September 23, 2025 • 6 mins
The Huskies Bear of a Post player meets the media after the Huskies first practice of the 2025-26 season
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Better version of me mentally. I feel like that's that's
the biggest thing for me. Being able to stay grounded
mentally and stay like ground is my faith. You know that,
That's the biggest thing for me. That's gonna keep me going.
So having that mindset and every time I step on
the court, dominating, Yeah, that's that's my That's my goal, man.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
That's my goal.
Speaker 3 (00:17):
What was your big what was your off season goals?
What did you in the off season to kind of
get ready now that you know what to expect since
off season.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Help you prepare?
Speaker 1 (00:25):
Definitely slim down, getting more shape, get in better shape.
So I've been I've been doing that in the off
season and may just locking on the key details.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
In order for us to win.
Speaker 1 (00:34):
So knowing knowing my role and my identity on the team,
that's gonna be huge for us in order to go
where you want to go.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
And that's a national championship of the mental game.
Speaker 3 (00:44):
If I all the trouble is something that could hurt
this team because of your presence inside. What are you
gonna do this year to make sure that you can
stay on the floor as long as possible.
Speaker 1 (00:51):
Gotta be more discipled. I gotta know when to jump,
when to stay at my feet, wind the wall up.
So coaches, coach has been on me. Coaches have been
on me at this year cause I know how important
it is for me to stay in the court and
and the play smarty.
Speaker 4 (01:05):
You talked about, uh, how you used to watch video
of a Donaldson O goo and yes, uh, I I
know you're your you're your own man, your own player.
But did you see yourself coming playing with similar roles
to him? Yeah, you're stuff, not just on the corporate
as a leader as well.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (01:18):
Sure, I was about to watch film on and yesterday
just him being so dominant in the paint something that
I need to do, and just how simple his game
was that I I honestly admired so feel like having
having that with my defensive capabilities.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
I mean, these guys alive it for for us this year.
Speaker 4 (01:35):
You see, have you met him at all?
Speaker 2 (01:36):
Has he been around him? Nah? Nah? He was, Nah?
I had him not yet, not yet.
Speaker 4 (01:40):
Those your maybe the way you approach practice different this year,
and how that you have someone that you're trying to
help along.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
Yeah, bro, last year you were alone. That's probably the
biggest thing, Like.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
In practice It's like I have two three guys, uh Eric,
Wayne and the Razor freaking like they like looking up
Like I have to be a great example, a great
role model on the court, like knowing what to do
at all times.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
Like it's not.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
Areas where I can slip, because if I slip, very
gonna slip and it falls on me at the end
of the day. So being more mindful of my presence
on the court, my my leadership, my role, my voice,
my communication, and yeah, pushing us guys to the end.
Cause I know I was a freshman, Uh I had
I had a guy like like Hunt pushing me. So
I wanna I want to be better than that. I
wanna be better for these guys. Not not of this
(02:27):
a Hunt, just I just wanna, like get the best
out of out of these guys. And I know you're
pushing them to the absolute max and the environment like
this is that'll be great for him.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
Oh how far have you seen Eric con.
Speaker 1 (02:38):
I mean he's the song today, he was getting get
some nice buckets. So I feel like he's gonna be
huge for us US this year. I mean his scale,
his skill level is off the roof. So I feel
like he he could lock in on the defensive side
and really hone in on our our officer schemes.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
I mean, like he's gonna be nice.
Speaker 3 (02:56):
How much of an emphasis are you putting on rebounding?
And how much better can you'd be as a rebounder
than you have done?
Speaker 2 (03:01):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (03:02):
F I mean dominant rebound I know I was. I
was pretty pretty good last year, but I know I
would be way better. I feel like every possession. There's
no reason for me not to average ten first rebounds
this year. So being able to be dominant on that
that side of the floor is gonna be huge for us.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
Is there something to work on there?
Speaker 3 (03:19):
Or is that come back to your mental approach where
you just have to want every.
Speaker 1 (03:22):
Rebound, get the ball, ball in the air, go up,
go up and get it. I mean that's that's really
what it is.
Speaker 3 (03:29):
Is coach on you today like it was last year?
Speaker 4 (03:31):
Or is it both toned down?
Speaker 1 (03:33):
Coach is still? I mean, all all of them are
cause they know how important uh and I need to
I need to be.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
For the team.
Speaker 1 (03:40):
So it's really pushing it. Like I said, they pushed
me every day. Coach, Coach, you won't be coach. He's
gonna he's gonna get the best out of all of
these players, so no one wants to expect it out
of him. I mean, that's that's gonna be packed it.
So it's day one. We got what one hundred more
theist so I'll be ready.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
You got a sc exhibition in twenty days.
Speaker 3 (03:58):
How excited or do you get out there in front
of the fans to show off this version of the squad?
