March 20, 2020 • 41 mins
Pac-12 Networks’ Ashley Adamson and Mary Murphy interview Arizona head coach Adia Barnes (5:28), who talks about how her and her family are holding up in response to the Coronavirus. Adia shares how her husband's family in Italy is doing under lock down orders (7:36). Coach discusses the difficulty of delivering the message to her team about the cancellation of the NCAA tournament (11:30) and what their legacy will be (14:05).
Coach Barnes talks about the changes in recruiting due to the travel regulations and the effect it has on the transfer portal (16:20). She also reveals that Aari McDonald has yet to make her decision on whether she is returning for a senior season (18:20) and talks about how the closure of gyms and facilities has impacted her players (20:06). Adia wraps her interview talking about her favorite moments of the season (25:44) and reflects on the change her coaching took this season (31:30). She also thanks the incredible support the Pac-12 fans have given her this season (35:00).
Mary and Ash wrap the pod with final thoughts on the best season that they have ever covered (37:40) and Mary gives her final Murphy's Law (38:45).
Coach Barnes talks about the changes in recruiting due to the travel regulations and the effect it has on the transfer portal (16:20). She also reveals that Aari McDonald has yet to make her decision on whether she is returning for a senior season (18:20) and talks about how the closure of gyms and facilities has impacted her players (20:06). Adia wraps her interview talking about her favorite moments of the season (25:44) and reflects on the change her coaching took this season (31:30). She also thanks the incredible support the Pac-12 fans have given her this season (35:00).
Mary and Ash wrap the pod with final thoughts on the best season that they have ever covered (37:40) and Mary gives her final Murphy's Law (38:45).
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Hell, hell, hell, yeah, hello all to love me to get
your podcast of the highest class ofwomen's schools, Pack twelve. Look at
the rankings if you needed to provenumbers, neat a lie even to want
speaking the truth to calm the chaos, who bring in the passion and the
(00:21):
player of the year, who'll bea crown sham began, Let's get the
cracking. What's happening then, MaryMurphy actually Adam saying yeah, we back
again. Yeah, all right,everybody, welcome back to the Inside Pack
twelve Women's basketball podcast. It wasgreat to have Kelly Graves on yesterday,
and we are thrilled to have thehead coach of the Arizona Wildcats, Adia
(00:42):
Barnes, joining us in a littlebit to talk about the Arizona Wildcats and
everything that's going on with them.Um, Mary, Colleen, how's everybody
holding up? Great? I'm planningmy next trip to the grocery store.
Yeah, you do know. Thething is, you can plan. You
can plan all you want, Likeyou can bring a grocery list, and
(01:03):
then you get there and you're like, oh, like yesterday I had a
list of things and I went andnone of the things that I thought I
was going to get we're there,and so you end up leaving with a
bunch of weird, random stuff.I'm like, I'm like, why do
I have turkey burgers? I don'teat keep because they're delicious? Why not
they might be delicious in a weekor two. Yeah, three cans of
(01:26):
like black eyed peas, Like Idon't even know what those are. So
yeah, it's wild, wild times. We're living in ladies and you know
the only reason you we're laughing aboutit is because if we weren't laughing,
we'd be crying. So I'm thrilledthat I get to spend some time with
the two of you, and Ideaas well. I think, you know,
perspective is always helpful in these moments. So before we welcome her on,
(01:49):
and we're not going to spend toomuch time gabing here before she joins
us in just a couple of minutes. But I just I think we should
talk about Arizona season Mary, becausethey obviously are coming off a historic one
ranked number twelve and the final WayPeople and their highest final ranking since nineteen
ninety eight. They were obviously projectedto make their first NC doable a tournament
(02:09):
appearance since two thousand and five,they would have been able to host the
first two rounds. So before Adiacomes on, can you just kind of
put in perspective for us what Arizonawas able to accomplish this year? You
know, Arizona and Adia Barnes justmakes me smile because it to me,
it just gives hope for every firsttime coach that takes over a program and
(02:31):
has a dream. And when youtake over a program that's exactly like you're
it's a wing and a prayer,like some athletic director thinks you can do
it, and you're like, gee, I really hope I can. And
Adia Barnes just went out and kindof put together a blueprint of like how
to make it happen. And youthink about the year. This year,
to me, they were a yearahead of schedule. They beat three top
(02:53):
ten teams in one season for thefirst time in school history, first time
they beat a top five opponent.Ever. I remember when I heard the
ever on that, I was like, that's not true. You know,
Joe Bamassini's that is not true.It's true. And then when they beat
Oregon State on the road for theirfirst road win over a top ten team
in program history. Again, Iwas like, that's not true, but
(03:15):
it's true. And so Adia,you know, being a finalist for the
Nay Smith coach of the Adia Barns. Like if we were in Vegas and
they were doing odds on coaches thatwill be finalists for the Smith like Adia
would have been, you know,like long odds on that. And now
here we are with Joe McKellen,Adia Barnes, h Kelly Graves and Don
(03:37):
Staley. I mean that's some prettyheavy company. Um, except you know
Joe McKellen, who's he he's atNorthwestern and they played in the w NAT
against Arizona last year. So I'mjust it. The whole thing just makes
me smile because I just think itgives in a time when we need some
hope. Hey, young coaches outthere, here's a great example of what
you can do. And it's it'sI think it's very uplifting. Yeah,
(04:00):
I think you couldn't say it betterthan that. And you know Aery McDonald,
a Defensive Player of the Year andthe Pac twelve who got engaged by
the way on the final day ofher career, as it turns out,
or a final day of her season. I should say, we don't know
her career. She's going to becoming back. We'll talk to ad about
that in a little bit. Butshe was named. It came out just
recently that she's on the second teamAP All American, which is a big
(04:24):
deal for her. And you know, you think about what her legacy has
been at Arizona and what she's beenable to do, and it's so much
of this year was about Sabrine andEscu and the Ducks. But I think
Aery McDonald was right there in theconversation for impacting this league and women's basketball
in general, no doubt. Andyou know a player's great one one,
(04:46):
you don't want them guarding you,so you don't want you know, you
don't want McDonald anywhere near you,like, go guard somebody else. And
you know that the focus of everyteam is to shut her down. And
you still average twenty one points agame and she gets six rebounds a game,
and we compare so much to thegreatness of Sabrina, But in her
own way, Aria was just offthe charts, and gosh, she just
(05:11):
say I hope she sure comes back. I'd love to watch her some more.
Amen to that, yeah, andI'm sure Adia feels the same way.
So for more on that. Youknow, I think that the head
coach of the Arizona Wildcats able toalways bring some much needed perspective to things.
Ada Barnes, thanks for coming onthe podcast with us everybody around the
world sort of taking everything in strideminute by minute. So I guess we'll
(05:33):
start off with how are you doingin this moment? I'm doing great,
you know. I think it's itmakes you put things in perspective, and
it gives you time that you willnever have again of the coach like you
never have, you know, aday where you can stay at home the
whole day with your family. SoI think there's also some positive things to
take away from all this. Yeah, I think that is a big piece
(05:53):
of it. And we talked toKelly Graves about this as well, just
that you know, it's like apause button that not of us really wanted
or anticipated, but there is somepositivity in that you are able to spend
more time with your family. Howis how's little four year old Matteo doing.
He's great. I think he's happy. He's got mommy and daddy all
day long, which is like thefirst time besides like a Sunday maybe never
(06:16):
during season, so he's happy we'rearound. Yeah, you know, I
think idea that one of the thingsis we talk about how people handle this
as a coach and what we'll getto that and how they're handling it as
teammates and you know, just people. But I think handling what's going on
right now in the world as amom is also something that's not lost.
I mean, I've got a threeyear old who's asking a lot of questions
(06:39):
about why we're staying home and whyis not going to school and and all
the rest. How have you kindof handled that with Matteo? Is there
a message or anything that you havebeen able to tell him that feels right?
No, because I think he thinksit's still spring breaks, so he
doesn't really understand. And then hetalks about when he goes back to school,
(06:59):
and I don't want to say it, well, you're probably not going
back to school for a month,so we're just kind of saying we have
a lot of fun stuff planned,but so we haven't really I don't think
he really understands the scope of thingsyet. But for me as a mom,
even if school started next week.I wouldn't bring him back for a
while, yeah, because I justwant to let things settle down. Like
he's like my kids. I don'tthink we'd have enough information about kids catching
(07:21):
it and you know, like kidsalone at his age are just walking,
you know, peatree dishes. Anyways, amen to that. I no idea
that you have your American family,but you've got your Italian family as well.
What do you know about how thingsare going in Italy with with your
(07:42):
loved ones and Salvos. Well,it's funny because I think before when we
first started talking to them, whenit first kind of started happening, it
wasn't really bad here. They werelike really in his family, they're not
people that are paranoid. There's someone'slike, oh that's fine, it's fine.
