Season preview: HoopsHD interviews Mississippi assistant coach Levi Watkins

Posted on October 3, 2019 by Jon Teitel

CLICK HERE for all of our extensive Preseason Content

We continue our season preview coverage with Mississippi assistant coach Levi Watkins. He was hired by head coach Kermit Davis last year and helped the Rebels get off to a 13-2 start and make the NCAA tourney before losing to Oklahoma. He is no stranger to postseason play, having made multiple NCAA tourneys as a player at NC State. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Coach Watkins about being a Parade All-American and coaching 1 of the best players in the SEC.

In 2001 you were named a Parade All-American at Montrose Christian: which of your fellow honorees impressed you the most (Kwame Brown/Channing Frye/LeBron James/other)? That class was pretty good. It included Julius Hodge, who was my teammate for 4 years at NC State where we had a lot of success together. Kwame was a #1 pick and was very talented: Tyson Chandler/Eddy Curry also went straight from high school to the NBA. We also had guards like Dajuan Wagner/Mo Williams/TJ Ford: it was a special class. I even played with 3 guys at Montrose who went on to play at Georgetown.

As a player at NC State your team lost its final NCAA tourney game by 2-3 PTS for 3 straight years (2002-2004): how great was it to finally beat UConn in 2005 by 3 PTS to make it to the Sweet 16? It was a special time. They seemed to be on our side of the bracket every single year and had a team of really good future pros including Rudy Gay/Josh Boone. We battled a lot of injuries during that season so it was nice to finally get over the hump.

How did you get into coaching? I approached my college coach Herb Sendek during my senior season. I had a couple of serious injuries during college and was debating some opportunities to play professionally. 1 of our assistants Larry Hunter took over as head coach of Western Carolina. It was a quick transition: I graduated on a Saturday and started in this profession at my alma mater on a Monday!

You were 1 of 7 SEC teams who made the NCAA tourney as top-10 seeds last March: where do you think that your conference ranks among the best in the nation? It is a pretty good conference. The year before we had 8 teams in the NCAA tourney and we are projected to have 9-10 this year. There is a lot of good talent/athleticism and everyone can recruit really well. I do not see it changing anytime soon due to the commitment from each school to its basketball program after being a football league for a long time.

In the 2019 NCAA tourney you lost to Oklahoma: what did your team learn from that loss that will help them this year? A lot of people were patting us on our back and praising us during the year due to our success but we fell short at the end. It has motivated all of our returning guys to get back to the NCAA tourney and then advance. The guys got a taste of it and it made them even hungrier during the offseason.

You work for Coach Kermit Davis: what makes him such a good coach, and what is the most important thing that you have learned from him so far? He is my 5th boss. I have learned a lot from all of them but Kermit has a great basketball mind and is a very hard worker. Whether we are working out in May or practicing the day before a big game he is consistent and makes sure that everything has a purpose. He has won at a high level during his entire life at many different programs so his resume speaks for itself. His passion/IQ are great and we have a purpose every day.

As an assistant coach you do a little of everything including recruiting, player development, scouting, community relations, etc.: what is your favorite part of the job? All of it is important. Recruiting is huge because even if you have great tactics you need a certain talent level at your program. I have passion for every part of my job. I have worked in the profession since 2001 so I know every aspect. You have to compete in every aspect and find any edge you can.

Your non-conference schedule includes games against Penn State/Oklahoma State/Syracuse/Butler: which of these games do you feel will present your biggest test? You did not mention Memphis, who has a great recruiting class and is only 1 hour away from us. We will take them all seriously because if you want to make the NCAA tourney then you have to beat those kinds of teams on your schedule. They all present challenges but our guys will be fired up to play a team like Memphis.

The only senior on your roster is SG Breein Tyree, who was named All-SEC 1st team last year: what makes him such a great player, and how much pressure is there on him to be a leader this year? He is very talented and is the leading returning scorer in the SEC. He has worked really hard and has been locked in all summer on all of the little things like eating/training right. He got a lot of experience as a junior but is embracing his new role as the leader who is beginning his last rodeo. We expect him to be even better and he is ready for the challenge.

What are your goals for the upcoming season, and what are your expectations for the upcoming season? We really try to stay away from that. Everyone wants to compete for championships and to do that you just have to beat the teams on your schedule. Right now we are preparing for a scrimmage later this month, then we start November with an exhibition game, and then the regular season starts a few days later.

