Season preview: HoopsHD interviews new UC Riverside coach Mike Magpayo

Posted on October 8, 2020 by Jon Teitel

CLICK HERE for all of Hoops HD’s Continued and Extensive Preseason Content

We hope you are ready for a season unlike any other: testing, distancing, and bubbles, oh my! Nobody knows exactly what is going to happen, when it is going to happen, or whether anything actually will happen…but in the meantime we will try to restore some order with season previews featuring the best players/coaches/administrators in the country. We continue our coverage with new UC Riverside coach Mike Magpayo. He started in real estate, then became an assistant coach a decade ago, and was hired in July as head coach of the Highlanders, . HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Coach Magpayo about his international roster and his expectations for this year.

You previously served as CEO of a multi-million-dollar real estate company in California: how did you like the business, and how did you get into coaching? I ran a real-estate company during the boom but also coached a high school basketball team. When the crash happened in 2007/2008 we barely survived it and in 2010 I was moving to New York City to get my masters’ degree in real estate. I wrote letters to a bunch of college head coaches and the only 1 who wrote me back was Kyle Smith. He said that if I gave up everything else and was willing to start at the bottom then he would give me a shot…and he did.

As an assistant at Campbell/Columbia you helped manage a “Moneyball” type of statistical system: how much importance do you place on analytics? A lot! It is a huge part of our program here because that is how I learned it at Columbia. My last 2 bosses came from the St. Mary’s coaching tree, which is where they learned it themselves. All of Coach Randy Bennett’s disciples use a similar system. I believe in a lot of the analytics but it is mostly a tool I use to hold the team accountable. We track everything (even in practice) and then post it: it is a fully-transparent program.

Last March as an assistant at UC Riverside you were scheduled to play UCSB in the Big West tourney quarterfinals before learning that everything was canceled due to coronavirus: what was your reaction when you 1st heard the news, and do you think that it was the right decision? We are competitors so of course we wanted to play. We were in the same hotel as UCSB and ate next to them in the dining room. We were really bummed because our team was trending in the right direction at the time. I cannot believe it was 7 months ago: we just started practicing with the new protocols and our guys were dying during their 1st 4-minute workouts! I am trying to lead us back to where we were last season.

In July you were hired as head coach at UC Riverside: why did you take the job, and how is it going so far? The joke is that there are no bad jobs because there are only 357 of them in the country! I am from Southern California and am a product of the UC system. Coach David Patrick left us a full cupboard of players who are 100% committed: so far so good. We are practicing/working out so that is all we could ask for.

You are the founder/president of the Asian Coaches Association and are now the 1st-ever D-1 head coach of Asian heritage: how big a deal is it, and why did it take so long? We have to give Rex Walters some credit because he is half-Asian. In the NBA Finals we see Coach Erik Spoelstra and his own grind to become a head coach: he opened the door and hopefully I can keep it open for the next generation. The Asian Coaches Association had 13 people at our 1st meeting but our most recent meeting had around 150-200 attendees. There are a lot of Asian coaches out there for both men/women. Coach Spoelstra texted me after I got the job and just told me to represent.

Last year you had 1 of the best defensive teams in the nation: what is the key to playing good defense? I give all of the credit to Coach Patrick. We built it with size: our difference is that we have 6 guys who are at least 6’9” and we do not have a guy shorter than 6’3” on our team. We are long/gritty/tough, which helps with both rebounding/defense. We recruited size and utilize it in our schemes: we will not change too much defensively so the guys should be able to have a seamless transition.

Your roster includes several players from Australia/New Zealand: what sort of recruiting philosophy will you have? Coach Patrick and I are branches of the St. Mary’s tree, where international players were always part of the puzzle. We have 9 players from down under: it might be the largest # in all of D-1. We want great guys with a great work ethic who you would not be afraid to let them watch your kids. They come from a culture who have a great approach to practices and building a team, which has helped us become a winning program.

You graduated your senior backcourt of Dikymbe Martin/Khyber Kabellis but bring back almost everyone else on the roster: how will you try to replace all of that offense/leadership? We are lucky to bring in 2 transfers from big-time programs in Flynn Cameron (DePaul) and Jock Perry (St. Mary’s). I think that they will help us with both offense/leadership: they are older and know how to work.

