August 13, 2025 • 44 mins
Brice and Bianucci break down the latest news out of BYU and Utah Fall Camps, the Brewers' win streak, the wild NL West, James Cook's new deal with the Bills, and more! The guys also welcome Jackson Payne and UVU Basketball's Todd Phillips to the program!
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
You're listening to Bryson bia Nucci on one oh three,
(00:03):
nine and ninety eight three ESPN the band. Download the
Bryson bia Nucci podcast wherever you get your podcast today.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
Welcome back again, I Know two this morning on a
Wednesday edition of the program, live from Sleepy Ridge Golf
Course at the Utah Valley University Golf Invitational, the thirty
first annual.
Speaker 3 (00:27):
I'm Bryce Larsen.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
Jordan Binucci's back in our Salt Lake City studios hanging out.
But right now we've got a guest that joins us
quite often. It's been a minute since we've talked to
him though here on the program, but it is Todd Phillips,
the head coach of the Utah Valley men's basketball program,
that joins us here to kick off our number three coach, longtime,
no talk has your off season been.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
It's been great. Excited to be here on the beautiful
day and I was supposed to be hot today, but
right now it is perfect out here on the golf course.
My big regret is, maybe it's not a regret, but
I'm not playing right now. We're just as a whole
shaking hands and give them out some t shirts. But
I've been excited to be here. Yeah, how is the
golf game? An I'm decent at golf. I'm just good
enough to take and beat. You know, I don't I
(01:09):
don't do golf enough probably, you know, ten fifteen times
a year. I do enjoy it. You know, you have
one good shot brings you back, I think, is what
they say. And so just good enough to go out
with some guys. And what I try to do is
not necessarily beat guys. But when guys play, hopefully I
get him to play bad, you know, and I and
then I can make they can lose the ball a
couple of times from strokes, and but I do enjoy playing.
(01:32):
And it's just a great, great golf tournament right now.
And excited to be here. Do you have a favorite
course that you play in the state of Utah? This
is one of the best, right and I know the
people who own this thing and run it. This is
one of the best courses in the state. I love here.
You know. We play up a talent's cove as well,
and you know, and then I'm up to the country
club quite a bit too at Riverside, And so this
is actually probably five minutes from my house here and
(01:54):
vineyard so so so I love the course here. It
looks like the greens are great today and so excited.
Speaker 2 (02:00):
Yeah, it's a beautiful day out here at Sleepy Rich
Golf Course for sure. Let's talk a little bit of basketball.
Basketball seasons coming up right around the corner. Your team
looks a little bit different from a season ago, but
there are some guys that return, like Jackson Holcombe, Trevin Lenhart, knowa,
Tates are all back. What are you expecting from these
guys that return in terms of just leadership and what
(02:21):
they bring to the court this year.
Speaker 3 (02:22):
Yeah, I mean, I think that's the biggest thing. Continuity
a little bit, you know, I think obviously those guys
all have a big impact on our team this year,
and so continuity is huge in this ever changing, you know,
whatever landscape it is of the college basketball. You know,
it's like, you know, I think Baylor lost every single
guy they they left and transferred, and so you know,
we have about four or five guys back, some young guys,
(02:44):
a couple of red shirts that that didn't play last
year but have been in the program. Understand the culture,
Understand the winning, winning mentality we have and so no,
we hit the ground running this summer, had eight weeks
with the guys, to be honest with really liked the team,
really like their energy. You know, the young guys are
willing to learn, sit and watch a lot of tape
with the coaches, you know, And I think I think
(03:06):
people are gonna like our team. I think we're long
and athletic, and they played really really hard.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
A couple of guys that you lose down low, but
you you've done a good job in replacing him. I
think the biggest question for me is who's going to
replace a guy like Carter Welling, who is so great
on the defensive end of the court. Who do you
have coming in on defensive side that's going to step
up and be that shop blocker in the force in
the middle. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (03:28):
No, I think that's a good question. I don't have
an answer for you. You know, I just saw Carter
he got married the other day, and congrats to him.
But you know, I don't know if we say, hey,
we got this guy to replace him. I think we've
got guys that do somethings similar and and and it's
better in some different areas. Obviously, we have his brother
back Hayden as your two in our program, which is
huge for us, and I think he'll he'll make a
(03:50):
big step up. And he had some big games for
us last year. And you know, his goal is just
be consistent what he's doing, you know, be good game
in and game out. And that's really hard, especially if
you younger guys, to be consistent game in and game out.
And so we're excited for him to step up. You know,
I really like our big I think we've got some
really good bigs coming in that can help. You know,
Isaac Hawkins, we climb hawk, six', ten ultra, athletic bouncy shot.
(04:14):
Blocker he'll help with the shot. Blocking you, know we
do all the stats and do all the analytics for the,
summer and you, know kind of looking at, that we
didn't blok as many shots this, summer but like we
shot about the same amount of shots in all our live.
