January 28, 2020 • 51 mins
Pac-12 Networks' Ashley Adamson and Mary Murphy remember Kobe Bryant and discuss his impact on girl's and women's basketball (0:58). They talk about the pregame huddle between Oregon and Oregon State before their game and the emotional prayer the teams shared (7:38). Ash and Mary recap the Oregon sweep in the Civil War and highlight the difference made by Satou Sabally (9:55).
Kelly Graves joins the show and shares the team's reaction to the news of Kobe and Gigi and how special the pregame circle was between the rivals (12:08). Kelly talks about how close Sabrina was to Kobe and Gigi and how he was a mentor to her (15:00). Coach Graves says there will be a new focus for Ionescu given the circumstances (16:49).
Kelly talks about the importance of sweeping the Beavers (17:50) and the brutal schedule that awaits the Ducks (19:10). As the team prepares to face the Utes, Coach Graves reminisces about growing up in Utah and his relationship with his Dad (21:48). He talks about the impact Taylor Chavez and Jaz Shelley have had off the bench this year and their defensive efforts (26:09). Coach talks about facing Colorado head coach JR Payne this weekend and the amazing job she's done with her young squad (29:08). Coach Graves also shares how excited he and his staff were when all five of his incoming freshmen were selected as McDonald's All-Americans (31:33). Kelly closes the interview previewing their match vs UConn on Monday (34:38).
Ash and Mary talk the implications of Arizona's Territorial Cup sweep (37:37). Mary shares her current coach of the year favorite (41:26) and how the freshmen in the Pac-12 have been playing tremendously (41:58). Ash and Mary wrap the episode discussing the significance of the Women's Final Four possibly coming to Portland or Phoenix (45:58) and this week's “Murphy’s Law” (47:30).
Kelly Graves joins the show and shares the team's reaction to the news of Kobe and Gigi and how special the pregame circle was between the rivals (12:08). Kelly talks about how close Sabrina was to Kobe and Gigi and how he was a mentor to her (15:00). Coach Graves says there will be a new focus for Ionescu given the circumstances (16:49).
Kelly talks about the importance of sweeping the Beavers (17:50) and the brutal schedule that awaits the Ducks (19:10). As the team prepares to face the Utes, Coach Graves reminisces about growing up in Utah and his relationship with his Dad (21:48). He talks about the impact Taylor Chavez and Jaz Shelley have had off the bench this year and their defensive efforts (26:09). Coach talks about facing Colorado head coach JR Payne this weekend and the amazing job she's done with her young squad (29:08). Coach Graves also shares how excited he and his staff were when all five of his incoming freshmen were selected as McDonald's All-Americans (31:33). Kelly closes the interview previewing their match vs UConn on Monday (34:38).
Ash and Mary talk the implications of Arizona's Territorial Cup sweep (37:37). Mary shares her current coach of the year favorite (41:26) and how the freshmen in the Pac-12 have been playing tremendously (41:58). Ash and Mary wrap the episode discussing the significance of the Women's Final Four possibly coming to Portland or Phoenix (45:58) and this week's “Murphy’s Law” (47:30).
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:02):
Yeah, hello, love me tointroduce the podcast of that highest class of
women schools, Pack twelve. Lookat the rankings if you needed to prove
numbers net for lying even do whilespeaking the truth, the calm, the
chaos, who bring in the passionand the player of the year who'll be
a crown shap Begin, let's getthe cracking. What's happening? And Mary
Murphy and Ashley Adams saying yeah,week back again as we say hello again
(00:27):
everybody, welcome back to the podcast, so happy you are here. I'm
Ashley Adamson alongside the great Mary Murphy, our producer Colleen Farrell also in the
chair. It was another huge,huge week and pactual women's hoops in the
books, and we got a lotto talk about obviously today in terms of
what we saw this weekend and what'scoming up, what the Arizona win meants,
what Oregon's huge Civil War sweep meant. Kelly Graves is going to join
(00:51):
us in a couple of minutes andwe'll get into all of that. But
guys, I don't think you canhost a basketball podcast this week without at
least beginning with a ddressing the eventthat that rocked the entire basketball community to
its core. The loss of KobeBryant and his thirteen year old daughter Gianna,
and of course the seven people whowere with them on Sunday in that
(01:11):
helicopter. It's been devastating and personally, I've never felt so crushed by the
loss of someone that I didn't personallyknow, and honestly, Maryan Colleen,
besides the shock of the news itselfon Sunday, the way this has felt
so I don't know, personal wassomething that that sort of caught me off
guard. Yeah, I know.The way I found out was a text
(01:34):
from you right before the game Iwas doing on Sunday, and we both
had the same reaction. This can'tbe true. And it has brought just
a somberness to a lot of people'slives over since that point in time.
And when I think of Kobe,you know, I didn't know him either,
(01:55):
but I know people who've interviewed himand that you know, people like
Sabrina that talk about at him.The thing that struck me the most is
an interview that Angel Gray did.She works does the Cavs, the Cleveland
Cavalier broadcasts, and she did alittle bit before the start of the game
yesterday, and she told a storyabout interviewing Kobe at the w NBA Finals
(02:17):
and he told her that he wasat the game because his daughter, Gigi
wanted him to come to the game, and so that's why he was there.
And then he went on to saythat the reason he's back into basketball,
not women's bath but basketball is becauseof Gigi. So he when he
when he retired, he went away, it wasn't going to be a part
(02:38):
of it, was going to dohis thing, but his daughter and her
love of the game is what broughthim back. And that I played that
a couple of times in just wow. I didn't know that, and that
that really hit me. And hisimpact on girls and women's basketball has been
profound and at every level because herecognized, he supported, he invested his
(03:00):
time and effort to elevate girls andwomen's basketball at every level and youth basketball,
au high school, college, inthe w NBA, and it's profound.
And the second thing about his passingthat that struck me is and it
strikes me all the time in everybuilding I go into, is the father
(03:20):
daughter bond and how important it isin girls and women's lives. What your
relationship with your dad is. AndI think that the fact that he died
at forty one and his daughter waswith him and what his family meant to
him has struck people profoundly as well. And his smile, I feel like,
(03:42):
even in death, just reigns downupon the women's game and it's a
beautiful thing and hopefully people will carrythat on. I couldn't say it better
than you just did, Mary,And I think that was I mean that
the first reaction I had was thatI wanted to call my dad, you
know, when I saw the newsand thinking about all the games he took
me to and how that connection withbasketball in particular for me growing up with
(04:03):
him was such a huge part ofmy relationship. And I think that that
is one of the reasons why thisum hits a lot of people for a
lot of different reasons. And Colleenand I, I was texting with you
when it happened too, when youobviously lived down in LA you grew up
in southern California, and um,you know, I said, I said,
I can't figure out why this feelsso so jarring and painful, And
(04:24):
you know you had you had somegood perspective, I thought, yeah,
I just feel like as a femaleproducer, and I'm sure you two ladies
have been asked this a lot,and and Lorie Brooks is a female director.
The first question after you tells someonewhat you do for a living is
always not at least for me,and I point nine percent of the time
has been well how'd you get intosports? And I My throwaway line,
(04:47):
because I don't want to go downthe road, is usually yeah, well,
I grew up in a family ofbrothers. And then it's like,
all right, what are we gettingfor dinner? And what does that really
mean? Well, it meant growingup in Orange County were a Laker household.
It was dinner and then we puton the Lakers like I, you
know, I was watching ESPN hadhis last game on last night, and
(05:08):
you know, Magic, which wasreally hard to watch. Um and Magic's
talking to the audience and the Lakerfans and he's like, you guys know
where you were when he scored eightyone points? And I was like,
I do know where I was.I was at the end of the couch
with my grandfather. What and andbeing like, uh, pop, he's
he's at sixty and there's still tenminutes, like what do we see in
here? What's going on? Likehe's he's crushing it. And we grew
(05:31):
up with him and I played basketball, We played two on two, me
and my brothers, and so it'sjust he's like this this periphery part of
my life. You know, he'sin your living room every night, so
you know you don't know him,but you feel like you do. And
you know, going off after collegework at ESPN, he's still kind of
(05:53):
part of my world. I thinkwe feel that about a lot of athletes
because we cover them, and sothat's why I kind of feel like and
of course his daughter passing and everything, it's just it was just a lot.
It was just too much. Yeah, it hit in a lot of
a lot of different ways. Ithink that's exactly right. And Mary,
you made the point to me,by the way yesterday and we were talking
(06:15):
that he could have done anything yesseek after he retired from the NBA,
and I said, that just spoketo me because I always appreciated and respected
the hell out of what he didas an NBA player. He was the
you know, his competitive spirit isunlike pretty much anything I think I've ever
seen, But that to me,I truly started appreciating him as a human
after he retired and he went allin on, as you said, being
(06:39):
a dad, being a mentor andfinding his creative voice and supporting women's hoops
at every level and for the women'sgame. What did he teach the world,
and that is that basketball transcends gender. It's an inclusive game, not
an exclusive game. He didn't referto women as women's basketball players. He
referred to them as basketball players.He referred to Sabrina when he sat down
(07:01):
and did the details, you're abasketball player. This is what you need
to do. So I think itjust it's jarring. What kind of the
left turn? He said, We'regonna look at this thing a whole lot
different thing we used to. Andthat's an awesome legacy. Yeah, there's
there's no doubt about it. Andyou know, again, Kobe didn't go
to a pactwelve school, but hewas connected to in a champion for so
(07:23):
many of the young women we cover, and you mentioned in particular Sabrina,
and we're going to talk with KellyGraves in just a couple of minutes here
about what that was like for her. To go out and play in that
game on Sunday, just moments afterfinding the news. But one last thing
and then we can get to someof the basketball, But the image of
the Oregon and Oregon State players huddledtogether in a circle at mid court at
(07:44):
GIL on Sunday before their game,and the tears were flowing, they were
holding hands, they were staying aprayer. Aliah Goodman hugging Mignon more afterwards,
that was just a moment that I'llnever forget and Mary, as Mignon
tweeted later, it was a reminderthat this whole thing is a lot bigger
than basketball. Yeah, and that'sgonna be part of my Murphy's Law later.
(08:05):
Leah Goodman's a real special person.Yeah, no doubt about that.
All right. Well, before Kellyjumps on with us, I do want
to get your thoughts on what Oregonwas able to accomplish this weekend. Obviously,
you were there Friday night at themat and the energy was electric.
You compared it to what a footballgame atmosphere. Yeah, we talked about
it during our game coming into thebuilding. I mean, people were milling
for hours, and you know whata football campus and the Pactwell, feels
(08:28):
like there's people on the street andthe sidewalk across the street at the Wild
Duck. You know, the weatherthere is not great. There's people out
on the sidewalk at three and atfour and line out the door. It
was there was a vibe and energy. Every hotel you're at was packed.
People were talking about the ball gameand the rivalry was real. Even when
(08:50):
I walked in the building, Iwent up to a couple of assistants for
Oregon. I go, you,guys, this feels really different. Feels
like a football game. They said, I know, it feels like we
should be like getting recruits and goingto the football game instead of having a
basketball game. It was a sensationalatmosphere. And over the weekend, you
know what was it twenty one thousandpeople in the state Oregan watched from his
basketball is great. And the sceneat gil you know again on Sunday,
(09:13):
but before that game, what wasincredible and Oregan comes out, it's been
ten years since they were able tosweep the Bees, which I didn't even
really realize. I didn't I didn'tquite realize that it had been that long.
