Season preview: HoopsHD interviews Fairfield head coach Sydney Johnson

Posted on October 25, 2018 by Jon Teitel

CLICK HERE for all of Hoops HD’s Preseason Coverage

We continue our season preview coverage with Fairfield head coach Sydney Johnson. You might think we live in an era where college basketball coaches only view their players as commodities worth paying top dollar for when recruiting them or interchangeable pieces to sub in and out based on who is in foul trouble. However, this image of Coach Johnson and the school’s all-time leading scorer Tyler Nelson from the MAAC tourney title game last March illustrates that there are still some coaches out there who build lasting relationships with their players. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Coach Johnson about the importance of that photo as well as his recruiting philosophy.

You played for Hall of Fame coach Pete Carril at Princeton: what makes him such a great coach, and what is the most important thing that you ever learned from him? The exceptional thing about Coach Carril is that he sees everything both good/bad, which meant that everything mattered. We paid attention to detail and it taught me how to see more of the game (schemes/spacing/etc.). I also learned about togetherness because he pushed us extremely hard to be a great unit.

In the 1996 NCAA tourney you scored a team-high 11 PTS in a 2-PT upset of defending champ UCLA: did you think that the backdoor pass for the game-winning layup in the final seconds by Gabe Lewullis was going to work, and is it true that after the final buzzer Carril mumbled under his breath, “I can’t believe they f—ing did it”? I can confirm that teammates/assistant coaches of mine who were within earshot stated he said that. My dad went to IU so as soon as the buzzer went off I ran to find him in the crowd. UCLA is 1 of the greatest basketball programs of all time but we were a good team as well. We believed in ourselves and were used to Coach drawing up a play during a timeout and then we would go out and make it happen. We broke the huddle and had our winning habits in mind: it all came together.

In 1997 you were named Ivy POY: what did it mean to you to receive such an outstanding honor? A very close friend of mine once said that I have an ego but not a big ego. I am proud of the award because I put my heart/soul into playing for my coaches and loved my teammates like brothers. The place changed my life and I tried to work hard: nobody owed my anything but it was still really nice to be acknowledged. I am a team guy and appreciated the honor from the rival coaches: I cared deeply about doing the right thing. I still care about it…but do not lead with it in my bio!

You remain the only 3-time captain in school history and still hold the school record for career STL: what is the key to being a good leader and what is the key to being a good defender? I think that the key to being a good leader is listening. It sounds weird but you need to hear what is needed and then be willing to give that. I arrived as 1 of the better freshmen in the league…but then slid over to SG after they recruited Mitch Henderson. The next year we got Brian Earl…and I slid over to the 3rd guard on the court. That is what the team needed because those other 2 guys were really good. To defend you need to be tenacious and study what your opponents do. I also had really good coaching from guys like Armond Hill/JT III who taught me some tricks of the trade. You also need some nastiness to you.

In the 2007 NCAA tourney you made the Final 4 as an assistant to John Thompson III at Georgetown after Jeff Green banked in a jumper with 2.5 seconds left to beat Vanderbilt and your team overcame an 11-PT deficit in the 2nd half to beat North Carolina in OT: what is your favorite memory from that postseason? It was some of the best coaching that I have ever been around. When Coach huddled us together heading into OT against UNC he was just nodding/smiling and told the guys that we would get it done. It was not a Hollywood moment but rather a sincere connection between the staff and players. In the 2nd round we trailed BC at halftime but just found a way to come back in the 2nd half (and win by 7 PTS). We ran into some pro-level players at Ohio State in the Final 4 (including Greg Oden/Mike Conley) but we were good because we were so in sync.

In the 2011 NCAA tourney as head coach at your alma mater, Brandon Knight made a driving layup with 2 seconds left (his only points of the game) in a 2-PT win by Kentucky: where does that rank among the most devastating losses of your career? I am pivoting to my right and looking at a framed photo of that team on my desk, next to photos of me hugging Tyler Nelson as well as some photos of my family. We loved each other, worked really hard, and executed the game plan against Kentucky the entire game. We were right where we wanted to be but just had a breakdown at the very end. However, it will never ever take away the moments that we had that season.

