Season preview: Utah SR SF Jordan Loveridge

Posted on September 26, 2015 by Jon Teitel

For all of Jon’s other Season Preview Interviews – CLICK HERE

Over the past decade BYU has established a virtual pipeline by bringing in the best high school basketball players in the state of Utah, from Tyler Haws to Kyle Collinsworth to Nick Emery.  However, the Utes were able to clog the pipe a few years ago by signing 2012 Utah Mr. Basketball Jordan Loveridge, who showed his versatility immediately by finishing in the top-10 in the Pac-12 in both rebounding and 3-PT shooting as a freshman.  He made the NIT as a sophomore, made the Sweet 16 as a junior, so we shall what he does for an encore as a senior.  HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Jordan about the BYU-Utah rivalry and a rematch with the defending champs. 

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You play for Coach Larry Krystkowiak: what makes him such a good coach, and what is the most important thing that you have ever learned from him? He is so personable with the guys: he treats us like his own kids from day 1. I know that I can trust what he is saying to us. He taught me that playing hard will solve a lot of problems: it takes care of a lot of things on the court.

You had 18 PTS/10 REB in your freshman debut: how were you able to make such a smooth transition from high school to college? You never know what to expect as a freshman, so I just tried to play hard and the ball bounced my way that night.

Last year your 57.1 PPG allowed was #8 in the nation: what is the key to playing great defense? We just had the right mindset: Coach K will play the guys who want to play defense.

In the 2015 Pac-12 tourney Joseph Young scored 25 PTS including a long 3-PT shot with 1.1 seconds left in a 3-PT win by Oregon: did you think the shot was going in, and where does that rank among the most devastating losses of your career? Anytime a great player like that gets a shot in rhythm it is a 50-50 situation. It was tough at 1st after we had made our way back into the game, so it was pretty devastating.

In the 2015 NCAA tourney you scored 5 PTS in a 6-PT loss to eventual champion Duke: did you get the sense that they were good enough to win the title, and what did you learn from that game that you think can help you this year? When you get to the Sweet 16 any team can get the right matchup and win a few games, so we knew that they were good enough to make some things happen. When you play a team like that, every single possession and every little thing matters.

Your non-conference schedule includes games against San Diego State/Texas Tech/Wichita State/Duke: which of these games do you feel will present your biggest test? Every game is tough no matter who we play, but a game that is receiving a lot of attention is the Duke game at Madison Square Garden, which will help us see where we are at.

For people who have never attended the big in-state rivalry in person, how intense are your games against BYU? It is really intense, but more so for the fans because there are not a lot of guys on our team who went to high school in-state.

Last fall you hurt your knee and missed several games: how bad was it, and how is your health at the moment? It was something that I have been dealing with since high school.  We just had to clean up some loose cartilage, and I have not had any problems since then.

You return 4 starters from last year: how crucial is all of that experience going to be to your team’s success? I think it will be very crucial. Even during summer workouts you could see the returning guys showing the new guys how to succeed within our program.

What are your goals for the upcoming season, and what are your expectations for the upcoming season? I just want to win as many games as we can, get back to the NCAA tourney, and hopefully make another good run.

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Season preview: Utah SR PG Brandon Taylor

Posted on September 25, 2015 by Jon Teitel

For Jon’s other Season Preview Interviews – CLICK HERE

Some players are known for doing 1 thing better than anyone else, but Brandon Taylor seems to do a new amazing thing every year.  As a freshman in 2013 he finished 2nd in the Pac-12 with 42 3P%.  In 2014 he was a member of the Pac-12 All-Academic 1st-Team while helping his team get to the NIT.  Last year as a junior he was named 2nd-team All-Pac-12 and helped the Utes reach the Sweet 16 for the 1st time in a decade.  HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Brandon about ending Wichita State’s winning streak and playing on 1 of the best defenses in the nation.

taylor

You play for Coach Larry Krystkowiak: what makes him such a good coach, and what is the most important thing that you have ever learned from him? He has a unique style of coaching. He holds his players accountable for their actions and puts everyone in positions to be successful. Shooters on our team are given the green light to shoot, which teaches us to be disciplined.