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Season preview: HoopsHD interviews Kansas State assistant coach Jermaine Henderson

Posted on October 2, 2019 by Jon Teitel

CLICK HERE for all of our extensive Preseason Content

We continue our season preview coverage with Kansas State assistant coach Jermaine Henderson. His 1st 2 years in Manhattan could hardly have gone any better: 25 wins in 2018 including a trip to the Elite 8, followed by yet another 25-win season last year and a share of the Big 12 regular season title. This year he has made the leap from director of student-athlete development to assistant coach as the Wildcats try to reach the NCAA tourney for the 10th time in the past 13 seasons. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Coach Henderson about being in the Sunflower Showdown and replacing his top-3 scorers from last season.

You played for Herb Sendek/Charlie Coles at Miami Ohio, where you became 1 of a handful of players in school history to participate in 4 postseason tournaments (2 NCAA tourneys and 2 NITs): what is the biggest difference between the regular season and the postseason? Other than the excitement around the country, the main component is that it is win-or-go-home. Many football teams play a bowl game in December/January but all 68 teams in the NCAA tourney have a chance to not only play but win a national title. We played UMBC in the 2018 NCAA tourney so we know very well what a #16 seed can do! You work your tail off the whole year but it can all be gone in 40 minutes: there is something exciting about survive-and-advance. There is anticipation for the season to start and to play games on national TV…but it cannot compare to the NCAA tourney.

In the 1995 NCAA tourney you had 1 REB in a 9-PT win over Arizona: how much of a home-court advantage did you have while playing in Dayton, and what was the feeling like in your locker room afterward? We had a HUGE home-court advantage! Herb did not recruit me: Joby Wright did so I actually had 3 college coaches. I tease people that if you can find me in “1 Shining Moment” I will get you tickets to a game this year! I recall us being the 1st game to tip-off in the afternoon so that gave it some additional buzz. Arizona was going through some off-court problems as a program: I played the role of Damon Stoudamire during practice and got to shoot whenever I wanted! Arizona flew out to Ohio and had to play an early game, which was not easy for them. I am from Columbus so when you are a few hours away from schools like Indiana/Kentucky/Louisville/Xavier you can see a lot of tremendous energy in that region. It was a scuffle but we took full advantage.

How did you get into coaching? Everyone has dreams beyond playing. Joby went to Wyoming and Herb was tough but he and I later became great friends. My junior year I finally got to play a little bit and I became a captain as a senior. In January of my senior year I was planning to return to Columbus but Charlie told me that he had a different plan for me. After our team banquet he told me and my family that I would become a coach so he brought me in as the coach’s pet. He saw everything that I went through so he made me student-teach in Oxford and then head straight to his office every day. I became a full-time assistant at age 22 and knew that I wanted to coach…and 23 years later I am still doing it!

You work for Coach Bruce Weber: what makes him such a good coach, and what is the most important thing that you have learned from him so far? He genuinely cares what happens to his players both in the game as well as during the rest of the day. Every meeting I have sat in with him has ended with a life lesson. I call him a “beautiful mind” because he is great at articulating everything that is in his brain. Some coaches do not care how you play but he presents the way that he wants us to play. He never gets in your way as you grow/teach, which is unique. Some coaches need to be at the front of the line but he is not like that. EVERYONE on our staff is doing some coaching: I have been around some basketball dudes but he stands out because he gives us a platform to do our job and the freedom to have our own personality.

Last year won the Big 12 regular season title to end Kansas’ 14-year run: how do you describe the in-state rivalry to someone who has never seen it in person, and how big a deal was it to break the Jayhawks’ streak? I would explain it as something similar to Red Sox-Yankees or Ohio State-Michigan. It is interesting because you share the same state and they are the closest in terms of proximity. The rivalry is fueled by a combination of hatred/respect because both programs have had a tremendous amount of success. Kansas has gotten big-time recruits and done things so you have to tip your hat to what they have accomplished. When you share the same soil it gets personal: I think that Red Sox fans hated the Yankees back in the day because Derek Jeter was so good! It is electric but at the end of the day it is about success.

