On the Trove I posted a 22 minute Q&A by Willard last Wed at Big East Media Day.
Here's a few questions for the free board.
Q What will be the effect of the new shot clock on your team?
A On the defensive end it will help us. We'll press but you don't have to be as aggressive. At times you want to be a little more passive. The more clock you can eat in the backcourt the less time the opponent can get into an offense.
It's only a five second change but that makes it more difficult to get into your offense. That will help us on the defensive end.
On offense I think everyone is going to struggle at first until you get used to the short clock.
Q What impact in terms of leadership have your two transfers, Anderson and Gordon made on this young team?
A It's been really important. The sophomore group now knows what's going on. But to have two different guys coming from separate programs who have been through the wars, the grind, really helps the younger players.
Especially Derrick. Derrick has given us a sense of maturity that we haven't always had. He's really helped our guards in the sense of his work ethic. He really works hard every day with a great attitude. But he also has a very nice calm about him.
And Braden, hey I'm not sure how much anyone of us has seen him (smiling) since he spends so much time at the law school has been great too. Plus he a big body at 6-9 240 so that helps us on the court too. It gives us someone to bang with Angel. The kind of competition that will help him in games.
Q You mentioned the benefit of having length at the 3. Can you further comment?
A Veer is a legit 6-7 who can really shoot the basketball. He's a player embracing getting shots off playing with Khadeen and Isaiah. And Desi is a 3 man that we haven't had in the past. He's an attacker, a great rebounder, especially offensively. So they compliment each other because they are complete opposites.
Veer right now is a freshmen. He's the kind of player that is going to sit on the perimeter and be an outside threat. And Desi is the kind of guy who will attack the rim, get inside, post up at times because he played the 4 last year. Basically they compliment each other because they are different players.
That gives me options I didn't have last season.
Q Not a lot is known about Jevon Thomas who has to sit out this season. Could you advise what he means to the program during his sit out year.
A Jevon is working our guards to death. I mean I actually have to rotate the guards on different teams to give them a break.
Khadeen came out to me the other day between double sessions and said coach put that guy on my team.
He's a pit bull and he gets after it. He's like a waterbug. He easily gets in the lane. He's quick...doesn't shoot it great yet and he needs to have confidence in his shot which is his biggest problem now but he's going to give us a guy who will be a tenacious defender and a guy who will be able on offense to get into the lane whenever he wants.
Here's a few questions for the free board.
Q What will be the effect of the new shot clock on your team?
A On the defensive end it will help us. We'll press but you don't have to be as aggressive. At times you want to be a little more passive. The more clock you can eat in the backcourt the less time the opponent can get into an offense.
It's only a five second change but that makes it more difficult to get into your offense. That will help us on the defensive end.
On offense I think everyone is going to struggle at first until you get used to the short clock.
Q What impact in terms of leadership have your two transfers, Anderson and Gordon made on this young team?
A It's been really important. The sophomore group now knows what's going on. But to have two different guys coming from separate programs who have been through the wars, the grind, really helps the younger players.
Especially Derrick. Derrick has given us a sense of maturity that we haven't always had. He's really helped our guards in the sense of his work ethic. He really works hard every day with a great attitude. But he also has a very nice calm about him.
And Braden, hey I'm not sure how much anyone of us has seen him (smiling) since he spends so much time at the law school has been great too. Plus he a big body at 6-9 240 so that helps us on the court too. It gives us someone to bang with Angel. The kind of competition that will help him in games.
Q You mentioned the benefit of having length at the 3. Can you further comment?
A Veer is a legit 6-7 who can really shoot the basketball. He's a player embracing getting shots off playing with Khadeen and Isaiah. And Desi is a 3 man that we haven't had in the past. He's an attacker, a great rebounder, especially offensively. So they compliment each other because they are complete opposites.
Veer right now is a freshmen. He's the kind of player that is going to sit on the perimeter and be an outside threat. And Desi is the kind of guy who will attack the rim, get inside, post up at times because he played the 4 last year. Basically they compliment each other because they are different players.
That gives me options I didn't have last season.
Q Not a lot is known about Jevon Thomas who has to sit out this season. Could you advise what he means to the program during his sit out year.
A Jevon is working our guards to death. I mean I actually have to rotate the guards on different teams to give them a break.
Khadeen came out to me the other day between double sessions and said coach put that guy on my team.
He's a pit bull and he gets after it. He's like a waterbug. He easily gets in the lane. He's quick...doesn't shoot it great yet and he needs to have confidence in his shot which is his biggest problem now but he's going to give us a guy who will be a tenacious defender and a guy who will be able on offense to get into the lane whenever he wants.