But watching them and seeing the stuffthey were telling, yeah, just
about who was catching and stuff thatwasn't happening in America. So it kind
(08:03):
of made us a little bit morelike conscious of it, you know,
a week and a half ago becauseand then I started researching a little more
all the trends. We're just elevendays behind Italy. So it's pretty scary
because we're seeing what they're going through. And it's really bad there. And
it's not only like here. Wewere hearing older people get it or people
with compromise immune systems and stuff,but like they're it's like athletes they are
(08:26):
getting Our four year old are dyingor you know, like a five month
old caught it. So it's justreally different there. It's sad. Where
is Where's family? So he's fromSicily, leased with the island. We
always say the boots, the bootsat the balls kicking. That's where he's
from, to the island of Sicily. And the problem really started in the
north and certain cities were hot spots. But the thing is in Italy,
(08:50):
most northern Italians, like in summervacations and stuff, they go south to
beach houses and stuff. So thisinflucts the people, which was like forty
one thousand last sick. I'm sureit's more by now we're going south,
so it kind of made the southa lot worse. It's a pretty bad
situation. They're on lockdown that's mandatedby police, and you cannot leave your
house without a card signed about theamount of time you're gone and where you're
(09:11):
going. So it's pretty serious.And when you're a coach idea, you've
got the teo, you your ownchild, but you're also sort of have
to make sure everyone on your squad'sdoing okay. You've got people from all
over the world on your team,Canada, Australia, Spain, Turkey.
Where where is everybody? Well,that's that's a crazy thing. Is so
(09:35):
usually and the season, we havetime to be brief, you have one
on one exit meetings, you talkabout the season expectations, the offseason,
you have time one on one.There wasn't no time. So as soon
as this happens, everybody's family wantsthem home. So it was like mass
chaos that night that we talked aboutthe season being over, and the next
day people were like scattering, likeand gone families, one of their kids
(09:58):
home before their country's closed. Somy only debriefing with the kids was logistics
on how they're going to get home. It wasn't anything about this year.
And it happened so fast, soit was it was unreal. It just
felt like it was like not happening. So is everybody out of Tucson and
(10:18):
to their home base? Yeah,everybody. I think the concerns for foreign
kids was their parents. Their countrieswere closing, so like Latvia was closing
on Monday, mar Or on Tuesday, and Mara was just able to get
home on Monday, so their parentswanted them home before their country closes.
I don't think they're worried about themnot getting back in but flights being able
to go over there and not beingstuck in America like an airport in Atlanta
(10:41):
or something. So they all wereable to go home, but it was
like mass chaos, everybody trying toget home. It was really stressful,
you know idea. I think obviouslywe all see the bigger picture, and
you talk about being able to haveseen what's happening in Italy right now with
your family and everyone that you knowthat you love over there, But at
(11:01):
the same time, there is alsoyou know, I think you hold that
in your mind and you understand thateverything is happening is the way that it
needs to be happening for us todeal with the public health crisis. But
at the same time, you lookat what you guys had right in front
of you, and that in anyother situation you'd be getting ready to host
the first couple rounds of the NCdoable a tournament. So how have you
(11:22):
kind of coped with that, dealtwith that? Has it hit you harder
the last couple of days than itdid initially, or how are you sort
of processing all that? It hitme really hard just because that was the
hardest moment as that I've had asa coach, as a head coach,
or as a coach in general.So me having to we were getting ready
to go to practice and I hadI got a call with my AD right
(11:43):
before that and I had to walkto my team like strong and saying our
seasons over. That was devastating.That was hard because I had looked them
in the eyes, I've asked them, and they've done everything I've asked the
whole year. They've played with theirhorror. It say, we've handled adversity,
we've stuck together. We overteened,but anybody went a thought, had
(12:05):
meant the tournament in fifteen years,That's what we worked for since the n
I T last year. This wasour goal and like that was that was
hard to swallow. I understood thewhole picture. I understood like the world
was going on, it's way moreimportant, but it was still a hard
moment. To swallow and very hardfor like an eighteen to twenty one year
old. How did they handle it? I mean they were devastated, they
(12:28):
were crying. I actually after Itold them, we waited a couple hours
and I took them all out todinner. We went to It's like Benny
Hannah's, but it's placed in twosong called Mister Ans. So it took
them there and it was kind oflike it wasn't It didn't sink in at
that time. I think everybody wassad. You know, they were all
crying and stuff, but I don'tthink they really understood. And then it's
(12:48):
like mass chaos. The next day, everybody's leaving. So it's just kind
of happened really fast everything. So, were there any comments or conversations with
your players that really stuck with you, Like one or two players said something
that were that really impacted the otherson your team. No. I think
just talking about just different people,talked about how proud we were and how
(13:11):
he worked so hard. I saidthose things, and I say, it
doesn't take away anything we did,but it was still hard to handle.
Um. I think that it juststuck out me. Some people were really
just showed their emotions right there whenI when I talked about it, and
it was really hard for some people. But I think people just handle there
most of the different ways. Butyeah, him A two. You know
(13:43):
what, thank God for kids.They bring the levity that we all so
desperately need right now. Um,you know, you look at what you
were able to accomplish this season,even though it was cut short, and
I guess just big picture and thiscomes with time, I think being able
to reflect back more than than youprobably have been able to right now.
But what do you think the legacyof this, of this group that you
(14:07):
had this year will will be inthe end? Well, I think just
some legacies. We went out,we accomplished what no one thought we could.
Um, at the end of theyear, we were chosing six,
no one thought we were gonna finishfour if no one thought we'd had a
buy in the past self tournament.So I think we you know, beat
you know, three top ten wins, be the first top five win in
the program history. So we setso many you know, we did so
(14:31):
many amazing things. So I thinkthat's something to always be proud of.
I think the thing that was hardfor me is players like Lucia this started.
She was my first recruit and wewere awful, and like she kind
of stuck with it the program grew. I felt bad for kids like her
because he never got to go toa tournament. I think that was that
was Those are the hard things tofall for me. A Maori transfer from
(14:54):
Penn State wanted to be a partof some special you know, had a
chance to the tournament. We didn'tgo. So I think those things were
hard, But it doesn't discount theirlegacy. We always talked about leaving a
legacy. That's why the kid thatcame into this program a couple of years
ago came to do something special andbuild it. And they've done that.
So we're not in the rebuilding stage. We're in the climb and it's been
(15:15):
fun and it was special. Itdoesn't discredit what we did, but you
know, it's still a bit orsweet at the end. I mean,
it's still a hard thing to swallow. It is pretty amazing idea when you
think about how far you guys havecome. I think about the first practice
I went of yours your first year, and you just kind of looked at
me and said, oh my god, Mary this is not going to be
(15:37):
pretty. And what you've been ableto build at the speed that you built
it, and then to be honoredwith those three other coaches today, it
really says a lot. And youknow, I kind of said before you
came on air that I think it'svery inspiring for young coaches who are taking
on their first head coaching position thatthere's hope you can do it. Look
(15:58):
at what Idea has done. Doyou see that as well? Well,
yeah, I don't. I justI haven't had a whole lot of type.
I think when you're so busy init, you don't really ever step
back and look at the whole picture. I think this time will enable me
to do that. But you're alwayskind of just in their frat race.
I think you're always thinking, likeright now, it's like this node,
it's like crisis mode, right.But it's also what people don't understand,
(16:22):
it's a lot of working because rightnow it's it's recruiting mode because there's a
lot of transfers and stuff, andso like, right now you're thinking of
building my program to be better fornext year, Like who can add to
the program. So I think younever really have time to sit and look
at the whole picture until someone untilyou like tell me this, I'm like,
oh, yeah, we did saythat. Like I think that you
(16:42):
don't look at those things when you'realways in the race trying to get better
and find ways to just improve yourprogram. How do you it does?
How do you recruit transfers if youcan't have them on campus visits if things
sort of stay the way they areright now? Well, so right now
(17:02):
there's just a lot of people hittingthe portal, like every day if there's
a lot, so obviously not theydon't come on campus is a big thing.
But the relationships because kids that hitthe portal like on a Monday,
they're inundating with calls and probably havea hundred calls that day on the top.
Yeah, so the top kids do. So, Um, you're talking
(17:23):
trying to establish relationship because the processis going to be longer. Usually that
this process is very short, butnow it's gonna it's gonna probably go like
six weeks because hopefully in April they'llthey'll be able to go on campus.
But you know, it's just justgonna take longer. So it's just really
different. I think that's why you'regonna more, kids are gonna think about
their situations and into the portal.And I think, you know, most
(17:45):
of the top teams. I thinkeven in the Pact Volves, I think
they'll hop kids into the portal,including us. Probably. It's just kind
of the how it is if youget better and people expect to play more
and or want to go somewhere theycan contribute more. So that's kind of
the evolution of having a good program. Yeah, I mean, that's that's
definitely kind of the probably the brightside of the way to look at it.
(18:07):
Obviously. One of the transfers thathas made a huge impact on your
team is Aery McDonald. She wasthe first player in Arizona history to be
named second team All American or Betterby the APUM. You know, I
know that last time we talked,she was still not sure whether or not
she would be back for her finalyear of eligibility, if she was going
to go to the w NBA.But besides all of that kind of have
(18:29):
have you been able to talk toher and where where's her mind at and
head at right now? Yeah,So we talk a lot. I think
that there's no pressure because she doesn'thave to decide till April tenth, and
for me, there's there's really nopressure, whether it's now or in a
couple of weeks. You know,we I just always you always have a
plan for if you know, thesituation, if she didn't come back,
So that's kind of what you haveto plan for and build your team.
(18:52):
But I think that for her,there's so many opportunities for her and for
our program. I don't see hernot coming back, but you never know.
I think for her with there's somuch uncertainty with the WNBA right now,
and overseas is a disaster, andhonestly that's where all the w NBA
players make the bulk of their money, So I think that everything changes now.
(19:15):
So I just I don't know what'sthe future live for her, But
I think she'll make the best decisionwhich is best for her, And it's
not about me or the program.It's about what she thinks the best for
her life is. And I supportthat either way. But I know with
her coming back will be very special, will be a very good team.
