Season preview: HoopsHD interviews Kentucky SG Maci Morris

Posted on September 11, 2018 by Jon Teitel

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

We continue our season preview coverage with Kentucky SG Maci Morris. When you hear the phrase “Big Blue Nation” you probably think of John Calipari and a bunch of super-frosh…but Maci Morris might end up changing that. After starting all 33 games in 2016 and being named to the SEC All-Freshman Team, she led her team with 88.1 FT% as a sophomore, and was #2 in the nation last year with 47.5 3P%. Her 1209 career PTS is already #20 in school history and if she has a great senior season then she might just make the all-conference 1st team in 1 of the toughest leagues in the country. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Maci about becoming a Wildcat and being a great shooter.

You grew up in Kentucky, were named after former Kentucky player Kyle Macy, and wear his uniform number (4): have you ever had the chance to meet him, and was it inevitable that you would become a Wildcat? That is true. I have met him a couple of times: we usually talk about basketball whenever I see him. When you are born in Kentucky you are raised as either a Kentucky or Louisville fan and my household is UK. My dad was a big fan of Kyle’s so that is where they got the inspiration.

In 2016 you started all 33 games and were named to the SEC All-Freshman team: how were you able to come in and contribute right from the start? My parents/coaches really pushed me to work my hardest every day and just compete. I earned myself a spot in the starting lineup and tried to help the team in any way I could.

Last February you scored a career-high 35 PTS/5-9 3PM in a loss to South Carolina: was it just 1 of those scenarios where every shot you put up seemed to go in because you were “in the zone”? Kind of. I wanted to win every game and the best way I could help our team do that was to score. I was more open than usual in that game and I was getting a lot of good looks. It was a fun game even though we lost and their fans were very respectful toward me.

Last year you ranked #2 in the country with 47.5 3P%: what is the secret to making shots from behind the arc? Just practicing: getting into the gym and getting shots up. Your shot/form needs to be consistent and you need a good quick release: when people are chasing you around the court you cannot be hesitant.

You are a career 86.3 FT% shooter: what is the key to making FTs? I have had the same routine for as long as I can remember. My consistency helps me focus on my shot: I get in a rhythm and it makes it easier for me to shoot FTs.

The final women’s basketball rankings last year had 6 SEC teams in the top-25 (Mississippi State/South Carolina/Texas A&M/Tennessee/Georgia/Missouri): is it slowly changing from a football conference to a women’s basketball conference?! For sure! I think the SEC is the toughest league in almost every sport. Tennessee used to be the big powerhouse and now it is South Carolina/Mississippi State: it is a very competitive league.

You are 1 of 4 seniors on the roster: how crucial will all of that experience be to your team’s success this year? It will be very crucial: 1 of our coaches told me that Pat Summitt always said a team is only as good as its seniors. We have to set the tone for the younger players and give our best effort.

What was the best part of your team’s trip to Italy in August? The history/beauty of the country. The gelato was also amazing: I think I ate it every day I was there! It was an awesome experience.

It seems like everyone in your family played 1 or more sports in college: who is the best athlete in the family? I would say my dad: he was named Kentucky athlete of the year. He played baseball/basketball so to play 2 sports in college is pretty impressive to me.

What are your goals for the upcoming season, and what are your expectations for the upcoming season? I want to finish my senior year with a winning season, win an SEC title, and make a good run in the NCAA tourney.

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Season preview: HoopsHD interviews Tennessee PF Kyle Alexander

Posted on September 10, 2018 by Jon Teitel

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We continue our season preview coverage with Tennessee PF Kyle Alexander. It has been a pretty good summer for Canadian basketball players: Tristan Thompson made the NBA Finals for the 4th straight year with Cleveland, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was selected 11th overall by Charlotte in the 2018 NBA draft before being traded to the Clippers, and Steve Nash was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame last weekend. Ontario native Kyle Alexander hopes to keep the ball rolling this fall in Knoxville after coming THIS close to a Sweet 16 trip last March. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Kyle about growing up in the Great White North and being a great shot-blocker.

You grew up in Canada and did not play basketball until your junior year of high school: how did you 1st get into the sport, and how good was your classmate Jamal Murray back in the day? I did not start playing basketball until I was 16 years old. My dad came home 1 day while I was playing “Call of Duty”: he told me that I was tall/athletic and not using any of the gifts I got from God.  I ended up going to a skills academy and then got a scholarship to prep school. I went from only playing for 5 months to being on the same court as Jamal. He was unbelievable and made all of us wonder how he could do some of the things he did, which is why he is now on the Nuggets.