What was special about that performance toyou what stood out what I think,
even if you take the Kobe factorout, I think when this Organ
team has a checklist of unfinished businessof what they want to accomplish. For
(09:37):
Sabrina, she had never won inthat building. Kelly Greaves as an Organ
head coach, had never won inthat building. That's significant. And I
think to come away with that victoryinto sweep Oregon State a very good an
outstanding Organ State team is quite anaccomplishment. And you've been loving how Sato
Saboi has been playing. Sato hasreally taken it to another level. And
(10:00):
usually when we talk about that,we mean, oh, she's really shooting
well, she's scoring a lot,and she's doing a good job at times
scoring, but it's the way she'splaying the game, a commitment to defense,
hitting big shots when her team needsit, just not relying on Sabrina
to have to do that, andjust defending and hustle and rebounding and getting
(10:22):
to the free throw line. Andthose are all the things that this Organ
team needs from saw too, andreally from everybody to get where they want
to go, and that's to thefinal Foreign National Championship. Because by the
way, they've got a pretty interestingroad trip coming up the board. Yeah,
and you're calling their game on Thursday, by the way, on the
PAC twelve networking paw at Utah,and then they've got Colorado and then Monday
(10:45):
Yukon why not? Yeah, andthen you go back home and you you
know, you do the Arizonas again. Do you think there's gonna be a
little little drama around that weekend?I mean, it's a incredible love and
days for this team. And thenif you back it up to what happened
over the past week, the buildup to the Civil War, the Civil
(11:07):
War and the emotion of Kobe's deathand Gigi's death, this is quite a
like an eighteen day you know,adventure for this for this Oregon team.
Yeah, there's no doubt about it. And I think the person more qualified
than anybody to talk to about whatthey're about to be facing is Kelly Graves,
the head coach of the third rankedOregon Ducks, joins us now on
(11:30):
the podcast. Kelly, welcome back. Thanks so much for being with us
today. We really appreciate you makingthe time. Well, good morning.
Great to be with you. Iknow there's a lot to celebrate with the
big weekend you guys had on thecourt, and certainly congratulations I'm getting the
sweep over Oregon State, but Ialso know the last forty eight hours for
you and your players have been reallydifficult and emotional and for some to bring
(11:52):
in particular who was close with KobeBryant. So can you just coach walk
us through what Sunday was like foryour team and how you navigated that game
as a coach and honestly even asa as a dad. Well, it
was really a certain real day.I mean, it's certainly nothing that you
can can prepare for, and youknow, you just kind of you go
(12:16):
with your gut and you try tomake the best decisions and you try to
make it as normal as possible,because you know, we did have a
game to play. But at thesame time, you have to be uh,
you know, mindful of you know, the feelings of your players and
in particular Sabrina. So you know, I've I've had in the past,
you know, maybe family members havepassed, never you know, an hour
(12:39):
or so before the game. Andthe honest truth is we didn't know as
we got off the bus and walkedin and uh into Guilt Coliseum, and
they were in the locker room.I always go upstairs on the main court
while the team's practice changing, andI was just sitting there and that's when
the ESPN crew came over and said, hey, you know, I don't
know if you've heard this just happened. I immediately ran downstairs because you know
(13:03):
these kids nowadays, they had theirphones with them in the locker room and
and you know, they always takea glance at it. And I got
there just a little bit too late, and uh, you know, the
news had already spread and the teamwas all huddled together, you know,
crying, and I know Kobe andGigi's passing as well as you know the
(13:24):
other seven, including the Altabelli family, which you know their ducks. Um,
you know, really hit home toeverybody. It was a little bit
more for this team because a lotof our players and especially Sabrina, had
developed relationships personal relationships with Kobe andand Gigi, so, uh, you
know, it was a it wasa tough moment, and but you know,
(13:48):
they they rallied together and uh andyou know we were able to go
up and and play with maybe alittle more purpose than we would have.
There was an amazing moment that thatwe did just talk about, and you
made reference to it um before thegame in which the Organ players and the
Organ State players came together on thecourt stead of prayer hugged each other.
(14:09):
You've been doing this a long time, coach. What what did that moment
represent to you as you watched it? Well, I didn't see it until
after I was downstairs with with Sabrina. You know, Sabrina did not come
up and warm up with the team. Um, she stayed. She stayed
downstairs in the locker room the entiretime, so she wasn't there when that
happened. But I think it's reallyspecial when something like that happens organically.
(14:33):
And you know, I know theBeavers are arrivals and uh, you know,
but for for that day anyway,it was good to see the two
teams come together. And I givethem a lot of credit because I think
it was their team they kind ofinitiated that, and um, you know,
so it goes to show, youknow, sometimes these little petty rivalries
and differences that we all have reallydon't mean a whole lot. Uh.
(14:54):
And so that that was that,that was meat to see that that happened.
But you know, I was justreally proud of the team, how
they how they rallied around each other, and especially Sabrina. You know,
their their sister because you know,Kobe and her and and Gigi and Sabrina
were very good friends. I meanthey communicated several times a week with each
(15:16):
other via phone call and text,and and you know it's like she you
know, he was her mentor andand it was like losing in the family
member. So I know it reallyhit hit home to her and the rest
of the team. But my goodness, what an effort she gave that day
under the circumstances. And then theinterview post game right on the spot.
(15:37):
It just shows how much class employsshe has to be able to get through
something like that. So, youknow, what we've been witnessing the last
three and a half years is somethingpretty special with with Sabrina. Yeah,
I think that spot on Kelly andfor those maybe who didn't see it,
Sabrina in that interview after the winsaid that you know, she's dedicating the
(15:58):
season to Kobe and that everything she'sdoing she's doing it for him. So
so last thing on this and thenwe can kind of move on and talk
about what else is going on withyour team. But what's your sense of
where Sabrina is right now? Asyou guys get ready for the second stretch
of the conference season. Have youhave you had a chance to really sit
down and talk to her. No, Like I said, we spoke for
a few moments yesterday. I'll havea chance to see her today. It's
(16:19):
it's the you know light. Youknow, ESPN's here to do a photo
shoot with her for a couple hourstoday. Um, she agreed to to
go ahead and do that. Ithink she's going to be one of their
focus focuses for a you know,a cover uh in March. Um,
you know she had a million requestsyesterday, I know she didn't as far
(16:41):
as I know, didn't do anyinterviews or anything. She was laying pretty
low. So I think we'll seetoday. Uh. You know, she's
a competitor. Um, she's gonnatake it, you know, um,
internalize it and then you know,I don't know, We're we're going to
ABC and even more focused Sabrina,which is really scary at for all our
(17:06):
competition. I don't know how thisis going to play out with her,
But knowing her and knowing Kobe andhow well she knew Kobe. I think
she's going to channel this to nothingbut positive. Coach, It's uh,
you know, your job is togo out coach that game, and so
you're you're able to sweep Oregon Statesomething you had not wont a Gil Sabrina
(17:29):
and that senior class had not wontedGil. With all the cope, the
events of the day, to stillbe able to accomplish that, that that
that, you know, something thatwas so important everybody. What what was
it like at the end of Sundayto know that you were able to achieve
that. Well, we were obviously, you know, excited that did that
(17:51):
happened, But if you look atyou know, watch my press conference after
her, there was really no joyin it. It was a bitter sweet
victory. Um and so on aday that you know, we should have
just been really celebrating. It washard to do. But but obviously it
was a huge victory for for us, you know, to get that monkey
off our back having not won there. But in the standings, you know
(18:12):
a few people are going to beable to go into Gil and win,
and now to beat them twice,you know, puts them in a in
a difficult spot, but it reallyyou know, propels us forward and puts
us into a position that that thatwe wanted to be in. So um,
yeah it was. It was abig victory. It's a big weekend.
And what a great weekend for collegebasketball. I mean they had over
(18:34):
nine thousand and sold out and wehad twelve thousand, three hundred sixty four
and sold out in an electric environment. You were there, you saw it.
Um, it's great for college basketball. I mean, what a what
an amazing weekend. This is Thisis what it can be like when you
when you build a good program.When two two good programs and a market
(18:56):
get the support of the universities,people will come. And I don't think
people realize what lays ahead for youguys, lies ahead for you guys that
you don't just hit the pause buttonand say, you know, oh,
we just won the Civil War.It's a short week for you guys.
You go to Utah, a placethat has a great hold on you personally,
Then you go to Colorado, andthen you go to Yukon for Big
(19:18):
Monday, and then it doesn't endthere, Kelly. Then you come back
home and play Arizona in Arizona StateI mean the next those five days and
eleven days backed up with what justhappened and the Civil War is an amazing
two and a half weeks of emotion, hard work and focus and physically and
emotionally for your team. Not tomention, let's go to school and take
(19:44):
tests and write papers is quite anendeavor. Yeah, it is. And
LA even add to it. Thenwe after we have the Arizonas, then
we go back to back weekends inCalifornia. You go to the Bay and
then to LA back to back weekend, so we have seven of the next
nine games on the road. Ito me that it's ridiculous. I think
(20:04):
it's the scheduling was done poorly.So you know, I'll put whoever unnoticed
on that I did not have anythingto do with them. No, I
know that was me, Kelly.I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'll do
better next year. But but youknow what we have to guard against this
week, you know, like yousaid, a short week after a very
(20:26):
emotional weekend against your rival. Butyou know, we we handled both the
Colorado and Utah quite handily here athome, and we we just got to
make sure that our team focused,stays focused, and listen, it's always
different when you're on the road.Number one and number two, we've got
to guard against them. Looking aheadto the Yukon game. Um, you
know, with all due respect toYukon, the Utah and the Colorado games
(20:48):
are more important to us. Youknow, they're the ones that will allow
us the opportunity to perhaps get thePortland Regional. You know, we want
to win the Pack twelve and andthe Yukon game, as great as it
is, it does not help usto that end. So um, yeah,
it'll be it'll be difficult, butif anybody can do it, it's
this team. We have experience,you know, Ruthie and Sabrina, it's
(21:11):
not their first rodeo Stattoo has beenyou know around the block. We we
we have a you know, veryexperienced group. You know, not only
in just age and experience on thecourt, but you know they're they're locked
in there. I think we're goingto be fine. If anybody can handle
this stretch, it's it's this group. But we're gonna everybody it. You
(21:33):
know, I'm not gonna be ableto play Sbrinea forty minutes like we did
on Sunday and sat too. Youknow, we're going to have to rely
on the bench and and we're gettinghealthier, which which is going to be
good. And Kelly, I knowwe've talked to prior to getting on.
We talked about Kobe and his daughter. But you, uh, you grew
up loving basketball because of your dad. Joey was a college professor at Utah
UM and a big, big fanof the Utes. And I didn't realize
(21:56):
he was an usher and used togo to games before and then hang out
after and listen to the radio show. And you used to you were an
usher too, and work concessions atfootball games. I mean, so going
back to Salt Lake City and Utahmust must be a special thing for you
as well as it is. I, you know, have great memories there
and and certainly me and my dad. I mean I looked at Gigi and
(22:18):
Kobe and their relationship and it waslike that with my dad. He h
Yeah. I worked at the Universityof Utah and I grew up I'm a
cultured guy, you know, theselittle palets and plays and all this stuff,
because he would take tickets there andI was actually in a few plays
up at the University of Utah whenI was a kid, but the basketball
games were special. We had toget there early. I would go down
(22:40):
and watch the team warm up beforethe warm ups, you know when they
come out and shoot around, andI was just mesmerized with them. And
then after the games would go home. We'd listened to the post game on
the radio and the coaches talking andthe analysis and that kind of stuff,
and that was that was a greattime, you guys. I never missed
a game when I was a kid. Well, and you know, I
love going back there. I getto see my family. They always come
(23:02):
to the game, and uh,you know, it was a neat time.
So Utih's, you know, stilla special place. It's one of
the few fight songs I can stillsee. I was the world and I
did become an usher and then soldconcessions and stuff, you know, the
kind of hand. I was theworld's worst usher. Because at the basketball
in high school, maybe even juniorjunior high I would sit down. Yeah,
(23:26):
I would sit down on the backon the top row where I'm supposed
to be standing and helping people.I sit down and watch the game.