And you know, we just gotwe just have another transfer. We got
(19:37):
a commitment from which I can't mincetheir name. Obviously, but we're also
going to add some pieces to makeus better. So if she does come
back, I think we can dosomething really really special. Idea. If
this goes on for a while andyou're not able to have you know,
postseason workouts, if all that kindof stuff gets cut back, how much
will that impact coaches like you andcoaches all over the country that you're not
(20:03):
working on what you work on inthe off season. Well that I just
thought about that a couple of daysago. That's going to impact us tremendously
because that's where you get better.You don't really improve a ton during the
season. You're improve in the offseason, getting stronger, working on your
footwork, your hands and just repetitionand being in a gym, And that's
an area I think that's really helpedus. It helped Arie in her off
(20:26):
season. If you saw the improvementan area from when she was at Washington
so on no House, she's improvedtremendously. And so I think we pride
ourselves and still development. So that'llhurt a program like ours, because honestly,
there isn't anywhere for the kids towork out right now. I mean,
our gyms are closed, there's nowhere. The weight rooms are closed.
They were open up until yesterday,but now it's like, I don't
(20:48):
know if this is going to belike this sixth day, twelve weeks.
I don't know, and I haven'tfeeling it will because I think it's going
to get a lot worse before itgets better. So it's going to impact
every program the same in that sense. You know. The other thing is
half of our teams, half ofour kids or five kids or foreigners they
are playing on the national team,is ant competition gonna be suspended? Yeah,
(21:10):
so that also hurts d because they'regone not able for us to work
them out, but they're not playingin that high level competition. So you
know, I'm curious to see what'sgoing to happen with that. But I
don't see any short term solution.I honestly don't. I don't see like
a two weeks solution right now.I see a four, six, eight
weeks solution at the at least,you know, do you talk about that
time frame? And I think theother thing that's obviously up in the year
(21:33):
is the w NBA Draft. Ithink from what I've heard, at least
right now, it's still scheduled forApril seventeenth. They haven't announced if that
date will change or if they'll dokind of what the NFL is planning to
do, which you know is haveit be close to the public, but
it'll still happen and be televised.Have you heard anything Have you gotten any
updates from your people in WBNBA aboutwhat they're thinking about doing. No,
I haven't because I obviously haven't evenlike asked about or looked into it.
(21:57):
But I don't know. I'd besurprise. Yeah. Yeah. We also
on a on a lighter note,I put out a tweet yesterday saying that
you know, we were going tohave you on and if there were anybody
that anybody that had any questions,and I actually got some very good questions,
to include one follower who wants toknow if there are any updates on
(22:19):
Aery McDonald's engagement. I assumed thatat some point she's at least going to
ask you to go look at dresseswith her, because if you were my
coach, I know I would dothat. But how's how's area handling engaged
life? It's probably not beginning howshe thought it would. Yeah, No,
she's so happy she's been wanting this, and and if he comes from
(22:41):
a family where they've been married areally long time, and you know,
it's kind of what she knows,and she's happy and excited. I knew
it would happen. I just didn'tthink it would happened. Then. I
thought it would happen the next coupleof years. But she's planning on getting
married next summer. But I alsohad to tell I said, don't choose
the middle of next summer, becauseif you plan on going to the w
NBA, don't want it doing yourseasons. Yeah, she was like,
(23:02):
oh, yeah, you know,so she's still a kid. I he
has time. But yeah, she'svery, very excited. And I told
I told her, I'm actually abeautiful wedding dress. He's a lot smaller
than me, but she has tobe taken in. I do have a
beautiful wedding dress. You can beused. I love that. I absolutely
love that. Yeah, And forI think almost everybody who listens to this
podcast probably knows the story. Butjust on the chance that you somehow missed
(23:26):
it, uh, you know,Arie's boyfriend now fiance, Devon, proposed
to her right after the semifinals againstOregon and man talk about taking a sting
away from a loss. I thinkhe picked his spot and had the crowd
involved and it was we were allshocked. Colleen Farrell got in my ear
and said, hey, we justhad a surprise engagement. It was Aery
(23:48):
McDonald and I'm like, that can'tbe what what are you talking about?
So it was it was a specialmoment. The other Twitter question that I
got was from our our girl,Lindsay schnell Uh and she said that you're
easily the best dress coach in theleague and maybe the country, and that
you have the best dress staff.So she wants to know who your style
icons are, which I also wantto hear that I don't really have a
(24:10):
I saw that I don't really havea style icon. I just if I
liked something, I just kind ofgo for it. But you know,
if I need help, what Icalled my friend Syrah So Sira played against
each other in the the w NBA, A long time friend and she does
like stot she's a stylist. Soif I have a question or I really
need something, which I don't useall the time, still like send me
(24:30):
an out and it makes my lifeeasier like I'm like, oh, okay,
I have a big games coming up. Can you send me a couple
of things? Still send me ideasoff thunder Some all keeps some I won't.
But I haven't been using her ina while because like if I go
to San Francisco or to stop therebecause they're great shopping, or I was
in Vegas. I stopped one dayand that's why I found those sues.
(24:51):
And it's funny because those shoes Iwas wearing, I didn't know they were
like too tane and all that stuff. I don't follow stuff like that,
so I disliked them and they redand blue. It's like I'm gonna get
up, and they were kind offunky platform me and I found out later
those were like a bestial like twoteenBrand. I didn't. I didn't know
that. I just thought they werejust for saucy tenages. You're cooler than
(25:12):
you even knew you were, whichno surprise. Yeah. Have you thought
about sort of starting just an Instagramaccount that's just you and clothes and sort
of you know, I wouldn't followthat. Yeah, No, I don't
have that spell at all. No, I wouldn't never do. Uh,
you can you can you give usyour favorite moment of the season as you
(25:34):
look back and think about all thethings that you guys were able to accomplish
in all the first um that youguys were able to you know, notch
was there maybe a moment on thecourt and then maybe a moment off the
court that really stuck with you.A few moments on the court. First,
I think that Stamford when was huge. Um, it was huge for
(25:56):
us just because as a player,I'd only beat Stamford one. UM.
I really look up to Tara andhave so much respect for her. I
think she's incredible. I think shedoes an amazing job at Stanford, and
so that was a really big winfor us. And you know, in
the past we had beside last year, you know the prior the eighteen nineteenth
season where we lost kind of likeat the buzzer at Stanford. Besides that,
(26:18):
we would probably get seat by anaverage thirty points for a Stanford game,
So it's just kind of stowed.We got better and they did have
some injuries. So that was abig win for our program and that was
our first top five win. MI think the Usta l A win at
home was big because we played sowell and I think, um, I
was really really proud of how hungryour team was that game. And then
(26:41):
I'd say like at Oregon State,huge win for us because we had battled,
We had lost the multiple over times, you know, more than once,
and so to be able to beatthem that was that was a big
win for our program. And thenI think Airy scoring forty four points that
Texas was huge. Those were likesome really really big, big moments on
(27:03):
the road. Sweeping ASQ was sweetbecause we had never done that and I
don't know year as part as Iplayed, So those were huge moments I
think for the program, and theywere fun and just memorable, like sticking
on top of my head, there'sprobably like ten moments like that, I'd
say off the court, I thinkthat there was a point in the season
(27:25):
when I think the first moment gettingthe buye was like a huge sense of
accomplishment for the Pact self tournament becausewe had never been in that territory before.
We had never been in a situationwhere it's like, oh, we
can have a buy So that waspretty sweet, I think for the evolution
of the program. And then Ithink moments that we knew we were going
to be in the tournament. Ithink that was a great feeling because I
(27:48):
would have even thought the beginning ofthe year, I would have thought this
year, oh, we were gonnabe one of teams. It's like,
you know, waiting on ESTM withthe show. That's like gonna get into
be excited, not like for surebeing I didn't think we'd be in that
situation. So I think those werebig off the court moments, I think,
and then just the evolution to ourteam, watching us to be more
confident, watching us just grow asa group and seek my language and hold
(28:15):
the standards higher. I think thoseare bright moments as the coach that we
weren't there a year ago, andto watch the evolution of that from the
n I T and watched our teamgrow and our program grow, our city
grow, second best attendance in thepact of of those are moments that were
special to me because it's tell itshows me how far we've came along in
(28:37):
a short time. You know.A dam My favorite moment was it's a
kind of a weird one was doinga game down at your place and Sam
Thomas had a great all around game. I think she had six blocks and
four steals and only like eight pointsand some assists. But we wanted her
in our postgame interview at the table, and when Ada went over and told
her, it was like it was, you know, midden ight on New
(29:00):
Year's Eve. She just started jumpingup and down and smiling and looked over
and just said, I've never donethis before. This is so exciting,
and it was just it was liketo I think they were all just used
to she was used to just othersbeing interviewed, but that you could share
that with everyone that watches and listensto our games and and just here's this
(29:22):
impactful player and this amazing person.I mean she's doing PSAs now and stuff
in Tucson and for the athletic departmenton everything that's going on. But just
to be able to share her spiritand recognize her contribution, and it was
just awesome to just see that andjust you know, you tell us about
(29:42):
people, but then when you seeit for yourself, you go, oh,
that's what ad is talking about whenshe talks about Sam Thomas, Well,
she's amazing. Let me tell youso. Sam Thomas was one of
the most underrated players, and notonly because of all that stuff. But
but she didn't have another PAC twelveoffer. He was between us and Michigan.