In the 2019 NCAA tourney you had a 6-PT loss to UC Irvine: what did your team learn from that game that will help them this year? You hope they learn that it is about playing all 40 minutes. We had a bit of a chip on our shoulder in 2018 and I can see that again with some of our senior leaders this year. That chip cannot fade even when you are conference champ: Irvine was a conference champ as well! They were really good/well-coached so we have to keep that chip on our shoulder. No matter what seed you are or how you get there it is about surviving/advancing.

This year you are making the leap from director of student-athlete development to assistant coach: what has been the biggest change so far? The biggest thing is getting onto the court. The rules did not allow me to be on the practice floor or at workouts last year but I love that I can do so this year and have some input. The other key component is recruitment so I get to leave campus and try to bring in some special guys. It is an easy transition because Coach Weber always lets his staff chime in, be it in the locker room or on a plane. It is a 1st-class staff and everyone has been helpful.

Your non-conference schedule includes games against Pitt/Marquette/Mississippi State/Alabama: which of these games do you feel will present your biggest test? They will all be good tests. Mississippi State might be a top-25 team, Coach Jeff Capel is doing good things at Pitt, and Marquette taught us a lesson last December (an 83-71 win by the Golden Eagles). There are some other games such as North Dakota State/Tulsa who will present a formidable challenge for us as well. We also might have to play Bradley, who made the NCAA tourney as well. We want to challenge our guys to rise up and be held accountable. I think this is the toughest non-conference schedule we have had during my entire time here and the earliest that we have ever gone on the road.

You lost each of your top-3 senior scorers from last season (Barry Brown/Dean Wade/Kamau Stokes): how are you going to try to replace all of that offense/leadership? The 1st thing you want to replace is the heart of the program. Barry/Dean will be talked about for a long time because they had a lot of challenges as freshmen but kept plugging away. We talk about having championship DNA and all 3 of those seniors had that. We need to respect everyone on our schedule and then make our own mark. Someone else asked me if I expected to have a drop-off this year and I responded that I think we will still win games but in different ways. All of our current guys had great summers and have improved: they just have to step into their new roles.

What are your goals for the upcoming season, and what are your expectations for the upcoming season? You want to compete but also grow and get better each and every day. 4 weeks from now we will be prepping for a real game that counts. It is important for us to get off to a good start with a road victory, and beyond that we know what is waiting for us after Christmas within the Big 12. We do not want to have a crystal ball and know how things will turn out in advance: we want to take it 1 day at a time. We want to compete for a conference title and hopefully make it to the NCAA tourney. If we stay healthy and play to our potential then I think we will have a great season.

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Season preview: HoopsHD interviews Northern Kentucky SR G Tyler Sharpe

Posted on October 1, 2019 by Jon Teitel

CLICK HERE for all of our extensive Preseason Content

We continue our season preview coverage with Northern Kentucky SR PG Tyler Sharpe. The Norse had 4 straight losing seasons from 2013-2016 but Coach John Brannen turned things around since then with 3 straight 22+ win seasons and a pair of NCAA tourney appearances. Brannen was hired as head coach of Cincinnati in April and the school’s all-time leading scorer/rebounder (Drew McDonald) graduated in the spring so new coach Darrin Horn will have to rely on Tyler to be 1 of his senior leaders this season. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Tyler about being a great 3-PT shooter and touring the Virgin Islands last summer.

You played in the 2016 Derby Festival Basketball Classic: which of your fellow honorees impressed you the most (Jarron Cumberland/Terrance Ferguson/Temple Gibbs/other)? Temple Gibbs was very impressive: his skill level was extremely high and he stood out right away. Jarron was impressive with how well he moved and his ability to play out on the perimeter with his size/strength.

You began your career as a walk-on at Louisville: what was it like to play for Rick Pitino, and why did you decide to transfer to NKU? Being at Louisville was an amazing experience and is something that shaped me into the player I am today. Coach Pitino is a Hall of Famer for a reason: he is a genius on the court and it was an honor to be able to play and learn under him for a year. I ultimately decided to transfer because I was unsure what the future held for me at Louisville and I was hoping to take the skills I developed and my newfound knowledge about the game with me to a school where I could contribute more quickly.

Last year your 90 3PM ranked top-80 in the nation: what is the secret to making shots from behind the arc? It is all about confidence. Obviously you have to put up shots and practice frequently but at the end of the day you have to be able to trust that no matter what you are going to make the next shot. Repetition and shooting form are also important: you want to practice the shots that you will shoot during a game and make sure that you are shooting each shot the right way. That will add to your confidence come game time.