Your roster includes players from Puerto Rico/Sweden/Lithuania/Congo/Serbia/Tunisia/Egypt: what sort of recruiting philosophy do you have? We want Princeton-offense-skilled players with a high level of competitiveness/intensity. Over the past 2-3 years a number of kids who checked those boxes happened to be international kids. Of our current freshman class, 3 of them are from the US and 1 is from Sweden so it just goes in cycles. Passing/dribbling/shooting/playing really freaking hard is common overseas, whereas 6’8” players in the US who look like LeBron James often get placed under the basket.

Your non-conference schedule includes games against Purdue/Boston College: which of these games do you feel will present your biggest test? Purdue is a monster test because they stomped us last year (106-64 in West Lafayette). We had 8 newcomers last year so we had a lot to figure out but it was a good lesson for us. I am really interested/excited to see our approach to that environment to see how we comport ourselves. BC is obviously a signature game: we were fortunate to beat them the last time we played them and I am sure they have not forgotten that. Both games will tell me a lot about my team and how they respond to challenges…but the most important thing is how we perform in our league.

Your father played basketball at Indiana and your brother Steve played basketball at Cal: who is the best athlete in the family? I am the youngest so I am on shaky ground if I take any sides! My dad was a phenomenal athlete: he was a high jump state champion and 1 of the better basketball players in the state by his junior year. Last year he was honored as a past All-State player: he combined his athleticism with high aptitude in the classroom.

What are your goals for the upcoming season, and what are your expectations for the upcoming season? The goals are to be the MAAC representative in the NCAA tourney. We have come so close during the past couple of years but I like the strategy we have taken in the program. We have kids who are hungry/aggressive to get it done. It is hard in a 1-bid league but we are not running from that. Last year was my most special year at Fairfield and it reminded me of my Princeton/Georgetown teams. If I can have more seasons like that where the guys change my life, I will be the happiest coach in America!

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Season preview: HoopsHD interviews Nevada preseason All-American F Caleb Martin

Posted on October 24, 2018 by Jon Teitel

CLICK HERE for all of Hoops HD’s Preseason Coverage

We continue our season preview coverage with Nevada preseason All-American F Caleb Martin. Yesterday the AP announced its preseason All-American team: 5 guys from power conferences (Carson Edwards/Purdue, Luke Maye/North Carolina, RJ Barrett/Duke, Dedric Lawson/Kansas, Ethan Happ/Wisconsin)…and the 1st Nevada player to ever be named a preseason AP All-American. This just makes his resume more impressive, if that is even possible after an incredible junior season: MWC Player of the Year, Sweet 16 appearance, 18.9 PPG, 40.3 3P%. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Caleb about his twin brother Cody and why they decided to return to school instead of stay in the draft.

In the 2015 NCAA tourney as a freshman at NC State you scored 4 PTS while your team held #1-seed Villanova to 31.1 FG% to pull off the 3-PT upset: how were you able to do something that very few teams have done recently (beat the Wildcats in March)? The main thing that stood out to me was our chemistry: everyone knew their roles. I was an energy guy who tried to rebound/play defense.

After your sophomore season you and your twin brother Cody decided to transfer to Nevada: what makes Eric Musselman such a good coach, and what is the most important thing that you have learned from him? He is so straightforward with everybody and does not sugar-coat anything. He tells you from your 1st official visit what you can expect and exactly what your role will be. I learned how to be blatantly honest: he has made me a tough-minded player.

In the 2018 Sweet 16 you had 21 PTS/5-11 3PM/3 BLK but Marques Townes made a 3-PT shot with 6.3 seconds left in a 1-PT win by Loyola Chicago: what did you learn from that game that will help you this year? That was the 1st time in the tourney that we started off hot so we might have become a bit complacent. You need to keep your foot on the pedal, especially when you are facing a team with a chip on their shoulder. We just ran out of gas and need to act like the score was 0-0.

Last year you led the MWC with 680 PTS and were named conference POY: what is the secret to being a great scorer, and what did it mean to you to receive such an outstanding honor? I just try to move on to the next play if I miss an easy shot. A lot of my confidence comes from my coaches/teammates: they help me execute the plays when it is time to get a bucket. Getting POY was not a specific goal: I just wanted to play well and help get the school back on the map. It was such an honor because there are a lot of great players in this conference.

