Season preview: HoopsHD interviews Boise State G Alex Hobbs

Posted on September 20, 2018 by Jon Teitel

CLICK HERE for all of Jon Teitel’s Season Previews and Interviews

We continue our season preview coverage with Boise State G Alex Hobbs. The Broncos lost a ton of talent from last year (including NBA 1st-round draft pick Chandler Hutchison) but the cupboard is not totally bare thanks to their junior guard. He played in 26 games as a freshman, was named MWC 6th Man of the Year last spring, and is the best FT shooter on the team. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Alex about starting last season with and ending the year in the NIT.

Photo credit: Boise State Photo Services

You grew up in Texas: what made you choose Boise State? I always wanted to go to college out of state and Boise was 1 of my 1st offers so I felt that loyalty. My visit was great and I felt that it would be a great opportunity.

You play for Coach Leon Rice: what makes him such a good coach, and what is the most important thing that you have learned from him? He taught me that my mindset is just as important as my skill/talent. A lot of guys are talented but cannot bring it every day. I respect him so much for what he has built here: it is easy to play for him because even if you make a couple of mistakes he will have your back.

You played in 26 games as a freshman: how were you able to come in and contribute right from the start? That was part of the opportunity I mentioned earlier. I did not play very much at the beginning of the season but eventually I learned what it takes to play at this level. I worked hard and then flipped the switch toward the end of the year.

In last year’s season opener you scored a career-high 21 PTS/9-9 FG in a win over Eastern Oregon: what was it like to have a perfect shooting night? It was nice! I just credit my guys because I came out real aggressive and after I made my 1st couple of shots they kept getting me the ball for good looks.

In the 2018 NIT you scored 5 PTS and tied a career-high with 6 AST in a 3-PT loss at Washington: what did you learn from that game that will help you this year? I learned that a slow start can really kill you. We were able to come back from a couple of slow starts during the year but in March it is “go time”. We have to figure out ways to be better and start faster: we just have to learn why we started slow.

Last year you were named MWC 6th Man of the Year: what did it mean to you to receive such an outstanding honor, and are you going to stay in that role this year or become a starter? It meant a lot to me. I really took pride in coming off the bench, doing what I do as a playmaker, and providing a spark. I was truly honored to see my hard work pay off and see that everyone around the conference took note. We just started workouts so I am not sure what the future holds but we will just see where it goes.

You led the team with 87.8 FT%: what is the secret to making FTs? Just being dialed in. The more reps you get then the better you will be: step up to the line, get your feet set, and get locked in. Just zone everything out and you will have a good FT percentage.

You lost 3 of your top-4 scorers from last year (Chandler Hutchison/Christian Sengfelder/Lexus Williams): how will you try to replace all of that offense? We are missing a lot but other guys are ready to step up as they enter new roles. Being able to guard your opponent will keep you in a game and the guys have worked all summer to get better on defense while taking over that scoring role on offense. I also think that the better we get defensively, the better we will be as a team.

Your non-conference schedule includes 1 game against Creighton in November and 2(!) against Oregon in December: which of these games do you feel will present your biggest test? Those will be big battles for us for sure. The coaches fulfilled their promise of giving us a tough schedule: they will be good tests for our new guys to see where we are at.

What are your goals for the upcoming season, and what are your expectations for the upcoming season? There are different expectations coming into every year. As a competitor, every time you step onto the floor you try to win, so everyone in the conference is trying to win a championship. I just want to focus on getting better every day as we try to win the MWC.

Posted in Interviews | Tagged , | Comments Off on Season preview: HoopsHD interviews Boise State G Alex Hobbs

Season preview: HoopsHD interviews Texas A&M G Admon Gilder

Posted on September 19, 2018 by Jon Teitel

CLICK HERE for all of Jon Teitel’s Season Previews and Interviews

We continue our season preview coverage with Texas A&M G Admon Gilder. If history is any guide, being named Gatorade Texas Basketball Player of the Year is a solid rung on the ladder toward the NBA. Previous winners from just the past decade include De’Aaron Fox/Justise Winslow/Marcus Smart…and Gilder (the 2015 winner). As a freshman he played in the record-setting NCAA tourney come-from-way-behind 2-OT victory over Northern Iowa, as a sophomore he was #2 in the SEC with 34.6 minutes/game, and last year he led the Aggies in 3P%/FT%. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Admon about destroying North Carolina in the NCAA tourney last March and recovering from a knee injury last season.