You have a birthday coming up next month: what will it be like to celebrate during a pandemic? The biggest news is that my wife is pregnant! I am getting too old so I do not even want to celebrate my birthday. 7 months without doing what I love to do (coach) has been brutal. I could not be happier right now just to be working on the game that I love.

What are your goals for this season, and what are your expectations for this season? The only team in our league who we have not beaten during the past 2 years is UC-Irvine but we were right there last year. We do not talk about it as much right now but we will hold our guys to a high-performance standard every day. I expect us to compete at the top of our league and I have a lot of confidence in this group.

Posted in Interviews | Tagged , | Comments Off on Season preview: HoopsHD interviews new UC Riverside coach Mike Magpayo

Season preview: HoopsHD interviews Hofstra SR G Jalen Ray

Posted on October 7, 2020 by Jon Teitel

CLICK HERE for all of Hoops HD’s Continued and Extensive Preseason Content

We hope you are ready for a season unlike any other: testing, distancing, and bubbles, oh my! Nobody knows exactly what is going to happen, when it is going to happen, or whether anything actually will happen…but in the meantime we will try to restore some order with season previews featuring the best players/coaches/administrators in the country. We continue our coverage with Hofstra SR G Jalen Ray. He started 33 games last year, scored a career-high 27 PTS in a win at UCLA, and made the CAA All-Tourney team. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Jalen about being a great 3-PT shooter and his expectations for this year.

You were born/raised in Hampton, VA: what made you choose Hofstra? My recruiter is from Hampton. I felt that it was time for me to move away and focus on something else: I like my hometown but there are a lot of distractions. The academic part of Hofstra and the coaching staff are both great.

You play for Coach Joe Mihalich: what makes him such a good coach? He believes in his players and has a lot of trust in us: he is a great leader.

You started 1 game as a sophomore and 33 games as a junior: what is the biggest difference between being a starter vs. coming off the bench? When you are a starter you need to be able to play with the right tempo from the opening tip.

Last November you scored a career-high 27 PTS in a 10-PT win at UCLA: was it just 1 of those situations where every shot you put up seemed to go in because you were “in the zone”? I just felt comfortable out there and knew that I could do whatever I tried to do. I got some good shots early and everything was falling.

Last March in the CAA tourney title game you scored 17 PTS/3-6 3PM in a 9-PT win over Northeastern and made the CAA All-Tourney team, then learned a few days later that the NCAA tourney was canceled due to the coronavirus: what was your reaction when you 1st heard the news, and do you think that it was the right decision? At 1st I did not like the news because we had finally made it over the hump to win the championship game. Looking back on it now, I think it was a good decision to cancel for both health/safety reasons.

You have shot over 39 3P% during each of the past 3 years and made a pair of game-winning threes as a freshman in the closing seconds against Monmouth and Towson: what is the key to making shots from behind the arc? Balance is everything: you also need confidence in your shooting ability.

You graduated a pair of sensational senior guards in Desure Buie/Eli Pemberton: how on earth will you try to replace all of their offense/leadership? We have a lot of new players this year but it will be the same as it has been in the past: next man up.

Your brother Lavell ran track at George Mason and your sister Chantel runs track at Ohio State: who is the best athlete in the family? I would say that I am the best all-around athlete but both of them can beat me on the track.

What is it like to be an African-American man in 2020? You may wake up feeling great but you never know how the day will play out. I just try to make it through each day and not fear for my life.

What are your goals for this season, and what are your expectations for this season? Same as last year: we want to win back-to-back championships despite losing some good players.

Posted in Interviews | Tagged , | Comments Off on Season preview: HoopsHD interviews Hofstra SR G Jalen Ray

Season preview: HoopsHD interviews UTSA coach Steve Henson

Posted on October 6, 2020 by Jon Teitel

CLICK HERE for all of Hoops HD’s Continued and Extensive Preseason Content

We hope you are ready for a season unlike any other: testing, distancing, and bubbles, oh my! Nobody knows exactly what is going to happen, when it is going to happen, or whether anything actually will happen…but in the meantime we will try to restore some order with season previews featuring the best players/coaches/administrators in the country. We continue our coverage with UTSA coach Steve Henson. He set a Kansas State record for career AST that still stands, faced Michael Jordan in the NBA playoffs, and was conference COY in San Antonio in 2018. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Coach Henson about his brilliant backcourt and his expectations for this year.