Play we only started really our live, play you, know
our five on, five and you know we're three or
four block shots. Less but we also were missing we're
missing our big six eleven kid that just got in
(04:35):
here From. Israel Isaac davis only got to play half
the summer and just kind of getting through some stuff
that's going on, there you, know with our. Guys so
we had a lot of guys in and out with,
injuries and, still you, know our four blocks kind of
shy of what we did last. Summer SO i think
we have a lot of pieces that helped step in.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
Last year in The Western Athletic conference before you make
the jump over to The Big. West we'll talk about
The Big wests in a, minute BUT i do want
to get your thoughts on the conference this. Year the
conference slate a little bit. Different you're gonna see some
teams three times a. Year what does that mean for
you in terms of preparation and what are your thoughts
on the conference?
Speaker 3 (05:06):
Schedule, YEAH i mean interesting. Thing you, know a, great
great day to be alive with with with the craziness
of college. Basketball you, Know i've done it actually multiple
times at the junior college. Level as far as playing
teams three, times it's not. Easy and actually what you're
gonna up doing to playing teams four times by the
time you play in the. Tournament you, know it's just
kind of this old. Cliche you, know you're going and
play each each game is a different. ONE i think
(05:28):
where you get in the trap a little bit is
like say you beat them at their, place and then
you get them a, home then you got to go
on the road against, like, oh these guys are, Easy
we're gonna beat these. Guys and it's just not the.
Case you. Know our goal is what has been every,
year is to get better as the year goes, Right
we'll put a super super aggressive non conference schedule. Together
it's really. Tough you, know the schedule's not. Out, YEAH
i know a bunch of people have been asking about.
(05:49):
That it is getting really. CLOSE i think we have
one game left to fill and so we just got
to get that. Done but uh, yeah you got you
got to get better as a year goes. On and
and you know what we've done the last two, year
play our best basketball down the. Stretch and you know
two years ago we went eight of ten and basically
ten to ten down the stretch this last. Year and
SO i think as you get playing and every game
is a different one for, you just continue to be
(06:11):
play your best.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
Basketball Todd phillips is here at the head coach of
The utah valley men's basketball. Team I'm bryson Ban. Nucci
ONE o three nine and ninety eight THREE espn The.
Fan you mentioned the preseason. Schedule it's getting really. Close
can you give, us can you give us anything of?
Speaker 3 (06:24):
It can you TELL i KNOW i shouldn't have said
much about. That, yeah can you slide us a little?
Information you, KNOW i THINK i think we have more
home games this. YEAR i can tell WHEN i do
this a little, Bit i'll give you a little bit
of an excuse or a reason why it takes a
while for mid majors to do your. Schedule, obviously we're
trying to get the best teams to get into our, place,
(06:44):
which if you, know in college basketballright, now nobody's traveling
to anybody's place to. Play, yeah it's just kind of it's.
Weird it's like people don't want to do that. Anymore
so you get neutral. Games we we do have a
neutral game at The Delta. Center i'm Not clay sure
if that's been Announcedhit so MAYBE i won't you who
we're playing and all that. Stuff but But i'm looking
at my sid over here and he's, saying but, yeah, don't,
(07:06):
don't don't be breaking. Stuff And i'm kind of done
with this. Stuff SOMETIMES i tell say THINGS i, shouldn't
but that's coming. Out so we have a really good
non conference schedule coming, up and who we're, playing we're
gonna be up to the roads some really good. Teams you. Know,
anyway as as a, team you're trying to get teams
to play, you to buy you to go in and,
play and and when you you're better and better and
(07:28):
your strengthen you know you're a better. Team it comes
down you look at The King palm, ratings the net,
rating and so a lot of teams have a have
a formula and, say, hey we're not going to play
anybody over this, net you, know and and and so
we get in, that we fall in that trap of
we're above, that you, know usually a top hundred, team
and so we just it's really hard to find, games
and so our schedule always takes longer just just because of.
(07:50):
That you, know you're trying to find the right. Fit
last year we WERE i think In alabama four times
early in the. Year this this, YEAR i think we'll
be on The west coast for the most, part and
tried to try to make the schedule work out that.
Way BUT i will say it's it's it's it might
be our best non conference schedule that we've had as
far as home games and really good road.
Speaker 2 (08:08):
Games so you mentioned they do it off The Ken
palm ratings and the different ratings that they. Have obviously
that would have been for the season prior, correct.
Speaker 3 (08:16):
Correct how do they justify.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
In doing that when your team doesn't even look the
same as last year's, Team you have fifteen new guys
on the. Roster how do they justify that in scheduling
when then you have no idea what you've got in
a team?
Speaker 3 (08:27):
Anyway, Right, no it's all. Projections you'd be shocked at
everything that's out. There there's there's multiple analytics programs that
we that we subscribe to pay for whatever you want
to call, it and it will have every single kid
that we've like if you look at our team up
every kid that we have, signed and so then they'll
they'll do their voodoo or whatever they do with that
(08:47):
their analytics based on those guys transfers coming. In you,
know obviously it doesn't come into account like how well
the guys end up playing at your. Program we haven't
done the due diligence to go back and, say, man
they're way off on all this. Stuff but like we
look at all that for who we're looking to play next.