You play for Coach Billy Kennedy at Texas A&M: what makes him such a good coach, and what is the most important thing that you have learned from him? He is 1 of those coaches who cares about each individual on his team/staff from the star player all the way down to the team manager. He has maintained his faith throughout his life and taught me to do so even during difficult times. On the court he is very encouraging and always stays in your ear.

In the 2016 NCAA tourney you scored 11 PTS in 38 minutes off the bench in a 4-PT 2-OT win over Northern Iowa: how on earth were you able to overcome a 12-PT deficit with 44 seconds left in regulation? We worked together as a team and had great senior leaders. Things just happened so quick. We were very talented and our freshmen combined with our seniors to make anything possible.

Take me through the 2018 postseason:
In the SEC tourney you had 15 PTS/3 STL but Collin Sexton drove the length of the court and hit a floater at the buzzer in a 1-PT win by Alabama: where does that rank among the most devastating losses of your career? I took that 1 to heart because I take pride in playing hard on the defensive end: I think that I could have done a little more to stop him. It is probably at the top of my list because of where we were trying to get to, but everything the following week worked out in our favor.

In the NCAA tourney you had a 21-PT win over #2-seed North Carolina before losing to eventual national runner-up Michigan: what did you learn from that tourney run that will help you this year? I learned not to get my hopes up. Everyone is in the NCAA tourney for a reason and we had gotten on our high horses after the North Carolina game. We were not completely prepared for the Michigan game so we just have to stay in the moment.

You started 0 games as a freshman but started 29 games during each of the past 2 seasons: what is the biggest difference between being a starter vs. coming off the bench? Just timing. Everyone is trying to rush when they get to college and thinks about starting/starting/starting but you just have to stay patient. I encourage our younger guys because the mentality is about making every minute meaningful: what is most important is not who starts the game but who finishes the game.

You missed 5 games last year with a knee injury: how is your health at the moment? I am getting better each and every day. It was a big summer for me both mentally/physically to learn what I can do. It is important to take care of your body both on and off the court and I am getting close to 100%. If I keep God in my life then everything else will be all right.

You have finished in the top-10 in the SEC in SPG during each of the past 2 years: what is the key to playing good defense? Taking pride in it! A lot of guys are just fixated on offense/offense/offense but when you can stop your opponent from scoring it can take a lot out of them. I make sure to practice it every time I work out and use my athleticism to keep my opponent in front of me.

You have a pair of great defensive forwards in Christian Mekowulu (2018 OVC DPOY at Tennessee State)/Josh Nebo (2017 NEC DPOY at St. Francis PA): how are the transfers blending in with the returning guys as you try to form a dominant defensive team? We are all connecting really well even though we have a lot of new guys this year. We are bonding more and more each day: those 2 guys are like me in that they also take pride at the defensive end. A lot of guys sleep on Josh’s ability to protect the rim but I feel confident in both of them. Savion Flagg is also important: he is a big guard who can defend smaller guards and help us play faster as we try to be the toughest team out there.

Your non-conference schedule includes games against Gonzaga/Boston College/Kansas State: which of these games do you feel will present your biggest test? Every game is my biggest test as a senior because this is my last go-round. However, the Gonzaga game is the day after my birthday so I will definitely have a circle around that 1.

You are 1 of 4 seniors on the roster: how crucial will all of that experience be to your team’s success (especially after losing so many great big men from last year’s team including Tyler Davis/DJ Hogg/Robert Williams)? It will be crucial: senior leaders make things easier for all the coaches because they can lead both vocally and by example. If a coach is not connecting well with a player then we can step in and show them the right way to fight together. You can always be a better leader to be the best teammate you can be.

What are your goals for the upcoming season, and what are your expectations for the upcoming season? People ask me that all the time but my only goal is to win as many games as possible and play for a national championship. I also want to be as healthy as possible because I know that I can help us win when I take care of my body and eliminate all the distractions.

Posted in Interviews | Tagged , | Comments Off on Season preview: HoopsHD interviews Texas A&M G Admon Gilder

Season preview: HoopsHD interviews St. Mary’s SG Tanner Krebs

Posted on September 18, 2018 by Jon Teitel

CLICK HERE for all of Jon Teitel’s Season Previews and Interviews

We continue our season preview coverage with St. Mary’s SG Tanner Krebs. 2 things that we know for certain: Germans like David Hasselhoff and Australian basketball players like St. Mary’s. Tanner is 1 of 5 Aussies on the current roster along with Jordan Hunter/Jock Perry/Kyle Clark/Alex Mudronja. Coach Randy Bennett even has a couple of New Zealanders and a 7’3″ center from England! HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Tanner about the Gaels’ popularity Down Under and being a great FT shooter.