Speaker 2 (04:02):
Yeah, I mean I'm p pretty excited. You know.
Speaker 1 (04:04):
Uh, it's like every day you're itching itching close to
to playing in front ofs of fans and playing different
be for God's So I can't wait. I mean, we
got Boston, we got BC, and we got MSU. That's
gonna be two great exhibition games before we kick off
the season. So I'm I'm excited.
Speaker 4 (04:20):
Except forms from State for Lena.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
Yeah, bro, my little brother went on the visit. I
mean it's kind of tough.
Speaker 1 (04:26):
Now cause like you grew up hating Michigan State and
Nicy your brothers on the visit.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
Going on a visit, they be like dagn bro, Like
what am I supposed to do? Man? So it's still
it's still a love hate relationship in terms of the schedule.
Speaker 3 (04:40):
Are you excited about the caliber of opponents that they're
gonna have this year though?
Speaker 1 (04:44):
I mean the non consch schedule the shows how much
coach has faith in US this year, how how dominant
we could be on the court. So, I mean, we
got we gotta freaking gauntlet of a non non comfort schedule.
So that's that's gonna be great and it's gonna be
a great test for US. I mean, sure, how strong
we are?
Speaker 2 (04:59):
Where?
Speaker 3 (05:00):
What kind of challenge it is to play in Boston
Garden or TV Garden as well as the M Street M.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
I mean, I haven't played in the TV Garden yet,
so I'm excited for that. But MG, I know that's
gonna be a movie. A movie in NSG.
Speaker 2 (05:12):
That's that's how it was.
Speaker 1 (05:13):
I mean my first game we played Gonzaga like That's
how I described it was a It was a movie
like packed out all ukonference.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
I s I seen nothing like it to this day.
Speaker 3 (05:22):
How you ever played that, uh, fog Allen, It's too
too far from me.
Speaker 4 (05:26):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
I I was there for the unofficial vision, but I
never played there.
Speaker 3 (05:29):
Oh how important is it uh to said town physic physically,
especially when you said in the gauntlet of this dark conference.
Speaker 1 (05:37):
Schedule, Yeah, I mean, defensive end is gonna be our
calling this year. I know the coaching coaching staffers made
a huge emphasis on it, and we know how important
that is. I mean, we know we got one of
it's not the best offense in the country, but defensive
that's where.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
We gotta hang out hat on at the end of
the day. So we we get that down. We rebound,
knowing in the country to stop us. If we do
those things to things day in the day out here,
you gotta keep
Better version of me mentally. I feel like that's that's
the biggest thing for me. Being able to stay grounded
mentally and stay like ground is my faith. You know that,
That's the biggest thing for me. That's gonna keep me going.
So having that mindset and every time I step on
the court, dominating, Yeah, that's that's my That's my goal, man.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
That's my goal.
Speaker 3 (00:17):
What was your big what was your off season goals?
What did you in the off season to kind of
get ready now that you know what to expect since
off season.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Help you prepare?
Speaker 1 (00:25):
Definitely slim down, getting more shape, get in better shape.
So I've been I've been doing that in the off
season and may just locking on the key details.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
In order for us to win.
Speaker 1 (00:34):
So knowing knowing my role and my identity on the team,
that's gonna be huge for us in order to go
where you want to go.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
And that's a national championship of the mental game.
Speaker 3 (00:44):
If I all the trouble is something that could hurt
this team because of your presence inside. What are you
gonna do this year to make sure that you can
stay on the floor as long as possible.
Speaker 1 (00:51):
Gotta be more discipled. I gotta know when to jump,
when to stay at my feet, wind the wall up.
So coaches, coach has been on me. Coaches have been
on me at this year cause I know how important
it is for me to stay in the court and
and the play smarty.
Speaker 4 (01:05):
You talked about, uh, how you used to watch video
of a Donaldson O goo and yes, uh, I I
know you're your you're your own man, your own player.
But did you see yourself coming playing with similar roles
to him? Yeah, you're stuff, not just on the corporate
as a leader as well.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (01:18):
Sure, I was about to watch film on and yesterday
just him being so dominant in the paint something that
I need to do, and just how simple his game
was that I I honestly admired so feel like having
having that with my defensive capabilities.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
I mean, these guys alive it for for us this year.
Speaker 4 (01:35):
You see, have you met him at all?
Speaker 2 (01:36):
Has he been around him? Nah? Nah? He was, Nah?
I had him not yet, not yet.
Speaker 4 (01:40):
Those your maybe the way you approach practice different this year,
and how that you have someone that you're trying to
help along.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
Yeah, bro, last year you were alone. That's probably the
biggest thing, Like.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
In practice It's like I have two three guys, uh Eric,
Wayne and the Razor freaking like they like looking up
Like I have to be a great example, a great
role model on the court, like knowing what to do
at all times.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
Like it's not.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
Areas where I can slip, because if I slip, very
gonna slip and it falls on me at the end
of the day. So being more mindful of my presence
on the court, my my leadership, my role, my voice,
my communication, and yeah, pushing us guys to the end.