In the 1988 NCAA tourney as a player at Kansas State you scored 6 PTS in a loss to eventual champion Kansas: how do you explain the “Sunflower Showdown” rivalry to people who have never experienced it in person? It is a terrific in-state rivalry: most kids in Kansas grow up following 1 of the 2 schools. I have a lot of friends who went to Kansas and a lot of friends who went to Kansas State. That year we played them 4 times: we won at Lawrence and then again in the Big 8 tourney…but they beat us when it counted.

In 1990 you led the Big 8 with 93 3PM and your 582 career AST remains the most in school history: what is the key to being a good PG? Just being able to translate the message from the head coach and getting everyone on the same page. You need to be a leader, bring it every day in practice, and have the respect of your teammates by being unselfish.

You played 9 years of pro basketball in the NBA and Italy: what was the biggest difference between basketball in the US vs. basketball overseas? The game here has changed dramatically: analytics, 3-PT shooting, lack of back-to-the-basket play, etc. A lot of that stems from international play. I remember hearing commentators talk about how physical it was overseas but it varied from 1 country to the next: I did not think it was that physical in Italy but it was definitely physical in Greece. There is less specialization now then there was years ago: we used to have elite post players in the NBA but now there are a bunch of players who can do so many different things that they act as interchangeable parts.

In the 1993 NBA Eastern Conference 1st round as a player for Atlanta you were swept by Chicago: what was it like to face Michael Jordan as he was on his way to his 3rd straight NBA title? They were an incredible team. I played a couple of years before that in Milwaukee so I saw them on a pretty regular basis. They moved the ball and had an unbelievable understanding of their roles. They were clearly the team to beat and on a great roll at that time.

You later became an assistant to your college coach Lon Kruger at UNLV/Illinois/Oklahoma: what makes Kruger such a great coach, and what is the most important thing that you ever learned from him? His ability to relate to the players and get them to buy in. He is great at Xs and Os but what makes him special is how he treats people on a daily basis both inside and outside the program: he is a real role model.

You were hired at UTSA in 2016 and were named conference COY in 2018: what did it mean to you to receive such an outstanding honor? It meant a lot to our program. We only finished 5th in the league that year but it showed how much progress we had made. Several teams had more wins than us but the other coaches saw what we had done.

You won 20 games in 2018/17 games in 2019/13 games in 2020: how will you try to turn things around in 2021? We had a lot of returning talent last year but did not defend well enough and were not tough enough. We need to value possessions, compete on every single 1 of them, and work harder to get better shots. We have 2 elite scorers but relied on them too heavily.

Your senior backcourt of PG Jhivvan Jackson/SG Keaton Wallace combined to score almost 46 PPG last year: where do you think that they rank among the best pair of guards in the country? It is not for me to say but they have done it year in and year out. They are both tremendous talents who immediately impacted our program from the start. It has been fun to watch them grow and keep getting better: Keaton has really changed his body and Jhivvan was a big scorer for us right away. I think that we have some reinforcements this year who can take a little pressure off of those 2.

Your career 90 FT% remains among the best in NCAA history and last year your team’s 77.8 FT% was #12 in the nation: what is the secret to making FTs? For a team it is about having good FT shooters taking the majority of your FTs. Some of our big guys were also skilled enough to shoot a good percentage. I tried to keep it simple and have a good routine. You need some technique and then rep it to the point where it becomes automatic.

What are your goals for this season, and what are your expectations for this season? We are excited to make progress on the defensive end. If we can do that then we will have a chance to win a lot of ballgames. I think our league will be the best that it has been since I got here: there are a lot of transfers who have entered our league and the bottom of our league is rising. We are chomping at the bit and will score the ball but defense will be the key to our success.

Posted in Interviews | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Season preview: HoopsHD interviews UTSA coach Steve Henson

The Olympians: HoopsHD interviews Kenn Johnson about 1952 Olympic gold medalist Dean Kelley

Posted on October 5, 2020 by Jon Teitel

The NBA Finals date back to 1947 (when they were known as the Basketball Association of America Finals) and the very 1st NCAA tourney was held in 1939. Olympic basketball competition is even older: it debuted as a demonstration event in 1904 and the men’s version became a medal sport in 1936, with the women finally getting their chance to go for the gold in 1976. The United States has dominated Olympic basketball competition from the start: the men have won 15 gold medals in the 18 tournaments they have participated in during the past 84 years, while the women have won 8 gold medals in the 10 tournaments in which they have competed during the past 44 years. Those of you who were looking forward to the 2020 Olympics opening ceremonies in Tokyo on July 24, 2020 will have to wait an extra 364 days, as the coronavirus caused a postponement until July 23, 2021. Due to the absence of college basketball since mid-March, HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel decided to fill the void by trying to interview as many prior Olympic players/coaches as possible so that you have something to read this summer while not watching the Summer Games. We continue our coverage by chatting with Dr. Kenn Johnson, KU alum and author of multiple books about KU basketball, about Dean Kelley winning an NCAA title and a gold medal in 1952.