See wherever you want helping. Iwasn't helping the patrons at all. You're
on your own kid. You gotto take and read work and goes,
here's a cup, you come onback and fill up your PEPs. Ain't
no problem. You aren't your renaissanceman. I've always I've always said that
(23:48):
about you, and this just interviewis for coach. You're an actor,
yeah, I mean when you're atyou're everything. Um, you mentioned I
did a parody. I was goingto play a parody of Star Wars.
And I still remember my one line. What was your line? You know
she's pretty, but can she handlea starship? That was my one line.
(24:10):
No, Kelly, I'm gonna I'mgonna leave it there. That's outstanding,
Kelly oh Man. And I doremember, I mean, yeah,
it goes back to the commercial.Yeah, we just it's it's good stuff.
Um. You mentioned though, andI do want to follow up about
your relationship with your dad and andwhat basketball meant to that relationship. And
you obviously have three sons Max,you know, and with the Dallas Mavericks
(24:33):
now player development, and I knowthat basketball has been a huge part of
your relationship with them as they've grownup. So how would you you look
at what your relationship was like withyour dad and the role that basketball played
in that. And then you lookat in turn what it is with your
own sons. How would you describeit? Well, I think it's really
what's you know, in large partor in at least some part, kept
(24:55):
the family together. You know,it's a love of sports, a love
of basketball. You mentioned Max aplayer development with the Mavericks, and he's
now making his way through through what'sgoing to be I think, a great
career. My middle son, Jackis at an assistant coach for the Lane
Community College women's basketball team, andmy youngest son is playing basketball at come
Zaga. And Mark few by theway, if you're listening, get the
(25:18):
kids some more time for the lastfive three pointers. So Mark, you
definitely listened to this podcast. I'vebeen told, Okay, good, So
I think it's neat. And mywife, you know, bless her heart,
she's the one that keeps it alltogether. And she's my best assistant
coach that I've ever had, andshe's really helped navigate through this. I
(25:38):
know her and Sabremea are close andthey talked pretty much every day and I
just, uh, you know,it's it's something that's really helped the family
stay close, and I it warmsmy heart to see all three of my
boys kind of either in the professionor headed that way. I wouldn't be
surprised if all three didn't get intocoaching at some level. So I think
(26:00):
that's pretty neat. And they lovetheir grandpa Joe, that's for sure.
And they knew he loved he lovedbasketball. It's so much coach. And
we talked a lot about Sabrana.We always talk about, you know,
the big three with Satu and Ruthie. But I'd love to get your perspective.
Is there a player on your teamwho's really shown up for you in
a big way that maybe people aren'ttalking enough about. Well, I think
(26:22):
Taylor Chavis and Jesh Shelley collectively comingoff the bench for us have been huge.
Taylor's been lights out in conference playin terms of shooting, and defensively,
she's become one of our stoppers.I think Kerr and Mignon more and
when those two are in together reallymake life difficult for our opponents. And
(26:44):
I think where we've made the biggestimprovement, the biggest jump has been defensively.
And you guys, we orgers.They scored twenty points on us in
the second half. We really lockedthem down and we did that for a
good period here at home as well. So, yeah, Taylor I think
has been great. And uh andJazz is I think one of the best
(27:07):
two or three freshmen in the conference. You know. I know the numbers
don't always show it because she's playingbehind a couple of pros, you know,
so she's not getting the time thatmaybe other freshmen are. But I
would I would say those two Kelly, how do you go from being a
team that sort of people perceived asyou could just the goal is to outscore
(27:29):
people to now you're you're stopping people. And Sabrina spoke about it after the
game on Friday night, the firstvictory in the Civil War at home,
just that the commitment we're not goinganywhere unless we play defense. I mean,
how did that mindset change? Well, I think it's just, uh,
you know, something that we focusedon and realize, hey, we
(27:49):
can't just outscore people. I meanearly in the year when we lost to
Louisville, you know, we wehad a tough shooting night. That's going
to happen, but we weren't goodenough to sensively to stay in the game
and give ourselves a chance to win. And then I think again we were
awakened against Arizona State. You know, we've been a solid defensive team this
(28:11):
year, the entire season, butI just really see our team getting locked
in right now, and you know, it's just an emphasis so we put
on in practice. I think we'vedone. My staff has done a better
job of preparing our team, youknow, not just a day before a
game, but a couple of daysbefore, working on concepts the things that
we're going to see, not necessarilythe plays, a couple days before,
(28:33):
and our team has taken it toheart. So hey, if we want
to reach the goals that we knowwe can, we're going to have to
play both ends of the floor.And it's really nice seeing that happen right
now. I know we've talked alot about people that mean a lot to
you, and one of those peopleis jarr Payne, and you'll be matching
up with her this Saturday. WhenI think about Coach of the Year,
(28:56):
of course you're in the conversation.JR. Payne is doing it amazing job
with her squad this year and almostbeat Stanford at Stanford this past weekend.
Um, that game goes to overtime. What do you see in Jr?
And what she's been able to dothis year that has taken her team from
everyone say you're going to finish youknow twelve. I think they're number forty
in r PI and like they're onthe bubble for the NCAA tournament. Well,
(29:21):
you know how I feel about you, you know, just like a
daughter. I love her and Ilove Torano. I love her her family
to death. She was, um, you know, I was kidding her.
Last time I saw her, Isaid, you're still on my Mount
rushmore of great point guards and that'sa pretty good list. That was at
Saint Mary's. Yea, Courtney VanderSleute and Sabrina and Mite And I said,
Jay, are you're still on their? Kid? You're moving down the
(29:45):
list. But well she is andshe understands that and she's okay with that.
You know, she is a realcompetitor, you guys. It's funny
on a week where we're talking alot about Kobe Jr. Has that in
her, just that focus, thatthat ability to uh uh, you know,
she's really smart. She was asmart player and a smart coach.
(30:07):
But she is really competitive and andhas great focus. She's brought that to
her team. They have her personality. I love this group and they're young,
they're they're going to be you know, they're obviously a factor now with
two road wins. Impact well,who would have thought that already. But
(30:27):
this is a team to be reckonedwith this year and beyond. But she
works hard at it. She's verylikable. I know her team loves her.
You know, she she's one ofthose coaches that I'm sure gets on
them from time to time, butthey know that she cares about them more
than just as a player. AndI think when you can strike that balance,
(30:47):
that's when you you get players thatare really going to work hard for
you because they know you love them. And that's and she's got that.
I think the fact that her youknow, being being a mom, they
get to see her in both waysand I think you know that that helps
soften sometimes when she is hard onthem. But I love her. I
think she's done a great job.And uh, and that's going to be
(31:08):
a tough game for us. There'sno question. It's the second game of
the road trip. It's it's ataltitude and it's the game right before we
go to Yukon, so we've gotto make sure we're laser focused or you
know, that's the place we couldwe could get beat. Coach, you
mentioned the Mountain rushmore of point guardsthat you've been able to coach in your
career, and you're going to havemore talent coming there that could be in
(31:30):
the mix for that. We werelaughing at the day the rosters for the
McDonald's all American teams came out,and we knew you had the number one
recruiting class, but the fact thatall five of your freshmen next year are
McDonald's all Americans. It's only happenedonce before Tennessee, I think back in
two thousand and eight. But whatwhat was your reaction when you saw that?
I mean, you know, Iknow you said you've got the right
(31:51):
people and the numbers and ringings don'tmatter. But what did you laugh?
Did you smile when you saw that? Oh, we were thrilled. We
were actually watching the when they announcedit as a whole staff and we were
hoping when our fingers crossed, thoughtit might happen. But you know,
never know what politics on those things, and to see it actually happened.
Was it's a thrill you throw intheir Sedona Prince, who's sitting out,
(32:15):
will be another freshman. She wasa McDonald's. Well, I said,
six McDonald's all Americans in that freshmanclass next year. But but like I
said, you know that the rankingsall, that's really great. I'm most
happy for them because I know it'ssuch an honor, that big deal,
and and happy for us because they'renot just talented players. They really are
good students, good citizens. They'reall winners for the five one state championships
(32:39):
and the only one that didn't tooksecond in California, and they're the number
one ranked high school team right nowin the USA today, So they're all
winners and I love that. Soit's, um, yeah, what a
thrill. I wish that we couldgo to the game. I don't think
they allow us to go, whichis unfortunate. I would love to be
(32:59):
there and be that proud coach withmy chest out, but I'll have to
watch it like everybody else. Iguess on TV coach people don't realize how
tough it is to be a coachbecause you're living in the now, in
the moment, like the games youhave coming up, but then you're living
in the future with what you haveto do with your recruits. I mean,
you really have a foot in bothworlds and not always two feet in
(33:22):
the same world, right do youdo? You have to be in the
moment and coach this team, butalways with an eye to the future.
One of the things I've done,I've been able to do, and I'm
thankful for a great staff. Ido a lot of work in the offseason.
In the spring, I'll go visitanybody, you know, when we're
allowed to go in the false samething. I try to get all my
(33:44):
work done with the upcoming recruiting classesdone non season because once the season starts,
I will not miss a practice everfor a recruiting trip. And I
don't make recruiting trips because I reallywant to stay in the moment and h
and that's when my you know,I rely on the staff to go out
and get things done. So that'sjust kind of always been my philosophy.
(34:07):
I don't want my players to think, oh, I'm you know, I'm
not worried about then now, I'mworried about the future. When the season
starts, I'm here and I'm hereevery day. I love that and and
coach, we just want to thankyou so much again for your time and
your perspective and all of this.At Utah on Thursday. As we mentioned,
Mary Murphy and Christin Blank will haveto call seven o'clock on the Pactrol
(34:29):
Network in the Pactrol now at Coloradoone o'clock on Saturday. That will also
be on our air. And thenyeah, just one last thing for me
and then we'll let you get onwith your day. But sure, going
to ukon Big Monday on ESPN.You and the Huskies do have one common
opponent. They just played the women'snational team. So if we go off
those results, you guys should haveno problem at all in stores. Is
(34:51):
that right? Is my math correcton there? Sure? Well we'll go
with that, Storry. Yeah,we'll see if that works. I watched
the game. Who is very impressedwith Yukon. I thought they looked really,
really good. Um, so it'sgonna be I think it's gonna be
great, you guys. I it'snot ideal the timing, but I'm glad
(35:14):
that we agreed. ESPN is theone that put this deal together, and
I'm glad we agreed with it.Um, they'll be out here in a
couple of years, but um,we want to compete against the best.
I think it's gonna make us better. And we're representing the West Coast and
we're representing the Pac twelve. Haveyou been to gamble, coach, I
(35:35):
have not. I've never been tostores over the river and through the woods
and forward to the trip myself.Good, bring your bring your winter coat,
the big coat. Well, Iam going to the mountain schools this
week? Yeah, good, havethe puffy. Are you guys gonna watch
the Super Bowl? Where's this?Are you gonna be practicing on Sunday?
(35:57):
Well, we'll practice, but yeah, we'll have to work it around the
Super Bowl. Half my roster.Half my roster's international, and they don't
understand anywhere. They don't even goto the home football games. I don't
know if it's going to be thatbig a deal for them. Oh,
fair enough, all right, well, coach, we we really appreciate it.
Again, Thank you for the time, and we'll be watching. Best
(36:19):
of luck this weekend and certainly therest of the way. My pleasure.