In the Horizon tourney semifinals last March you scored 10 PTS and Drew McDonald made a 3-PT shot with 1.6 seconds left in a 1-PT win over Oakland: did you think the shot was going in, and what was the feeling like in your locker room afterward? Yeah: I never had a doubt. As soon as I saw that Oakland messed up the switch and left Drew open I knew that it was good. Drew is arguably the best player to ever play at NKU so for him to make a shot like that in his senior season was great. We were elated in the locker room and celebrating…but also knew that we were not done. We had business to take care of the next day in the Championship game.

In the 2019 NCAA tourney you scored 23 PTS/4-7 3PM in a loss to Texas Tech: what did you learn from that game that will help you this year? It was a big momentum boost for me coming into my senior season. I always feel like I can compete with anyone but that was definitive proof that against one of the best defenses in the country I could still have one of my best games of the year.

You have a new head coach this year in Darrin Horn: how is it going so far, and how does he compare to former coach John Brannen? Just like any type of change there are a lot of things that are different and my teammates and I are adjusting and learning everyday. Coach Horn and Coach Brannen are both great coaches with extremely high consistency. You know what type of energy and effort they are bringing each day and we know that they are both going to hold us to a high standard to ensure that we get better.

Your team took a tour of the US Virgin Islands last summer and you led them in scoring during every single game: what was the best part of the trip? I think that the best part of the trip was just getting to make memories with my teammates. The summer is such a grind and no students or other athletes are on campus so we really only see each other and it can get repetitive. However, to be able to switch it up and go enjoy ourselves was very nice. It was also a perfect opportunity for us to get to know the new coaching staff. We were able to do a few more practices leading up to the trip, which is crucial since we are learning an entirely new system.

Your non-conference schedule includes road games at Missouri/Arkansas: which of these games do you feel will present your biggest test? I think they both will be huge tests. I do not know enough about them yet to be able to say which one will be tougher but at the end of the day they are both Power-5 SEC schools that have a history of being good. Anytime you are on the road the game is not going to be an easy one.

You are 1 of 2 seniors on the roster: how much pressure is there on you to be a leader this year? I truly do not feel like there is any pressure on me. I am taking the same approach and just doing whatever I can to help my team and make sure our new guys are prepared for the season ahead. I know that the guys trust me and value my input so I am going to continue to lead by example and be a consistent voice to help my teammates. I have been there before and have the ability to help our new guys adjust to the speed of the game at this level.

What are your goals for the upcoming season, and what are your expectations for the upcoming season? First and foremost, the most important goal is to repeat as champions (both regular season and conference tournament), then we want to take the next step and win once we get to the NCAA tournament. NKU has never won a game there and it would be amazing if we can get the job done. My personal goals include being 1st-team All-Conference.

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Season preview: HoopsHD interviews Memphis coach Penny Hardaway

Posted on September 30, 2019 by Jon Teitel

CLICK HERE for all of our extensive Preseason Content

We continue our season preview coverage with Memphis coach Penny Hardaway. The Tigers have finished with a winning record for 19 straight years and Coach Hardaway has them poised to make it 20 for 20 in 2020. After starting conference play with a 5-5 record last season the team won 6 of its final 8 regular season games and made the AAC tourney semifinals before a 3-PT loss to Houston. With the combination of an amazing coaching staff and arguably the best incoming freshman class in the country they are widely expected to make it back to the NCAA tourney for the 1st time since 2014. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Coach Hardaway about bringing in some fabulous freshmen and beating the Dream Team.

In 1990 you were named national high school POY at Treadwell High School: what made you choose Memphis for college? I fell in love with the 1985/86 team and felt that it was a place I would want to be with players like Keith Lee/William Bedford. They just became my favorite team.

In June of 1992 you were part of a USA Basketball Developmental Team of college stars (including Grant Hill/Allan Houston/Bobby Hurley/Jamal Mashburn/Chris Webber) who scrimmaged against the Dream Team: what are your memories of beating 1 of the greatest teams in the history of the sport? I remember them taking us lightly and we did not want to embarrass ourselves. The game started going our way and we never looked back.

In January of 1993 you had back-to-back triple-doubles in wins over Georgia State/Vanderbilt: how were you able to balance all of the different aspects of your game? It just came naturally to me: I was always an unselfish player who could get the ball to my teammates while also having a knack for scoring. I challenged myself to be dominant in those areas.