What made you choose Tennessee? I had only been playing basketball for a couple of years at the time and was choosing between New Mexico (who has a great film program) and Tennessee. The Vols were starting fresh with Coach Rick Barnes who had coached a couple of Canadian players in the past at Texas (such as Cory Joseph/Tristan Thompson), and I felt it gave me the best chance to become the best player I can be as I try to get to the next level.

You play for Coach Barnes: what makes him such a good coach, and what is the most important thing that you have learned from him? He coaches everyone the same way and has built a great culture here.  He has helped transform us into a good team: even if we have won 10 games in a row and are feeling great, he will remind us that it is still not the same as winning a national championship. He met with his former Texas player Kevin Durant and told us about KD’s incredible work ethic: he gets into the gym 2-3 times/day and really works hard for it.

In January of 2016 you tied a school single-game record with 6 BLK in a loss at TCU: what is the secret to blocking shots? That is 1 thing that always helped me out when I was starting: my offensive skill set was not there at the very start but my defense kept me out on the floor. That day was also the most minutes I have ever played in a game (31). I just have good timing and long arms.

In the 2018 NCAA tourney Clayton Custer scored 10 PTS including a jumper in the final seconds of 1-PT win by Loyola-Chicago: what did you learn from that game that will help you this year? Something that everyone learned from Loyola is that if you are disciplined and play hard then you can make a run to the Final 4. The other thing that happened was when #16-seed UMBC beat #1 Virginia: you just have to put in the work.

Your brutal non-conference schedule includes games against Georgia Tech/Louisville/Gonzaga/Wake Forest/West Virginia: which of these games do you feel will present your biggest test? I see every game as a test this year: last year we were picked 13th in the SEC so nobody respected us but now people will be looking at us as the team people want to beat to help boost their record. As the tallest guy on the roster every game is a test for me: every single game is important.

Last year you led the SEC in ORB%: what is the key to being a good offensive rebounder? I did not know that! Long arms and tenacity. Admiral Schofield is like my brother and we are really close: his brother O’Brien is in the NFL and wants to see us both succeed. He will send me texts every day about Tristan Thompson’s rebounding stats: if I want to be productive or get a double-double I need to find my own way on the offensive boards. That is my role so it is a conscious reminder.

You got your degree in Communications last May and are currently pursuing your master’s degree: how do you balance your work on the court with your work in the classroom? I wanted to get a film degree but all the film classes at Tennessee are from 1-3PM…which is the same time as our practices. That is the sacrifice I had to make. My goal was to graduate in 3 years: I decided to do an internship with a local film studio and learn how to use their editing software. When you love what you do it is easy to do it, but it was hard to love taking 6 classes in a semester.

Your father Joseph played basketball at Niagara and your sister Kayla graduated from Syracuse as the all-time leading scorer in school history: who is the best athlete in the family? I will say me but I get everything I have from my parents (my mom also played volleyball). I learned my work ethic from my sister: she is tall but all of her coaches/teammates who I have talked to say that it was her work ethic that helped her succeed.

What are your goals for the upcoming season, and what are your expectations for the upcoming season? I have never won any type of accolade so I really want to lead the SEC in BLK/ORB% this year and see our team go as far as we can. There were a lot of games last year where I did not do my part as an upperclassman so I want to be more consistent: I cannot take any plays off. I am focusing on that every single day both in practice and in the weight room.

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Season preview: HoopsHD interviews Old Dominion coach Nikki McCray-Penson

Posted on September 9, 2018 by Jon Teitel

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

We continue our season preview coverage with Old Dominion coach Nikki McCray-Penson. There are several successful women’s players who have gone on to become successful women’s coaches: just look at South Carolina’s 2017 NCAA championship coach Dawn Staley (who was 2-time national POY in 1991/1992 at Virginia). With Tina Thompson/Lindsay Whalen joining the coaching ranks at Virginia/Minnesota respectively, perhaps this will become a common occurrence. Coach McCray-Penson had a rough 1st season in Norfolk but if her playing career is any indication then the future is bright. She went to 4 straight Sweet 16s as a player at Tennessee, made 3 straight WNBA All-Star games, and won a pair of Olympic gold medals. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Coach McCray-Penson about winning gold medals and being inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame.