Glad to be with you always.Great to catch up with Kelly Grays appreciate
his time and perspective certainly, andI'm looking forward to see, you know,
how that thing goes the rest ofthe way. Because Colin and I
were talking about this, Mary,I was listening to Sabrina in that postgame
interview on Sunday, and it didfeel like, you know, it's just
(36:40):
it's almost like she's going to turnthe corner and this is for Kobe and
we're doing this and unfinished business justbecame about even something bigger. I agree,
But I think we all can relatein our personal lives when something incredibly
emotionally hits you. I mean it'salmost like you random marathon, So I
think from a fatigue standpoint, andthen you're going on the road and playing
an elevation and then go into Yukonand then I think this is a very
(37:02):
very very difficult stretch physically and emotionallyfor this team, and they're going to
be tested mightily because everybody wants tobeat them. Yeah, no doubt about
it. They got the bull's eyeon their back, all right. The
other I mean, there's a lotmore to talk about the other big game
obviously, as you look at theweekend coming up, on Friday, UCLA
at Arizona. The Wildcats, bythe way, sitting at number sixteen,
(37:24):
that's their highest ranking since two thousand. They come up with the huge win
over ACU in front of just acompletely raucous crowd. Tell me about what
Arizona's Territorial Cups sweep meant and whatit could mean even as we look onto
to the NCAA tournament. Well,I just think what a Dia Barnes and
(37:46):
her staff have done at Arizona isamazing, bordering on miraculous. I mean,
it's a program that was way waydown and certainly Aery McDonald transferring in
was when you get a superstar ofthat level, but you can't win with
one. And they've done a greatjob of getting out and recruiting. They've
done it internationally and now they've movedmore into the to the US. But
(38:07):
you know, you just watch Adia, you watch her Twitter account or Instagram
account, just how she relates tothe fans down there, and um,
you know it's similar to you know, what what's been what happened at Oregon
State and Scott Ruick and what KellyGraves has put together. You know,
like these towns embrace this, thesethese this team and that they want to
(38:30):
follow it. I mean, thecrowd was amazing. Since first time since
two thousand you beat Arizona State inthe sweep, it's it's it's uh,
it's big time. And the roadtrip now is so much tougher. But
you know, they want to theywant to get to the NCAA tournament.
They want, they want, theyhave high aspirations and you've got to keep
the ball rolling. And this weekendis huge for this for this team.
(38:52):
And you can see already, youknow, it's it's Tuesday and Adia is
at it like let's go. Isthere is there a way? And you
know, I know we want totalk about RPI because I think it's it's
significant and you sit on a tweeter. I think it was this weekend about
how despite losing I mean organ State, it's a perfect example. But we'll
get to that in one second.But just is there a way that Arizona
(39:14):
could host in the unsuitable tournament?You think that's possible? Right now?
It feels like a long shot tome that they'd really but it's not right
now, it is, but ifyou start beating people in RPI ahead of
you. Yes, anything is possible. You know, that's a top sixteen.
But you mentioned Oregon State. Theyhave lost four of five and they're
(39:36):
thirteen RPI. What does that tellyou? Yeah, they have a really
really good team and they're sitting atfour and foreign conference. It's um,
it's just an amazing season and thecompetitiveness, you know, game in and
game out is something to watch.And UCLA we mentioned so that that game,
you know, at Arizona on Fridayon the PAC twelve network, UCLA.
(39:58):
The Bruins are sitting at six inthe RPI, And I remember after
they lost to USC and Corey Closesaid something to the effective like, we
learned some really hard lessons. Weneeded to address some things that winning was
masking and and it's harder to getthose messages across when you keep winning.
And so the USC, it feltlike that loss was maybe a little bit
of a reset. And then theycome out and you know, are able
(40:20):
to sweep this weekend the Washington schoolsand where where is right? But let's
keep in mind that Washington game wasan overtime game, and that you know,
Washington was right there and I canstill see the face of Missy Peterson
as she's running back during that broadcastand we had a closeup of her face
and she's just like, let's go, you guys. So a you Dub
team that thinks they can beat anybody. And I think that the same thing
(40:45):
goes for Washington State and just upand down. How about Colorado? We
talked a little bit with Kelly aboutthat, picked twelfth in the conference.
I mean they have a chip ontheir shoulder the size of the Rocky Mountains,
like respect us and a three pointloss at home to UCLA, you
know, the overtime loss to Stanford. Those games go the other way.
(41:06):
Colorado is five and three with victoriesover UCILING and Stanford. Think about that
for a second. Colorado is sittingat forty three in the RPI, so
the middle of this conference, andwe don't even know what the middle is
gonna be when the whole thing's over. Yeah, I mean it's game on.
Who would be here? If youhad to pick your coach of the
year right now and vote today,who would you vote for? I would
(41:29):
pick JR. Pain? Yeah,I would pick JR. Pain. I
mean people would just writing them off, and you know, they just walk
in a gym and their freshman pointguard Sharad is just something to watch and
competitive and confident and they take thefloor and you're in for a battle.
I'm really proud of what she's beenable to do, and Kelly spoke very
eloquently about that. I want toask about the freshman because I think that's
(41:52):
one of the big storylines certainly thatthis year, and just all of the
incredible young faces that we're watching developright kind of before our very eyes.
We knew it was a talented freshmangroup coming in, but you kind of
go down the list. I mean, Ashton Prectel a perfect example, and
the way she kind of put theteam on the back this weekend. There's
so many different Chrisma Osborne at UCLA, Brenna Maxwell, which she's been doing
(42:13):
at Utah. Fran believe you gota chance to interview her after the Utah
game, and overall the freshman andjust who has really stood out to you
and why every it feels like everyweekend another one emergence. You know,
Taylor Jones has been fantastic and youthink about the great post players at Oregon
States had She's been off the charts. Kennedy Brown hasn't gotten her offense going,
(42:35):
but her rebounding and defense has beenterrific. Charisma Osbourne at UCLA,
Hey, you're a starter, weneed everything like that. You're a senior
that she can do. A coupleof freshman at Utah, Brenna Maxwell and
Lola Pendonde. Those two they canget after it. I mean Maxwell can
shoot as well as anybody in theconference. Freshman from USC. We knew
(42:57):
they had a great class, butboy, this is a USC two.
We haven't even talked about them.They've won three of five. They were
oh in five in conference. Nowthey're three and five and they're thinking,
you know, they're only two gamesout. When you start thinking about pushing
up and getting getting where you wantto go. But uh, it's it's
an amazing conference of any walker's playingwell for Arizona State up and down.
(43:21):
It's it's just the freshman of theweek. Every week. It's like,
who's it going to be this time? Yeah? And this week it was
in DIA writers from USC and theTrojans. I think that it is a
great story and what Mark Track hasbeen able to do. You start oh
on five and it feels like thewheels are coming off and oh my gosh,
we got all these new pieces andnow it's gonna and then slowly,
but Shirley, as you mentioned,you go from oz and five to three
and five, so it's it's hugefor them, no doubt. All right,
(43:44):
we're gonna be hitting you pointed out, and it's important that we're gonna
be at the halfway point of thePac twelve season after Thursday's games, which
is kind of crazy. This seasonhas gone so fast. So as you
look ahead to Las Vegas and thosecoveted top four spots in the conference tournament,
they are going to be of utmostimportance. Tell me about the battle
(44:06):
for the number four spots. Asyou look at the standings right now,
well, I think you know.You look at Stanford, UCLA, and
Oregon all sitting at seven and one, and then at five and three at
ASU in Arizona, four and fourOregon State, and then we've got three
at three and five in Colorado,USC and Utah, and there's so much
room. When we look at theschedule, of course, we all talk
about the unbalanced schedule, so everybody'snot playing the same people. People like
(44:30):
Colorado and Utah, their schedule isunbelievable. They literally have three gauntlets with
there's no breaks in their schedule andUCLA has yet to really hit a gauntlet.
They're going to hit it the lastweekend of February excuse me, of
January and into February. So asas the games roll on, we're going
(44:51):
to start learning a lot more aboutthese teams UCLA this weekend in the Desert,
you know, Charlie's gonna have hersquad ready to go, and you
know it's just going to be af fired up environment. So um.
You know you asked the question beforewe went on air, what are the
big games this weekend? Well?Who thought Colorado Stanford was gonna be a
big game? And that thing wentto overtime? Yeah, you know,
who thought UCLA Washington was going tobe a big ball game? You know,
(45:15):
like that's why you play the games. Yeah, it's possible to predict,
especially in this conference. We wouldwe learned anything, and yeah you
mentioned UCLA. Yeah, go ahead, when it's worth Mary, Like Charlie
Cream's got Colorado as his next fourout team and he's he's had them on
the bubble all all season. SoI just feel like they're entering such a
critical part of their their schedule totry to try to get in there and
(45:37):
think if they could call an upsetone of the you know, get one
of the games this weekend. Butyou guys, think about just that statement
Colorado is on the bubble, likeyou know, media day was like,
oh, poor Colorado, They're justtwelfth. They're not. No, nobody
has just anything anymore and it justgotta come ready to play. Uh.
One other piece of news that Idefinitely want to get your take on that
(46:00):
that came out I think it wasyesterday, is the four finalists for the
twenty twenty twenty twenty six Final four. When these women's final four we're just
announced and Portland and Phoenix were bothin that top four. So I mean,
and it's a big deal that theWest Coast getting a final four is
something that you know, I thinka lot of people are really excited about
(46:21):
at the prospect of what what wasyour take when when that came out?
It's about time. Yeah, thelast time on West Coast final four was
held was in San Jose in nineteenninety nine. Yeah, I mean that's
a long time ago, and Ithink Rebecca talked about it like West Coast
is where it's at for women's basketballright now. It's exciting. We all
know what the regional last year atPortland was one of the most They broke
(46:45):
history with attendance records. And thatwas put together by Oregan State, the
Trailblazers and sport organ And the samething down in Phoenix put together by ASU,
the Phoenix Mercury and their sport organization. So excellent opportunity. Maybe Phoenix
in Portland will both get maybe onewill get twenty five and one will get
twenty six. Columbus is in themix, Tampa's in the mix. We
(47:07):
know people love to go warm.I love to be cool. So you
get you know, warm in Phoenixand you get cool in Portland. Just
a cool scene. Yeah cool,I got you right, that's a great
coffee. The kids are using theword cool these days. You know what
I'm saying, I got you.I'm picking up with your button now I'm
looking with your stupid and marry um. Okay. But there's one very important
thing that we have yet to dotoday, and that's my favorite segment on
(47:30):
the show. And now from Murphy'sLaw, Murphy's Law, what do you
got for me today, Well,it's been a it's been kind of somber
with everything that's been going on.And the thing that I texted to you
over the weekend was student athletes orpeople too. And I think we saw
that raw motion of Sabrina um AliahGoodman's just specialness for humanity. They talked
(47:57):
about um that Mannie Washington was partof that, like looking over at their
opponents and saying all right, let'slet's get together on this. And I
think about Jenessa throw Pay's leadership toget a group together and you've never been
together and you kind of hold eachother and you say a prayer. I
mean that takes guts. And RuthieHibbert the same thing. These are people
who've got a lot going on intheir lives with school, academics, the
(48:21):
emotion of things that happen in life. You know, I was at a
shoot around the other couple of weeksago and a coach came up and said,
you know, uh, Mary's alittle down. You know, she
just broke up with her boyfriend.And you're like, you forget that.
There's there's there's things going on everyday. You know, parents get sick,
grandparents pass away, you live faraway. We have so many international
students, you live far away.Maybe it's the first time I think of
(48:43):
Ashton Prectel. She's got two twoyounger brothers. You know, like you're
the oldest. You leave home andlike everything you've known is not with you,
it's it's somewhere else. And andthe fact that so many of these
players we talk about the team,but when you're when you're a basketball player,
like you want to play, youwant to get the ball, you
want to shoot, you want tobe a star, you want to contribute,
(49:05):
and so mixing the team goals withyour individual goals, there's just there's
so much going on in their lives. And I just think it's important for
people to realize student athletes or peopletoo. So well said, and I
think to piggyback on that take fora minute, whoever is listening to this
podcast, like, think about whatit was like for you to be in
college and whether or not you playeda sport or not, and you just
(49:25):
think about all of the pressures andtime constraints and relationships that you're navigating and
you're figuring out how to be anadult. All of that stuff and social
media to this as well, Yeahexactly, and social media, yes exactly.