Year you, know what do they have coming? Back who
they signed to bring? In you, Know and so some teams, like,
(09:07):
hey they were terrible last, year and then you look
what they've done and, like oh we've signed two top
top ten. Kids we got this kid transferred from another
high major and so you got you, got you got
to you got to go through. That and LIKE i,
said there's programs out there that we buy and subscribe
to that that that give us all that data and
entail and you, know just playing like playing the big,
boys they see all. That and then you look in
year and year out what teams are, doing you, know
(09:29):
AND i think At Utah, valley you, know they might
not know some of the guys were bringing. In we're
trying to find diamonds in the, rough just Like Dom.
NELSON i, Mean dom Was Black player of The year
AND i don't know if anybody in the in in
our league even knew who he was before we stepped
on the court and start. Playing and so it's not
a perfect, science but but what teams Use.
Speaker 2 (09:49):
Adam jacobson runs to the analytics for you, guys in house.
There how big has it been to have him in
the program the last couple of seasons to understand a
lot of that analytics stuff and what is he brought
to the?
Speaker 3 (09:59):
Table what difference has it? Made, yeah that's a that's
a that's a great. Question so What? Adam adam spent
a couple of years in it with an analytics program
right working for, them so he knows the ins and,
outs BECAUSE i think that's one of the difficult, teams
especially a guy like me who who kind of grew
up in the era before analytics is IS i LOVE
i love the, NUMBERS i love the. Information we use
(10:20):
it a, lot use it a lot to help develop our,
guys but like, now taking those numbers and what they really, mean,
Right AND i think What adam brought as another layer
of understanding of what you're looking at when you, say,
hey THE ppp is at one point two compared to
a one point one or you know a point a
one point. Zero you, know field goal percentage compared to
(10:41):
compared to what you're doing from three point percentage and
the adjusted field goal and all that. Stuff and so
he brought not only the data and helped the, data
but he also brought the understanding of that to help
our players especially and our coaches drive that to make
better decisions and what we.
Speaker 2 (10:57):
Do Todd phillips is here On bryce and Ban ucci's
head coach of The Utah valley men's basketball, team right
here on the home of The wolverines ONE o, three
nine to nine to, THREE espn The. Fan as we
look forward to this upcoming, season a couple of newcomers
that are on this. Roster who who do you think
is going to make the biggest impact that you've seen
(11:17):
so far throughout the, offseason a guy that some fans
might not know but will step in and have a
huge role for this team this.
Speaker 3 (11:24):
Year, yeah that's a good. Question you, know the, summers this,
summer the, numbers we do the, numbers we look at
what they were last year and do all. That that's
a good. QUESTION i THINK i think we were a
lot of guys that are gonna step up and. Play
probably the probably the guy that a lot of people
are really excited, about Who i'm very excited about Is.
Hendricks Tyler hendricks is a transfer From Central florida six.'
(11:46):
six trying to think of a comparable, for him or
just how to describe his game. Really Smooth what tyler
brings is a guy who does. Everything right he's just
always in the. Right spot he's he's been around the
game for three years now with he's red shirted and
played a couple. Of years he's coming From the, big
twelve and so he just understands how to play and
(12:06):
so that that's such a big jump for him coming
in big help for us because, you know you're bringing
good junior college kids and kids are. Transfer in, you
know they got to learn and they got to understand.
Our system he's a guy that from day one kind
of figured it out and, you know a guy that's
just just there all. The time AND so i think
the fans were really. Like. Him uh he. Does everything
he can shoot, the three he gets to, the rim
(12:27):
he rebounds, and defense, and, so uh he's gonna be
a guy that's gonna be a big anchor for us
just as we, move forward especially or in the years
guys are growing. And learning you know him And obviously
trail who's returner. For us treuv's kind of one of those.
Guys too he just kind of does. Everything right and as,
a coach It's, like OKAY sometime i focus on other guys,
a lot but those are guys are always in the
(12:47):
right spot and and and and make our make our
team run. Really well what was the recruiting process Like For.
Speaker 2 (12:52):
Tyler, hendricks obviously his brother plays For The, utah jazz
so that helps out a little Bit In.
Speaker 3 (12:57):
Taylor, Hendricks uh but what was that?
Speaker 2 (12:59):
Recruiting, process like it's not often you pulling well, for
actually it is kind of often that you guys pulling
dudes from the State. Of florida how is it that
you guys recruited out of the State of florida?
Speaker 3 (13:08):
So well bringing him Here, to, UTAH well i tried
TO get i tried to get a condo, out THERE
so i spend a lot of time, out there, you
know AND so i can just go around and watch. Kids,
play no it's just, just networking. You know recruiting him
was really. Really, good obviously, his mom mom was, a
great huge factor. In it she she Lives In, salt
lake and so she won both boys closer and and
we were very happy to oblige. With that AND so
(13:30):
i think it's been a. Great dynamic he's been able
to work out with his brother all, summer long and,
you know just continue to. Get better and so that's
that that's been a big plus, for us, you know with.