Take me through the 1995 NBA playoffs with Orlando:
In Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals you scored 21 PTS in a 6-PT win at Chicago: how on earth were you able to beat a team that won 6 titles that decade? It was a collective effort. Horace Grant shot about 80 FG% and Nick Anderson did a great job against Michael Jordan.

In the Finals you were swept by Houston: how dominant was 2-time Finals MVP Hakeem Olajuwon (who became 1 of the few players in NBA history to score at least 30 PTS in every game of a Finals series)? He was very dominant but he also had Robert Horry/Kenny Smith who were shooting the ball so well that we could not just focus on Hakeem.

You scored 17 PTS for team USA in a win over Yugoslavia in the gold medal game at the 1996 Olympics: what did it mean to you to represent your country/win a gold medal? It meant everything to me because team USA was the ultimate in basketball.

Your 1.6 career SPG remains top-75 in NBA history: what is the secret to playing great defense? I had long arms and used them. I loved to reach and use my length when my opponents got sloppy and I could force them to adjust. I also got smarter as I got older.

You have an amazing staff including assistant coaches Mike Miller (who remains top-25 in NBA history with 1590 career 3PM)/Tony Madlock (your former college teammate) and director of basketball operations Rodney Hamilton (the 1st Georgia State player to ever have his number retired): how crucial are they to your team’s success? Very crucial: we also got Cody Toppert from the Suns this year. The staff is my heartbeat and we complement each other very well.

You graduated your top-2 scorers from lost year in Jeremiah Martin/Kyvon Davenport but added a pair of McDonald’s All-Americans in Precious Achiuwa/James Wiseman: how are the new guys looking so far? They are very talented/athletic but also very young so they will be leaning on us a lot this year. I am very excited at the level that they can take their game to: obviously their best basketball is ahead of them but it is a blessing to have them on the team.

You also have a redshirt freshman on the roster named Jayden Hardaway: what is the best part of coaching your son, and what is the not-so-best part? The best part is the pride I have in him being here: our kids do not always follow in our footsteps. The toughest part is that I cannot give him any extra special treatment so I treat him the same as everyone else.

In your 1st year as head coach at your alma mater you won 22 games and made the NIT before losing to Creighton: what are your goals for the upcoming season, and what are your expectations for the upcoming season? My goal is for us to gain an identity and understand really early who we are going to be. I want to give them confidence in themselves since they are so young. I want to win the conference even though it will be some stiff competition and ultimately make a deep run in the NCAA tourney. We are young but I think that we have enough talent to win it all.

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Season preview: HoopsHD interviews new Georgia State coach Rob Lanier

Posted on September 29, 2019 by Jon Teitel

CLICK HERE for all of our extensive Preseason Content

We continue our season preview coverage with new Georgia State coach Rob Lanier. The past 6 years have been arguably the best in Panthers’ history: an NIT appearance in 2014, a CIT appearance in 2017, and 3 trips to the NCAA tourney since 2015. Former coach Ron Hunter was hired at Tulane last March and Coach Lanier was chosen to replace him a couple of weeks later. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Coach Lanier about starting a new job and having a great coaching staff.

In the 2002 NCAA tourney as head coach at Siena you beat Alcorn State before losing to eventual champion Maryland: what is your favorite memory from that postseason? It was a bit of a blur because we had to win 4 games in 4 days just to get in. I made a bet with my team that if we made it I would do a little dance at halfcourt. I hoped they had forgotten but they did not so I had a student manager go get my son so I could use him as a shield! I did my patented James Brown move and it was a fun time.

You later became an assistant to both Billy Donovan at Florida and Rick Barnes at Texas/Tennessee: what is the most important thing that you learned from either of these 2 great head coaches? After spending 10 years with Rick, 4 with Billy, as well as a few other years with a few other coaches, I just learned the importance of the grind/preparation. It was humbling to be around those guys because they kept working so hard. Every year is different so you have to constantly try to get better and grow.