Dean was born/raised in McCune: what made him choose Kansas for college? During his senior year in 1949 Kelley led McCune to a runner-up finish in the state basketball tournament, catching the eye of KU coach Phog Allen. The opportunity to play for “The Father of Basketball Coaching” was an offer that no Kansas high schooler could turn down.

He was 5’11”: did he see his size as an advantage or a disadvantage on the court? Although undersized, his quickness/ability/knowledge of the game gave him an edge over almost all of his opponents. Thus, his size did not keep him from being offered a scholarship at KU, nor from being selected by the Pistons in the 1953 NBA draft.

He played for Hall of Fame coach Phog Allen: what kind of relationship did they have? Kelley was a tenacious defender, which definitely endeared him to Coach Allen, who made him a varsity starter for three years at KU.

In the 1952 NCAA title game he scored 7 PTS in a win over St. John’s and in the 1953 NCAA title game he scored 8 PTS in a 1-PT loss to Indiana: what did it mean to him to win a title, and what did it mean to him to lose a title? Of course winning the national title in 1952 meant a lot in and of itself, but it also gave him the opportunity to play and win in the Olympics, which is every player’s dream. The 1-point loss in 1953 to Indiana was most disappointing.

He became the 1st Jayhawk to ever earn multiple NCAA All-Tournament selections: how was he able to keep playing his best when it mattered the most? He just had that “winning” attitude: not only at McCune and KU but also throughout his professional career where he led the USA to gold medals in the 1952 Olympics as well as the 1955 Pan American Games. He also helped the Peoria Caterpillars win the 1958 AAU championship.

He played for team USA at the 1952 Olympics: what did it mean to him to represent his country, and what did it mean to him to win a gold medal? At age 20 he was the youngest member selected to represent the US: what an honor! Given his age and his service as a valuable piece in claiming the gold medal, he was supremely proud of his accomplishment.

In the spring of 1953 he was drafted 56th overall by Fort Wayne but instead chose to join the Peoria Caterpillars where he won the 1958 AAU national championship: was it a difficult decision to turn down the NBA, and how did he like having his brother Al as 1 of his teammates? In the early 1950s the AAU was a viable alternative to the NBA, as the pay was about the same and AAU players had the advantage of obtaining business experience and connections in addition to playing basketball. Many of the best players in the country at the time chose to play for corporate-sponsored amateur teams in the National Industrial Basketball League. Dean gained valuable business knowledge/skills during his long career with the Caterpillars, and of course he relished the opportunity to play again with his brother Al.

Al won a gold medal with team USA in 1960: how happy was Dean to see Al win a gold medal 8 years after he did so himself? Dean and Al were very close, having played together at McCune, at KU, and with the Caterpillars, so of course Dean was very proud of his younger brother.

In 2017 he was inducted into the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame: where does that rank among the highlights of his career? It is memorable, particularly since his younger brother Al was inducted four years earlier: they are the only pair of brothers in the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame. Unfortunately, Dean’s induction came 20 years after his death so he did not get to enjoy it in person.

He passed away in 1996: when people look back on his career, how do you think that he should be remembered the most? Through high school, at KU, and in the pros, he was a success both on and off the court. Interestingly, he was also a member of the 1958 international team that toured the Soviet Union during the height of the Cold War.

Posted in Interviews | Tagged , , | Comments Off on The Olympians: HoopsHD interviews Kenn Johnson about 1952 Olympic gold medalist Dean Kelley

Season preview: HoopsHD interviews Mississippi State SO SG Iverson Molinar

Posted on October 4, 2020 by Jon Teitel

CLICK HERE for all of Hoops HD’s Continued and Extensive Preseason Content

We hope you are ready for a season unlike any other: testing, distancing, and bubbles, oh my! Nobody knows exactly what is going to happen, when it is going to happen, or whether anything actually will happen…but in the meantime we will try to restore some order with season previews featuring the best players/coaches/administrators in the country. We continue our coverage with Mississippi State SO SG Iverson Molinar. He grew up in Panama, moved to the US a few years ago, and last year played in all 31 games as a freshman. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Iverson about why he chose the Bulldogs and his expectations for this year.