You were born in Australia: how did you 1st get into basketball, and why does every single kid in Australia end up coming to St. Mary’s?! My dad played in the NBL (the top basketball league in Australia/New Zealand) so it has been in my blood ever since I was young but only recently has the sport really taken off there. The pipeline to St. Mary’s started early and the success of Patty Mills/Matthew Dellavedova has made all of us want to come play here.

You play for Coach Randy Bennett: what makes him such a good coach, and what is the most important thing that you have learned from him? We have such a well-balanced team thanks to him. Everyone touches the ball on every possession and we have great teamwork. He has taught me the importance of being a good leader both on and off the floor.

In the 2017 NCAA tourney you scored 12 PTS/3-5 3PM off the bench in a 9-PT loss to Arizona: how close did you come to pulling off the upset? We were winning for the majority of the game until Allonzo Trier/Lauri Markkanen made some big shots down the stretch. We were very disappointed to lose because we felt that we had the better team.

In the 2018 NIT quarterfinals you had 10 PTS/10 REB in a 9-PT OT loss to Utah: what did you learn from that game that will help you this year? I learned that I can step up and play against Pac-12 teams in a pressure game where it is win or go home. I felt that I had a solid performance, which gives me a lot of confidence going into this season.

You are a career 84.4% FT shooter: what is the secret to making FTs? My secret is just having the same routine every time, even in practice. When you shoot it the same way every day it becomes very simple over time.

Your non-conference schedule includes games against Cal/LSU/1 of ASU or Mississippi State: which of these games do you feel will present your biggest test? All of them will be very tough games but I am looking forward to the LSU game out East. They are a highly-rated team with some big-time recruits.

You lost 3 of your top-4 scorers from last year (Jock Landale/Calvin Hermanson/Emmett Naar): how will you try to replace all of that offense? They have been key guys for us during the past 3 years so they are huge losses, but the guys who have not had as much of a chance to play in the past are really excited because now it is our team. I do not think we will have a problem filling those spots.

1 of the new guys on the roster is Aaron Menzies (a 7’3” transfer from Seattle): how is he looking so far? He is looking really good. He is a big human being and is in shape. His game has become very versatile so he will play a huge role for us.

Your father Dan played pro basketball in Australia/Iceland: who is the best athlete in the family? Me, without a doubt! He would disagree though.

What are your goals for the upcoming season, and what are your expectations for the upcoming season? As a team we are trying to win our league/conference tourney, which will be a huge challenge, but we have the manpower to do it. There is no point in selling yourself short: we want to win a national championship.

Posted in Interviews | Tagged , | Comments Off on Season preview: HoopsHD interviews St. Mary’s SG Tanner Krebs

Season preview: HoopsHD interviews new Middle Tennessee head coach Nick McDevitt

Posted on September 17, 2018 by Jon Teitel

CLICK HERE for all of Jon Teitel’s Season Previews and Interviews

We continue our season preview coverage with new Middle Tennessee head coach Nick McDevitt. I do not know if it is harder to start a new job or have a new addition to your family but I assume that it cannot be easy to do them both simultaneously. Coach McDevitt had quite an eventful March: a 5-PT home loss to Liberty in the Big South tourney with UNC Asheville, a 2-OT road loss at USC in the NIT, the birth of his daughter Kathryn, and 1 day later the birth of his new career as head coach at Middle Tennessee. He has big shoes to fill after Kermit Davis won 332 games in 16 years in Murfreesboro before taking over at Mississippi last spring, but with 3 straight postseason appearances under his belt he will do his best to make it 4 in a row. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Coach McDevitt about his new job and his new team.

You were a player/assistant to Eddie Biedenbach at UNC Asheville: what made him such a good coach, and what was the most important thing that you ever learned from him? He was very good at understanding young people and was involved in college athletics for 4 decades. To adapt to the game, the rule changes, and how young people have changed over that stretch was great. He got his kids to play hard and I learned a lot from him.

In the 2016 NCAA tourney as head coach at Asheville you lost to Villanova: what is it like to face Coach Jay Wright in March? It is fun to watch him on film…but not quite as fun to face him in person because his teams are very well-schooled. They were 1 of the better passing teams that I have ever seen. They are talented and do things the right way thanks to his leadership. They run a great program and he does a phenomenal job.