As a true freshman you ranked #2 in the Pac-12 with 42 3P%: how were you able to come in and contribute right from the start? I actually sat out the 1st 14 games and learned to adapt to the fast pace of the college game. Even after I started playing I was still learning, but Coach had the confidence that I could play as a freshman so I just put everything I learned into the game.

Last December you scored a game-high 17 PTS in a 1-PT OT win over Wichita State: how big a deal was it to beat a team who had won 35 straight regular season games? It was a big deal and was 1 of the best games that I have ever been a part of: the crowd was crazy and it was amazing to snap their winning streak. Nobody in that gym will ever forget that game.

Last year your 57.1 PPG allowed was #8 in the nation: what is the key to playing great defense? There is not 1 single key: we just follow the coaches’ plan and take pride in playing defense. If anything, we put more of an emphasis on defense when we are struggling offensively.

In the 2015 Pac-12 tourney Joseph Young scored 25 PTS including a long 3-PT shot with 1.1 seconds left in a 3-PT win by Oregon: did you think the shot was going in, and where does that rank among the most devastating losses of your career? I did not think it was going in because he was so far away from the basket. It was a tough shot and is #1 in my book of the worst losses because we were so close to winning. We let a couple of games get away from us at the end of the regular season last year so we had a bit of a chip on our shoulder. We did not expect Oregon to be a problem for us but I tip my hat to Young for making a tough shot.

In the 2015 NCAA tourney you scored a team-high 15 PTS in a 6-PT loss to eventual champion Duke: did you get the sense at the time that they were good enough to win the title, and what did you learn from that game that you think can help you this year? I learned the importance of controlling my emotions. We were all excited to play on that stage in a huge arena under the bright lights and we made some mistakes.  We need to slow the game down and approach it like we do any other game. They were a good team with arguably 1 of the best college coaches ever in Coach K but I was not sure if they could go all the way.  If we had been tuned in earlier I think our game might have had a different outcome. My 15 PTS did not come until late in the game: I did not have enough maturity that night but it will be 1 of the biggest things for me this year.

Your non-conference schedule includes games against San Diego State/Texas Tech/Wichita State/Duke: which of these games do you feel will present your biggest test? They will all be big in their own way, but the game I am most anxious about is Duke because of the bad taste in my mouth. It will be at Madison Square Garden with a big crowd. We lost at San Diego State last November by 4 PTS, so to have them come to our house will be great, and we also know that Wichita State will be coming for us.

For people who have never attended the big in-state rivalry in person, how intense are your games against BYU? It is very intense: you get crazy text messages from fans/students. It is a beautiful atmosphere and we will probably have a sellout crowd this year. The entire state takes pride in the game.

You return 4 starters from last year: how crucial is all of that experience going to be to your team’s success? It will be very crucial: even some of our bench players who have been here a while will help our approach for every game. Now that we have had a taste of getting to the Sweet 16 and we know what it takes to get there, the other seniors and I are itching to get back there because it is our last go-round.

What are your goals for the upcoming season, and what are your expectations for the upcoming season? I do not have any expectations but our goal is to be relentless. I want to be 1 of the best players in the country and I want people around the nation to want to model themselves on our program due to our defense and closeness. We want to play with so much heart and I want to be a leader.

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Season preview: Xavier SR SG Remy Abell

Posted on September 24, 2015 by Jon Teitel

For Jon’s other Season Preview Interviews – CLICK HERE

I thought my family was athletic…until I learned that Remy Abell’s aunt is Wilma Rudolph and his cousin is Bo Jackson!  Remy may not be a household name yet himself, but if he can make the Sweet 16 for the 4th time in his career then everyone better start taking notice.  He began his college career at Indiana: as a freshman in the 2012 Sweet 16 he got to face a Kentucky team that ended up winning a national title, then he made it back to the Sweet 16 in 2013 before losing to Syracuse.  After transferring to Xavier he had to sit out the 2014 season, but made it back to the Sweet 16 yet again last March before losing to Arizona.  HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Remy about why he transferred and preparing for 1 of the most stacked non-conference schedules in the country.  

remy

In December 2011 as a player at Indiana, Christian Watford scored 20 PTS including a 3-PT shot at the buzzer in a 1-PT win over top-ranked Kentucky: where does that rank among the most clutch shots that you have ever seen? It is probably #1 and was definitely an amazing shot: I was just happy to be a part of it.