Your family kept winning awards when Cody was named conference DPOY: what makes him a good teammate, and what makes him a good brother? His unselfishness: he is the size of a PF but plays like a pass-first PG who loves to set everyone up to get their own baskets. It allows me to be more offensive-minded even though I know that he can score. He takes so much pride on defense and knows how to get guys into the right spots in a timely manner. All of that stuff translates to our relationship off the court as well: he looks after my best interests and will give me a different type of perspective. He does not just tell me what I want to hear.

You and your brother declared for the NBA Draft last spring: how did the Draft Combine go, and why did you 2 decide to return to school? The Combine was a good experience: it was fun to play in front of people like that. However, it did not go as well as planned: there are a lot of factors as to how well you can play. I do not think that we could have made a bad decision either way, but it helps to come back to a top-10 team and know that I will get better. The plan this year is to get past the Sweet 16.

You both turned 23 last month: what did you do for the big day? I was just chilling with my brother and hung out with 1 of my boys who came to visit. It was the day after our pro day, which led to a great birthday. We do not do all that wild stuff: just relaxed.

1 of your incoming freshmen is 6’10” McDonald’s All-American Jordan Brown: how is he looking so far? He has a really good feel for the game and plays beyond his age. His touch around the rim is great and he has good hands/footwork. He looks like a McDonald’s All-American and will be fun to play with. He is still working on some little things but he has a majority of it covered because he is such a smart player.

Your non-conference schedule includes games against USC/ASU/Utah: when did your school join the Pac-12, and which of these games do you feel will present your biggest test? I have not done too much research on those teams yet but Utah is always a tough place to play at. We have a really good schedule lined up because our coach has a lot of confidence in us and the schedule will prepare us to get to the postseason. We need to see what kind of team we really are.

What are your goals for the upcoming season, and what are your expectations for the upcoming season? Everyone’s goal is to make it to the NCAA tourney and win a national title…but it is so hard just to make the tourney. My goals change throughout the season: right now I want to have the best record in non-conference play, but later on my goal will be to win the MWC tourney and make it to the Final 4. We have really high expectations because we know what kind of talent we have. Last year was great but it is over.

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The Hoops HD Report: SEC Conference Preview

Posted on October 24, 2018 by David Griggs

CLICK HERE for all of Hoops HD’s Preseason Coverage

For several years it appeared that the SEC was Kentucky, one or two other tournament teams, and then a bunch of NIT teams.  After putting eight teams in the NCAA Tournament last year that is no longer the case.  The league looks to be as good, or possibly better, than it was a year ago.  Kentucky is a national title contender, and Tennessee and Auburn are both high in the rankings and look to be good enough to compete for protected seeds.  Mississippi State is another team that looks to be much improved, and we expect Florida to be tough as well.  Missouri has been bit hard by the injury bug for the second year in a row, but still has a pretty good team.  Vandy has a really good recruiting class, and even teams that appear to be at the bottom of the league like Ole Miss have reasons to be optimistic.  Watch and/or listen as Chad and the panel run through the entire league.

 

And for all you radio lovers, below is an audio only version of our show…

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Season preview: HoopsHD interviews Cleveland State head coach Dennis Felton

Posted on October 23, 2018 by Jon Teitel

CLICK HERE for all of Hoops HD’s Preseason Coverage

We continue our season preview coverage with Cleveland State head coach Dennis Felton. I wonder if the NCAA welcomed Cal Baptist and North Alabama to D-1 this year because they were running out of schools that Coach Felton does not have a connection to: he has been a player at Howard, assistant at Delaware/Tulane/St. Joseph’s/Providence/Clemson/Tulsa, and head coach at Western Kentucky/Georgia/Cleveland State. His 1st year in Cleveland was not a winning 1 but after reflecting on his 6 postseason appearances in an 8-year span from 2001-2008 I do not expect it will take very long for him to turn things around. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Coach Felton about the unforgettable 2008 SEC tourney and the time he spent working with Steve Kerr/Gregg Popovich.

You were born in Tokyo and lived all over the world: how did you 1st get into basketball? When I was living in Germany at age 10 I saw a flyer on a bulletin board encouraging kids to sign up for a basketball league and I told my dad that I wanted to sign up. I was terrible that 1st year but fell in love with the sport.