And so you're you're hearing that theyou know, the echo chamber,
and it just it's, um,it's amazing what these young women are doing
(49:46):
with their lives and what they're whatthey're navigating through. So yeah, Colleen,
did we did we miss anything?You know? I mean, no,
great job, per usual, ladies. Thanks called ball, you two
and I again, I want toremind everybody that this week is a little
bit different in terms of schedule.We got a couple of Thursday night games,
so be sure to download your PACtwelve now app. Oregon State at
(50:09):
Colorado Thursday five o'clock and then Oregonyou taught seven o'clock both of those times
Pacific and you can watch them onpactrol Mountain and PAC twelve now. And
if you haven't already, folks,please please please do download the pactrol now
app. Set alerts for your favoriteteam so you can get all the news
we got, game time reminders andall the other great interviews content and interviews,
(50:30):
statistics. Our digital squad pumps itall out every week, so be
sure that you've got that downloaded onyour phone. And as always, we
ask you to rate, review,and subscribe the podcast because the future of
this thing, people depends on youand our audience. So if you enjoy
this, please share it with yourfriends and give us a rating. It
really it really does make a bigdifference. But thanks as always for listening.
(50:52):
Our thanks to Kelly Graves for beingan awesome guest and sharing his perspective.
And you know, we joke allthe time, and we end this
podcast to say, go enjoy yourlife. But I will add to that
and say, as my dad saidto me in a text on Sunday,
the entirety of your life is agift, so enjoy it and live it
that way. Have a great week, everybody, hug your people, and
we'll see you next Tuesday.
Yeah, hello, love me tointroduce the podcast of that highest class of
women schools, Pack twelve. Lookat the rankings if you needed to prove
numbers net for lying even do whilespeaking the truth, the calm, the
chaos, who bring in the passionand the player of the year who'll be
a crown shap Begin, let's getthe cracking. What's happening? And Mary
Murphy and Ashley Adams saying yeah,week back again as we say hello again
(00:27):
everybody, welcome back to the podcast, so happy you are here. I'm
Ashley Adamson alongside the great Mary Murphy, our producer Colleen Farrell also in the
chair. It was another huge,huge week and pactual women's hoops in the
books, and we got a lotto talk about obviously today in terms of
what we saw this weekend and what'scoming up, what the Arizona win meants,
what Oregon's huge Civil War sweep meant. Kelly Graves is going to join
(00:51):
us in a couple of minutes andwe'll get into all of that. But
guys, I don't think you canhost a basketball podcast this week without at
least beginning with a ddressing the eventthat that rocked the entire basketball community to
its core. The loss of KobeBryant and his thirteen year old daughter Gianna,
and of course the seven people whowere with them on Sunday in that
(01:11):
helicopter. It's been devastating and personally, I've never felt so crushed by the
loss of someone that I didn't personallyknow, and honestly, Maryan Colleen,
besides the shock of the news itselfon Sunday, the way this has felt
so I don't know, personal wassomething that that sort of caught me off
guard. Yeah, I know.The way I found out was a text
(01:34):
from you right before the game Iwas doing on Sunday, and we both
had the same reaction. This can'tbe true. And it has brought just
a somberness to a lot of people'slives over since that point in time.
And when I think of Kobe,you know, I didn't know him either,
(01:55):
but I know people who've interviewed himand that you know, people like
Sabrina that talk about at him.The thing that struck me the most is
an interview that Angel Gray did.She works does the Cavs, the Cleveland
Cavalier broadcasts, and she did alittle bit before the start of the game
yesterday, and she told a storyabout interviewing Kobe at the w NBA Finals
(02:17):
and he told her that he wasat the game because his daughter, Gigi
wanted him to come to the game, and so that's why he was there.
And then he went on to saythat the reason he's back into basketball,
not women's bath but basketball is becauseof Gigi. So he when he
when he retired, he went away, it wasn't going to be a part
(02:38):
of it, was going to dohis thing, but his daughter and her
love of the game is what broughthim back. And that I played that
a couple of times in just wow. I didn't know that, and that
that really hit me. And hisimpact on girls and women's basketball has been
profound and at every level because herecognized, he supported, he invested his
(03:00):
time and effort to elevate girls andwomen's basketball at every level and youth basketball,
au high school, college, inthe w NBA, and it's profound.
And the second thing about his passingthat that struck me is and it
strikes me all the time in everybuilding I go into, is the father
(03:20):
daughter bond and how important it isin girls and women's lives. What your
relationship with your dad is. AndI think that the fact that he died
at forty one and his daughter waswith him and what his family meant to
him has struck people profoundly as well. And his smile, I feel like,
(03:42):
even in death, just reigns downupon the women's game and it's a
beautiful thing and hopefully people will carrythat on. I couldn't say it better
than you just did, Mary,And I think that was I mean that
the first reaction I had was thatI wanted to call my dad, you
know, when I saw the newsand thinking about all the games he took
me to and how that connection withbasketball in particular for me growing up with
(04:03):
him was such a huge part ofmy relationship. And I think that that
is one of the reasons why thisum hits a lot of people for a
lot of different reasons. And Colleenand I, I was texting with you
when it happened too, when youobviously lived down in LA you grew up
in southern California, and um,you know, I said, I said,
I can't figure out why this feelsso so jarring and painful, And
(04:24):
you know you had you had somegood perspective, I thought, yeah,
I just feel like as a femaleproducer, and I'm sure you two ladies
have been asked this a lot,and and Lorie Brooks is a female director.
The first question after you tells someonewhat you do for a living is
always not at least for me,and I point nine percent of the time
has been well how'd you get intosports? And I My throwaway line,
(04:47):
because I don't want to go downthe road, is usually yeah, well,
I grew up in a family ofbrothers. And then it's like,
all right, what are we gettingfor dinner? And what does that really
mean? Well, it meant growingup in Orange County were a Laker household.
It was dinner and then we puton the Lakers like I, you
know, I was watching ESPN hadhis last game on last night, and
(05:08):
you know, Magic, which wasreally hard to watch. Um and Magic's
talking to the audience and the Lakerfans and he's like, you guys know
where you were when he scored eightyone points? And I was like,
I do know where I was.I was at the end of the couch
with my grandfather. What and andbeing like, uh, pop, he's
he's at sixty and there's still tenminutes, like what do we see in
here? What's going on? Likehe's he's crushing it. And we grew
(05:31):
up with him and I played basketball, We played two on two, me
and my brothers, and so it'sjust he's like this this periphery part of
my life. You know, he'sin your living room every night, so
you know you don't know him,but you feel like you do. And
you know, going off after collegework at ESPN, he's still kind of
(05:53):
part of my world. I thinkwe feel that about a lot of athletes
because we cover them, and sothat's why I kind of feel like and
of course his daughter passing and everything, it's just it was just a lot.
It was just too much. Yeah, it hit in a lot of
a lot of different ways. Ithink that's exactly right. And Mary,
you made the point to me,by the way yesterday and we were talking
(06:15):
that he could have done anything yesseek after he retired from the NBA,
and I said, that just spoketo me because I always appreciated and respected
the hell out of what he didas an NBA player. He was the
you know, his competitive spirit isunlike pretty much anything I think I've ever
seen, But that to me,I truly started appreciating him as a human
after he retired and he went allin on, as you said, being
(06:39):
a dad, being a mentor andfinding his creative voice and supporting women's hoops
at every level and for the women'sgame. What did he teach the world,
and that is that basketball transcends gender. It's an inclusive game, not
an exclusive game. He didn't referto women as women's basketball players. He
referred to them as basketball players.He referred to Sabrina when he sat down
(07:01):
and did the details, you're abasketball player. This is what you need
to do. So I think itjust it's jarring. What kind of the
left turn? He said, We'regonna look at this thing a whole lot
different thing we used to. Andthat's an awesome legacy. Yeah, there's
there's no doubt about it. Andyou know, again, Kobe didn't go
to a pactwelve school, but hewas connected to in a champion for so
(07:23):
many of the young women we cover, and you mentioned in particular Sabrina,
and we're going to talk with KellyGraves in just a couple of minutes here
about what that was like for her. To go out and play in that
game on Sunday, just moments afterfinding the news. But one last thing
and then we can get to someof the basketball, But the image of
the Oregon and Oregon State players huddledtogether in a circle at mid court at
(07:44):
GIL on Sunday before their game,and the tears were flowing, they were
holding hands, they were staying aprayer. Aliah Goodman hugging Mignon more afterwards,
that was just a moment that I'llnever forget and Mary, as Mignon
tweeted later, it was a reminderthat this whole thing is a lot bigger
than basketball. Yeah, and that'sgonna be part of my Murphy's Law later.
(08:05):
Leah Goodman's a real special person.Yeah, no doubt about that.
All right. Well, before Kellyjumps on with us, I do want
to get your thoughts on what Oregonwas able to accomplish this weekend. Obviously,
you were there Friday night at themat and the energy was electric.
You compared it to what a footballgame atmosphere. Yeah, we talked about
it during our game coming into thebuilding. I mean, people were milling
for hours, and you know whata football campus and the Pactwell, feels
(08:28):
like there's people on the street andthe sidewalk across the street at the Wild
Duck. You know, the weatherthere is not great. There's people out
on the sidewalk at three and atfour and line out the door. It
was there was a vibe and energy. Every hotel you're at was packed.
People were talking about the ball gameand the rivalry was real. Even when
(08:50):
I walked in the building, Iwent up to a couple of assistants for
Oregon. I go, you,guys, this feels really different. Feels
like a football game. They said, I know, it feels like we
should be like getting recruits and goingto the football game instead of having a
basketball game. It was a sensationalatmosphere. And over the weekend, you
know what was it twenty one thousandpeople in the state Oregan watched from his
basketball is great. And the sceneat gil you know again on Sunday,
(09:13):
but before that game, what wasincredible and Oregan comes out, it's been
ten years since they were able tosweep the Bees, which I didn't even
really realize. I didn't I didn'tquite realize that it had been that long.
What was special about that performance toyou what stood out what I think,
even if you take the Kobe factorout, I think when this Organ
team has a checklist of unfinished businessof what they want to accomplish. For
(09:37):
Sabrina, she had never won inthat building. Kelly Greaves as an Organ
head coach, had never won inthat building. That's significant. And I
think to come away with that victoryinto sweep Oregon State a very good an
outstanding Organ State team is quite anaccomplishment. And you've been loving how Sato
Saboi has been playing. Sato hasreally taken it to another level. And
(10:00):
usually when we talk about that,we mean, oh, she's really shooting
well, she's scoring a lot,and she's doing a good job at times
scoring, but it's the way she'splaying the game, a commitment to defense,
hitting big shots when her team needsit, just not relying on Sabrina
to have to do that, andjust defending and hustle and rebounding and getting
(10:22):
to the free throw line. Andthose are all the things that this Organ
team needs from saw too, andreally from everybody to get where they want
to go, and that's to thefinal Foreign National Championship. Because by the
way, they've got a pretty interestingroad trip coming up the board. Yeah,
and you're calling their game on Thursday, by the way, on the
PAC twelve networking paw at Utah,and then they've got Colorado and then Monday
(10:45):
Yukon why not? Yeah, andthen you go back home and you you
know, you do the Arizonas again. Do you think there's gonna be a
little little drama around that weekend?I mean, it's a incredible love and
days for this team. And thenif you back it up to what happened
over the past week, the buildup to the Civil War, the Civil
(11:07):
War and the emotion of Kobe's deathand Gigi's death, this is quite a
like an eighteen day you know,adventure for this for this Oregon team.
Yeah, there's no doubt about it. And I think the person more qualified
than anybody to talk to about whatthey're about to be facing is Kelly Graves,
the head coach of the third rankedOregon Ducks, joins us now on
(11:30):
the podcast. Kelly, welcome back. Thanks so much for being with us
today. We really appreciate you makingthe time. Well, good morning.
