July 24, 2008
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Opening Statement
I'm obviously excited about a few things. One, the excitement about our program has impacted recruiting. So a lot of kids that have interest in us are interested in the specific style in which we play. I think when you talk to all of them, it's the style and the ability to do certain things offensively and how we play defensively.
I'm excited about Justin Timberlake and how he used the ESPY's in a way to really help us. Whether he was teasing or not, he is still a big fan, and it was just truly appreciated. If there is a better entertainer in the world, I don't know who it is. He is the new Frank Sinatra it appears. He can do everything, and I was really impressed with that.
Lastly, I'm excited about the team that we have coming back. We have size; we have length. You know, obviously, we are going to be missing three tremendous players. We are losing 53 percent of our offense and probably just as much of our rebounding and three starters. Well, that happened three years ago when we lost Shawne (Williams), Darius (Washington) and Rodney Carney. Two were picked in the first round and one of them was not. This year, one of them was picked in the first round, but it was the No. 1 pick, and I believe two of them should have been, but they weren't. They were picked in the second round, but that is okay. We are losing a lot. That puts the responsibility on the players coming back to have great summers. We talked about it, and we are thinking of different ways to do things without us being involved, because we can't be involved.
As for the players coming in, I'm excited about the class of players we have coming in. We add size and athleticism and guard play. We are going to play another tough schedule, which is ridiculous, but I'm excited about that, as well.
Theresa Walker, AP
What was your reaction when you heard from Robert (Dozier) and Antonio (Anderson) that they were pulling their names from the NBA Draft and coming back? That has got to be a nice boost going into this season.
Well, first of all, when Antonio told me he was doing it, I asked him why. Tell me why you are doing this before you even work out for any teams. I wanted to make sure he was doing it for the right reasons. He said, "Because, you know what coach, I'm looking at this, and I'm not going to get drafted, and if I do get drafted it will be in the late second round. So that is not what I want." So I said fine.
Robert on the other hand worked out for four or five teams. What I enjoyed hearing were those GM's telling me that if he goes back, he could be a lottery pick next summer. But he has got to get stronger, and he has to improve his skills. But he is long, he's active and he is a good athlete. It was better to hear that for me than anything else. Then being able to tell him, it wasn't an agent telling you; it wasn't a family member telling you. It was the guy that was going to pick you. That guy! So, when Robert said, I know where I am, it doesn't look like I am going to get drafted, and if I do, it will be in the second round and that isn't what I want. I said, "Well, then you better come back here. If what those GM's told you doesn't inspire you, then there is nothing that will ever inspire you, because those are the guys that pick the players."
Eric Bailey, Tulsa World
In past years, you have had great go-to guys in Rodney Carney, Chris Douglas-Roberts and Derrick Rose. Who do you see emerging as the go to player this season?
You know we don't know yet; that will all play out. We think Tyreke (Evans) will be one of them. I don't think it will be like a year ago where we all know every game who it is. It could be Robert Dozier. Robert Dozier should be one of the top 10 players in the nation. Antonio Anderson is a blue-collar kind of guy. What we need Antonio to do is to be a little more consistent shooting the ball. But still, his assist-to-turnover ratio at the beginning of the year was ridiculous. We are going to be a team that can come at you in a lot of different ways. We have Shawn Taggart in the post, and some of the other guys. We are trying to figure out Roburt Sallie, who hasn't played Division I yet, but I really think Roburt Sallie is going to be good. Then we still have Willie Kemp, who has gained weight and gotten stronger. You have Doneal Mack as well. We are coming at you with a lot of guys.
The one X-Factor could be Pierre Niles. Niles is now under 320, he was at 350. He has to get to 300 in order for us to allow him to practice, and he has to get to 280 before he puts on a uniform. He has some challenges out ahead of him. But he is a guy with his strength and quickness and speed, even at that weight, he just can't stay up with the game the way we play. If he gets that weight down, it will be exciting to see him out there.