You were born/raised in Panama: how big is the sport in your home country? I came to the United States when I was 14 to play basketball. The top-2 sports in Panama are soccer/baseball but basketball is a strong 3rd.

You ended up playing on an AAU team with Cassius Stanley: what makes Cassius such a good player, and how do you think he is going to do in pro basketball? It was good to play with him and I think that he will be very good in the pros.

What made you choose Mississippi State? I really liked their style of play and thought that it would make my transition from high school easier. It is like a family here: they are always asking questions and paying attention to me.

You play for Coach Ben Howland: what makes him such a good coach, and what is the most important thing that you have learned from him so far? He taught me how to be more patient on offense and read the defense. I have improved so much on defense as well.

You played in all 31 games as a freshman: how were you able to come in and contribute right from the start? I just tried to play as hard as I could. I learned a lot as a freshman by watching film and doing whatever Coach wanted me to do.

In the 2020 SEC tourney you were scheduled to play in the quarterfinals before learning that the rest of the postseason was being cancelled due to the coronavirus: what was your reaction when you 1st heard the news, and do you think that it was the right decision? I was devastated because I really wanted to play in the SEC tourney and gain some more experience. I felt bad for our seniors because they missed out on their last postseason. 

You have teammates from the Dominican Republic (Andersson Garcia)/Nigeria (Abdul Ado)/the Netherlands (Quinten Post): how do the guys from foreign countries fit in with their American teammates? They are good. We get along with all of them and try to show them what our culture is like. They stuck with it and took it well: we all accept each other.

You only have 2 seniors/1 junior on the roster: is there any pressure on the younger guys like yourself to be a leader this year? Yes. I always try to stay active on the court and help the freshmen because I was in that situation last year. Last year our senior class did the same thing for me.

You have a big birthday coming up this December: what will it be like to turn 21 during a pandemic? It is going to be weird/different but I will still be in the gym working out and getting better.

What are your goals for this season, and what are your expectations for this season? I really want to make the NCAA tourney. I want to be responsible on the court and help carry the team: we will have a lot of great chemistry. As far as expectations, I am just focused on the present rather than worrying about the future.

Posted in Interviews | Tagged , | Comments Off on Season preview: HoopsHD interviews Mississippi State SO SG Iverson Molinar

Season preview: HoopsHD interviews Northern Kentucky coach Darrin Horn

Posted on October 3, 2020 by Jon Teitel

CLICK HERE for all of Hoops HD’s Continued and Extensive Preseason Content

We hope you are ready for a season unlike any other: testing, distancing, and bubbles, oh my! Nobody knows exactly what is going to happen, when it is going to happen, or whether anything actually will happen…but in the meantime we will try to restore some order with season previews featuring the best players/coaches/administrators in the country. We continue our coverage with Northern Kentucky coach Darrin Horn. He made the Sweet 16 as a player, made the Final 4 as an assistant coach, and won the Horizon League tourney last March. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Coach Horn about winning 23 games during his 1st year in Highland Heights and his expectations for this year.

In February of 1993 as a player at Western Kentucky you made a game-winning 3-PT shot in a win over Louisville in Freedom Hall: did you think the shot was going in, and where does that rank among the highlights of your career? The shot felt great when I let it go. That was such a big win for our program because it was against Louisville: I think they were top-10 in the country at the time. It really gave us the confidence to be able to make the Sweet 16 run so I would definitely say it was one of the highlights of my career.

The following month you made the Sweet 16 before a 3-PT OT loss to Florida State: how close did you come to pulling off the upset and having a chance to face Kentucky in the Final 4? I really believe (even almost 30 years later) that if Mark Bell/Darnell Mee had not fouled out that we would have won that game against FSU. Unfortunately, we were down our two best players in overtime against a far superior team talent-wise (Charlie Ward/Bobby Sura/Doug Edwards): those guys were loaded. I probably believe it even more today because as a coach I know the impact that just one or two players can have on a game.