In 2017 you were named conference COY: what did it mean to you to receive such an outstanding honor? It just speaks to the help that I had around me from both assistant coaches/players. Anybody who runs a team/business will only be successful if they have talented people around them. Everyone was all-in and it was great for all of us to get that recognition.

In the 2018 NIT Jonathan Baehre set a bunch of career-highs with 28 PTS/14 REB/5 BLK in a 5-PT/2-OT loss at USC: how much do you think Brad Brownell is going to enjoy his new Clemson transfer? Jon is a very talented young man: his best basketball is still in front of him as he is just scratching the surface of how good he can be. Coach Brownell is a good friend of mine and I know that he will get the most out of Jon.

Last March you were hired to be the new head coach at Middle Tennessee: how difficult was the decision to walk away from your alma mater after spending the past 2 decades there, and how is it going so far in Murfreesboro as you try to balance a new job with your new daughter? There were a lot of things that my family and I really enjoyed about Asheville. It is a great place to raise a family and has a great university so if we were to leave we needed to be running toward something since we had nothing to run from. When the new opportunity came about I was fortunate enough to get the job the day after our daughter was born. Being in a new state and coaching a new team with a new addition to our family is a lot, but we are very fortunate to be here and are loving it so far. At times you feel like you are drinking out of a firehose but things are good.

It took you 3 years to make the postseason with the Bulldogs, which you did during each of the past 3 years: what is the key to building a successful program in only a few years? You need to establish an identity of who you want to be day in and day out. You have to lean on your core values to guide your program whether things are going well or not (both on and off the court). We will not win every game so you have to manage the highs and lows. If my players are hurt or have to redshirt or struggle with a class that is not clicking for you, I tell them to remain grounded so they can handle being a young student-athlete. It does not happen overnight so it is key to establish what you care about early and then stay true to that.

The Blue Raiders lost each of their top-3 scorers from last year (Nick King/Giddy Potts/Brandon Walters): does that make your job that much harder or have you already found some new leaders for this season? Any time you lose 3 players of that caliber (including a 3rd-team All-American in Nick) that is a lot of production that you do not have going forward so we will just try to continue to build the program. Ed Simpson also did a lot for this program as a leader and they will all be difficult to replace. Everyone needs to step up as they take on new roles: we have 12 scholarship players and only 3 have ever played a game here. 7 are newcomers and 2 were redshirts so during the early part of the year we will be trying to figure out a rotation while the new players try to figure out what it takes to play at this level.

Last year’s team was top-20 in the nation by allowing only 31.4 3P%: how crucial is that going to be to your own defensive philosophy? Very much so. It was a key factor for them last year and I think we led the league in that stat as well as Asheville a few years ago. Many teams use the 3-PT shot as a weapon and not just with their guards: there are even some stretch-5s shooting from out there! You have to be able to defend the 3-PT line so it is important.

Your non-conference schedule includes games against Virginia/Vanderbilt/Mississippi: which of these games do you feel will present your biggest test? If you look at the preseason prognostications you have to say that Virginia will be a tall task. Anytime you play Tony Bennett’s group you know that you will have to be great because he has done a fantastic job there.

What are your goals for the upcoming season, and what are your expectations for the upcoming season? Our goal is no different than any other year: get the most out of what we are capable of doing. 3 things that we mention all the time are toughness/effort/attitude: we stress that we should try to control those things and just let everything else play out. We might play really well against Virginia in the Bahamas but still lose because they are a good team too!

Posted in Interviews | Tagged , | Comments Off on Season preview: HoopsHD interviews new Middle Tennessee head coach Nick McDevitt

Season preview: HoopsHD interviews Louisville G Asia Durr

Posted on September 15, 2018 by Jon Teitel

CLICK HERE for all of Jon Teitel’s Season Previews and Interviews

We continue our season preview coverage with Louisville G Asia Durr. Another year =  another award for the Cardinal superstar: 2015 McDonald’s All-American, 2016 ACC All-Freshman team, 2017 All-American, 2018 ACC POY. There are few better shooters in the country: her 115 3PM last year was best in the ACC and her 84.8 FT% was not too shabby either. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Asia about almost making the NCAA title game last spring and her close relationship with 1 of her team managers.

In the 2015 McDonald’s All-American Game you scored 14 PTS for the East in a 2-PT win over the West: which of your fellow honorees impressed you the most (Napheesa Collier/Arike Ogunbowale/Katie Lou Samuelson/other)? To be honest everybody stood out. It was such a great opportunity to get to know those girls even better. Some of us had played together for USA Basketball and now I get to face some of them again during college. We were just trying to soak it all up and have fun.