You made the MEAC All-Academic team at Howard: how much importance do you place on academics? It comes naturally for me because my parents would not have it any other way. Education was a non-negotiable part of our lives so we just did our best and planned to go to college. I was far from a brilliant student but those simple values paid off: go to class, do your work on time, and take pride in doing your best. I enjoyed history classes and majored in radio/TV/film production.

In the 1997 NCAA tourney as an assistant to Rick Barnes at Clemson, you had a 6-PT 2-OT loss to #1-seed Minnesota despite overcoming a 15-PT 1st half deficit: where does that rank among the most devastating losses of your career? That year was memorable for me because we started with an epic OT win on the national stage over Kentucky at the RCA Dome and then ended our season with an incredible game against Minnesota. Both teams felt quite confident that they would reach the Final 4 because the most likely Elite 8 matchup was going to be UCLA. We were tough mentally/physically and had great momentum going into the Sweet 16, which made it that much more devastating. Coach Haskins was a good friend of mine and always complained to us that we cost him the national title because Harold Jamison set a legal screen on Eric Harris and dislocated his shoulder. He was the heart/soul of that team as the PG.

In the 2008 SEC tourney as head coach at Georgia, you 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? We staggered into the end of the season with a 14-PT home loss to Mississippi, who turned out to be our 1st round opponent in the conference tourney. We knew exactly why we lost so it really allowed us to focus on how to win that 1st game, which is the key for any postseason run. As quickly as we got some momentum, the tornado hit and threw the tourney into utter disarray. I remember fighting for our lives with the SEC to keep it going: it was obvious that our only chance to make the NCAA tourney was to win the SEC tourney and we did not deserve to lose that opportunity. We were in the Georgia Dome literally from 7PM until 1:30AM, which is when we finally realized the devastation from the storm in downtown Atlanta. Around 2:30AM we were told that the plan was to play at noon, with the winner playing again a few hours later against a totally-fresh opponent. We had some concerns but talked about getting refocused on our next game: we refused to be distracted from our goal and let our bodies do what they were capable of doing without taking a single possession off. We got off to great starts and played with a lead for most of the tourney. 2 of our games went into OT and we had to finish them without our best player (Sundiata Gaines) so we were even more short-handed than usual. I have won 7 championships in my career but none more unlikely than that 1.

You spent a few years in the NBA: what did you learn from working with great basketball minds like Steve Kerr/Gregg Popovich? I wanted to work in the NBA for a variety of reasons and was fortunate to work for the Spurs because I identified with what they were about. Kerr is a Spur at heart after winning a few titles with them: 1 of the biggest lessons I took from him was how to be a great teammate and share the experience with your fellow players. We worked hard but also worked smart and at the end of the day it all comes down to relationships: you need to have faith/trust in each other. It was good to get that confirmation of my own values at the highest level of the game. You need talent but you do not need to be the most talented if you have the best team. Steve gets buy-in from all his players.

Last year was your 1st season as head coach at Cleveland State: what was the best part, and what was the not-best part? It was pretty much all good. We knew that we would be building from scratch for 2 years in a row since last year’s team was so senior-dominant but most of the guys were all-in to take advantage of opportunities they had not previously had at the college level. We were losing some tough games where we came up just a little short but they kept believing in what we were teaching/preaching. They kept coming back to the gym for more and were excited for the chance to get better, which is what we did most weeks. We learned how to win close games during the latter part of the season and made a fun run in the Horizon tourney (3 straight single-digit wins before losing to Wright State). I was really happy for those seniors who had enough dedication to stay with it and turn the corner.

You lost 4 of your top-6 scorers from last year (Kenny Carpenter/Bobby Word/Anthony Wright/Jamarcus Hairston): how will you try to replace all of that offense? We will actually be more talented this year: recruiting went very well as we brought in some good players who will fit into our program. We have a lot more answers for putting the ball in the basket now but the major challenge will be that we might be the least experienced team in the nation. We only have 2 significant returning players so we are trying to learn/mature as rapidly as we possibly can.