If no one really recruited her,I just solved all the entanceled things
(30:06):
he did. She was a greatkid, and she is one of those
players you want ten more. Samthomases, she's like a perfect student.
Off the court, she's like arepresentative and sack. She's on all these
committees. She writes articles for studentathletes on mental health. She's so involved
and she's like, that's a goodrole model. Like I love coaching hers.
(30:30):
She's so coachable. Whatever you ask, he does, she's consistent,
Like it's just she's like a coach'sdream. She's got a smile that lights
up an entire room. I haven'tbeen able to spend a lot of personal
time with her, but you'd seeher walk into the gym and that just
got that smile and it just startednot to smile when you see her.
Do you talk about the evolution ofyour team and how special that was to
(30:52):
watch over the past season. Youknow, not that you've had a ton
of time for self reflection yet,but how would you say this year that
you evolved as a head coach.Well, I think that, um you
know, I think that the standardsfor even me and my expectations for the
team, they were higher. I'mbig on like letting the team have accountability
and setting their goals. I don'twant to set them, and I think
(31:14):
they need to have ownership and thatstuff. So there were proud moments when
I saw, like them their goalwas to at least go to Sweet sixteen,
and I really felt all the stuffwe did, we had the chance
to do something like that. Ithink I'm just I think I've changed as
a coach, and the stuff thatyou changed every year, and you evolved
every year. I think you thinkabout and you understand what's important and what's
(31:38):
urgent, and you can't do everything, so you know you have to say
no more because of your time.And I think I've realized that my most
important team is my team. Um. Yes, you can always recruit,
Yes you're always thinking about getting better, but like your team is your most
important team, and um, soyou have to value that. So I
(31:59):
didn't miss proud accesses during the season, which I usually don't, but really
did not this year in the past, like my first couple of years,
I did because The whole thing wasrecruiting to get better players, to build
a program. I think more ofmy floster. Now, let's take care
of my players. You know,you feed your eagles and you build and
you hold high standards. A differentthing that I did this year, too,
(32:20):
was did a lot more stuff forlike team building. We've always found
team building, but we did thisthing called the program, which is like
a military training, and I thinkthose things really helped us. They helped
us hold each other accountable more.It made me, as a coach,
step out of my comfort zone becauseI'm not someone who like like I'm a
personality. I well, I realizedI was coaching all seas, so I'm
(32:43):
like, yeah, let's go,and everybody's like yeah. You know,
Like I had to change a lotof the way I coached because like,
I'm more like what coach says,you just do it. You don't ask
questions right. Well, with thepersonnel, we did these personality traits and
the disc assessment all that stuff.It really helped me because I was able
to study everybody's way of learning andhow they interpret things and what they so
(33:07):
I had to change and I hadto explain why we do everything and that
was hard for me because I'm morelike, let's just go do it,
like I never asked my coach saidand why we do that? But it
made me better and it really helpsour teams. So I had to say,
Okay, we're doing this droll becauseit emphasizes our week sidebox outs,
or we're working on this rotation becausewe're having a really tough time in games
(33:28):
getting to the secondary rotation. Thisis why, and this is how it
looks, and this is an exampleof it. But I never did that
before. And did you feel likeit really broke through like when you saw
I mean in that way when youstarted explaining things and looking at how they
learned, Like, did you noticethe difference. I did notice the difference.
I did know it's a difference becausethey were able to process more and
(33:52):
understand why we did what we did, and I think it helps them just
like once hold on, once Iexplained why, they like, why we
have to do that, it wasmore like aha for them because what see
personality Because my whole team, Iwas the only eye they go internal when
(34:13):
things get hard and they kind ofclose off. I'm offsite. I'm more
likely I bring people along let's gohelp egether and we had to learn how
to like meet in the middle,and that was a tallenge for me.
Yeah, I can imagine because it'sI mean, and I think that's why
those personality tests. There's a lotof organizations that do them, and I
think it's it's fascinating because you dorealize that just because you learn and need
(34:36):
certain things, it's not that's certainlynot the way for everybody. Idea.
You have been so generous with yourtime, and I know little Matteo is
wanting you to go play with him, and I want you to go play
with him, So we're gonna We'regonna let you go. But for for
just one last thought, for theArizona fans or the pactual women's basketball fans
who are listening to this podcast,any any words of encouragement or message you'd
(34:57):
want to send them as we kindof all try and NAVI keep this thing
well. The first thing is I'mjust so proud of all the pack Swall
fans. I think that they havebeen the classiest people there is in the
country. And how what I'm sayingthat is from a personal note. Whether
we were at Oregon or at OreganState. We always were develop Its just
with appreciation and people will come upand say, oh, Arie's such a
(35:21):
great player, or we like Sabrina, but you know, like Arie's so
good, so fun to play againstthem. Watched and I think that's classy
and that's kind of what our packswall is. And I think the other
thing is is that like to sellout the pack Twave tournament this year and
all those things, it just showshow our league is growing. And I'm
just proud of that to be apart of that because it's much different.
(35:43):
We were top ten team when Iwas playing. We had three thousand fans
a game. And to have Oregonorgan State US average over like ten thousand
big games, that's huge. AndI think that, you know, what's
going on in the world is biggerthan basketball, and it's bigger than any
game we're going to ever play.So you have to keep that in perspect
and I think it's um make caneverybody take a step back, But it's
time to be safe and joy familyand all the little things matter and we'll
(36:07):
never get this time back, andso I'm just trying to take it like
that. Yes, I'm in quarantinea little bit, but it's okay.
I never have days off of myfamily and I never will. As a
coach, well said, you knowwhat I said the other day, like
this is one of the last timesin my life. I'm going to look
back at this at some point andsay I got to hang out with my
(36:28):
kid while he still wanted to hangout with me. And what a gift,
I know, because at some point, hey, there you go.
All right, we'll go get someginger ile with Matteo. Send our love
to Salvo and his family and everyonethat you guys love in Italy and obviously
your your Tucson family as well.We so appreciate your time and perspective and
we're excited to check in again soon. Well, and thank you for all
(36:49):
that you guys do. I mean, you guys have been a difference.
I think you're the classes in thebusiness. And thanks all stuff you guys.
Different women's basketball makes the difference.Oh, we appreciate that very much.
Thanks Ada Bye. I love AdiaBarnes and everything she is about and
just really appreciate her time and herperspective. And you know, a little
Matteo, God bless you. Heis just adorable and I'm glad that you
(37:14):
know again that she's got some timewith him and with her family, and
none of us would have chosen this, but there is a bright spot in
all of it, and that wedo get to spend some more time with
our family. Speaking of which,my three year old is screaming at the
top of his lungs downstairs, somy minutes are numbered here, probably before
he bust down the door. ButI do want to mention a couple more
(37:35):
things, and we've got a finalMurphy's Law of this season to get to.
But so it was announced that AdiaBarnes and Kelly Graves are two of
the four finalists for the nay SmithWomen's Coach of the Year Award, which
is just awesome And beginning today you, yes, the fans can support your
favorite finalists. All you had todo is log onto Naysmith fan vote dot
com and you've got from today untilApril first to cast your ballot. So
(37:58):
the fan vote is going to accountfor five percent of overall final vote,
So vote early, vote often,and I'm hoping Kelly or Adia gets that
honor because it would be well deservedeither way. Mary, you're any thoughts
from what Adia said? Or anypart of words of wisdom from you.
Well, I just for me,it's been the best year ever following this
(38:19):
conference and talking about this conference andjust diving in, and I just want
to thank every school, every coach, every student athlete that we watched from
Arizona, Arizona State, cal Coloradoor Oregon State, Stanford, UCLA,
usc Utah, Washington and Washington State. To each and every one of you,
it's been a blast covering you andjust wish you the best and look
(38:43):
forward to the next time we allget together. And now from Murphy's Law,
well St. Patrick's Day was acouple of days ago, So an
Irish prayer is always appropriate. AndI don't know if people pray or don't
pray, and it doesn't really matter. It's it's just the meaning. May
God give you for every storm,a rainbow for every tear, a smile
(39:07):
for every care, a promise anda blessing in each trial, for every
problem life sends a faithful friend toshare for every sign, a sweet every
sigh, a sweet song, andan answer for each prayer. Mary,
we already had Kelly Graves cry inthe podcast, are you trying to make
Colleen and I cry before we wrapthis up because you're doing it together as
(39:28):
your fellow Irish woman, Mary.I love that very fitting and it's just
strange, like how the art andI totally agree with what you say is
the best season we've I think Ashand I would agree. We've covered and
we've been a part of. Andit's so weird that it is unfinished business
and it's you say it about ita season that didn't fully get to finish.
So there's I don't know, it'svery ironic, but if it's unfinished
(39:52):
but you unfinished it together, that'sreally all that matters. So we all
have to just keep putting one footin front the other and do the best
we can. Amen to that,and I will say one final thought before
we sign off, Mary, Itake all of my hats off to you.