Cause I know I was a freshman, Uh I had
I had a guy like like Hunt pushing me. So
I wanna I want to be better than that. I
wanna be better for these guys. Not not of this
(02:27):
a Hunt, just I just wanna, like get the best
out of out of these guys. And I know you're
pushing them to the absolute max and the environment like
this is that'll be great for him.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
Oh how far have you seen Eric con.
Speaker 1 (02:38):
I mean he's the song today, he was getting get
some nice buckets. So I feel like he's gonna be
huge for us US this year. I mean his scale,
his skill level is off the roof. So I feel
like he he could lock in on the defensive side
and really hone in on our our officer schemes.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
I mean, like he's gonna be nice.
Speaker 3 (02:56):
How much of an emphasis are you putting on rebounding?
And how much better can you'd be as a rebounder
than you have done?
Speaker 2 (03:01):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (03:02):
F I mean dominant rebound I know I was. I
was pretty pretty good last year, but I know I
would be way better. I feel like every possession. There's
no reason for me not to average ten first rebounds
this year. So being able to be dominant on that
that side of the floor is gonna be huge for us.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
Is there something to work on there?
Speaker 3 (03:19):
Or is that come back to your mental approach where
you just have to want every.
Speaker 1 (03:22):
Rebound, get the ball, ball in the air, go up,
go up and get it. I mean that's that's really
what it is.
Speaker 3 (03:29):
Is coach on you today like it was last year?
Speaker 4 (03:31):
Or is it both toned down?
Speaker 1 (03:33):
Coach is still? I mean, all all of them are
cause they know how important uh and I need to
I need to be.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
For the team.
Speaker 1 (03:40):
So it's really pushing it. Like I said, they pushed
me every day. Coach, Coach, you won't be coach. He's
gonna he's gonna get the best out of all of
these players, so no one wants to expect it out
of him. I mean, that's that's gonna be packed it.
So it's day one. We got what one hundred more
theist so I'll be ready.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
You got a sc exhibition in twenty days.
Speaker 3 (03:58):
How excited or do you get out there in front
of the fans to show off this version of the squad?
Speaker 2 (04:02):
Yeah, I mean I'm p pretty excited. You know.
Speaker 1 (04:04):
Uh, it's like every day you're itching itching close to
to playing in front ofs of fans and playing different
be for God's So I can't wait. I mean, we
got Boston, we got BC, and we got MSU. That's
gonna be two great exhibition games before we kick off
the season. So I'm I'm excited.
Speaker 4 (04:20):
Except forms from State for Lena.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
Yeah, bro, my little brother went on the visit. I
mean it's kind of tough.
Speaker 1 (04:26):
Now cause like you grew up hating Michigan State and
Nicy your brothers on the visit.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
Going on a visit, they be like dagn bro, Like
what am I supposed to do? Man? So it's still
it's still a love hate relationship in terms of the schedule.
Speaker 3 (04:40):
Are you excited about the caliber of opponents that they're
gonna have this year though?
Speaker 1 (04:44):
I mean the non consch schedule the shows how much
coach has faith in US this year, how how dominant
we could be on the court. So, I mean, we
got we gotta freaking gauntlet of a non non comfort schedule.
So that's that's gonna be great and it's gonna be
a great test for US. I mean, sure, how strong
we are?
Speaker 2 (04:59):
Where?
Speaker 3 (05:00):
What kind of challenge it is to play in Boston
Garden or TV Garden as well as the M Street M.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
I mean, I haven't played in the TV Garden yet,
so I'm excited for that. But MG, I know that's
gonna be a movie. A movie in NSG.
Speaker 2 (05:12):
That's that's how it was.
Speaker 1 (05:13):
I mean my first game we played Gonzaga like That's
how I described it was a It was a movie
like packed out all ukonference.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
I s I seen nothing like it to this day.
Speaker 3 (05:22):
How you ever played that, uh, fog Allen, It's too
too far from me.
Speaker 4 (05:26):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
I I was there for the unofficial vision, but I
never played there.
Speaker 3 (05:29):
Oh how important is it uh to said town physic physically,
especially when you said in the gauntlet of this dark conference.
Speaker 1 (05:37):
Schedule, Yeah, I mean, defensive end is gonna be our
calling this year. I know the coaching coaching staffers made
a huge emphasis on it, and we know how important
that is. I mean, we know we got one of
it's not the best offense in the country, but defensive
that's where.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
We gotta hang out hat on at the end of
the day. So we we get that down. We rebound,
knowing in the country to stop us. If we do
those things to things day in the day out here,
you gotta keep
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