff we will be able to play harder from jump street. You have to make it different to signal to the guys it is different. Sometimes you long for the days when you have less time with the guys, but that has been watered down because you can do so much with the team.