With HIM and i think the comfort level right away
that he has, with us and, you know basically feels
good when you come, and, say hey we need you
to we need you be a dude, for us right
and and we we want we see you, doing this this,
and this and putting high expectations and high goals. On
(13:53):
him and you know He's embracet he's embracet for us,
for sure and and so he's gonna be a great piece,
for us.
Speaker 2 (13:59):
ALL right a lot of fans want to know as
you look forward, next year you'll be In The big
west playing a Bunch of, california schools a lot of great.
Speaker 3 (14:07):
BASKETBALL talent a couple of them were.
Speaker 2 (14:10):
Right there probably should have been a two big league,
last year but just couldn't quite get that second team into.
The tournament what does it look like in the future
With The big west and those schools that are gonna
be coming through orum?
Speaker 3 (14:21):
Next, Year, yeah no it's gonna it's gonna be a really,
good league. You KNOW and, i think to be honest,
with you the last, few Years the whack has kind
of been a little bit ahead Of The big west
as far As The kem palm ranks all that stuff.
Like that but the last couple of years they've made.
HUGE strides i think they actually were one up on
us last. Year too they might have been The Tenth,
rink league The Ninth rink league something like that last
(14:41):
year because of how good their top, teams performed. You
know and so it's gonna be a lot of fun going.
THE league i think the biggest DIFFERENCE for us is
the amount. Of teams, you know it's gonna be a
huge probably they're talking, right now maybe twenty game, league
schedule the twenty, two, games wow and so that's a lot.
Of games that's a lot of. League games but we're excited.
For it obviously Going to california is a lot closer
(15:02):
than than Flying. To texas but no excited. For that
but to be honest with you are our sole focus
this year is On, the whack, you know the last
our last year, in it and it's it's been a.
Great league it's been Great For. Utah valley and then
our goals go out and win this thing again and
and and go TO The. Ncaa tournament does.
Speaker 2 (15:20):
It change recruiting at all having the State of california
open up to you a little bit more with the
opportunity to go and play more games.
Speaker 3 (15:26):
Throughout the State. Of, CALIFORNIA yeah i think it does a.
Little bit, YOU know i think the recruiting nowadays has.
Probably changed it's probably flipped on its head the last
three years of. Of regions hey we recruit. This region
hey we, Do this hey we. Do that we're not
a big, region, team, like hey You, got california You,
got florida You got Utah. And texas, you know we're
we're kind of scaring around trying to bring the right
(15:48):
Guys Into utah valley that that fit our culture and and,
you know kind of that then that dynamic that we've
kind of put together as a staff for recruiting of
what what, works, here right and and so with the,
transfer portal which union, COLLEGE kids, i mean you're you're
getting kids from, from, everywhere right, you know, like, say
hey we Were in israel looking at kids and we
saw saw Our Recruit, JEWEL no i mean we we
(16:09):
we watched college basketball and saw On a big. Twelve
team he he was a good freshman who didn't, play
much but, you know it's looking for. An opportunity and
so those guys are the guys that we've had tons of.
Success with, you know younger guys maybe it's not quite,
their turn and then we get them to our place
and and give them a little bit more love and,
say hey it's, your turn and to have them step
up and, be big big. Time players, all.
Speaker 2 (16:31):
Right you promoted two dudes on the, coaching, Staff uh
Trey obviously Ivory tray young now an, assistant coach Along With,
trevor stranger an assistant coach who was formerly.
Speaker 3 (16:41):
The ops guy.
Speaker 2 (16:42):
As well talk to us a little bit about those
two dudes and why you made.
Speaker 3 (16:46):
That. DECISION yeah I think trev's thing is some people ask,
those questions, you know why? What what what's? You, Know
basically trev we changed his, job TITLE and i think
part of the reason we wanted to change his job
title is because he does more than just just do.
Operation stuff, you know now nowadays you can have. Five
coaches they can all be on, the floor they can
all coach on, the floor they can, all recruit they
(17:06):
can basically. Do Everything, So treuv truv just, has, more
more more duties piled onto his his, his, workload right
and he was already doing it the, last year so
we just wanted to kind of identify that, to, say
hey he's just not, a guy uh just doing. The schedule,
you know he's on the floor with, the guys he's meeting,
with them he's talking, and coaching and he's a big
part of of of. Our success, You know i've moved
(17:28):
him up to my dobo ONCE once i got the
job as FROM a ga and he's been here with
all our success. We've had so he's been fantastic. For
us and and now with the with the, better title
we just got to give him even, more work right
and that, what happens just more work, That way so
we'll we'll get him going some more and the same
thing a. Little bit Trey obviously trey now is his
(17:49):
his title is from from skill development to to. Assistant
coach but, you know we're really big with all of
our staff is trying to develop them from the. Get
go there's no job that's too big or. Too small
i've learned that over. My years is obviously being an
assistant with with head coaches who, you Know coach connor
Who's at, washington now is a mentor. OF mine i
(18:10):
coach with him for eight years and he'd be the
guy that'd get out and sweep the floor sometimes before
practice if it wasn't. Done right he's the ONE that
i all go clean the dry erase board if if
it's not done and ready to go and so use that.