You grew up in Georgia: what made you choose Louisville? I 1st came here before my senior year of high school on my 1st official visit. It was just over the top: every piece just clicked for me and it was great to meet some of the best players in college basketball. They made me feel like it was home and they felt like part of my family. The fans here are just amazing: they are so committed/dedicated and the coaching staff was very straightforward/truthful.

In 2016 you averaged 11 PPG and were named to the ACC All-Freshman team: how were you able to make such a smooth transition from high school to college? My parents did a good job of helping me adjust to college. The schoolwork at my high school was very challenging and they pushed me to get my work done so that I could make time for basketball. I knew that if I wanted to play basketball in college then I would have to finish my schoolwork.

As a sophomore your 119 3PM was #2 in the nation, and as a junor you led the ACC with 44.5 3P%: what is the secret to making shots from behind the arc? Practice! If you put your mind to something then you can do anything. My dad and I would practice together in the gym ever since I was in junior high school: my trainer has also been a big help.

Last November you scored a school-record 47 PTS (2 more than Wes Unseld had in a game against Georgetown in 1967)/9-15 3PM in a 5-PT OT win at Ohio State: was it just 1 of those scenarios where every shot you put up seemed to go in because you were “in the zone”? I was very focused and that game was amazing. I wanted to win because we had never beaten a ranked team on TV so I was very excited. We were going up against my good friend Kelsey Mitchell and I knew that she would put on a good show. It came down to who was playing harder and could execute their game plan better. Kelsey missed some FTs toward the end but it was still a great game. I credit my teammates for finding me in good spots on the court.

In the 2018 Final 4 you scored 18 PTS in a 10-PT OT loss to Mississippi State: how close did you come to winning the game, and how unstoppable was 6’7” Teaira McCowan (21 PTS/Final 4-record 25 REB)? We were 1 possession away from making the title game. Their whole team was unbelievable but McCowan was a monster: even if we had a body on her and were boxing her out she still found a way to get the ball. She just did what she does all the time: that is what big-time players do.

You are a 2-time All-American and the 2018 ACC POY: what did it mean to you to receive such outstanding honors? It means a lot: anytime you win an award while doing something you love it makes you feel good. It shows that my hard work is paying off: you remember why you are getting up at 5AM to prepare and making so many sacrifices.

Your younger brother TJ is 1 of your team managers: what kind of relationship do you 2 have? We are very close: he is like my best friend. We are only 14 months apart so we have been side-by-side all the time: we always went to the same school  as kids so I am used to it…but I will never take it for granted. Some of my teammates never get to see their own brothers so I am very thankful for mine.

You have several relatives who served in the military: what impact has their service had on you (if any)? A lot. Anytime you have someone fighting for your country you realize all of the hard work that it takes. My aunt/grandfather are the 2 that stand out: I thank them all the time and it shows me that you can be brave even when things get shaky.

What are your goals for the upcoming season, and are we going to see you spending your 22nd birthday at the Final 4 in Tampa? That is my goal and the team’s goal. I came here to win a championship so I do not care how well I play this year: it is team-1st not me-1st. As a captain, the coach will look to put the ball in my hands when the game gets close and I am ready for whatever comes my way. We have been working/training hard and we are striving for a title.

Posted in Interviews | Tagged , | Comments Off on Season preview: HoopsHD interviews Louisville G Asia Durr

Season preview: HoopsHD interviews Penn coach Steve Donahue

Posted on September 14, 2018 by Jon Teitel

CLICK HERE for all of Jon Teitel’s Season Previews and Interviews

We continue our season preview coverage with Penn coach Steve Donahue. If you need someone to turn around your Ivy League program, Coach Donahue is your man. After Cornell had 3 straight losing seasons from 1998-2000, he took over and became the 1st Big Red coach to ever go to 3 straight NCAA tourneys (including the 2010 Sweet 16). After Penn had 3 straight losing seasons from 2013-2015, he took over and last year led the Quakers to 24 wins, an Ivy tourney title, and their 1st trip to the NCAA tourney in 11 years. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Coach Donahue about being named Ivy COY and trying to take down Kansas in Wichita.

You were captain of the basketball team at Ursinus: how good a player were you back in the day, and how did you 1st get into coaching? I was an average player even by D-3 standards. I fell in love with coaching early: going to Big 5 doubleheaders at the Palestra made me enamored of the whole circus. I thought that I would be a high school coach.