In the 2012 NCAA tourney you scored 6 PTS in a loss to eventual champion Kentucky: where does that Wildcat team rank among the best that you have ever seen, and do you think that they were out for revenge after the earlier loss? That was 1 of the best teams that Kentucky has ever had: a great starting 5 led by Anthony Davis and a solid bench as well. It was a big win for us in December so I assume they wanted some revenge.

After your sophomore year you decided to transfer: why did you want to switch schools, and what made you choose the Musketeers? I just wanted some new scenery and a new feel. The Indiana coaching staff and teammates were great and very supportive of my decision. I really love Xavier: it is a family environment and has a great program with great academics.

You play for Coach Chris Mack: what makes him such a good coach, and what is the most important thing that you have ever learned from him? He just wants everyone to get better and he cares about winning. He is always willing to both teach us and learn himself. He taught me that I can be an energy-giver or an energy-taker: I try to keep getting better than I was yesterday and come ready to work hard.

In the 2015 Big East tourney you scored 10 PTS in a 2-PT win over Georgetown: how were you able to pull out the win after the Hoyas almost overcame a 21-PT 2nd half deficit? We just stuck together as a team. College basketball is a game of runs so we just rallied around each other when the going got tough.

In the 2015 NCAA tourney you scored 5 PTS in an 8-PT loss to Arizona: what did you learn from that game that you think can help you this year? Most people did not expect us to play the Wildcats that close. We did a great job of being ready to play and 1 thing we will take away is that every possession counts. Everyone is hungry to make it back to that point and go even further this year.

Your non-conference schedule is loaded with games against Missouri/Michigan/Alabama/Cincinnati/Auburn/Wake Forest: how are you going to be able to survive such a gauntlet? There are great teams all over the nation and it will be a great test for us. We will be ready to play and we will take the good and the bad to help get prepared for conference play.

You are 1 of 4 seniors on the roster: how much pressure is there on you to be a leader this year? This is my final year and I want to go out with a bang. My teammates will rally behind me and help me out because we all want to win and be a part of something special. I want to take my experience and apply it on the court to help us in both practice and games.

Your aunt is Wilma Rudolph and your cousin is Bo Jackson: what is it like to be part of such an amazingly athletic family, and do you credit at least some of your success to genetics? It is good to know that you have famous athletes in your family. I give some credit to genetics, but I think everything else is a gift from God and I use that gift to the best of my ability.

What are your goals for the upcoming season, and what are your expectations for the upcoming season? Our main goal is to win a Big East championship. We were in the middle of the pack last year before making the title game and we want to get back there and win it because it was not a good feeling after the game in our locker room. The main thing every day is to just be better than yesterday, which is something that I will preach to the team as a senior leader.

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Season preview: South Dakota State SR SG Jake Bittle

Posted on September 23, 2015 by Jon Teitel

For Jon’s other Season Preview Interviews – CLICK HERE

South Dakota may not be known as a basketball hotbed but the Jackrabbits have made the postseason during each of the past 4 years.  Jake Bittle will try to keep the streak alive this year as 1 of 4 returning starters under Coach Scott Nagy.  He has already faced Michigan in the NCAA tourney and Vanderbilt in the NIT and was the best shooter on his team last year, so high-major teams will not strike fear in his heart.  HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Jake about being a great shooter and his team’s upcoming trip south of the border.

bittle

You grew up in Oklahoma: how did you choose South Dakota State? They were the 1st school to offer me a scholarship and I wanted to go to a D-1 school where I could be successful.

You play for Coach Scott Nagy, who is the winningest coach in school history: what makes him such a great coach, and what is the most important thing that you have ever learned from him? He is a true competitor and believes that we can win every single game that we play. His beliefs/values trickle down to the rest of the team and he has helped me grow as a young man.

You played 24 games as a freshman: how were you able to come in and contribute right from the start? We had a lot of upperclassmen on that team including Nate Wolters, who is 1 of the greatest players in school history. I just tried to play good defense and not make mistakes.

1 of the games you played in that year was a loss to Michigan in the NCAA tourney: how much of a home-court advantage did the Wolverines have while playing in Auburn Hills? They had probably 30,000 fans compared to 500 of our own fans, so they had a big advantage.