Great to be with you. Iknow there's a lot to celebrate with the
big weekend you guys had on thecourt, and certainly congratulations I'm getting the
sweep over Oregon State, but Ialso know the last forty eight hours for
you and your players have been reallydifficult and emotional and for some to bring
(11:52):
in particular who was close with KobeBryant. So can you just coach walk
us through what Sunday was like foryour team and how you navigated that game
as a coach and honestly even asa as a dad. Well, it
was really a certain real day.I mean, it's certainly nothing that you
can can prepare for, and youknow, you just kind of you go
(12:16):
with your gut and you try tomake the best decisions and you try to
make it as normal as possible,because you know, we did have a
game to play. But at thesame time, you have to be uh,
you know, mindful of you know, the feelings of your players and
in particular Sabrina. So you know, I've I've had in the past,
you know, maybe family members havepassed, never you know, an hour
(12:39):
or so before the game. Andthe honest truth is we didn't know as
we got off the bus and walkedin and uh into Guilt Coliseum, and
they were in the locker room.I always go upstairs on the main court
while the team's practice changing, andI was just sitting there and that's when
the ESPN crew came over and said, hey, you know, I don't
know if you've heard this just happened. I immediately ran downstairs because you know
(13:03):
these kids nowadays, they had theirphones with them in the locker room and
and you know, they always takea glance at it. And I got
there just a little bit too late, and uh, you know, the
news had already spread and the teamwas all huddled together, you know,
crying, and I know Kobe andGigi's passing as well as you know the
(13:24):
other seven, including the Altabelli family, which you know their ducks. Um,
you know, really hit home toeverybody. It was a little bit
more for this team because a lotof our players and especially Sabrina, had
developed relationships personal relationships with Kobe andand Gigi, so, uh, you
know, it was a it wasa tough moment, and but you know,
(13:48):
they they rallied together and uh andyou know we were able to go
up and and play with maybe alittle more purpose than we would have.
There was an amazing moment that thatwe did just talk about, and you
made reference to it um before thegame in which the Organ players and the
Organ State players came together on thecourt stead of prayer hugged each other.
(14:09):
You've been doing this a long time, coach. What what did that moment
represent to you as you watched it? Well, I didn't see it until
after I was downstairs with with Sabrina. You know, Sabrina did not come
up and warm up with the team. Um, she stayed. She stayed
downstairs in the locker room the entiretime, so she wasn't there when that
happened. But I think it's reallyspecial when something like that happens organically.
(14:33):
And you know, I know theBeavers are arrivals and uh, you know,
but for for that day anyway,it was good to see the two
teams come together. And I givethem a lot of credit because I think
it was their team they kind ofinitiated that, and um, you know,
so it goes to show, youknow, sometimes these little petty rivalries
and differences that we all have reallydon't mean a whole lot. Uh.
(14:54):
And so that that was that,that was meat to see that that happened.
But you know, I was justreally proud of the team, how
they how they rallied around each other, and especially Sabrina. You know,
their their sister because you know,Kobe and her and and Gigi and Sabrina
were very good friends. I meanthey communicated several times a week with each
(15:16):
other via phone call and text,and and you know it's like she you
know, he was her mentor andand it was like losing in the family
member. So I know it reallyhit hit home to her and the rest
of the team. But my goodness, what an effort she gave that day
under the circumstances. And then theinterview post game right on the spot.
(15:37):
It just shows how much class employsshe has to be able to get through
something like that. So, youknow, what we've been witnessing the last
three and a half years is somethingpretty special with with Sabrina. Yeah,
I think that spot on Kelly andfor those maybe who didn't see it,
Sabrina in that interview after the winsaid that you know, she's dedicating the
(15:58):
season to Kobe and that everything she'sdoing she's doing it for him. So
so last thing on this and thenwe can kind of move on and talk
about what else is going on withyour team. But what's your sense of
where Sabrina is right now? Asyou guys get ready for the second stretch
of the conference season. Have youhave you had a chance to really sit
down and talk to her. No, Like I said, we spoke for
a few moments yesterday. I'll havea chance to see her today. It's
(16:19):
it's the you know light. Youknow, ESPN's here to do a photo
shoot with her for a couple hourstoday. Um, she agreed to to
go ahead and do that. Ithink she's going to be one of their
focus focuses for a you know,a cover uh in March. Um,
you know she had a million requestsyesterday, I know she didn't as far
(16:41):
as I know, didn't do anyinterviews or anything. She was laying pretty
low. So I think we'll seetoday. Uh. You know, she's
a competitor. Um, she's gonnatake it, you know, um,
internalize it and then you know,I don't know, We're we're going to
ABC and even more focused Sabrina,which is really scary at for all our
(17:06):
competition. I don't know how thisis going to play out with her,
But knowing her and knowing Kobe andhow well she knew Kobe. I think
she's going to channel this to nothingbut positive. Coach, It's uh,
you know, your job is togo out coach that game, and so
you're you're able to sweep Oregon Statesomething you had not wont a Gil Sabrina
(17:29):
and that senior class had not wontedGil. With all the cope, the
events of the day, to stillbe able to accomplish that, that that
that, you know, something thatwas so important everybody. What what was
it like at the end of Sundayto know that you were able to achieve
that. Well, we were obviously, you know, excited that did that
(17:51):
happened, But if you look atyou know, watch my press conference after
her, there was really no joyin it. It was a bitter sweet
victory. Um and so on aday that you know, we should have
just been really celebrating. It washard to do. But but obviously it
was a huge victory for for us, you know, to get that monkey
off our back having not won there. But in the standings, you know
(18:12):
a few people are going to beable to go into Gil and win,
and now to beat them twice,you know, puts them in a in
a difficult spot, but it reallyyou know, propels us forward and puts
us into a position that that thatwe wanted to be in. So um,
yeah it was. It was abig victory. It's a big weekend.
And what a great weekend for collegebasketball. I mean they had over
(18:34):
nine thousand and sold out and wehad twelve thousand, three hundred sixty four
and sold out in an electric environment. You were there, you saw it.
Um, it's great for college basketball. I mean, what a what
an amazing weekend. This is Thisis what it can be like when you
when you build a good program.When two two good programs and a market
(18:56):
get the support of the universities,people will come. And I don't think
people realize what lays ahead for youguys, lies ahead for you guys that
you don't just hit the pause buttonand say, you know, oh,
we just won the Civil War.It's a short week for you guys.
You go to Utah, a placethat has a great hold on you personally,
Then you go to Colorado, andthen you go to Yukon for Big
(19:18):
Monday, and then it doesn't endthere, Kelly. Then you come back
home and play Arizona in Arizona StateI mean the next those five days and
eleven days backed up with what justhappened and the Civil War is an amazing
two and a half weeks of emotion, hard work and focus and physically and
emotionally for your team. Not tomention, let's go to school and take
(19:44):
tests and write papers is quite anendeavor. Yeah, it is. And
LA even add to it. Thenwe after we have the Arizonas, then
we go back to back weekends inCalifornia. You go to the Bay and
then to LA back to back weekend, so we have seven of the next
nine games on the road. Ito me that it's ridiculous. I think
(20:04):
it's the scheduling was done poorly.So you know, I'll put whoever unnoticed
on that I did not have anythingto do with them. No, I
know that was me, Kelly.I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'll do
better next year. But but youknow what we have to guard against this
week, you know, like yousaid, a short week after a very
(20:26):
emotional weekend against your rival. Butyou know, we we handled both the
Colorado and Utah quite handily here athome, and we we just got to
make sure that our team focused,stays focused, and listen, it's always
different when you're on the road.Number one and number two, we've got
to guard against them. Looking aheadto the Yukon game. Um, you
know, with all due respect toYukon, the Utah and the Colorado games
(20:48):
are more important to us. Youknow, they're the ones that will allow
us the opportunity to perhaps get thePortland Regional. You know, we want
to win the Pack twelve and andthe Yukon game, as great as it
is, it does not help usto that end. So um, yeah,
it'll be it'll be difficult, butif anybody can do it, it's
this team. We have experience,you know, Ruthie and Sabrina, it's
(21:11):
not their first rodeo Stattoo has beenyou know around the block. We we
we have a you know, veryexperienced group. You know, not only
in just age and experience on thecourt, but you know they're they're locked
in there. I think we're goingto be fine. If anybody can handle
this stretch, it's it's this group. But we're gonna everybody it. You
(21:33):
know, I'm not gonna be ableto play Sbrinea forty minutes like we did
on Sunday and sat too. Youknow, we're going to have to rely
on the bench and and we're gettinghealthier, which which is going to be
good. And Kelly, I knowwe've talked to prior to getting on.
We talked about Kobe and his daughter. But you, uh, you grew
up loving basketball because of your dad. Joey was a college professor at Utah
UM and a big, big fanof the Utes. And I didn't realize
(21:56):
he was an usher and used togo to games before and then hang out
after and listen to the radio show. And you used to you were an
usher too, and work concessions atfootball games. I mean, so going
back to Salt Lake City and Utahmust must be a special thing for you
as well as it is. I, you know, have great memories there
and and certainly me and my dad. I mean I looked at Gigi and
(22:18):
Kobe and their relationship and it waslike that with my dad. He h
Yeah. I worked at the Universityof Utah and I grew up I'm a
cultured guy, you know, theselittle palets and plays and all this stuff,
because he would take tickets there andI was actually in a few plays
up at the University of Utah whenI was a kid, but the basketball
games were special. We had toget there early. I would go down
(22:40):
and watch the team warm up beforethe warm ups, you know when they
come out and shoot around, andI was just mesmerized with them. And
then after the games would go home. We'd listened to the post game on
the radio and the coaches talking andthe analysis and that kind of stuff,
and that was that was a greattime, you guys. I never missed
a game when I was a kid. Well, and you know, I
love going back there. I getto see my family. They always come
(23:02):
to the game, and uh,you know, it was a neat time.
So Utih's, you know, stilla special place. It's one of
the few fight songs I can stillsee. I was the world and I
did become an usher and then soldconcessions and stuff, you know, the
kind of hand. I was theworld's worst usher. Because at the basketball
in high school, maybe even juniorjunior high I would sit down. Yeah,
(23:26):
I would sit down on the backon the top row where I'm supposed
to be standing and helping people.I sit down and watch the game.
See wherever you want helping. Iwasn't helping the patrons at all. You're
on your own kid. You gotto take and read work and goes,
here's a cup, you come onback and fill up your PEPs. Ain't
no problem. You aren't your renaissanceman. I've always I've always said that
(23:48):
about you, and this just interviewis for coach. You're an actor,
yeah, I mean when you're atyou're everything. Um, you mentioned I
did a parody. I was goingto play a parody of Star Wars.
And I still remember my one line. What was your line? You know
she's pretty, but can she handlea starship? That was my one line.
(24:10):
No, Kelly, I'm gonna I'mgonna leave it there. That's outstanding,
Kelly oh Man. And I doremember, I mean, yeah,
it goes back to the commercial.Yeah, we just it's it's good stuff.
Um. You mentioned though, andI do want to follow up about
your relationship with your dad and andwhat basketball meant to that relationship. And
you obviously have three sons Max,you know, and with the Dallas Mavericks
(24:33):
now player development, and I knowthat basketball has been a huge part of
your relationship with them as they've grownup. So how would you you look
at what your relationship was like withyour dad and the role that basketball played
in that. And then you lookat in turn what it is with your
own sons. How would you describeit? Well, I think it's really
what's you know, in large partor in at least some part, kept
(24:55):
the family together. You know,it's a love of sports, a love
of basketball. You mentioned Max aplayer development with the Mavericks, and he's
now making his way through through what'sgoing to be I think, a great
career. My middle son, Jackis at an assistant coach for the Lane
Community College women's basketball team, andmy youngest son is playing basketball at come
Zaga. And Mark few by theway, if you're listening, get the
(25:18):
kids some more time for the lastfive three pointers. So Mark, you
definitely listened to this podcast. I'vebeen told, Okay, good, So
I think it's neat. And mywife, you know, bless her heart,
she's the one that keeps it alltogether. And she's my best assistant
coach that I've ever had, andshe's really helped navigate through this. I
(25:38):
know her and Sabremea are close andthey talked pretty much every day and I
just, uh, you know,it's it's something that's really helped the family
stay close, and I it warmsmy heart to see all three of my
boys kind of either in the professionor headed that way. I wouldn't be
surprised if all three didn't get intocoaching at some level. So I think
(26:00):
that's pretty neat. And they lovetheir grandpa Joe, that's for sure.