SAME mentality i like to get those. Things done. You
KNOW sometimes i do it because it calms my nerves a.
Little bit get in and just do do something you
don't have to. Think about but we train all our
(18:32):
guys from from from our gas to our skilled. Development
guys we want them to be able to step into
those roles and and and the more they're capable, of
doing the more we're gonna put on.
Speaker 2 (18:41):
Their workload you also Brought back. Jaden McClanahan this time
is a. Graduate assistant tell us a little bit about
the process Of bringing.
Speaker 3 (18:47):
Jaden, BACK yeah i mean THE processes i Was working
jayden and when he is a senior playing, for us,
great mind hungry to be a, watch video always looking
for the next, next advantage next thing that helps, You
KNOW and i, told him as, a senior, you's like
you need to BE a ga. Next year you need
to come work. For me, you da. Da da and,
you know he wanted to look into the pro game a,
little bit, you know get his feet wet there and and,
(19:09):
you know, like everybody we all want to. Play FOREVER
but i think he's right where he needs. To be
he's gonna be a great grad assistant. For us he's
going to be tremendous with. Our guys he had big.
Time energy both Him and trey bring the juice every
day and so just. REALLY excited, i MEAN it's i
feel great about. Our staff we've been really lucky to
keep guys and have a, little turnover and you know
it's it's when you have a great staff then then
(19:31):
it gives you even more confidence as a.
Speaker 2 (19:33):
Head coach, All right Head Coach todd phillips here with
Us On, bryson, banucci coach good luck this.
Speaker 3 (19:38):
Upcoming season we appreciate you sitting down, With us thank
you excited, for it and appreciate you.
Speaker 2 (19:42):
Being, here absolutely we'll take a quick break and we'll
be back on the. Other side right Here On bryson
banuci want of three nine and ninety EIGHT THREE espn.
Speaker 3 (19:58):
Al right back. At it bryson being if SHE won, oh.
Speaker 2 (20:00):
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is the wrestling Coach For Utah. Valley university right Here
on Brice And. BIA nucci a little bit of a
(21:13):
surprise guest stepping in.
Speaker 3 (21:14):
Right Now It's. Adam hall how are, We doing.
Speaker 4 (21:16):
Adam great appreciate you having on me on and honestly
like being HERE for.
Speaker 3 (21:23):
Uv, athletics yeah it's always a.
Speaker 2 (21:26):
Fun event love being, out here hanging out everybody Here
With Utah. Valley university let's start out with your team
the upcoming season in. The winter obviously you've had a
really good run. In recruiting Started With terrell barrokleff got
Him From penn state. Last year walk us through what
he meant for your squad a season ago and what
(21:48):
he's up.
Speaker 4 (21:48):
To, now yeah it was a big Deal convincing terrell
and his parents to come. BACK home i don't think
it was a huge SELL because i think he wanted
to come, Back home but at the, same time he
was being Recruited, BY Lehigh, Nc State, Iowa State, oklahoma
state some of these programs that that have a little
bit more tradition and history than. We do and he
(22:09):
decided to come back home and and really cement his
place in history with us and Became An all american
in our program and has really put us on the
map this year and really excited for. His future he
wants to continue competing and, right now he actually just
last week FINISHED his nba did it. One year he's
(22:29):
he's an exceptional, human being and so kind of, letting
him letting him calm down right now and and enjoy
a little bit the rest of. His summer and he's
been doing a lot of camps and clinics as he,
should be, you know just reaping the benefits of his of.
His success but he is he's going to be with
us a part of a big part of. Our program
and in terms, of recruiting we actually picked up one
(22:50):
of his former teammates From From penn state, As Well,
david evans and he's already making an impact in.
Speaker 3 (22:55):
Our program and.
Speaker 4 (22:58):
We i would say of the top five guys in
the State of utah and the twenty twenty, Five class
we picked up three, of them, You know so in
terms of where we're at, recruiting wise we're actively recruiting.
Speaker 3 (23:09):
Twenty twenty six and twenty twenty, seven.
Speaker 4 (23:11):
Now and we're on some pretty.
Speaker 3 (23:14):
Good guys but you mentioned Bringing In.
Speaker 2 (23:16):
David evans you've kind of Started A penn state Pipeline
To Utah. Valley university what is that like when these
guys hit the transfer portal and what's the pitch to
Come To Utah valley university coming from these big ten
schools that are fantastic and phenomenal.
Speaker 4 (23:29):
At, wrestling yeah it was more like does? It fit,
you know did it Fit? For terrell did it Fit?