In the 1994 NCAA tourney as a player at Tennessee you had a 111-37 win over North Carolina A&T, which remains the largest margin of victory ever in an NCAA tourney game: did it reach a point where you were worried about running up the score? I do not remember that game but sometimes you just get into a groove. The NCAA tourney is a new season and you want to set the tone heading into your opening game. We played a certain way: every possession mattered and we tried to do things the right way.

In the 1995 NCAA tourney title game you had a 6-PT loss to an undefeated Connecticut team: how close did you come to ruining their perfect season in your final college game, and what was your reaction when the 2 schools announced last month that they will be renewing the rivalry in 2020 after discontinuing it in 2007? Every year we played 1 of the toughest non-conference schedules in the country to prepare us to win a national title. We were up at halftime and had a chance to win so I will always remember that game. I am happy the rivalry is re-starting: Pat Summitt/Geno Auriemma are so respected within our sport and have a rich tradition of winning.

You were a 2-time SEC POY/2-time All-American: what did it mean to you to receive such outstanding honors? I credit a lot to my teammates/coaches. Pretty much every year someone from our school was an All-American: when you compete against high-level teammates every day in practice you just have to try to separate yourself.

You were known for being a great defender: what was your secret? It is really about desire/decisions. I grew up with cousins who never thought that I was good enough to play with them so I always tried to prove myself.

In 1997 you were named American Basketball League MVP and after the league folded you became a 3-time WNBA All-Star: what is the biggest difference between college basketball and pro basketball? The pace is definitely different: everything is faster. Body types/mentality are also different. You have to work on your diet and be efficient at what you do.

As a member of team USA you won gold medals at the Olympics in 1996/2000: what did it mean to you to represent your country, and what did it mean to you to win a pair of gold medals? That is the ultimate sign of success and a beautiful thing that you dream of as a kid. It is not about you: it is about your country. Now as a coach I try to instill that in my young ladies: there are only a select few who get to wear that USA uniform.

You played for 1 Hall of Famer at Tennessee in Pat Summitt and worked for another Hall of Famer at South Carolina in Dawn Staley: what is the most important thing that you learned from either of them? Both of them have impacted the lives of their players and both have great coaching trees thanks to their former players. It is more than just about wins: it is about relationships and how you treat people. They were great at inspiring the people around them to be better.

In 2012 you were inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame: where does that rank among the highlights of your career? It is not something that you think about growing up but as you keep checking goals off your list you realize that it is an amazing blessing. I have had great coaches/teammates/family members/friends who helped me along the way, which is how I was able to achieve that.

Last year you became head coach of the Old Dominion Lady Monarchs: why did you take the job, and what was the best part of year #1? This is where I am supposed to be. This school is rich in tradition and has great people. After leaving a great place like South Carolina it was a no-brainer to come her due to the great fans: now it is about restoring the tradition.

What are your goals for the upcoming season, and what are your expectations for the upcoming season? We will continue to build on our culture. We brought in some more talent this year so we want some more wins: as long as we are dedicated to being champions on and off the floor I think that it will happen. We are getting more pieces so I am excited about building on last year’s run.

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Season preview: HoopsHD interviews TCU PG Alex Robinson

Posted on September 7, 2018 by Jon Teitel

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

We continue our season preview coverage with TCU PG Alex Robinson. When Jaylen Fisher suffered a right knee injury last January that knocked him out for the rest of the season, fans in Fort Worth were fearing the worst. Fortunately, Alex Robinson jumped right in with a 17-AST game in a win over Iowa State and continued to impress over the final 16 games: 11.8 PPG/7.3 APG/1.6 SPG/39.5 3P%. The Horned Frogs had 3 crushing losses to end the year (4-PT loss at Texas Tech in the regular season finale, 2-PT OT loss to Kansas State in the Big 12 tourney, and a 5-PT loss to Syracuse in the NCAA tourney), but they return a ton of talent this year to compete in the most competitive conference in the country. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Alex about winning an NIT title and being a senior leader this season.

You originally signed with Texas A&M and played 32 games as a freshman: why did you decide to transfer, and what made you choose TCU? I wanted to be closer to home after getting into a car accident.