Your prep, your love, andyour passion for this league and these
(40:13):
players is a gift to be around. And it means a lot to me
obviously, and I think all thepeople who listen and watch and and the
you know, the coaches that youand players that you cover. So thank
you for making us all better.Colleen. You're a fearless leader. We
couldn't do without you and Ari,who does all the behind the scenes grunt
work to make this thing get outthere every day. I don't even know
(40:37):
how he does it, but wethank you Ari, and Greg, our
researcher, who's been awesome all season. So I thank you, as you
always have the best. Mary's singinga picture of all of us talking to
each other, but as she alwaysbringing the perfect amount of fun and analysis
to this and you are our leader, so I appreciate that. And uh,
(41:00):
you know, all the amazing womenthat we get to work with,
uh, you know, on theair and behind the scenes has been has
been a gift this year, thisseason, and we're looking forward to getting
it going next year. Um,this is the last scheduled women's basketball podcast
we uh, but I do wantto say, you know, we've still
got plenty of content plans coming tofruition at the pactrol Of Network to stay
(41:22):
tuned for all of that. AndI will say again we will be here
or all of this together. Ilove your people, be good to each
other. And as my ninety twoyear old Graham and Mary always tells me,
this too shall pass. So takecare of everybody and we'll talk soon.
Hell, hell, hell, yeah, hello all to love me to get
your podcast of the highest class ofwomen's schools, Pack twelve. Look at
the rankings if you needed to provenumbers, neat a lie even to want
speaking the truth to calm the chaos, who bring in the passion and the
(00:21):
player of the year, who'll bea crown sham began, Let's get the
cracking. What's happening then, MaryMurphy actually Adam saying yeah, we back
again. Yeah, all right,everybody, welcome back to the Inside Pack
twelve Women's basketball podcast. It wasgreat to have Kelly Graves on yesterday,
and we are thrilled to have thehead coach of the Arizona Wildcats, Adia
(00:42):
Barnes, joining us in a littlebit to talk about the Arizona Wildcats and
everything that's going on with them.Um, Mary, Colleen, how's everybody
holding up? Great? I'm planningmy next trip to the grocery store.
Yeah, you do know. Thething is, you can plan. You
can plan all you want, Likeyou can bring a grocery list, and
(01:03):
then you get there and you're like, oh, like yesterday I had a
list of things and I went andnone of the things that I thought I
was going to get we're there,and so you end up leaving with a
bunch of weird, random stuff.I'm like, I'm like, why do
I have turkey burgers? I don'teat keep because they're delicious? Why not
they might be delicious in a weekor two. Yeah, three cans of
(01:26):
like black eyed peas, Like Idon't even know what those are. So
yeah, it's wild, wild times. We're living in ladies and you know
the only reason you we're laughing aboutit is because if we weren't laughing,
we'd be crying. So I'm thrilledthat I get to spend some time with
the two of you, and Ideaas well. I think, you know,
perspective is always helpful in these moments. So before we welcome her on,
(01:49):
and we're not going to spend toomuch time gabing here before she joins
us in just a couple of minutes. But I just I think we should
talk about Arizona season Mary, becausethey obviously are coming off a historic one
ranked number twelve and the final WayPeople and their highest final ranking since nineteen
ninety eight. They were obviously projectedto make their first NC doable a tournament
(02:09):
appearance since two thousand and five,they would have been able to host the
first two rounds. So before Adiacomes on, can you just kind of
put in perspective for us what Arizonawas able to accomplish this year? You
know, Arizona and Adia Barnes justmakes me smile because it to me,
it just gives hope for every firsttime coach that takes over a program and
(02:31):
has a dream. And when youtake over a program that's exactly like you're
it's a wing and a prayer,like some athletic director thinks you can do
it, and you're like, gee, I really hope I can. And
Adia Barnes just went out and kindof put together a blueprint of like how
to make it happen. And youthink about the year. This year,
to me, they were a yearahead of schedule. They beat three top
(02:53):
ten teams in one season for thefirst time in school history, first time
they beat a top five opponent.Ever. I remember when I heard the
ever on that, I was like, that's not true. You know,
Joe Bamassini's that is not true.It's true. And then when they beat
Oregon State on the road for theirfirst road win over a top ten team
in program history. Again, Iwas like, that's not true, but
(03:15):
it's true. And so Adia,you know, being a finalist for the
Nay Smith coach of the Adia Barns. Like if we were in Vegas and
they were doing odds on coaches thatwill be finalists for the Smith like Adia
would have been, you know,like long odds on that. And now
here we are with Joe McKellen,Adia Barnes, h Kelly Graves and Don
(03:37):
Staley. I mean that's some prettyheavy company. Um, except you know
Joe McKellen, who's he he's atNorthwestern and they played in the w NAT
against Arizona last year. So I'mjust it. The whole thing just makes
me smile because I just think itgives in a time when we need some
hope. Hey, young coaches outthere, here's a great example of what
you can do. And it's it'sI think it's very uplifting. Yeah,
(04:00):
I think you couldn't say it betterthan that. And you know Aery McDonald,
a Defensive Player of the Year andthe Pac twelve who got engaged by
the way on the final day ofher career, as it turns out,
or a final day of her season. I should say, we don't know
her career. She's going to becoming back. We'll talk to ad about
that in a little bit. Butshe was named. It came out just
recently that she's on the second teamAP All American, which is a big
(04:24):
deal for her. And you know, you think about what her legacy has
been at Arizona and what she's beenable to do, and it's so much
of this year was about Sabrine andEscu and the Ducks. But I think
Aery McDonald was right there in theconversation for impacting this league and women's basketball
in general, no doubt. Andyou know a player's great one one,
(04:46):
you don't want them guarding you,so you don't want you know, you
don't want McDonald anywhere near you,like, go guard somebody else. And
you know that the focus of everyteam is to shut her down. And
you still average twenty one points agame and she gets six rebounds a game,
and we compare so much to thegreatness of Sabrina, But in her
own way, Aria was just offthe charts, and gosh, she just
(05:11):
say I hope she sure comes back. I'd love to watch her some more.
Amen to that, yeah, andI'm sure Adia feels the same way.
So for more on that. Youknow, I think that the head
coach of the Arizona Wildcats able toalways bring some much needed perspective to things.
Ada Barnes, thanks for coming onthe podcast with us everybody around the
world sort of taking everything in strideminute by minute. So I guess we'll
(05:33):
start off with how are you doingin this moment? I'm doing great,
you know. I think it's itmakes you put things in perspective, and
it gives you time that you willnever have again of the coach like you
never have, you know, aday where you can stay at home the
whole day with your family. SoI think there's also some positive things to
take away from all this. Yeah, I think that is a big piece
(05:53):
of it. And we talked toKelly Graves about this as well, just
that you know, it's like apause button that not of us really wanted
or anticipated, but there is somepositivity in that you are able to spend
more time with your family. Howis how's little four year old Matteo doing.
He's great. I think he's happy. He's got mommy and daddy all
day long, which is like thefirst time besides like a Sunday maybe never
(06:16):
during season, so he's happy we'rearound. Yeah, you know, I
think idea that one of the thingsis we talk about how people handle this
as a coach and what we'll getto that and how they're handling it as
teammates and you know, just people. But I think handling what's going on
right now in the world as amom is also something that's not lost.
I mean, I've got a threeyear old who's asking a lot of questions
(06:39):
about why we're staying home and whyis not going to school and and all
the rest. How have you kindof handled that with Matteo? Is there
a message or anything that you havebeen able to tell him that feels right?
No, because I think he thinksit's still spring breaks, so he
doesn't really understand. And then hetalks about when he goes back to school,
(06:59):
and I don't want to say it, well, you're probably not going
back to school for a month,so we're just kind of saying we have
a lot of fun stuff planned,but so we haven't really I don't think
he really understands the scope of thingsyet. But for me as a mom,
even if school started next week.I wouldn't bring him back for a
while, yeah, because I justwant to let things settle down. Like
he's like my kids. I don'tthink we'd have enough information about kids catching
(07:21):
it and you know, like kidsalone at his age are just walking,
you know, peatree dishes. Anyways, amen to that. I no idea
that you have your American family,but you've got your Italian family as well.
What do you know about how thingsare going in Italy with with your
(07:42):
loved ones and Salvos. Well,it's funny because I think before when we
first started talking to them, whenit first kind of started happening, it
wasn't really bad here. They werelike really in his family, they're not
people that are paranoid. There's someone'slike, oh that's fine, it's fine.
But watching them and seeing the stuffthey were telling, yeah, just
about who was catching and stuff thatwasn't happening in America. So it kind
(08:03):
of made us a little bit morelike conscious of it, you know,
a week and a half ago becauseand then I started researching a little more
all the trends. We're just elevendays behind Italy. So it's pretty scary
because we're seeing what they're going through. And it's really bad there. And
it's not only like here. Wewere hearing older people get it or people
with compromise immune systems and stuff,but like they're it's like athletes they are
(08:26):
getting Our four year old are dyingor you know, like a five month
old caught it. So it's justreally different there. It's sad. Where
is Where's family? So he's fromSicily, leased with the island. We
always say the boots, the bootsat the balls kicking. That's where he's
from, to the island of Sicily. And the problem really started in the
north and certain cities were hot spots. But the thing is in Italy,
(08:50):
most northern Italians, like in summervacations and stuff, they go south to
beach houses and stuff. So thisinflucts the people, which was like forty
one thousand last sick. I'm sureit's more by now we're going south,
so it kind of made the southa lot worse. It's a pretty bad
situation. They're on lockdown that's mandatedby police, and you cannot leave your
house without a card signed about theamount of time you're gone and where you're
(09:11):
going. So it's pretty serious.And when you're a coach idea, you've
got the teo, you your ownchild, but you're also sort of have
to make sure everyone on your squad'sdoing okay. You've got people from all
over the world on your team,Canada, Australia, Spain, Turkey.