You made the 2003 Final 4 as an assistant to Tom Crean at Marquette: could you tell at the time that Dwyane Wade was going to become a superstar? At some point I think we all knew that Dwyane was going to be a long time pro and a really good one. Did any of us say out loud that he would be a first-ballot Hall of Famer, perennial All-Star, and in the discussion for the best to ever play his position? No…and I think anyone who tells you they did is not being truthful. That said, am I surprised? Not really, because he was a special talent who had tremendous character and really bought into the work ethic and commitment it takes to be great and win big. I am so happy for all that he has accomplished because I know where he came from and what he overcame. He is truly a shining example of what is good about our game.

In the 2008 NCAA tourney as head coach at your alma mater Ty Rogers made a 26-foot buzzer-beater over 3 defenders to clinch a 2-PT OT win over Drake (www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwOzyE_S5AY): how did you draw up the play, and what was the feeling like in your locker room afterward? The play was actually designed for Courtney Lee, but Tyrone Brazelton did not get the angle to flip the ball to Courtney so he hit Ty Rogers trailing behind (a la the Villanova 2016 NCAA championship buzzer-beater, just from a different angle: www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7FFJUz0tdo). What is great is that Ty told Tyrone before he inbounded it that if he got in trouble he would be trailing just in case Tyrone needed him. So many people have spoken about “The Shot” but just as impressive to me was the pass that Tyrone made. It took tremendous awareness/confidence to make that play in that moment. The locker room was both jubilant and emotional at the same time. It was a group of seniors who had been through so much together: they were our first full recruiting class. We all felt in some way that anything short of a win in the NCAA tournament would have left our time together lacking so to say it was fulfilling/satisfying would be an understatement.

The following month you were hired as coach at South Carolina: what is the biggest difference between coaching in a big-time conference vs. coaching in a lesser-known conference? The biggest difference in the league levels is that if you have a good team in a lower league there are a handful of nights (especially at home) when you can maybe not play your best or see your best player have an off-night but you can still win. That is much harder to do at a higher level. There is a deeper level of talent on each roster and pretty much every team has one guy who can beat you if you do not do a good job of defending him.

Last year you were hired as head coach at Northern Kentucky and won 23 games in your very 1st season: how were you able to come in and be so successful right from the start? I think that the biggest key to our success last year was that our players allowed us to coach them. So often when a new coach takes over a winning program there is resistance to doing things differently but our guys did not do that. I hope that some of that is because we made it clear as a staff that we had great respect for what they had already accomplished. We were not looking to reinvent the wheel but just build on what they had already done and continue to make them better and grow our program. They bought into that and let us coach them.

In the 2020 Horizon tourney title game you had a 9-PT win over Illinois-Chicago, then a couple of days later you learned that the NCAA tourney was canceled due to the coronavirus: what was your reaction when you 1st heard the news, and do you think that it was the right decision? That was a huge blow: there were a lot of down faces when we gave them the news. I felt so bad for our seniors who I knew would not get another chance to play in an NCAA Tournament. I think what added to it was that this group had been to the NCAA tourney twice before. According to them this time was different because there was a confidence that they were not just happy to be there but going in with the mindset of winning.

You graduated your top-2 scorers in Dantez Walton/Tyler Sharpe: how will you try to replace all of that offense/leadership? From a leadership standpoint, I think that Trevon Faulkner will blossom into an outstanding leader. He has great energy/confidence and brings it to his teammates every day. Our other returners (Bryson Langdon/Adrian Nelson/Paul Djoko) have also shown a great willingness to take on that role and help set the tone for what our expectations are in our program. Offensively, I think that we are going to have to do it more by committee. I think we are actually deeper this year from an offensive talent standpoint, but we lost three guys who could basically take over a game and carry you to a win on any given night. In addition, they were veterans who knew what it took to win so there will be a big learning curve for sure for our new guys.

Robert Morris is joined the conference last summer: what is it like to have another defending conference champ in the league? I love the addition of Robert Morris because it strengthens our league and expands our footprint. They have already shown that they can win a league title and are committed to having a winning program so I think that is a positive.

What are your goals for this season, and what are your expectations for this season? Our goals are always to be playing our best basketball in March and competing for a championship. We are not changing our expectations just because we lost so much talent and are so young. Is that realistic? Maybe not, but we are going to work like it every day to give us a chance to do it.

Posted in Interviews | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Season preview: HoopsHD interviews Northern Kentucky coach Darrin Horn