For David and i'm saying it fits, for everyone and
we're pretty selected when it comes to. The portal we're
not just crazy all over. The portal we're actively recruiting
high school guys and building relationships with them and building
a future and a foundation with those guys that we
(23:52):
see with a four or five. Year career but with that,
being said everybody's situation, is DIFFERENT and i Think with
dave and With, with terrell they just want to an
opportunity to be the guy somewhere and they were stuck
Behind Some all americans and national Champions At, penn state
as you, can imagine and for them it was just a.
Speaker 2 (24:07):
Different situation so it's. Pretty easy how much is? A
poll how much of it is a poll to wrestle
In The? Big twelve and where Does The big twelve
stack up to the rest of. The COUNTRY because i
think there's a lot of people here in the State
of utah they Don't Realize Utah Valley university wrestles is
an affiliate member Of The big. Twelve conference so where
Does the big twelve stack up Against The big ten
and some of these.
Speaker 4 (24:25):
Other, CONFERENCES yeah i would say in terms, of depth
we're probably the second best conference in the country Behind The.
Big ten like everybody understands just the depth Of The,
Big ten but in terms Of The, big twelve it's
getting better and better.
Speaker 3 (24:36):
Every YEAR and i would.
Speaker 4 (24:38):
Say a lot of the affiliate Programs Like, utah Valley Like,
northern Colorado, like wyoming we're pushing to break into the top.
Twenty FIVE and i think it's a big deal for
the conference as, in general but also when you're trying
to compare it in recruiting recruits understand That The big
twelve is a. Big deal and the interesting thing Is
(25:00):
we i've actually had a NUMBER of byu fans and
athletes kind of, scoff that like is this?
Speaker 3 (25:05):
A joke like why do you Have a big? Twelve
symbol and? You're sure and the reality is we actually
Joined the big TWELVE before byu did. Long BEFORE so
i don't throw.
Speaker 4 (25:15):
That in, people's FACE but i want people to, understand
that like, we are we are In the. Big twelve
so it's a big deal, in recruiting it's a big
deal for our, athletic department just having the national visibility
and a.
Speaker 2 (25:25):
Big conference speaking, of which it's actually pretty funny because
a lot of people outside of the State of utah.
Know it i've Gone on oklahoma radio to talk football
with them and, they say oh You Do utah valley
tell us about the, wrestling team And So oklahoma state and.
Those teams let's talk about that match last Year With
oklahoma state bringing INTO The, uccu center tons of people
show up. For it what was the atmosphere like and
what was that like for you as?
Speaker 4 (25:46):
The coach it, was unbelievable our first first home match
and we set in the tennis record had over five thousand,
people THERE and i credit our administration And Especially, cameron
deering who pushed really hard to promote the duel and
did some cool things like had a, shirt giveaway, and
honestly the day of the crew IN, the uccu they
were scrambling to put pull out more stands because all of,
(26:09):
a sudden ticket sales, Were jumping, AND honestly i want
to have at least one big marquee duel at the
beginning of the year that's.
Speaker 3 (26:16):
Before the high school season.
Speaker 4 (26:17):
THAT draws i think we had over one thousand high
school students at the duel, last year and so this
year is some kind OF like i know you're probably
getting to, this question but some sneak.
Speaker 3 (26:25):
Peak early look at.
Speaker 4 (26:27):
Our schedule we're Actually hosting stanford IN The. Uccu center
they're going to be a top fifteen team to start The,
Year saturday, november first and then we end the regular
Season hosting nebraska and their ranked number two or number
three in the country Right now february.
Speaker 3 (26:42):
Twenty, first wow.
Speaker 2 (26:43):
THAT'S yeah, i mean you look at the wrestling schedule every,
single year ranked team after, ranked team whether it's Here
in orum or on the road. As well and that's
one thing that's so GREAT about uvu wrestling is that it's.
Top notch tell me what it's like in the state
of you taught the high school level in terms of
how much talent is here for wrestling at the high
school level and what there is to.
Speaker 3 (27:04):
Recruit from it's.
Speaker 4 (27:05):
Really good and we're fortunate enough to be The only
division one program in the state and so in terms
of the highest level recruiting where we're not fighting Against
the utah OR a byu Or A, weaver state and,
that's great but our biggest opponents when it comes to
recruiting Is, the Nebraska's the, ohio States The, penn states
(27:27):
and just kids leaving. The state and we've changed, the narrative,
i'd say with a lot of the best recruits in
the state and that you can Come To utah valley.
Speaker 3 (27:35):
And Win and terrell was a big part.
Speaker 4 (27:38):
Of THAT and i think just the momentum we have
with the program and people are starting to see that
and get really excited.
Speaker 3 (27:42):
About it, AND yeah i would say a number of these.
Speaker 4 (27:46):
Programs coming in and plucking kids out of the state
and it's just a testament to the high school coaches
and also the club coaches in. The State kyler sanderson
has his own Club that's kale's brother up north And.
Speaker 3 (27:58):
The lamont Brother And craig Lamont And.
Speaker 4 (28:02):
Ethan lofthouse they Have The champions club which is, further
south CLOSER, to us and both, those guys both those
clubs do a great job in developing individuals and we're
trying to keep a number of them.