You were hired as head coach of Georgia State in April: why did you take the job, and how is it going so far? It came out of nowhere. I was working for Rick at Tennessee and we lost to Purdue in Louisville in a heartbreaker. I was driving home with my family and licking my wounds when I got a call from Georgia State. I thought about saying no but felt that I owed it to both myself and my family to learn more about the place. I intended to say no…but after visiting the campus and meeting the administration I found a great level of commitment to the program and a vision for what would make it special for me. I was intrigued and by the time I got back into the car I called my wife and said that there was something special here. I knew that Atlanta was a great city but what mattered the most was the collective movement toward improving everything about the program. Football is definitely ascending here due to having the right leader in Shawn Elliott: it is no accident.

You lost each of your top-4 scorers from last year (Malik Benlevi/Devin Mitchell/D’Marcus Simonds/Jeff Thomas): how will you try to replace all of that offense? There is no plan because I never coached those guys so I am not replacing anything. I am just learning what our current group is capable of and we are trying to develop some leadership and help them rise to the standard that we have set for them. All I can do is coach the guys I have and I am enjoying the journey.

You have stated that player development will be at the core of your program: how do you develop your players on the court, and how do you develop them off the court? It is an everyday all-encompassing process that starts with the people you hire. We have 3 core values here: humility/respect/responsibility. It is not just a marketing tagline: it is really important to me to have young men who are humble or have the capacity to be humbled. Young men cannot get better if they think that they already have all the answers. Respect flows from a disposition of humility: you must apply a certain work ethic to everything you do and respect everyone on campus. Responsibility involves the tasks you must handle each day as well as taking accountability for your actions. I have some coaches who understand the game and can teach our guys the system while working on their individual skills. That is the basis for our team interactions and development will be a by-product.

1 of your returning players is SG Corey Allen, who sat out last year after transferring from Detroit where he was 2017 conference ROY: what kind of impact do you expect from him this season? He is a really hard worker who loves to compete so he has already established a level of consistency that I have embraced. Now it is just a matter of him applying his skill set to what we do. He is all about being a winning player.

You have some great assistant coaches including Jarvis Hayes/Cliff Warren: what do they bring to the table? I have known Cliff for a long time: we played against 1 another in college and I even made a shot in 1 game to beat him! Back in the day when we had fax machines I would fax the recap of that game to wherever he was working. He is the prototype for the kind of man I want our players to be around and is a head coach who happens to be 1 of our assistants. Chris Kreider has also been phenomenal: I first got to know him when he was recruiting my son so when this opportunity came up I thought about him due to his connections in Atlanta. He has made me look smart. I was a little more deliberate with how to fill the last spot but after communicating with Jarvis I was really taken by his message. The 1st 2 will be a great complement to Jarvis as he learns the profession. I feel like I have done something right here.

You have helped recruit 9 McDonald’s All-Americans during your career: what is the secret to being a great recruiter, and how will having a new arena (opening in 2021) help you out with that? The arena will definitely help. Recruiting is about building relationships: it takes time/effort and at the end of the day people have to trust you. There is no secret: you just have to work at it. You also have to be able to evaluate players with the clarity of how they will fit in both on and off the court. I have not always been right but I trust my evaluations of players, even if they are not McDonald’s All-Americans. You have to identify what is important to the coach, which is the process we are going through now. There is more to it then a player who can simply put the ball into the basket: we are developing a collective vision.

I know who the best athlete is in the family (your Hall of Fame cousin Bob), but are we going to see your/Bob’s alma mater (St. Bonaventure) on your schedule anytime soon?! I do not know. Scheduling is a tricky thing but any time you can get an A-10 team to play you that is great. If it makes sense in the future then we will explore it but it has to fit with what we want to do.

What are your goals for the upcoming season, and what are your expectations for the upcoming season? Right now we are trying to get these guys to work/compete at a certain level. My only goal is to achieve that: after that happens then we can start wondering what that will add up to but until then it is fruitless to figure out what you can achieve. We need to get in the condition it takes to compete, which involves mental toughness. The program has been so successful in the past that some players might just assume that it will continue, which would be a mistake.

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Season preview: HoopsHD interviews new Wofford coach Jay McAuley

Posted on September 28, 2019 by Jon Teitel

CLICK HERE for all of our extensive Preseason Content

We continue our season preview coverage with new Wofford coach Jay McAuley. There were only 8 teams in the entire country last year who lost 5 or fewer games and 1 of those 8 was Wofford. The Terriers lost to 4 high-major teams in non-conference play last November/December, then went 18-0 in SoCon play, won 3 games in 3 days to clinch a conference tourney title, and beat Seton Hall by 16 PTS in the NCAA tourney before a 6-PT loss to Kentucky to end 1 of the greatest seasons in school history. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Coach McAuley about starting a new job and celebrating his birthday.

