Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
We've got Danny O'Connor with us.
Speaker 2 (00:02):
We do you tell me what absolutely incredible run and
it continues as the Delaware defeats Townsend third time.
Speaker 3 (00:14):
Was the charm after two tough games against Townson in
the regular season? What was the difference tonight? What has
been the difference here in the CAA tournament?
Speaker 4 (00:23):
As your run continues, I gotta give credit to our
guys just executing the defensive game plan. I know we've
put up a lot of points over these first four games,
but the improvement on the defensive end, I think is
the difference for our group right now.
Speaker 1 (00:36):
We're a different.
Speaker 4 (00:37):
Level of connected, tough and just executing what we want
them to do. I give a ton of credit to
our defensive coordinator, Bill Phillips for putting putting together the
game plan today, and then shoot, the guys just executing.
Kevin Riley did a fabulous job on Dylan Williamson. Trent
Middleton was in there on him at times, NND to
Tark Niles, Lane, onto Hatta and then everybody. Honestly, John
(00:59):
Camden has been amazing defensively in this tournament and we're
gonna need one more performance at all those guys tomorrow night.
Speaker 3 (01:05):
When you wanted in twenty twenty two, you did it
with defense.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
And here you are in DC a few years later.
Speaker 3 (01:11):
In defense is leading the charge, which has been the
theme in the first three games. It continues tonight for
a fourth. That you mentioned Cavin Riley, I want to
mention him because he was absolutely incredible. We talked about
how well Niles Lane has defended, shutting down Dugan in
the first half against Campbell and Luster down the stretch
against Stony Brook. It was Niles on Tehata the player
(01:32):
of the year shot three. I'll be eleven today, but
I'll lead with Cavin Riley because Dylan Williamson is a
shot maker and Riley made him uncomfortable all night.
Speaker 4 (01:41):
Cavin came to me and it's probably my fault to
not have him on there in the first game. He
was on there partly in our second game at their place,
and then he came in to me and he said,
when we play them in the tournament, I have Dylan Williamson.
Speaker 5 (01:53):
Wow.
Speaker 4 (01:53):
And I trusted him and he was absolutely unbelievable tonight,
sitting in a stance, you know, Dylan Williamson, the dribbled
jumpers from three are kind of what makes him a
unique player. And we talked about trying to make him
play inside the three point line at all costs. And
again that's where John Camden and Niles Lane come into effect,
where we're forcing him into the inside the three point
(02:14):
line and these guys are coming over walling up, we're
helping the helper. All five guys were rebounding tonight. But
again to your point, it starts with Cavin Riley. He
has familiarity with Dylan Williamson from their times in high
school in the DC area, and he stepped up to
the plate. And that's what you need your older guys
to do, with the captains to do, and our guys
are doing it right now.
Speaker 5 (02:32):
Danny, you're one of the really bright, bright young minds
in the game of basketball. I love your scouting reports.
I love talking basketball with you anytime I can. I
learn a lot from you. But two things are a
big factor to be First, our balance. We had six
guys and double figures. It's hard to defend the team
and that's why you can score eighty two points against
one of the best defensive teams on the East Coast.
Speaker 1 (02:52):
But the other thing that's been so important.
Speaker 5 (02:54):
We've closed out all four halfs down here with a
big play. Didn't necessarily give us the lead in the
game yesterday, but today, that huge play at the end,
I just think it gives our player so much confidence
for going in. I watch you come off the bench
like a missile over there, and I just think it
changes our demeanor.
Speaker 4 (03:12):
Listen, I gotta give all that credit goes to Coach Jinglesby.
I didn't even know we had that in the package tonight,
and that was your design. I was doing matchups at
the time. I didn't even know what we were running.
I saw the ball in the air, I'm like, ah, sugar,
we might have turned that over, and then Niles somehow
grabs it and throws it into the basket. I've never
jumped that high in my life, but it was an
unbelievable play. Obviously, Coach Jinglesby as the offensive coordinator, I'll
(03:35):
give JJ had another great play, a little set piece
where we were able to get Niles to slip out
early and bounce it to him and yeah, no, just
really locked in and great execution from the guys.
Speaker 3 (03:46):
The confidence, the house money you have to be playing
with to draw that up in the semifinal round two
end day half, Niles Lane was so high up in
the air that they gave him credit for a made jumper.
Yet literally he touched the rim. He Dwight Howard threw
it down under.
Speaker 1 (04:05):
Over the rim.
Speaker 4 (04:05):
This is Dwight Howard, Blake Griffin and Niles playing. Those
are the three that can do stuff like that.
Speaker 1 (04:09):
Absolutely incredible.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
As we go down the line and just talk about
individual performances, and Bill.
Speaker 1 (04:15):
Talked about it throughout the ball game.
Speaker 3 (04:17):
If it becomes a free throw shooting matchup, it bantaged
Delaware in any basketball game. But if your starters do it,
it's one thing for Trent Middleton to come off the
bench and walk to the line and l seven of
eight down the stretch to secure it for Delaware.
Speaker 1 (04:32):
I know the whole staff and team are impressed with
his game.
Speaker 4 (04:35):
No, it's a mat like Trent Middleton from the free
throw line. I think he shoots about ninety on the year.
Speaker 1 (04:41):
It is about now.
Speaker 5 (04:42):
Because he was eighty five before the game in seven
for eight.
Speaker 4 (04:44):
He never misses in practice. He made him big here
down the stretch. We have a ton of confidence in
him at the free throw line and just he's been
getting better and better as the season's going along.
Speaker 1 (04:55):
We have we're riding him late.
Speaker 4 (04:57):
He Trent Middleton was absolutely phenomenal, and again because he
was on Williamson for a handful of possessions. Then to
Tark is a hardcover. We don't win this game without
Trent Middleton.
Speaker 5 (05:07):
Well, I thought Trent was our X factor, but yesterday
I remarked that we were playing with house money and
then maybe we owned the casino.
Speaker 1 (05:13):
Now I think we owned Las Vegas.
Speaker 4 (05:15):
Oh man, I listen. I can't argue with you with
you there, but I'm gonna keep riding the wave.
Speaker 1 (05:19):
One more Danny before I let you go.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
Every game we've talked to the coach that put together
this scout and report throughout this tournament and every postgame,
it seems like we're describing the execution.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
Exactly at as it was written on the plan.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
I mean, everything that coach Inglesby and the staff has
said needed to happen has happened. Just tell me about
how that feels to coach it and the players now
are locked in grasping everything and then executing.
Speaker 1 (05:48):
You know, it's it's like surreal, It's awesome. You know.
The last six weeks before.
Speaker 4 (05:55):
We got down here to DC wasn't the easiest for
this group, but like an of credit to our guys,
like resilience and belief, because there were some hard days
and we truly believed if we can come down here,
we drew Stonybrook. We said, if we can play well
and get that first one, we are going to ride
the wave like we did in twenty twenty two. And
our guys have kept firm in their belief that we
(06:17):
can do this. We are as talented as anybody in
this league, and when we are at our best, we
are the best team in this league. And the guys
have believed it, and we're gonna let it rip one
more time tomorrow night.
Speaker 3 (06:28):
Momentum in March is real, as they say the O'Connor,
fantastic work. DELA will play for a championship tomorrow night.
Speaker 1 (06:36):
Awesome, Thank you guys,