Speaker 2 (28:11):
In State adam hall is HERE with us head Coach
The Utah valley wrestling Team on bryce and Bing ut
you want to three nine to ninety EIGHT three Espn.
The fan we're live Here At Sleepy Rich golf Cars,
golf course part Of The Utah Valley golf invitational that's
taken on taking place, here today the.
Speaker 3 (28:29):
Thirty first annual.
Speaker 2 (28:30):
Golf tournament you good at golf GOLFED any i can hit,
THE ball i can.
Speaker 4 (28:34):
Make contact yeah it doesn't always, go Straight but i'm
athletic enough to hit. The ball that's how it is
for all. OF us, i think just have some fun.
Speaker 3 (28:42):
Out there it's like.
Speaker 4 (28:43):
Anything though IT'S like i actually think golf is a lot,
like wrestling where wrestling you have three different general positions
that you're working and it's, pretty broad but it's the
same thing. In golf you have, short game mid range,
and driving, you know and it takes, a while and
it's a very hands on sport with you're going to,
get better you got to put in, the time no doubt.
Speaker 3 (29:02):
About it talking about putting in.
Speaker 2 (29:03):
The time the, OTHER day i saw you post on
social media about nutrition and teaching the guys how to
meal prep and different things. Like that how important is
that specifically for the sport of wrestling versus other sports,
where yeah nutrition and keeping your bodies right, is good
but we're talking about making weight here and what went
into teaching those.
Speaker 3 (29:19):
Guys that we're.
Speaker 4 (29:21):
Really fortunate to have a dietician work directly with. Our
team AND as i said in, my post she's, pretty
ambitious and she came to me and wanted to do
a like a summer series and it started last year
and it's moved into this year and it's really cool
where she starts out by teaching our student Athletes in
june about macro and, micro nutrients and then she moves
to meal prepping and then this coming month or this
(29:42):
month when we get back, Into school she's going to
teach them about, nutrient timing because the biggest thing in
athletics and sports and elite level fitness and in sports
is what to eat and when to.
Speaker 3 (29:53):
Eat it not like generally people know.
Speaker 4 (29:55):
Like, what's healthy but they don't know when to, eat it,
you know and what's the best in terms of providing
the best energy for workouts.
Speaker 3 (30:04):
And recovery you also came OVER From.
Speaker 2 (30:08):
Nc state tell us a little bit About How utah
valley COMPARES To nc state and what you've been able
to build it into in your short time here.
Speaker 4 (30:15):
So, FAR yeah i would say it's a little bit
more like apples to oranges where you're AT a i
wouldn't say a, smaller university but an athletic department that
is growing and doesn't have as much depth. And, history
SURE but i Would Say. UTAH valleys i describe, our
university in our, athletic department in our program a lot like,
(30:35):
A startup like it's an exciting place to be in
exciting times because there's a lot of new things that
are happening in all of. Those areas and not saying
there WASN'T At, nc state but it was just a
little bit different of, an environment and you're trying to
set the bar and expectations of what you had at
a SCHOOL Like nc state and the resources that you,
(30:56):
had there and continue to PUSH and i think it
it's been pretty receptive with our administration and the support,
we HAVE and i mean it's. A tech you see
it at our, duel meets with our presidents showing up
to the dual meets and and our athletic, directors THERE
and i think that it just shows the amount of
support and that they want to see this.
Speaker 3 (31:15):
Program win for.
Speaker 2 (31:16):
New fans that might be listening that, Are, LIKE okay
i know a little bit, about WRESTLING but i don't
know a lot. About it what's the easiest way to
get into watching wrestling and understanding what's actually happening out
there on?
Speaker 4 (31:28):
The, mat well interesting that you say that that was
the biggest question market is how do we draw? Casual
fans and we created a video that we play every
before every duel meet that basically describes what scoring is
and what the, rules are so we encourage, people, like
hey come out check.
Speaker 3 (31:46):
It out it's actually a really, fun environment especially.
Speaker 4 (31:48):
If it's IN, The, uccu, like yeah we're pushing really
hard to get people Out. For, november first it's before
the high. School season it's like, right when, you know before,
the holidays and just hoping that we can get. People
out it's On, us saturday and so it's, you know
hoping that we draw a. Big crowd and playing THAT
video i think helps a lot so, People, UNDERSTAND oh
i understand Now what, i'm watching and for them it
(32:09):
becomes a little bit more like Once you it's like
the FIRST time i, WATCHED cricket i didn't really know
like what was, going on and it made it hard
for me. To watch but as SOON as i understood
stood the rules in, THE scoring i enjoyed the strategy of.
Speaker 2 (32:21):
It, all right before we let you, go here tell
us where your lineup's at for this upcoming season and
who we can expect to be big playmakers for you this.
Speaker 3 (32:29):
Upcoming, SEASON yeah i just running down. Weight classes.