You play for Coach Jamie Dixon: what makes him such a good coach, and what is the most important thing that you have learned from him? He is like a basketball guru: he knows what is going to happen even before it happens. He is right 99.9% of the time.

In the 2017 Big 12 tourney you had 13 PTS/7 REB/7 AST/5 STL in a 3-PT win over top-ranked Kansas: how were you able to pull off the upset? That was the turning point for our program. Everyone bought in and adapted to the winning culture.

In the 2017 NIT title game you had 10 PTS/11 AST/4 STL in a win over Georgia Tech: how were you able to play your best when it mattered the most, and what did it mean to you to win a title? Playing for a championship for the 1st time in school history in Madison Square Garden was like a dream come true.  We just had to make the most of the opportunity, and we did.

You led the Big 12 in AST in 2017 and last January you set a school record with 17 AST in a win over Iowa State: what is the key to being a good PG? Getting to know your teammates: where they like the ball, who has the hot hand, etc. You cannot try to do too much and you have to make sure that everyone is communicating.

In the 2018 NCAA tourney you had 8 AST in a 5-PT loss to Syracuse: what did you learn from that game that will help you this year? We did not talk as much as we usually do so I will make sure that I am consistent in my leadership this year and that we are all on the same page. I also need to pick and choose when to be aggressive.

You are 1 of only 2 seniors on the roster: how much pressure is there on you to be a leader this year? None at all: we are a big family so there is not any pressure. Everyone holds each other accountable so it is a good situation to be in.

Your non-conference schedule includes games against USC/Florida: which of these games do you feel will present your biggest test? Both of those teams are really good and will give us a different look as we prepare for Big 12 play. We will have to really prepare for both of them.

Your mother Darla played for the TCU women’s basketball team: who is the best athlete in the family? Probably her: it is great that I came here to wear her number (25) and see her smile. She has done a lot for me so it means the world to me.

What are your goals for the upcoming season, and what are your expectations for the upcoming season? My goals are to win the Big 12 regular season title, the Big 12 tourney championship, and then make a deep run in the NCAA tourney.

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Season preview: HoopsHD interviews Wright State G Mark Hughes

Posted on September 6, 2018 by Jon Teitel

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

We continue our season preview coverage with Wright State G Mark Hughes. The Raiders were 1 of the great success stories in college basketball last year: after losing 20 games back in 2015, they won a school-record 25 games last season and made the NCAA tourney for the 1st time since 2007. Loudon Love received most of the media love as the 2018 Horizon ROY, but it takes much more than freshmen to succeed. Mark Hughes has played 94 games in a Wright State uniform and after the graduation of leading scorer Grant Benzinger he will be expected to take on a much larger role as a senior. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Mark about becoming a great FT shooter and All-League defender.

You grew up in Ohio: what made you choose Wright State? It was between Wright State and my hometown school of Youngstown State. I wanted to get out and experience something new and when I came here to visit it was just a good fit. My family can travel to my games to watch me play, which was very important to me. I was recruited by Coach Billy Donlon but Coach Nagy is great too.

You play for Coach Scott Nagy: what makes him such a good coach, and what is the most important thing that you have learned from him? He expects a lot from you, which makes you want to work even harder. We play free and play with a lot of love for each other: we are all close. When you know that a coach cares for you, it makes playing for him that much easier.

You started 20 games as a freshman, 0 as a sophomore, then all 35 as a junior: what is the biggest difference between being a starter vs. coming off the bench? As a starter you are expected to contribute right away, but coming off the bench you can watch the flow of the game. There is more emphasis on your warm-up when you are a starter.

Last February you had 13 PTS/career-high 14 REB in a 4-PT win over Green Bay: how on earth were you able to get so so many REB as a 6’4” G? That night it was just like every ball was bouncing my way. I am a good athlete with good size so I just gave Big Lou (Loudon Love) some relief.

In the 2018 NCAA tourney you scored 2 PTS in a loss to Tennessee: what did you learn from that game that you think will help you this year? Just how important a good start is when you are facing a good team. There is little margin for error against SEC teams so going forward we will focus on starting every single game well.

Your FT shooting increased from 52.6% in 2017 to 83.1% in 2018: what is the secret to making FTs? Just a lot of practice reps and going through your game routine. I did not get to the line that much as a sophomore but they are free points so they are important. My work last summer obviously helped me a lot last year.