Last year you led the team by shooting 53.4 FG%: what is your secret for being a good shooter? I just try to get in the gym and take some extra shots. My teammates do a good job of getting the ball to me in good situations, and you also have to be confident in your shot.

In the 2015 Summit League tourney title game you scored 6 PTS in a 1-PT loss to North Dakota State: how big is the rivalry, and where does that rank among the most devastating losses of your career? The rivalry is huge: I found that out during my freshman year. The title game was 1 of the toughest losses I have ever had. We clawed our way back and had a chance to win it at the end before it fell apart.

In the 2015 NIT you scored 14 PTS in a loss to Vanderbilt: what did you learn from that game that you think can help you this year? We did have the silver lining of getting to the NIT and beating Colorado State, which was a huge victory for our team. On an individual level I felt more confident and aggressive, which I think is what the team will look for from me this year. It also gave our young guys some good experience.

Your team will be playing in the Cancun Challenge in November: how excited are you to check out Mexico? I am really excited to get out of the negative-30 degree weather during the wintertime!

You return 4 starters from last year: how crucial will all of that experience be to your team’s success? Last year was the 1st season for a couple of our guys, and even that 1 year of experience will help everyone’s confidence.

What are your goals for the upcoming season, and what are your expectations for the upcoming season? Expectation are high every year but we want to win the Summit League title and make it to the NCAA tourney. I have not felt that since my freshman year so I am just chasing that feeling.

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Season preview: Belmont SR SG Craig Bradshaw

Posted on September 22, 2015 by Jon Teitel

For all of Jon’s other Season Preview Interviews – CLICK HERE

Some players do their best work in the regular season when the lights are low, while others prefer to shine in the postseason when the spotlight is brightest.  Craig Bradshaw is a member of the latter group and his magic number is 25: 25 PTS against Green Bay in the 2014 NIT, 25 PTS against Murray State in the 2015 OVC tourney title game, and 25 PTS against Virginia in the 2015 NCAA tourney (the most that anyone scored against the Cavaliers last season).  If you think he only cares about basketball, think again: he was named NACDA Men’s Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year.  HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Craig about how he celebrated his birthday and what it felt like to score 42 PTS in a game.

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You turned 22 last month: what did you do for the big day? On my actual birthday I did not really do much besides hanging out with some close friends, but the week before I went to a Shania Twain concert with my best friend.

You play for Coach Rick Byrd: what makes him such a great coach, and what is the most important thing that you ever learned from him? What makes him great is how competitive he is: he hates to lose more than anyone I have ever met. The most important thing I learned from him is that basketball is not the most important part of your life.

You played in 33 games as a freshman: how were you able to come in and contribute right from the start? It is not easy to get playing time when you are behind people like Ian Clark/JJ Mann. I think the biggest thing that I did was just play as hard as I could during every possession when I was in the game.

Last November you scored a career-high 42 PTS (8-12 3PM) including a floater at the buzzer to beat Ohio: was it just 1 of those scenarios where every shot you put up seemed to go in because you were “in the zone”? It was not that I was in any type of zone: it was more that my teammates and Coach Byrd all had a lot of confidence in me. It also helped that I had a great shoot-around, which gave me a ton of confidence. I remember telling Holden Mobley that I had not missed 1 shot during the entire shoot-around and that it was going to be a good night!

You were 2nd in the OVC last year with 42.3 3P%: what is your secret for making shots from behind the arc? There is no secret at all: you just have to get in the gym and put up shots. If you prepare and get some reps in, then it should be second nature when you get into the game.

In the 2015 conference tourney title game you scored 25 PTS and tourney MVP Taylor Barnette made a 3-PT shot in the final seconds to beat Murray State: did you think the shot was going in, and what was the reaction like when you got back to campus? I definitely thought the shot was going in because Taylor is so good at shooting the ball even when he is off-balance. The reaction on campus was incredible: everyone was congratulating us when we walked to class. It was 1 of my favorite weeks at Belmont.

In the 2015 NCAA tourney you had 25 PTS (10-19 FG) in a loss to Virginia, which was the most points scored against the Cavaliers during the entire season: how amazing is their defense, and how were you able to pick it apart? Their defense was really good but they changed so many things about it in order to guard the way we play on offense: I think that is what made it easier for me. It also helps that our plays confused them at times: they are so aggressive that we were able to back-cut.