Where where is everybody? Well,that's that's a crazy thing. Is so
(09:35):
usually and the season, we havetime to be brief, you have one
on one exit meetings, you talkabout the season expectations, the offseason,
you have time one on one.There wasn't no time. So as soon
as this happens, everybody's family wantsthem home. So it was like mass
chaos that night that we talked aboutthe season being over, and the next
day people were like scattering, likeand gone families, one of their kids
(09:58):
home before their country's closed. Somy only debriefing with the kids was logistics
on how they're going to get home. It wasn't anything about this year.
And it happened so fast, soit was it was unreal. It just
felt like it was like not happening. So is everybody out of Tucson and
(10:18):
to their home base? Yeah,everybody. I think the concerns for foreign
kids was their parents. Their countrieswere closing, so like Latvia was closing
on Monday, mar Or on Tuesday, and Mara was just able to get
home on Monday, so their parentswanted them home before their country closes.
I don't think they're worried about themnot getting back in but flights being able
to go over there and not beingstuck in America like an airport in Atlanta
(10:41):
or something. So they all wereable to go home, but it was
like mass chaos, everybody trying toget home. It was really stressful,
you know idea. I think obviouslywe all see the bigger picture, and
you talk about being able to haveseen what's happening in Italy right now with
your family and everyone that you knowthat you love over there, But at
(11:01):
the same time, there is alsoyou know, I think you hold that
in your mind and you understand thateverything is happening is the way that it
needs to be happening for us todeal with the public health crisis. But
at the same time, you lookat what you guys had right in front
of you, and that in anyother situation you'd be getting ready to host
the first couple rounds of the NCdoable a tournament. So how have you
(11:22):
kind of coped with that, dealtwith that? Has it hit you harder
the last couple of days than itdid initially, or how are you sort
of processing all that? It hitme really hard just because that was the
hardest moment as that I've had asa coach, as a head coach,
or as a coach in general.So me having to we were getting ready
to go to practice and I hadI got a call with my AD right
(11:43):
before that and I had to walkto my team like strong and saying our
seasons over. That was devastating.That was hard because I had looked them
in the eyes, I've asked them, and they've done everything I've asked the
whole year. They've played with theirhorror. It say, we've handled adversity,
we've stuck together. We overteened,but anybody went a thought, had
(12:05):
meant the tournament in fifteen years,That's what we worked for since the n
I T last year. This wasour goal and like that was that was
hard to swallow. I understood thewhole picture. I understood like the world
was going on, it's way moreimportant, but it was still a hard
moment. To swallow and very hardfor like an eighteen to twenty one year
old. How did they handle it? I mean they were devastated, they
(12:28):
were crying. I actually after Itold them, we waited a couple hours
and I took them all out todinner. We went to It's like Benny
Hannah's, but it's placed in twosong called Mister Ans. So it took
them there and it was kind oflike it wasn't It didn't sink in at
that time. I think everybody wassad. You know, they were all
crying and stuff, but I don'tthink they really understood. And then it's
(12:48):
like mass chaos. The next day, everybody's leaving. So it's just kind
of happened really fast everything. So, were there any comments or conversations with
your players that really stuck with you, Like one or two players said something
that were that really impacted the otherson your team. No. I think
just talking about just different people,talked about how proud we were and how
(13:11):
he worked so hard. I saidthose things, and I say, it
doesn't take away anything we did,but it was still hard to handle.
Um. I think that it juststuck out me. Some people were really
just showed their emotions right there whenI when I talked about it, and
it was really hard for some people. But I think people just handle there
most of the different ways. Butyeah, him A two. You know
(13:43):
what, thank God for kids.They bring the levity that we all so
desperately need right now. Um,you know, you look at what you
were able to accomplish this season,even though it was cut short, and
I guess just big picture and thiscomes with time, I think being able
to reflect back more than than youprobably have been able to right now.
But what do you think the legacyof this, of this group that you
(14:07):
had this year will will be inthe end? Well, I think just
some legacies. We went out,we accomplished what no one thought we could.
Um, at the end of theyear, we were chosing six,
no one thought we were gonna finishfour if no one thought we'd had a
buy in the past self tournament.So I think we you know, beat
you know, three top ten wins, be the first top five win in
the program history. So we setso many you know, we did so
(14:31):
many amazing things. So I thinkthat's something to always be proud of.
I think the thing that was hardfor me is players like Lucia this started.
She was my first recruit and wewere awful, and like she kind
of stuck with it the program grew. I felt bad for kids like her
because he never got to go toa tournament. I think that was that
was Those are the hard things tofall for me. A Maori transfer from
(14:54):
Penn State wanted to be a partof some special you know, had a
chance to the tournament. We didn'tgo. So I think those things were
hard, But it doesn't discount theirlegacy. We always talked about leaving a
legacy. That's why the kid thatcame into this program a couple of years
ago came to do something special andbuild it. And they've done that.
So we're not in the rebuilding stage. We're in the climb and it's been
(15:15):
fun and it was special. Itdoesn't discredit what we did, but you
know, it's still a bit orsweet at the end. I mean,
it's still a hard thing to swallow. It is pretty amazing idea when you
think about how far you guys havecome. I think about the first practice
I went of yours your first year, and you just kind of looked at
me and said, oh my god, Mary this is not going to be
(15:37):
pretty. And what you've been ableto build at the speed that you built
it, and then to be honoredwith those three other coaches today, it
really says a lot. And youknow, I kind of said before you
came on air that I think it'svery inspiring for young coaches who are taking
on their first head coaching position thatthere's hope you can do it. Look
(15:58):
at what Idea has done. Doyou see that as well? Well,
yeah, I don't. I justI haven't had a whole lot of type.
I think when you're so busy init, you don't really ever step
back and look at the whole picture. I think this time will enable me
to do that. But you're alwayskind of just in their frat race.
I think you're always thinking, likeright now, it's like this node,
it's like crisis mode, right.But it's also what people don't understand,
(16:22):
it's a lot of working because rightnow it's it's recruiting mode because there's a
lot of transfers and stuff, andso like, right now you're thinking of
building my program to be better fornext year, Like who can add to
the program. So I think younever really have time to sit and look
at the whole picture until someone untilyou like tell me this, I'm like,
oh, yeah, we did saythat. Like I think that you
(16:42):
don't look at those things when you'realways in the race trying to get better
and find ways to just improve yourprogram. How do you it does?
How do you recruit transfers if youcan't have them on campus visits if things
sort of stay the way they areright now? Well, so right now
(17:02):
there's just a lot of people hittingthe portal, like every day if there's
a lot, so obviously not theydon't come on campus is a big thing.
But the relationships because kids that hitthe portal like on a Monday,
they're inundating with calls and probably havea hundred calls that day on the top.
Yeah, so the top kids do. So, Um, you're talking
(17:23):
trying to establish relationship because the processis going to be longer. Usually that
this process is very short, butnow it's gonna it's gonna probably go like
six weeks because hopefully in April they'llthey'll be able to go on campus.
But you know, it's just justgonna take longer. So it's just really
different. I think that's why you'regonna more, kids are gonna think about
their situations and into the portal.And I think, you know, most
(17:45):
of the top teams. I thinkeven in the Pact Volves, I think
they'll hop kids into the portal,including us. Probably. It's just kind
of the how it is if youget better and people expect to play more
and or want to go somewhere theycan contribute more. So that's kind of
the evolution of having a good program. Yeah, I mean, that's that's
definitely kind of the probably the brightside of the way to look at it.
(18:07):
Obviously. One of the transfers thathas made a huge impact on your
team is Aery McDonald. She wasthe first player in Arizona history to be
named second team All American or Betterby the APUM. You know, I
know that last time we talked,she was still not sure whether or not
she would be back for her finalyear of eligibility, if she was going
to go to the w NBA.But besides all of that kind of have
(18:29):
have you been able to talk toher and where where's her mind at and
head at right now? Yeah,So we talk a lot. I think
that there's no pressure because she doesn'thave to decide till April tenth, and
for me, there's there's really nopressure, whether it's now or in a
couple of weeks. You know,we I just always you always have a
plan for if you know, thesituation, if she didn't come back,
So that's kind of what you haveto plan for and build your team.
(18:52):
But I think that for her,there's so many opportunities for her and for
our program. I don't see hernot coming back, but you never know.
I think for her with there's somuch uncertainty with the WNBA right now,
and overseas is a disaster, andhonestly that's where all the w NBA
players make the bulk of their money, So I think that everything changes now.
(19:15):
So I just I don't know what'sthe future live for her, But
I think she'll make the best decisionwhich is best for her, And it's
not about me or the program.It's about what she thinks the best for
her life is. And I supportthat either way. But I know with
her coming back will be very special, will be a very good team.
And you know, we just gotwe just have another transfer. We got
(19:37):
a commitment from which I can't mincetheir name. Obviously, but we're also
going to add some pieces to makeus better. So if she does come
back, I think we can dosomething really really special. Idea. If
this goes on for a while andyou're not able to have you know,
postseason workouts, if all that kindof stuff gets cut back, how much
will that impact coaches like you andcoaches all over the country that you're not
(20:03):
working on what you work on inthe off season. Well that I just
thought about that a couple of daysago. That's going to impact us tremendously
because that's where you get better.You don't really improve a ton during the
season. You're improve in the offseason, getting stronger, working on your
footwork, your hands and just repetitionand being in a gym, And that's
an area I think that's really helpedus. It helped Arie in her off
(20:26):
season. If you saw the improvementan area from when she was at Washington
so on no House, she's improvedtremendously. And so I think we pride
ourselves and still development. So that'llhurt a program like ours, because honestly,
there isn't anywhere for the kids towork out right now. I mean,
our gyms are closed, there's nowhere. The weight rooms are closed.
