Oct. 11, 2010

Head Coach Mike Brey

Opening Statement…

“We lost the most winning class in school history so obviously we have challenges there with Luke Harangody, Tory Jackson and Jonathan Peoples out the door. As I have said through the spring and the summer, we have a nucleolus of guys back that have had some success together. We have five guys that are technically seniors that have been around so it is a great group to build and grow with. Trying to stay old with the guys that are on the floor as much as possible is really important to us. We have managed our roster to try and be that, with redshirting, transfers and bringing guys along. I feel doing this gives us a great opportunity in a great league”

On what are the biggest issues he is looking for answers …

“The biggest thing you go right to is Tory Jackson leaving the building. Not only having the ball in is hands 38 minutes a game, the toughness factor, but more than anything how he led and managed the locker room. I do not know if you can say there is one guy that is going to replace that. I think we are going to have to try and replace and certainly Luke Harngody’s production, which has to be a group effort. The ball handling and leadership is a concern but we have five guys that are in their fourth or fifth year in college basketball. Our group has been together for a while now. Our freshmen have been in the locker room which is a huge advantage to getting guys ready to play early. “

On the size of team…

“We are not the fastest group in the world but I do think we have good size though. We are bigger in spots than we have in a while. I think the size will help us but we are going to have to move our feet and get back in position defensively.”

On breaking in a freshman point guard (Eric Atkins)…

“I think the biggest thing is the relationship with the head coach, which is something I have really tried to work on since school has started. I think in the past with Chris Thomas and Tory Jackson it was relationship and communication with me, which we really have to start nurturing at whole other level starting Friday.”

On dealing with young guys…

“I think you have to be more forgiving, more positive and be a confidence giver. Our freshman guards this year have a similar situation that Tory (Jackson) and Chris Thomas had that they will be on the floor with men. That will take the heat off of them. With the five old guys, any young guy that is playing with them has a little cushion.”

On freshman guard Eric Atkins…

“We have had preseason practice where he has played with the older guys and played against the older guys. We have to really evaluate him but he certainly has to be a big part of things. He is the one true guy that has played that position. I think ball handling as a group is going to be important to help him and not just throw him in there. He is very fast so playing at a fast pace is a big advantage for him. I am excited to see him play.”

On the burn offense…

“What burn has done for us is that it’s been a big teaching tool because it has taught guys to understand patience and even better shot selection. I think we have to change gears throughout the season. We have a strength in getting out and running, we have players that can get down the floor, pass and catch early. We can spread the floor out because we have guys that can make shots. But to understand how to change gears and be really patient is important.”

On team rebounding…

“I do not know if I can say there is going to be one guy out there that is going to get 12 rebounds a game. We are big and have size, and we have guys that can help us rebound. I do think it has to be a couple different guys.

On senior guard Scott Martin…

“I am excited to coach him. Two years is a long time. The little foreign tour helped him because he just needed to play after not playing for two years. He is a very gifted young man. He is a good rebounder and certainly can shoot the basketball. He can get in there and post up for us as well. I was impressed how he can move his feet defensively. He is a wise position defender which will pay dividends because he is going to have to get in front of a lot of speed in our league.”

On sophomore forward Jack Cooley…

“I am very excited about Jack Cooley. He has gotten himself in even better shape. He certainly gave us key minutes last season during that run to get into the tournament. The one thing I love about him is that he is the same guy every day. He will never come into my office and say, ‘When are we going to throw it into me in the post more?’ He is smart enough to know to screen, rebound, defend, clean-up stuff. I just think he gives us a guy who has been in the battles. The old guys love playing with him because he gets them open.”

On senior forward Carleton Scott…

“He does not have to try and do more than he did last year. He is the guy that will take an open shot and rebound the basketball. I have always said that he is an underrated passer. He is a good screener but we need him to rebound more. But he does not have to do much more than he did last year. He just needs to let things come to him in the flow of things. He certainly comes into this season confident after how last season ended for him.”

On having diverse scoring…

“I think we will be a little more diverse there (scoring), with more guys being able to make plays. Certainly Ben (Hansbrough) and Abro (Tim Abromaitis) are the most confidant to make plays especially during our early non-league slate. They have been in the battles a little longer. I have a lot of confidence in Scott Martin as he gets more comfortable to make plays for us.”

On senior forward Tyrone Nash…

“He is a guy that should be very confident. I think his confidence has grown in our program but I think one of the things that will help his confidence grow and be more consistent night-to-night is I want him handling the ball a lot. If he gets a rebound, I just want him to take it. He is really a heck of a ball handler and it is another way of us handling the ball with not just a point guard. We are going to need him to look for his shot in the low post and that is something he needs to work on.”

Having size in the BIG EAST…

“I think this really helps us especially since we are not the quickest. He have length, size, and bulk there. We want to get into a rhythm of one and done and I think this group should be able to do that. We have guys to protect the paint and rebound no matter if we are zone or man defense.”

On offense…

“I think we can get down the floor and have the ability to score. We have guys that can put it in the hoop and we have guys you have to get out and guard so our spacing will be good. What has helped us here is that we can spread you out.”

On balancing the rotation of players…

“It is something we have to learn about before we get into the BIG EAST season. I am pretty confident in the older guys because they have been in the battles. That is something that we have to really evaluate and see where we are at and seeing who finishes games.”