You finished last season by being named NACDA Men’s Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year: how do you balance your work on the court with your work in the classroom? I just try to make sure that I do a lot of my work on the days that we do not have practice, which makes life a lot easier. Sometimes I have to work ahead in a class but it is definitely worth it.

Evan Bradds led the nation with 70.3 FG% last year: what makes him such a great shooter? I do not know how good a “shooter” he is but he is very good around the basket. He uses the rim very well to shield bigger defenders inside and then uses the pump fake to his complete advantage. He is such a good finisher and is able to get past the bigger players who usually guard him.

What are your goals for the upcoming season, and what are your expectations for the upcoming season? My goals are to win the OVC championship and then win an NCAA tourney game. Our expectations remain high based on what Coach Byrd and his past teams have accomplished.

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Season preview: Montana assistant coach Jonathan Metzger-Jones

Posted on September 20, 2015 by Jon Teitel

For all of Jon’s other Season Preview Interviews – CLICK HERE

You have to love a college basketball coach named Jonathan!  Jonathan Metzger-Jones has 4 years under his belt as an assistant at Montana, and he has made the postseason in 3 of those years.  He does a little of everything: recruiting, scheduling, summer camps, etc.  After playing college basketball at Pacific, he later played pro basketball in Europe before getting into coaching.  HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with “Jono” about surviving multiple overtimes and having Gonzaga/Kansas on this year’s schedule.

jmj

You played for Coach Bob Thomason at Pacific: what made him such a good coach? He is and was a coach with an unbelievable offensive mind: he just knew how to pick apart defenses. He never had the best players in the league (besides Michael Olowokandi) but was still able to field teams who could score a lot of points.

You made more than 100 threes in your career: what is your secret for making shots from behind the arc? You need the ability to communicate and relate to your teammates. You also need to be accountable/responsible so they know that your actions are for the betterment of the team: actions speak louder than words.

After graduating you played pro basketball in Europe: what is the biggest difference between college basketball and pro basketball? The shot clock: dropping down to 24 seconds was a big adjustment. In Europe there is more emphasis on skill as opposed to athleticism/brute force. A lot of players have a hard time adjusting to that but it was easier for me because I was not the strongest guy. You have to be willing to adjust to a new culture and fit in with your new team.

You were an assistant at Montana for a few years under Coach Wayne Tinkle before being retained by head coach Travis DeCuire when he took over last year: how does it usually work for an assistant when his old boss takes a new job, and how did it work for you? It is different everywhere you go. I know of a head coach who took a Power 5 job and did not take a single assistant with him, and I know other coaches who got a new job and brought their entire staff with them. It worked out great for me and my family because we love the city of Missoula and the program. We have done some good things in the past and we have a bright future as well.

Last year you had 4 separate multiple-overtime games: I assume that overtime games are exhausting for players, but how tired do you get as a coach? Yes…but it is a different kind of exhaustion for coaches. When a game goes into multiple overtimes there is pressure and excitement flowing through you and it is hard for your brain to hold onto everything. It definitely takes a toll on the coaches but we would not trade it for anything.

In the 2015 NIT you lost to Texas A&M: what did your team learn from that game that you think can help you this year? I think it was pretty evident that we need to have the mentality of never giving up. We were down by more than 20 PTS and we could have given up, but we took the lead in the 2nd half and the crowd got behind us. It showed our guys that we can compete with “bigger name” schools and can come back against any adversity.

Your non-conference schedule includes games against Boise State/Gonzaga/Washington/Kansas: which of these games do you feel will present your biggest test? I would say the Kansas game: it is an environment unlike any other in college basketball and most of our guys have never seen anything like it. Gonzaga also has a terrific program and returns their entire frontcourt so that will definitely be a tough game as well.

Your team returns 4 of its top-5 scorers from last year: how crucial will all of that experience be to your team’s success this year? It is going to be a big help. The scoring is nice but it is even more important to have guys with the experience of competing for a conference title. Our biggest thing is that we have been through the fire so now we have to take 1 more step and get to the next level.

What are your goals for the upcoming season, and what are your expectations for the upcoming season? Our expectatios are to play Griz basketball for 40 minutes/night. Our goal is to win the conference title and get back to the NCAA tourney.

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