They were open up until yesterday,but now it's like, I don't
(20:48):
know if this is going to belike this sixth day, twelve weeks.
I don't know, and I haven'tfeeling it will because I think it's going
to get a lot worse before itgets better. So it's going to impact
every program the same in that sense. You know. The other thing is
half of our teams, half ofour kids or five kids or foreigners they
are playing on the national team,is ant competition gonna be suspended? Yeah,
(21:10):
so that also hurts d because they'regone not able for us to work
them out, but they're not playingin that high level competition. So you
know, I'm curious to see what'sgoing to happen with that. But I
don't see any short term solution.I honestly don't. I don't see like
a two weeks solution right now.I see a four, six, eight
weeks solution at the at least,you know, do you talk about that
time frame? And I think theother thing that's obviously up in the year
(21:33):
is the w NBA Draft. Ithink from what I've heard, at least
right now, it's still scheduled forApril seventeenth. They haven't announced if that
date will change or if they'll dokind of what the NFL is planning to
do, which you know is haveit be close to the public, but
it'll still happen and be televised.Have you heard anything Have you gotten any
updates from your people in WBNBA aboutwhat they're thinking about doing. No,
I haven't because I obviously haven't evenlike asked about or looked into it.
(21:57):
But I don't know. I'd besurprise. Yeah. Yeah. We also
on a on a lighter note,I put out a tweet yesterday saying that
you know, we were going tohave you on and if there were anybody
that anybody that had any questions,and I actually got some very good questions,
to include one follower who wants toknow if there are any updates on
(22:19):
Aery McDonald's engagement. I assumed thatat some point she's at least going to
ask you to go look at dresseswith her, because if you were my
coach, I know I would dothat. But how's how's area handling engaged
life? It's probably not beginning howshe thought it would. Yeah, No,
she's so happy she's been wanting this, and and if he comes from
(22:41):
a family where they've been married areally long time, and you know,
it's kind of what she knows,and she's happy and excited. I knew
it would happen. I just didn'tthink it would happened. Then. I
thought it would happen the next coupleof years. But she's planning on getting
married next summer. But I alsohad to tell I said, don't choose
the middle of next summer, becauseif you plan on going to the w
NBA, don't want it doing yourseasons. Yeah, she was like,
(23:02):
oh, yeah, you know,so she's still a kid. I he
has time. But yeah, she'svery, very excited. And I told
I told her, I'm actually abeautiful wedding dress. He's a lot smaller
than me, but she has tobe taken in. I do have a
beautiful wedding dress. You can beused. I love that. I absolutely
love that. Yeah, And forI think almost everybody who listens to this
podcast probably knows the story. Butjust on the chance that you somehow missed
(23:26):
it, uh, you know,Arie's boyfriend now fiance, Devon, proposed
to her right after the semifinals againstOregon and man talk about taking a sting
away from a loss. I thinkhe picked his spot and had the crowd
involved and it was we were allshocked. Colleen Farrell got in my ear
and said, hey, we justhad a surprise engagement. It was Aery
(23:48):
McDonald and I'm like, that can'tbe what what are you talking about?
So it was it was a specialmoment. The other Twitter question that I
got was from our our girl,Lindsay schnell Uh and she said that you're
easily the best dress coach in theleague and maybe the country, and that
you have the best dress staff.So she wants to know who your style
icons are, which I also wantto hear that I don't really have a
(24:10):
I saw that I don't really havea style icon. I just if I
liked something, I just kind ofgo for it. But you know,
if I need help, what Icalled my friend Syrah So Sira played against
each other in the the w NBA, A long time friend and she does
like stot she's a stylist. Soif I have a question or I really
need something, which I don't useall the time, still like send me
(24:30):
an out and it makes my lifeeasier like I'm like, oh, okay,
I have a big games coming up. Can you send me a couple
of things? Still send me ideasoff thunder Some all keeps some I won't.
But I haven't been using her ina while because like if I go
to San Francisco or to stop therebecause they're great shopping, or I was
in Vegas. I stopped one dayand that's why I found those sues.
(24:51):
And it's funny because those shoes Iwas wearing, I didn't know they were
like too tane and all that stuff. I don't follow stuff like that,
so I disliked them and they redand blue. It's like I'm gonna get
up, and they were kind offunky platform me and I found out later
those were like a bestial like twoteenBrand. I didn't. I didn't know
that. I just thought they werejust for saucy tenages. You're cooler than
(25:12):
you even knew you were, whichno surprise. Yeah. Have you thought
about sort of starting just an Instagramaccount that's just you and clothes and sort
of you know, I wouldn't followthat. Yeah, No, I don't
have that spell at all. No, I wouldn't never do. Uh,
you can you can you give usyour favorite moment of the season as you
(25:34):
look back and think about all thethings that you guys were able to accomplish
in all the first um that youguys were able to you know, notch
was there maybe a moment on thecourt and then maybe a moment off the
court that really stuck with you.A few moments on the court. First,
I think that Stamford when was huge. Um, it was huge for
(25:56):
us just because as a player,I'd only beat Stamford one. UM.
I really look up to Tara andhave so much respect for her. I
think she's incredible. I think shedoes an amazing job at Stanford, and
so that was a really big winfor us. And you know, in
the past we had beside last year, you know the prior the eighteen nineteenth
season where we lost kind of likeat the buzzer at Stanford. Besides that,
(26:18):
we would probably get seat by anaverage thirty points for a Stanford game,
So it's just kind of stowed.We got better and they did have
some injuries. So that was abig win for our program and that was
our first top five win. MI think the Usta l A win at
home was big because we played sowell and I think, um, I
was really really proud of how hungryour team was that game. And then
(26:41):
I'd say like at Oregon State,huge win for us because we had battled,
We had lost the multiple over times, you know, more than once,
and so to be able to beatthem that was that was a big
win for our program. And thenI think Airy scoring forty four points that
Texas was huge. Those were likesome really really big, big moments on
(27:03):
the road. Sweeping ASQ was sweetbecause we had never done that and I
don't know year as part as Iplayed, So those were huge moments I
think for the program, and theywere fun and just memorable, like sticking
on top of my head, there'sprobably like ten moments like that, I'd
say off the court, I thinkthat there was a point in the season
(27:25):
when I think the first moment gettingthe buye was like a huge sense of
accomplishment for the Pact self tournament becausewe had never been in that territory before.
We had never been in a situationwhere it's like, oh, we
can have a buy So that waspretty sweet, I think for the evolution
of the program. And then Ithink moments that we knew we were going
to be in the tournament. Ithink that was a great feeling because I
(27:48):
would have even thought the beginning ofthe year, I would have thought this
year, oh, we were gonnabe one of teams. It's like,
you know, waiting on ESTM withthe show. That's like gonna get into
be excited, not like for surebeing I didn't think we'd be in that
situation. So I think those werebig off the court moments, I think,
and then just the evolution to ourteam, watching us to be more
confident, watching us just grow asa group and seek my language and hold
(28:15):
the standards higher. I think thoseare bright moments as the coach that we
weren't there a year ago, andto watch the evolution of that from the
n I T and watched our teamgrow and our program grow, our city
grow, second best attendance in thepact of of those are moments that were
special to me because it's tell itshows me how far we've came along in
(28:37):
a short time. You know.A dam My favorite moment was it's a
kind of a weird one was doinga game down at your place and Sam
Thomas had a great all around game. I think she had six blocks and
four steals and only like eight pointsand some assists. But we wanted her
in our postgame interview at the table, and when Ada went over and told
her, it was like it was, you know, midden ight on New
(29:00):
Year's Eve. She just started jumpingup and down and smiling and looked over
and just said, I've never donethis before. This is so exciting,
and it was just it was liketo I think they were all just used
to she was used to just othersbeing interviewed, but that you could share
that with everyone that watches and listensto our games and and just here's this
(29:22):
impactful player and this amazing person.I mean she's doing PSAs now and stuff
in Tucson and for the athletic departmenton everything that's going on. But just
to be able to share her spiritand recognize her contribution, and it was
just awesome to just see that andjust you know, you tell us about
(29:42):
people, but then when you seeit for yourself, you go, oh,
that's what ad is talking about whenshe talks about Sam Thomas, Well,
she's amazing. Let me tell youso. Sam Thomas was one of
the most underrated players, and notonly because of all that stuff. But
but she didn't have another PAC twelveoffer. He was between us and Michigan.
If no one really recruited her,I just solved all the entanceled things
(30:06):
he did. She was a greatkid, and she is one of those
players you want ten more. Samthomases, she's like a perfect student.
Off the court, she's like arepresentative and sack. She's on all these
committees. She writes articles for studentathletes on mental health. She's so involved
and she's like, that's a goodrole model. Like I love coaching hers.
(30:30):
She's so coachable. Whatever you ask, he does, she's consistent,
Like it's just she's like a coach'sdream. She's got a smile that lights
up an entire room. I haven'tbeen able to spend a lot of personal
time with her, but you'd seeher walk into the gym and that just
got that smile and it just startednot to smile when you see her.