You were co-captain as a senior at Georgia: what is the key to being a good leader? There has to be a sense of experience and you need a good blend of command with your voice while working hard and being consistent. You need the gift to motivate guys, which is what I tried to do despite not being a great player myself. I tried to lead by example and be all about the team, which has helped me since I became a coach. Everyone has mentors who help shape their path but my leadership skills started from an early age.

In the 2008 SEC tourney, your team won 4 games in 3 days (due to a tornado) to win the title despite going 4-12 in conference play and only having 8 healthy scholarship players: what are your memories of that wild weekend? It was something that was really special. Basketball is a great team sport so when things are clicking and you have momentum then you see the beauty of March. If you ask what changed I would say that I learned an important lesson: it is not about what you do but how you do the things that are necessary to win a game. We simplified the game and played really hard for each other. We were playing with house money after the tornado hit and the venue changed, which favored us. It was a pretty cool thing that we accomplished.

Last season your team won 30 games and went 18-0 in conference play: where does that season rank among the greatest in school history? It is certainly up there by statistical measurement: we were the only team in the nation to go undefeated in conference play (both regular season and conference tourney). You need good players to do that and we have surrounded ourselves with good people who sacrifice some things that our society right now is not used to doing. Our guys are really talented and believe in what we do. It was a fun ride and we can take a lot of good things to build on that. We are not satisfied with last year: we are a competitive program and have another level that we want to get to.

In the 2019 NCAA tourney you had a 16-PT win over Seton Hall and then a 6-PT loss to Kentucky: how close did you come to beating the Wildcats, and what did your team learn from that postseason run that will help them this year? Just being in the NCAA tourney was an incredible experience. We has such good momentum entering the tourney that there was a belief that we could go far. That final 4 minutes vs. Seton Hall where we were on fire and the fans going nuts was amazing. We were riding high and were super-close to beating Kentucky but were a little flat when we just needed to be ourselves. I take nothing away from the Wildcats: if you had told me that we would be right there at the end with a chance to win the game I would have taken that.

Last April your former boss Mike Young was hired as head coach at Virginia Tech: what makes him such a great coach, and are we going to see the Hokies on your schedule anytime soon? He is an awesome guy/incredible coach. People call him a “basketball genius” because he is a really good tactician but has a great feel for all of the components within a program. He allows others to showcase their skills/talents: he is not a dictator where it is all about him and I think he will continue that at Virginia Tech. I do not think that we will face them anytime soon but who knows.

You begin your 1st season as head coach this fall: why did you take the job, and how is it going so far? It has been great! I am lucky to have already been here and won multiple championships as an assistant. It has been a smooth transition because the players know me: it is not like I need to get the feel for a new situation. We feel that we can continue the winning tradition here and push the limits. It was a no-brainer for me and was a natural time for me to become a head coach and I think that I can do a pretty good job here.

You graduated your top-2 senior scorers from last season in Fletcher Magee/Cameron Jackson: how will you try to replace all of that offense/leadership? I tried to convince them to medically redshirt and hang onto them before they walked across the graduation stage but it did not work! We have developed 23 pro players over the past decade, which is an amazing stat. They left a work ethic that our younger guys have adopted and now it is time for the next group coming up. We have a lot of returning guards and just need our young big men to step up.

Your non-conference schedule includes games against Butler/Missouri/UNC/Duke: which of these games do you feel will present your biggest test? I was waiting for you to say that the Celtics/Lakers were on our schedule as well! We had the 6th-hardest non-conference schedule in the nation last year and it is getting harder to find teams who want to play us. Those games will help prepare us for both conference play as well as games that matter in March so that we do not blink against Seton Hall/Kentucky. We also play South Florida and will have our hands full but will prepare our best and expect to win.

You turned 36 last month: what did you do for the big day? I finished up 1 of our camps and went out to dinner with my daughter and then had a tea party at my house.

What are your goals for the upcoming season, and what are your expectations for the upcoming season? The expectation here is pretty simple: to win. I talk to our team about the daily process: as clichéd as it sounds we simply need to outwork our opponents in everything that we do. We put the work in to be confident: we do not listen to the outside noise and just try to be competitive.

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