Last year your team set school records with 294 3PM/863 3PA: how crucial is the 3-PT shot to your offensive philosophy? We play position-less basketball and play with space/pace. We have a team full of versatile guys who can play anywhere on the court. We play a style that includes significant use of the 3-PT line. We play spread pick and roll with a lot of flow and an open rim so you need players who are empowered to shoot. We expect to make major use of the 3-PT line even though we were not a great 3-PT shooting team last year. Hopefully we will have better shooting talent this year and become more efficient.

Your non-conference schedule includes games against Ohio State/DePaul: which of these games do you feel will present your biggest test? With this team we will be pushed to our limits every single night starting right out of the gate. Hopefully we will be able to figure out a way but I do not know how many coaches would enjoy starting the season at Davidson. Their offense is so intricate so we will find out really fast that they are at a different level when they put us into the blender!

What are your goals for the upcoming season, and what are your expectations for the upcoming season? This year will be predictable in some ways but unpredictable in others. I do not know how quickly the young guys will put it together but as the year plays out we will be 1 of the most improved teams in the country from the start of the year to the end of the year. We just need to keep growing week by week.

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The Hoops HD Report: Pac 12 Preview

Posted on October 23, 2018 by David Griggs

CLICK HERE for all of Hoops HD’s Preseason Coverage

Last year was a rather disappointing year for the Pac 12 with just three teams making the NCAA Tournament, and only one making the Round of 64.  We do expect the league to be better this year (although I know that isn’t the highest of bars to set) and really like both Washington and Oregon.  There was no consensus as to who the preseason favorite was.  UCLA and USC should be strong as well and Colorado could end up being somewhat of a surprise team.  We also discuss whether this could be Ernie Kent’s last year at Washington State, whether or not Cal will improve, how Stanford could be in for a rough year with such a young roster, the obstacles and challenges facing both Arizona and Arizona State, and whether or not Oregon State can try and get things turned around.  All that, and more…

 

And for all you radio lovers, below is an audio only version of the show…

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Conference Preview: West Coast

Posted on October 22, 2018 by Chad

CLICK HERE for all of Hoops HD’s Preseason Coverage

There was a time that some of us can still remember when Gonzaga was just this funny-named school out in Washington State whose scores would occasionally flash across the bottom of the screen.  The only funny thing now is that there is an entire generation of fans and players that have never seen a Selection Sunday which did not include the announcement of the name “Gonzaga”.  The Zags have played in 20 consecutive NCAA Tournaments and won at least one game in the Big Dance for each of the last 10.  Mark Few’s team has made at least the Sweet 16 for the past four seasons, and of course made it all the way to the 2017 national championship game.  So, when will the Zags finally step back down to the level of their West Coast Conference brethren?  Not this year!  On paper, Gonzaga has a team that may actually be better than the one from two years ago and picking them as a preseason Final Four team almost feels like a given.

Beyond Gonzaga is where the WCC runs into problems.  After Saint Mary’s missed the field last year, despite 28 regular season wins, the league needs to find a way to put together better resumes and better teams.  The recent influx of name head coaches should continue to help.  The league now has Damon Stoudamire, Terry Porter, Herb Sendek, and this year’s newest addition (or you could say return) – Lorenzo Romar at Pepperdine.  At the end of the day, BYU and Saint Mary’s should again be among the best teams not named Gonzaga, but keep an eye on San Diego as a team ready to make a big leap up into the upper echelon of the standings.  However, unless the Zags get upset in the WCC Tournament, this is also likely once again a single-bid conference.