Do you talk about the evolution ofyour team and how special that was to
(30:52):
watch over the past season. Youknow, not that you've had a ton
of time for self reflection yet,but how would you say this year that
you evolved as a head coach.Well, I think that, um you
know, I think that the standardsfor even me and my expectations for the
team, they were higher. I'mbig on like letting the team have accountability
and setting their goals. I don'twant to set them, and I think
(31:14):
they need to have ownership and thatstuff. So there were proud moments when
I saw, like them their goalwas to at least go to Sweet sixteen,
and I really felt all the stuffwe did, we had the chance
to do something like that. Ithink I'm just I think I've changed as
a coach, and the stuff thatyou changed every year, and you evolved
every year. I think you thinkabout and you understand what's important and what's
(31:38):
urgent, and you can't do everything, so you know you have to say
no more because of your time.And I think I've realized that my most
important team is my team. Um. Yes, you can always recruit,
Yes you're always thinking about getting better, but like your team is your most
important team, and um, soyou have to value that. So I
(31:59):
didn't miss proud accesses during the season, which I usually don't, but really
did not this year in the past, like my first couple of years,
I did because The whole thing wasrecruiting to get better players, to build
a program. I think more ofmy floster. Now, let's take care
of my players. You know,you feed your eagles and you build and
you hold high standards. A differentthing that I did this year, too,
(32:20):
was did a lot more stuff forlike team building. We've always found
team building, but we did thisthing called the program, which is like
a military training, and I thinkthose things really helped us. They helped
us hold each other accountable more.It made me, as a coach,
step out of my comfort zone becauseI'm not someone who like like I'm a
personality. I well, I realizedI was coaching all seas, so I'm
(32:43):
like, yeah, let's go,and everybody's like yeah. You know,
Like I had to change a lotof the way I coached because like,
I'm more like what coach says,you just do it. You don't ask
questions right. Well, with thepersonnel, we did these personality traits and
the disc assessment all that stuff.It really helped me because I was able
to study everybody's way of learning andhow they interpret things and what they so
(33:07):
I had to change and I hadto explain why we do everything and that
was hard for me because I'm morelike, let's just go do it,
like I never asked my coach saidand why we do that? But it
made me better and it really helpsour teams. So I had to say,
Okay, we're doing this droll becauseit emphasizes our week sidebox outs,
or we're working on this rotation becausewe're having a really tough time in games
(33:28):
getting to the secondary rotation. Thisis why, and this is how it
looks, and this is an exampleof it. But I never did that
before. And did you feel likeit really broke through like when you saw
I mean in that way when youstarted explaining things and looking at how they
learned, Like, did you noticethe difference. I did notice the difference.
I did know it's a difference becausethey were able to process more and
(33:52):
understand why we did what we did, and I think it helps them just
like once hold on, once Iexplained why, they like, why we
have to do that, it wasmore like aha for them because what see
personality Because my whole team, Iwas the only eye they go internal when
(34:13):
things get hard and they kind ofclose off. I'm offsite. I'm more
likely I bring people along let's gohelp egether and we had to learn how
to like meet in the middle,and that was a tallenge for me.
Yeah, I can imagine because it'sI mean, and I think that's why
those personality tests. There's a lotof organizations that do them, and I
think it's it's fascinating because you dorealize that just because you learn and need
(34:36):
certain things, it's not that's certainlynot the way for everybody. Idea.
You have been so generous with yourtime, and I know little Matteo is
wanting you to go play with him, and I want you to go play
with him, So we're gonna We'regonna let you go. But for for
just one last thought, for theArizona fans or the pactual women's basketball fans
who are listening to this podcast,any any words of encouragement or message you'd
(34:57):
want to send them as we kindof all try and NAVI keep this thing
well. The first thing is I'mjust so proud of all the pack Swall
fans. I think that they havebeen the classiest people there is in the
country. And how what I'm sayingthat is from a personal note. Whether
we were at Oregon or at OreganState. We always were develop Its just
with appreciation and people will come upand say, oh, Arie's such a
(35:21):
great player, or we like Sabrina, but you know, like Arie's so
good, so fun to play againstthem. Watched and I think that's classy
and that's kind of what our packswall is. And I think the other
thing is is that like to sellout the pack Twave tournament this year and
all those things, it just showshow our league is growing. And I'm
just proud of that to be apart of that because it's much different.
(35:43):
We were top ten team when Iwas playing. We had three thousand fans
a game. And to have Oregonorgan State US average over like ten thousand
big games, that's huge. AndI think that, you know, what's
going on in the world is biggerthan basketball, and it's bigger than any
game we're going to ever play.So you have to keep that in perspect
and I think it's um make caneverybody take a step back, But it's
time to be safe and joy familyand all the little things matter and we'll
(36:07):
never get this time back, andso I'm just trying to take it like
that. Yes, I'm in quarantinea little bit, but it's okay.
I never have days off of myfamily and I never will. As a
coach, well said, you knowwhat I said the other day, like
this is one of the last timesin my life. I'm going to look
back at this at some point andsay I got to hang out with my
(36:28):
kid while he still wanted to hangout with me. And what a gift,
I know, because at some point, hey, there you go.
All right, we'll go get someginger ile with Matteo. Send our love
to Salvo and his family and everyonethat you guys love in Italy and obviously
your your Tucson family as well.We so appreciate your time and perspective and
we're excited to check in again soon. Well, and thank you for all
(36:49):
that you guys do. I mean, you guys have been a difference.
I think you're the classes in thebusiness. And thanks all stuff you guys.
Different women's basketball makes the difference.Oh, we appreciate that very much.
Thanks Ada Bye. I love AdiaBarnes and everything she is about and
just really appreciate her time and herperspective. And you know, a little
Matteo, God bless you. Heis just adorable and I'm glad that you
(37:14):
know again that she's got some timewith him and with her family, and
none of us would have chosen this, but there is a bright spot in
all of it, and that wedo get to spend some more time with
our family. Speaking of which,my three year old is screaming at the
top of his lungs downstairs, somy minutes are numbered here, probably before
he bust down the door. ButI do want to mention a couple more
(37:35):
things, and we've got a finalMurphy's Law of this season to get to.
But so it was announced that AdiaBarnes and Kelly Graves are two of
the four finalists for the nay SmithWomen's Coach of the Year Award, which
is just awesome And beginning today you, yes, the fans can support your
favorite finalists. All you had todo is log onto Naysmith fan vote dot
com and you've got from today untilApril first to cast your ballot. So
(37:58):
the fan vote is going to accountfor five percent of overall final vote,
So vote early, vote often,and I'm hoping Kelly or Adia gets that
honor because it would be well deservedeither way. Mary, you're any thoughts
from what Adia said? Or anypart of words of wisdom from you.
Well, I just for me,it's been the best year ever following this
(38:19):
conference and talking about this conference andjust diving in, and I just want
to thank every school, every coach, every student athlete that we watched from
Arizona, Arizona State, cal Coloradoor Oregon State, Stanford, UCLA,
usc Utah, Washington and Washington State. To each and every one of you,
it's been a blast covering you andjust wish you the best and look
(38:43):
forward to the next time we allget together. And now from Murphy's Law,
well St. Patrick's Day was acouple of days ago, So an
Irish prayer is always appropriate. AndI don't know if people pray or don't
pray, and it doesn't really matter. It's it's just the meaning. May
God give you for every storm,a rainbow for every tear, a smile
(39:07):
for every care, a promise anda blessing in each trial, for every
problem life sends a faithful friend toshare for every sign, a sweet every
sigh, a sweet song, andan answer for each prayer. Mary,
we already had Kelly Graves cry inthe podcast, are you trying to make
Colleen and I cry before we wrapthis up because you're doing it together as
(39:28):
your fellow Irish woman, Mary.I love that very fitting and it's just
strange, like how the art andI totally agree with what you say is
the best season we've I think Ashand I would agree. We've covered and
we've been a part of. Andit's so weird that it is unfinished business
and it's you say it about ita season that didn't fully get to finish.
So there's I don't know, it'svery ironic, but if it's unfinished
(39:52):
but you unfinished it together, that'sreally all that matters. So we all
have to just keep putting one footin front the other and do the best
we can. Amen to that,and I will say one final thought before
we sign off, Mary, Itake all of my hats off to you.
Your prep, your love, andyour passion for this league and these
(40:13):
players is a gift to be around. And it means a lot to me
obviously, and I think all thepeople who listen and watch and and the
you know, the coaches that youand players that you cover. So thank
you for making us all better.Colleen. You're a fearless leader. We
couldn't do without you and Ari,who does all the behind the scenes grunt
work to make this thing get outthere every day. I don't even know
(40:37):
how he does it, but wethank you Ari, and Greg, our
researcher, who's been awesome all season. So I thank you, as you
always have the best. Mary's singinga picture of all of us talking to
each other, but as she alwaysbringing the perfect amount of fun and analysis
to this and you are our leader, so I appreciate that. And uh,
(41:00):
you know, all the amazing womenthat we get to work with,
uh, you know, on theair and behind the scenes has been has
been a gift this year, thisseason, and we're looking forward to getting
it going next year. Um,this is the last scheduled women's basketball podcast
we uh, but I do wantto say, you know, we've still
got plenty of content plans coming tofruition at the pactrol Of Network to stay
(41:22):
tuned for all of that. AndI will say again we will be here
or all of this together. Ilove your people, be good to each
other. And as my ninety twoyear old Graham and Mary always tells me,
this too shall pass. So takecare of everybody and we'll talk soon.
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