And they knew he loved he lovedbasketball. It's so much coach. And
we talked a lot about Sabrana.We always talk about, you know,
the big three with Satu and Ruthie. But I'd love to get your perspective.
Is there a player on your teamwho's really shown up for you in
a big way that maybe people aren'ttalking enough about. Well, I think
(26:22):
Taylor Chavis and Jesh Shelley collectively comingoff the bench for us have been huge.
Taylor's been lights out in conference playin terms of shooting, and defensively,
she's become one of our stoppers.I think Kerr and Mignon more and
when those two are in together reallymake life difficult for our opponents. And
(26:44):
I think where we've made the biggestimprovement, the biggest jump has been defensively.
And you guys, we orgers.They scored twenty points on us in
the second half. We really lockedthem down and we did that for a
good period here at home as well. So, yeah, Taylor I think
has been great. And uh andJazz is I think one of the best
(27:07):
two or three freshmen in the conference. You know. I know the numbers
don't always show it because she's playingbehind a couple of pros, you know,
so she's not getting the time thatmaybe other freshmen are. But I
would I would say those two Kelly, how do you go from being a
team that sort of people perceived asyou could just the goal is to outscore
(27:29):
people to now you're you're stopping people. And Sabrina spoke about it after the
game on Friday night, the firstvictory in the Civil War at home,
just that the commitment we're not goinganywhere unless we play defense. I mean,
how did that mindset change? Well, I think it's just, uh,
you know, something that we focusedon and realize, hey, we
(27:49):
can't just outscore people. I meanearly in the year when we lost to
Louisville, you know, we wehad a tough shooting night. That's going
to happen, but we weren't goodenough to sensively to stay in the game
and give ourselves a chance to win. And then I think again we were
awakened against Arizona State. You know, we've been a solid defensive team this
(28:11):
year, the entire season, butI just really see our team getting locked
in right now, and you know, it's just an emphasis so we put
on in practice. I think we'vedone. My staff has done a better
job of preparing our team, youknow, not just a day before a
game, but a couple of daysbefore, working on concepts the things that
we're going to see, not necessarilythe plays, a couple days before,
(28:33):
and our team has taken it toheart. So hey, if we want
to reach the goals that we knowwe can, we're going to have to
play both ends of the floor.And it's really nice seeing that happen right
now. I know we've talked alot about people that mean a lot to
you, and one of those peopleis jarr Payne, and you'll be matching
up with her this Saturday. WhenI think about Coach of the Year,
(28:56):
of course you're in the conversation.JR. Payne is doing it amazing job
with her squad this year and almostbeat Stanford at Stanford this past weekend.
Um, that game goes to overtime. What do you see in Jr?
And what she's been able to dothis year that has taken her team from
everyone say you're going to finish youknow twelve. I think they're number forty
in r PI and like they're onthe bubble for the NCAA tournament. Well,
(29:21):
you know how I feel about you, you know, just like a
daughter. I love her and Ilove Torano. I love her her family
to death. She was, um, you know, I was kidding her.
Last time I saw her, Isaid, you're still on my Mount
rushmore of great point guards and that'sa pretty good list. That was at
Saint Mary's. Yea, Courtney VanderSleute and Sabrina and Mite And I said,
Jay, are you're still on their? Kid? You're moving down the
(29:45):
list. But well she is andshe understands that and she's okay with that.
You know, she is a realcompetitor, you guys. It's funny
on a week where we're talking alot about Kobe Jr. Has that in
her, just that focus, thatthat ability to uh uh, you know,
she's really smart. She was asmart player and a smart coach.
(30:07):
But she is really competitive and andhas great focus. She's brought that to
her team. They have her personality. I love this group and they're young,
they're they're going to be you know, they're obviously a factor now with
two road wins. Impact well,who would have thought that already. But
(30:27):
this is a team to be reckonedwith this year and beyond. But she
works hard at it. She's verylikable. I know her team loves her.
You know, she she's one ofthose coaches that I'm sure gets on
them from time to time, butthey know that she cares about them more
than just as a player. AndI think when you can strike that balance,
(30:47):
that's when you you get players thatare really going to work hard for
you because they know you love them. And that's and she's got that.
I think the fact that her youknow, being being a mom, they
get to see her in both waysand I think you know that that helps
soften sometimes when she is hard onthem. But I love her. I
think she's done a great job.And uh, and that's going to be
(31:08):
a tough game for us. There'sno question. It's the second game of
the road trip. It's it's ataltitude and it's the game right before we
go to Yukon, so we've gotto make sure we're laser focused or you
know, that's the place we couldwe could get beat. Coach, you
mentioned the Mountain rushmore of point guardsthat you've been able to coach in your
career, and you're going to havemore talent coming there that could be in
(31:30):
the mix for that. We werelaughing at the day the rosters for the
McDonald's all American teams came out,and we knew you had the number one
recruiting class, but the fact thatall five of your freshmen next year are
McDonald's all Americans. It's only happenedonce before Tennessee, I think back in
two thousand and eight. But whatwhat was your reaction when you saw that?
I mean, you know, Iknow you said you've got the right
(31:51):
people and the numbers and ringings don'tmatter. But what did you laugh?
Did you smile when you saw that? Oh, we were thrilled. We
were actually watching the when they announcedit as a whole staff and we were
hoping when our fingers crossed, thoughtit might happen. But you know,
never know what politics on those things, and to see it actually happened.
Was it's a thrill you throw intheir Sedona Prince, who's sitting out,
(32:15):
will be another freshman. She wasa McDonald's. Well, I said,
six McDonald's all Americans in that freshmanclass next year. But but like I
said, you know that the rankingsall, that's really great. I'm most
happy for them because I know it'ssuch an honor, that big deal,
and and happy for us because they'renot just talented players. They really are
good students, good citizens. They'reall winners for the five one state championships
(32:39):
and the only one that didn't tooksecond in California, and they're the number
one ranked high school team right nowin the USA today, So they're all
winners and I love that. Soit's, um, yeah, what a
thrill. I wish that we couldgo to the game. I don't think
they allow us to go, whichis unfortunate. I would love to be
(32:59):
there and be that proud coach withmy chest out, but I'll have to
watch it like everybody else. Iguess on TV coach people don't realize how
tough it is to be a coachbecause you're living in the now, in
the moment, like the games youhave coming up, but then you're living
in the future with what you haveto do with your recruits. I mean,
you really have a foot in bothworlds and not always two feet in
(33:22):
the same world, right do youdo? You have to be in the
moment and coach this team, butalways with an eye to the future.
One of the things I've done,I've been able to do, and I'm
thankful for a great staff. Ido a lot of work in the offseason.
In the spring, I'll go visitanybody, you know, when we're
allowed to go in the false samething. I try to get all my
(33:44):
work done with the upcoming recruiting classesdone non season because once the season starts,
I will not miss a practice everfor a recruiting trip. And I
don't make recruiting trips because I reallywant to stay in the moment and h
and that's when my you know,I rely on the staff to go out
and get things done. So that'sjust kind of always been my philosophy.
(34:07):
I don't want my players to think, oh, I'm you know, I'm
not worried about then now, I'mworried about the future. When the season
starts, I'm here and I'm hereevery day. I love that and and
coach, we just want to thankyou so much again for your time and
your perspective and all of this.At Utah on Thursday. As we mentioned,
Mary Murphy and Christin Blank will haveto call seven o'clock on the Pactrol
(34:29):
Network in the Pactrol now at Coloradoone o'clock on Saturday. That will also
be on our air. And thenyeah, just one last thing for me
and then we'll let you get onwith your day. But sure, going
to ukon Big Monday on ESPN.You and the Huskies do have one common
opponent. They just played the women'snational team. So if we go off
those results, you guys should haveno problem at all in stores. Is
(34:51):
that right? Is my math correcton there? Sure? Well we'll go
with that, Storry. Yeah,we'll see if that works. I watched
the game. Who is very impressedwith Yukon. I thought they looked really,
really good. Um, so it'sgonna be I think it's gonna be
great, you guys. I it'snot ideal the timing, but I'm glad
(35:14):
that we agreed. ESPN is theone that put this deal together, and
I'm glad we agreed with it.Um, they'll be out here in a
couple of years, but um,we want to compete against the best.
I think it's gonna make us better. And we're representing the West Coast and
we're representing the Pac twelve. Haveyou been to gamble, coach, I
(35:35):
have not. I've never been tostores over the river and through the woods
and forward to the trip myself.Good, bring your bring your winter coat,
the big coat. Well, Iam going to the mountain schools this
week? Yeah, good, havethe puffy. Are you guys gonna watch
the Super Bowl? Where's this?Are you gonna be practicing on Sunday?
(35:57):
Well, we'll practice, but yeah, we'll have to work it around the
Super Bowl. Half my roster.Half my roster's international, and they don't
understand anywhere. They don't even goto the home football games. I don't
know if it's going to be thatbig a deal for them. Oh,
fair enough, all right, well, coach, we we really appreciate it.
Again, Thank you for the time, and we'll be watching. Best
(36:19):
of luck this weekend and certainly therest of the way. My pleasure.
Glad to be with you always.Great to catch up with Kelly Grays appreciate
his time and perspective certainly, andI'm looking forward to see, you know,
how that thing goes the rest ofthe way. Because Colin and I
were talking about this, Mary,I was listening to Sabrina in that postgame
interview on Sunday, and it didfeel like, you know, it's just
(36:40):
it's almost like she's going to turnthe corner and this is for Kobe and
we're doing this and unfinished business justbecame about even something bigger. I agree,
But I think we all can relatein our personal lives when something incredibly
emotionally hits you. I mean it'salmost like you random marathon, So I
think from a fatigue standpoint, andthen you're going on the road and playing
an elevation and then go into Yukonand then I think this is a very
(37:02):
very very difficult stretch physically and emotionallyfor this team, and they're going to
be tested mightily because everybody wants tobeat them. Yeah, no doubt about
it. They got the bull's eyeon their back, all right. The
other I mean, there's a lotmore to talk about the other big game
obviously, as you look at theweekend coming up, on Friday, UCLA
at Arizona. The Wildcats, bythe way, sitting at number sixteen,
(37:24):
that's their highest ranking since two thousand. They come up with the huge win
over ACU in front of just acompletely raucous crowd. Tell me about what
Arizona's Territorial Cups sweep meant and whatit could mean even as we look onto
to the NCAA tournament. Well,I just think what a Dia Barnes and
(37:46):
her staff have done at Arizona isamazing, bordering on miraculous. I mean,
it's a program that was way waydown and certainly Aery McDonald transferring in
was when you get a superstar ofthat level, but you can't win with
one. And they've done a greatjob of getting out and recruiting. They've
done it internationally and now they've movedmore into the to the US. But
(38:07):
you know, you just watch Adia, you watch her Twitter account or Instagram
account, just how she relates tothe fans down there, and um,
you know it's similar to you know, what what's been what happened at Oregon
State and Scott Ruick and what KellyGraves has put together. You know,
like these towns embrace this, thesethese this team and that they want to
(38:30):
follow it. I mean, thecrowd was amazing. Since first time since
two thousand you beat Arizona State inthe sweep, it's it's it's uh,
it's big time. And the roadtrip now is so much tougher. But
you know, they want to theywant to get to the NCAA tournament.