Predicted Order of Finish

  1. Gonzaga – The Zags should be a decent team this season, and by decent we mean serious national championship contender. There simply are no holes in the lineup.  In the frontcourt, the team has top returnees Rui Hachimura and Killian Tillie along with San Jose State transfer Brandon Clarke, who should easily fill in for the departed Johnathan Williams.  In the backcourt, Josh Perkins will run the point again and Zach Norvell should light up the scoreboard.  Maybe backcourt depth is the weakness?  Not with former North Dakota star Geno Crandall coming in as a graduate transfer.  As long as Clarke and Crandall gel with the returning cast, and of course everyone stays healthy, there is easily enough talent here for a trip to Minneapolis.  Heck, there is enough talent here to cut the nets down in Minneapolis.
  2. San Diego – Picking a team not named BYU or St. Mary’s this high may be considered heresy by some, but the Toreros return most of the key pieces from a 20-win team, including the inside-outside combo of the Isaiah’s – Isaiah Pineiro and Isaiah Wright. Add in the three-point shooting touch of Olin Carter III and this just may be the year for USD.  The biggest obstacle for the team to overcome is dealing with a new head coach, as former assistant Sam Scholl takes over – though he did lead them to the third round of the CIT last year after Lamont Smith was suspended and eventually resigned due to a domestic abuse allegation.
  3. BYU – The Cougars would likely be on most people’s lists of NCAA Tournament caliber teams if Elijah Bryant had not decided to turn pro a year early. Without his 18.2 points per game, it is tough to see where the outside scoring will come from (TJ Haws runs the point more than he scores and Nick Emery must sit out the first nine games).  Inside, however, this team is just fine with double-double threat (and possible conference Player of the Year) Yoeli Childs.  Childs could end up averaging 20+ points and 10+ rebounds per game this season.
  4. St. Mary’s – 28 wins was not enough to get an at-large bid last season, due entirely to way too weak of a non-conference schedule. With the WCC regular season cut to only 16 games, and a few more challenges on their slate, SOS should not be as big of an issue.  Making up for the graduation losses of Jock Landale, Calvin Hermanson and Emmett Naar, however, will be a problem.  One player to keep an eye on will be Seattle transfer Aaron Menzies, a double-double threat down low who is among the best shot blockers in the entire nation.
  5. Pacific – Head coach Damon Stoudamire improved the Tigers from 4 conference wins in his first season to 9-9 last year. There is no reason why things will not keep heading in the right direction, especially with Jahlil Tripp and Roberto Gallinat back to lead the way.  Tripp is a triple-double (or is that tripple-double?) threat with his ability to pick up rebounds and assists, while Gallinat scored 41 points in a game against San Francisco late last season.  Also keep an eye on North Dakota State transfer Khy Kabellis, a double-digit scorer two years ago for the Bison.
  6. San Francisco – The Dons won 22 games and advanced all the way to the CBI finals in head coach Kyle Smith’s second year at the helm. To match that level of success this season they will need to replace a pair of double-digit scorers.  Guard Frankie Ferrari (11.4 points per game last season) and the return of Charles Minlend, who missed last season with a torn labrum, should help keep them competitive at least.
  7. Loyola Marymount – The Lions only had two problems last season – offense and defense. At 71.8 points scored per game, they ranked 234th in D1.  At 76.4 points allowed, they ranked 278th.  Those numbers have to improve, and luckily the players to make them better may be here.  James Batemon can score and dish (17.8 points and 4.6 assists per game last year), former Northwestern State guard Jordan Bell should be a threat from deep, and both Eli Scott and 7-4 Mattias Markusson are double-double threats down low.  Head coach Mike Dunlap may be on the hot seat entering this season, but the pieces are here for an improvement.
  8. Portland – The Pilots enter the third year of the Terry Porter era and may finally have the pieces to begin the slow climb out of the conference cellar. A pair of double-digit scoring guards (Marcus Shaver Jr and Josh McSwiggan) return, and the new recruits will finally add some size to the roster.  Keep an eye on 6-10 Theo Akwuba who averaged over 10 blocks per game in high school and 7-0 Jacob Tryon, a big with a solid three-point shot.
  9. Santa Clara – KJ Feagin averaged over 17 points per game last season and could improve on that number with the Broncos having a lot of holes to fill on the roster of a team that had 20 losses last season. The key will be transfers, most notably Tahj Eaddy from Southeast Missouri State who will look to step into the point guard role after having a 2-to-1 assist to turnover ratio at his former school.
  10. Pepperdine – In 1996, Lorenzo Romar took over the Pepperdine head coaching job from then-interim head coach Marty Wilson. 22 years later and Romar is back, replacing the head man for the past seven years, Marty Wilson.  Romar has the ability to recruit some huge talent, so don’t be surprised to see this program get better fairly quickly.  The team this year does return some pieces as well, including sophomore scorer Colbey Ross (over 14 points per game) along with Kameron Edwards and Eric Cooper (who both dealt with injuries last season).  At the end of the day, it is a transition year and Romar’s recruiting has never matched his in-game results, so don’t expect any huge improvement on last year’s 2-16 WCC record.
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