You made the All-League defensive team last year: what is the key to playing good defense? A lot of it comes from our scouting reports. Our assistant coaches do a great job of teaching us about our opponents’ tendencies: who is a driver, who is a shooter, etc.

Your non-conference schedule includes games against Penn State/Mississippi State: which of these games do you feel will present your biggest test? Penn State will probably be our biggest test. We played them 2 years ago and they are always a good team that has good talent.

You are 1 of 4 seniors on the roster: how crucial will all of that experience be to your team’s success this year? I think it will be very crucial from a leadership standpoint. Coach Nagy talks a lot about enjoying the moment because it is our last go-round as seniors.

What are your goals for the upcoming season, and what are your expectations for the upcoming season? Our goal is definitely to get back to the NCAA tourney and make some noise once we get there. I think we have the guys to do it so it will just come down to whether we want it badly enough. We will have a target on our back all year so we just have to come ready to play every night.

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Season preview: HoopsHD interviews Charleston PF Jarrell Brantley

Posted on September 5, 2018 by Jon Teitel

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

We continue our season preview coverage with Charleston PF Jarrell Brantley. Despite having only 3 seasons under his belt he already ranks in the top-25 in school history in career PTS/REB. He is no stranger to the Cougars, having been born in Charleston. He started all 31 games as a freshman en route to being named CAA ROY, and his FT%/PPG have gone up during each of his 1st 3 years on campus. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Jarrell about a near-perfect performance on New Year’s Eve and how close his team came to upsetting Auburn in the NCAA tourney last March.

You play for Coach Earl Grant at Charleston: what makes him such a good coach, and what is the most important thing that you have learned from him? He has been amazing: I have played for a lot of coaches in my life but he is the 1st 1 to allow me to use every tool in my game. What makes it easy to play for him is that he is willing to fight for us: he runs conditioning drills with us, stretches with us, and that makes us want to fight for him.

On New Year’s Eve 2015 you scored 29 PTS/13-14 FG in a 3-PT win at James Madison: was it just 1 of those situations where every shot you put up seemed to go in because you were “in the zone”? I felt good that night. Our leading scorer Marquise Pointer was having a really tough game but I was just starting to get the hang of the college game. Things started to click for me that night and it was fun.

You started all 31 games as a freshman and were named conference ROY: what did it mean to you to receive such an outstanding honor? It meant a lot and showed that hard work pays off. We had a lot of injuries that season but it gave me a chance to get on the court and help the team.

In the 2018 CAA tourney title game you had 18 PTS/11 REB in a 7-PT OT win over Northeastern: how much of a home-court advantage did you have while playing in North Charleston, and how were you able to overcome a 17-PT 2nd half deficit? The fans were unbelievable and completely helped us get back into the game. That game was a testament to everything that we had gone through since the 1st day I stepped onto campus. It was like a yearlong comeback in just 1 game if that makes sense: it showed how tough our team was.

In the 2018 NCAA tourney you scored 24 PTS/9-16 FG in a 4-PT loss to Auburn: how close did you come to pulling off the upset, and what did you learn from that game that you think will help you this year? We came really close. The biggest takeaway is that we are not far away from any team in the nation. We just have to make sure that we close out every game: we missed a few FTs, which cannot happen if we want to make a deeper tourney run.

You missed the 1st 10 games of last season due to a knee injury: how is your health doing at the moment? Honestly, I feel better than I ever have right now and am getting back into shape with conditioning drills. I feel really explosive so God willing I can stay healthy.

Your non-conference schedule includes games against Rhode Island/Oklahoma State/LSU: which of these games do you feel will present your biggest test? If we come in and do what we are supposed to then we should have a chance to win every game. I am just looking forward to competing at a high level against high-quality opponents.

Your FT% has increased during each of your 3 seasons (from 71.6 FT% to 75.8 FT% to 82.1 FT%): what is your secret for making FTs? Getting into the gym every day. We put our work in and finish our workouts by trying to make 20 straight FTs: I can usually make 18 of 20.

You are 1 of 5 seniors on the roster: how crucial will all of that experience be to your team’s success this year? I think it will play a big role: we have all played valuable minutes and won a lot of big games so we need to lead the younger guys.

What are your goals for the upcoming season, and what are your expectations for the upcoming season? The only goal right now is to continue to get better at winning. If so then everything else will fall into place and we should be able to win games and make a tourney run.

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