You spent the 1990s as an assistant to Fran Dunphy at Penn: what makes Dunphy such a great coach, and how did you enjoy the glory days of winning 48 straight conference games/being ranked in the coaches poll/beating Nebraska in the NCAA tourney? We coached 3 NBA players as well. At the time I probably did not appreciate it as much as I should have but I did realize how great a person Fran was. He treated everyone well and that has stuck with me. He allowed his assistants so much latitude to coach whatever we were good at: he was egoless and put the team before himself.

Take me through the magical 2010 NCAA tourney as coach at Cornell:
As a #12 seed you beat Temple by 13 PTS and Wisconsin by 18 PTS: how on earth did a good Ivy League team beat a pair of top-5 seeds by double-digits, and what was it like to face your old boss Dunphy in the postseason? We had the culmination of a perfect storm: a veteran team of 7 seniors who were prepared for the postseason by playing a very difficult non-conference schedule. We played 2 really good teams at a neutral site and were an incredible offensive team that could compete against high-majors. Playing Dunph was the worst part of it: he had 1 of his best teams ever and could have made a deep run but we had a loose attitude and things went our way.

In the Sweet 16 you lost to #1 seed Kentucky: how did you prepare to face a team with so much future NBA talent? I think that was 1 of the most talented college basketball teams in the past 20 years with future All-Stars like John Wall/DeMarcus Cousins. If we had played them on 1 day’s notice and somehow beaten them then I think we could have made it all the way to the Final 4.

In February 2014 Olivier Hanlan scored 20 PTS as your 6-19 BC team had a 3-PT OT upset of 25-0 Syracuse in the Carrier Dome: where does that rank among the highlights of your career? I think it was the 1st time a 25-0 team that was ranked #1 had ever lost a home game. It was a thrill for me even though we had just lost our school’s SID guy the previous week (Dick Kelley). We played with a patch on our jersey and it was 1 of the most emotional games I have ever coached.

After only winning 13 games in 2017 you went 24-9 in 2018 and were named conference COY: how were you been able to turn things around in just 1 year, and what did it mean to you to receive such an outstanding honor? It is always great when your peers vote for you: it means a lot to me because I have so much respect for all of those guys. It is a collaborative effort: excellent assistant coaches, great players, an administration that does everything you could ask for to help us compete. It had nothing to do with me being a special coach: this is a great place with an incredible history of success.

In the 2018 NCAA tourney as a #16-seed you led Kansas by double-digits in the 1st half before losing by 16 PTS: how big a deal was it for the Quakers to make the NCAA tourney for the 1st time in 11 years, and how much of a home-court advantage did the Jayhawks have in Wichita? Getting back to the tourney means a lot to a lot of people here. Fans do not realize that only a very few number of players across the country actually make it to the NCAA tourney. Kansas definitely had a home-court advantage but it made the experience that much more special: our shoot-around the day before was sold out! I think the NCAA should continue to give #1 seeds the chance to play in front of their home fans.

You return 4 of your 5 starters from the defending Ivy champs: how crucial will all of that experience be to your team’s success this year? It is critical to have a bunch of players back but it is not necessarily a formula for success. A lot of other teams last year in the Ivy League brought back a lot of their own players but we found a way to figure it out. You have to focus on the task at hand and realize that it is a new year.

Your non-conference schedule in December includes back-to-back games against Miami/Villanova: how do you prepare for what could be the toughest home schedule in Ivy League history? I have been in this league for almost 30 years: we can do a home-and-home series with great teams and it will be a daunting task but what an exciting time for our guys to play against talented teams. This is what our program is about: challenging ourselves. In November 1998 we played Kansas/Temple back-to-back to start the season when they were both in the top-10 (Penn beat the Owls by 3 PTS in OT), which is what it reminds me of.

The Ivy tourney moves from the Palestra to New Haven next March: any thoughts? I think it was a great success at the Palestra but the fair thing is to try and move it around to figure out what is best for the league. I am all for it but the fact that Yale has a small arena (Lee Amphitheater, which has room for 2,532 spectators) might make it even more special. It shows on TV great and if we can grow the league and get better players then it makes sense.

What are your goals for the upcoming season, and what are your expectations for the upcoming season? I do not talk about goals too much: I am actually kind of anti-goals. We want to be in the NCAA tourney but I try to control the controllables: how hard we play, how efficient we can be in everything we can do.  In March we just want to be the best possible team that we can be.

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