They want, they want, theyhave high aspirations and you've got to keep
the ball rolling. And this weekendis huge for this for this team.
(38:52):
And you can see already, youknow, it's it's Tuesday and Adia is
at it like let's go. Isthere is there a way? And you
know, I know we want totalk about RPI because I think it's it's
significant and you sit on a tweeter. I think it was this weekend about
how despite losing I mean organ State, it's a perfect example. But we'll
get to that in one second.But just is there a way that Arizona
(39:14):
could host in the unsuitable tournament?You think that's possible? Right now?
It feels like a long shot tome that they'd really but it's not right
now, it is, but ifyou start beating people in RPI ahead of
you. Yes, anything is possible. You know, that's a top sixteen.
But you mentioned Oregon State. Theyhave lost four of five and they're
(39:36):
thirteen RPI. What does that tellyou? Yeah, they have a really
really good team and they're sitting atfour and foreign conference. It's um,
it's just an amazing season and thecompetitiveness, you know, game in and
game out is something to watch.And UCLA we mentioned so that that game,
you know, at Arizona on Fridayon the PAC twelve network, UCLA.
(39:58):
The Bruins are sitting at six inthe RPI, And I remember after
they lost to USC and Corey Closesaid something to the effective like, we
learned some really hard lessons. Weneeded to address some things that winning was
masking and and it's harder to getthose messages across when you keep winning.
And so the USC, it feltlike that loss was maybe a little bit
of a reset. And then theycome out and you know, are able
(40:20):
to sweep this weekend the Washington schoolsand where where is right? But let's
keep in mind that Washington game wasan overtime game, and that you know,
Washington was right there and I canstill see the face of Missy Peterson
as she's running back during that broadcastand we had a closeup of her face
and she's just like, let's go, you guys. So a you Dub
team that thinks they can beat anybody. And I think that the same thing
(40:45):
goes for Washington State and just upand down. How about Colorado? We
talked a little bit with Kelly aboutthat, picked twelfth in the conference.
I mean they have a chip ontheir shoulder the size of the Rocky Mountains,
like respect us and a three pointloss at home to UCLA, you
know, the overtime loss to Stanford. Those games go the other way.
(41:06):
Colorado is five and three with victoriesover UCILING and Stanford. Think about that
for a second. Colorado is sittingat forty three in the RPI, so
the middle of this conference, andwe don't even know what the middle is
gonna be when the whole thing's over. Yeah, I mean it's game on.
Who would be here? If youhad to pick your coach of the
year right now and vote today,who would you vote for? I would
(41:29):
pick JR. Pain? Yeah,I would pick JR. Pain. I
mean people would just writing them off, and you know, they just walk
in a gym and their freshman pointguard Sharad is just something to watch and
competitive and confident and they take thefloor and you're in for a battle.
I'm really proud of what she's beenable to do, and Kelly spoke very
eloquently about that. I want toask about the freshman because I think that's
(41:52):
one of the big storylines certainly thatthis year, and just all of the
incredible young faces that we're watching developright kind of before our very eyes.
We knew it was a talented freshmangroup coming in, but you kind of
go down the list. I mean, Ashton Prectel a perfect example, and
the way she kind of put theteam on the back this weekend. There's
so many different Chrisma Osborne at UCLA, Brenna Maxwell, which she's been doing
(42:13):
at Utah. Fran believe you gota chance to interview her after the Utah
game, and overall the freshman andjust who has really stood out to you
and why every it feels like everyweekend another one emergence. You know,
Taylor Jones has been fantastic and youthink about the great post players at Oregon
States had She's been off the charts. Kennedy Brown hasn't gotten her offense going,
(42:35):
but her rebounding and defense has beenterrific. Charisma Osbourne at UCLA,
Hey, you're a starter, weneed everything like that. You're a senior
that she can do. A coupleof freshman at Utah, Brenna Maxwell and
Lola Pendonde. Those two they canget after it. I mean Maxwell can
shoot as well as anybody in theconference. Freshman from USC. We knew
(42:57):
they had a great class, butboy, this is a USC two.
We haven't even talked about them.They've won three of five. They were
oh in five in conference. Nowthey're three and five and they're thinking,
you know, they're only two gamesout. When you start thinking about pushing
up and getting getting where you wantto go. But uh, it's it's
an amazing conference of any walker's playingwell for Arizona State up and down.
(43:21):
It's it's just the freshman of theweek. Every week. It's like,
who's it going to be this time? Yeah? And this week it was
in DIA writers from USC and theTrojans. I think that it is a
great story and what Mark Track hasbeen able to do. You start oh
on five and it feels like thewheels are coming off and oh my gosh,
we got all these new pieces andnow it's gonna and then slowly,
but Shirley, as you mentioned,you go from oz and five to three
and five, so it's it's hugefor them, no doubt. All right,
(43:44):
we're gonna be hitting you pointed out, and it's important that we're gonna
be at the halfway point of thePac twelve season after Thursday's games, which
is kind of crazy. This seasonhas gone so fast. So as you
look ahead to Las Vegas and thosecoveted top four spots in the conference tournament,
they are going to be of utmostimportance. Tell me about the battle
(44:06):
for the number four spots. Asyou look at the standings right now,
well, I think you know.You look at Stanford, UCLA, and
Oregon all sitting at seven and one, and then at five and three at
ASU in Arizona, four and fourOregon State, and then we've got three
at three and five in Colorado,USC and Utah, and there's so much
room. When we look at theschedule, of course, we all talk
about the unbalanced schedule, so everybody'snot playing the same people. People like
(44:30):
Colorado and Utah, their schedule isunbelievable. They literally have three gauntlets with
there's no breaks in their schedule andUCLA has yet to really hit a gauntlet.
They're going to hit it the lastweekend of February excuse me, of
January and into February. So asas the games roll on, we're going
(44:51):
to start learning a lot more aboutthese teams UCLA this weekend in the Desert,
you know, Charlie's gonna have hersquad ready to go, and you
know it's just going to be af fired up environment. So um.
You know you asked the question beforewe went on air, what are the
big games this weekend? Well?Who thought Colorado Stanford was gonna be a
big game? And that thing wentto overtime? Yeah, you know,
who thought UCLA Washington was going tobe a big ball game? You know,
(45:15):
like that's why you play the games. Yeah, it's possible to predict,
especially in this conference. We wouldwe learned anything, and yeah you
mentioned UCLA. Yeah, go ahead, when it's worth Mary, Like Charlie
Cream's got Colorado as his next fourout team and he's he's had them on
the bubble all all season. SoI just feel like they're entering such a
critical part of their their schedule totry to try to get in there and
(45:37):
think if they could call an upsetone of the you know, get one
of the games this weekend. Butyou guys, think about just that statement
Colorado is on the bubble, likeyou know, media day was like,
oh, poor Colorado, They're justtwelfth. They're not. No, nobody
has just anything anymore and it justgotta come ready to play. Uh.
One other piece of news that Idefinitely want to get your take on that
(46:00):
that came out I think it wasyesterday, is the four finalists for the
twenty twenty twenty twenty six Final four. When these women's final four we're just
announced and Portland and Phoenix were bothin that top four. So I mean,
and it's a big deal that theWest Coast getting a final four is
something that you know, I thinka lot of people are really excited about
(46:21):
at the prospect of what what wasyour take when when that came out?
It's about time. Yeah, thelast time on West Coast final four was
held was in San Jose in nineteenninety nine. Yeah, I mean that's
a long time ago, and Ithink Rebecca talked about it like West Coast
is where it's at for women's basketballright now. It's exciting. We all
know what the regional last year atPortland was one of the most They broke
(46:45):
history with attendance records. And thatwas put together by Oregan State, the
Trailblazers and sport organ And the samething down in Phoenix put together by ASU,
the Phoenix Mercury and their sport organization. So excellent opportunity. Maybe Phoenix
in Portland will both get maybe onewill get twenty five and one will get
twenty six. Columbus is in themix, Tampa's in the mix. We
(47:07):
know people love to go warm.I love to be cool. So you
get you know, warm in Phoenixand you get cool in Portland. Just
a cool scene. Yeah cool,I got you right, that's a great
coffee. The kids are using theword cool these days. You know what
I'm saying, I got you.I'm picking up with your button now I'm
looking with your stupid and marry um. Okay. But there's one very important
thing that we have yet to dotoday, and that's my favorite segment on
(47:30):
the show. And now from Murphy'sLaw, Murphy's Law, what do you
got for me today, Well,it's been a it's been kind of somber
with everything that's been going on.And the thing that I texted to you
over the weekend was student athletes orpeople too. And I think we saw
that raw motion of Sabrina um AliahGoodman's just specialness for humanity. They talked
(47:57):
about um that Mannie Washington was partof that, like looking over at their
opponents and saying all right, let'slet's get together on this. And I
think about Jenessa throw Pay's leadership toget a group together and you've never been
together and you kind of hold eachother and you say a prayer. I
mean that takes guts. And RuthieHibbert the same thing. These are people
who've got a lot going on intheir lives with school, academics, the
(48:21):
emotion of things that happen in life. You know, I was at a
shoot around the other couple of weeksago and a coach came up and said,
you know, uh, Mary's alittle down. You know, she
just broke up with her boyfriend.And you're like, you forget that.
There's there's there's things going on everyday. You know, parents get sick,
grandparents pass away, you live faraway. We have so many international
students, you live far away.Maybe it's the first time I think of
(48:43):
Ashton Prectel. She's got two twoyounger brothers. You know, like you're
the oldest. You leave home andlike everything you've known is not with you,
it's it's somewhere else. And andthe fact that so many of these
players we talk about the team,but when you're when you're a basketball player,
like you want to play, youwant to get the ball, you
want to shoot, you want tobe a star, you want to contribute,
(49:05):
and so mixing the team goals withyour individual goals, there's just there's
so much going on in their lives. And I just think it's important for
people to realize student athletes or peopletoo. So well said, and I
think to piggyback on that take fora minute, whoever is listening to this
podcast, like, think about whatit was like for you to be in
college and whether or not you playeda sport or not, and you just
(49:25):
think about all of the pressures andtime constraints and relationships that you're navigating and
you're figuring out how to be anadult. All of that stuff and social
media to this as well, Yeahexactly, and social media, yes exactly.
And so you're you're hearing that theyou know, the echo chamber,
and it just it's, um,it's amazing what these young women are doing
(49:46):
with their lives and what they're whatthey're navigating through. So yeah, Colleen,
did we did we miss anything?You know? I mean, no,
great job, per usual, ladies. Thanks called ball, you two
and I again, I want toremind everybody that this week is a little
bit different in terms of schedule.We got a couple of Thursday night games,
so be sure to download your PACtwelve now app. Oregon State at
(50:09):
Colorado Thursday five o'clock and then Oregonyou taught seven o'clock both of those times
Pacific and you can watch them onpactrol Mountain and PAC twelve now. And
if you haven't already, folks,please please please do download the pactrol now
app. Set alerts for your favoriteteam so you can get all the news
we got, game time reminders andall the other great interviews content and interviews,
(50:30):
statistics. Our digital squad pumps itall out every week, so be
sure that you've got that downloaded onyour phone. And as always, we
ask you to rate, review,and subscribe the podcast because the future of
this thing, people depends on youand our audience. So if you enjoy
this, please share it with yourfriends and give us a rating. It
really it really does make a bigdifference. But thanks as always for listening.
(50:52):
Our thanks to Kelly Graves for beingan awesome guest and sharing his perspective.
And you know, we joke allthe time, and we end this
podcast to say, go enjoy yourlife. But I will add to that
and say, as my dad saidto me in a text on Sunday,
the entirety of your life is agift, so enjoy it and live it
that way. Have a great week, everybody, hug your people, and
we'll see you next Tuesday.
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