Speaker 4 (32:34):
You know we return a Starter in bridger ricks at one,
twenty five and he's gonna be pushed by a guy
that red shirted this. Last year tellanek. Thirty three we're
gonna have a few guys in, the mix a. Couple
Freshmen geronimo rivera who's in in state twenty twenty five
one of the top recruits coming in as Well As,
jay cassinetto and we have a, Local Guy. Casey curtis
(32:55):
we have a few. Guys there one, forty one we
have A Stalwart, hayden drew he's. A senior we have
a few guys in, the Mix Including dave evans at one,
forty nine, one five six. Seventy four probably the biggest
question marks that we have because we have some guys
changing weight classes and our starter, Last Year riker former
will likely be. Moving up our starter at one, Seventy
(33:16):
Four mark takara will likely be moving down to a
better fit for his weight And With terrell beharkoff leaving
him being, a senior, you know it leaves a little
bit of.
Speaker 3 (33:26):
A whole so we're kind of figuring out those.
Speaker 4 (33:28):
Weight classes we have some some newcomers coming in at one,
seventy four one, Eighty Four caleb ulenhap returns with a
couple extra guys in, the mix and one Ninety Seven
kale bending returns and and same thing At Heavyweight Jack,
Jack forbes and, you know we didn't honestly lose very
many guys this, last year we only lost a few
guys and we added, you know eight eight freshman, slash
(33:51):
transfers and so it's going to be an exciting year
where we actually got a whole year of development with
with our guys and to, build relationships and it's going to.
Be exciting and people, ask, me like how's the team
going to be? This year the only ONLY thing i
say is we're going to. Be better we spent the
entire summer training in developing and they're Going to people
are going to see it.
Speaker 2 (34:10):
This year in terms of expectations for, YOUR squad a
lot of fans understand expectations, for basketball make The Dan,
cuba tournament maybe win a game. Or two same thing
for baseball With With, nate rasmussen they make the regional
win a Game.
Speaker 3 (34:23):
Against oregon, for.
Speaker 2 (34:25):
Wrestling is it more of an individual type of expectation
where this individual guy is going to GO To ncaa
nationals or is there an expectation that your team as
a whole is going to be a team that can
Wrestle At nationals and?
Speaker 3 (34:38):
What's that what should that expectation be for your squad? This?
Speaker 4 (34:41):
YEAR yeah I Think greg williams did a great job
setting a bar where he Had Two all americans in,
one year finished in the top, twenty five had five
national qualifiers half his lineup, one year and so he
kind of he set, that bar and it's an expectation
for us to have have five. National qualifiers are better
to Have An all american every single year and to
(35:02):
be in the top twenty five at the. NATIONAL tournament,
i mean we finished thirty fifth last year And with
terrell making, the podium and like we finished Ahead of Oklahoma,
and rutgers, you Know a big twelve And a big.
Speaker 3 (35:12):
Ten team so, for us with the resources, we have
like those.
Speaker 4 (35:15):
Are expectations it's not, just, like well we hope to
finish in front of these teams that we expect to
be in the top twenty five because we expect a
lot out.
Speaker 2 (35:21):
Of, ourselves yeah we're just Talking With todd phillips about
the change To The. Big west does that affect wrestling
at all when they move over To The?
Speaker 3 (35:29):
Big west obviously you're In the.
Speaker 2 (35:30):
Big twelve is there any shifts anything that changes within
your program because?
Speaker 3 (35:34):
Of that.
Speaker 4 (35:36):
NOT necessarily i think in terms of the visibility of
our school and. Our UNIVERSITY when i talk to the
other coaches in. The department, they're excited. They're happy like
Talking To nate rasmus and, he's, like yeah they're generally
a team or two teams that make it out Of
The big west TO The ncaa regionals, every year, You
know so it's going to be a step up for
them and it's just gonna be better. For everybody at
(35:56):
the end of, the day when we grow Through The.
Big west we're winning In The. Big west it winning
begets other. Other winning we're just excited that one team.
Is winning we want that same, success Absolutely.
Speaker 2 (36:08):
All right has conference re alignment Hit the big twelve
and wrestling at all the last couple, Of years.
Speaker 3 (36:11):
Not yet but there's there is realignment. That's happening but
as Far as, i'm concerned we're In the.
Speaker 4 (36:18):
Big, Twelve yeah i'm not really thinking about IT because i.
Speaker 3 (36:22):
Only can Control what. I'm controlling and there's a.
Speaker 4 (36:24):
Lot of people out, there like why, aren't you, you
know moving To the pac twelve it makes more sense,
or whatever, you know and it's, it's, like well we're
In the big twelve and for the, time Being especially
jared has openly said us said to said to me
like now we're in the, big twelve, you know and
until things drastically changed, like nothing nothing's really going to change.
Speaker 3 (36:43):
For us, all, right final final one. For you we'll
let you go.
Speaker 2 (36:45):
After this where can fans pick up one of those
sweet polos that that?
Speaker 3 (36:49):
Thing's Nice but i'm gonna need one, OF them, I
know i gotta get.
Speaker 4 (36:51):
You, one yeah, we're uh we're rolling out our all
of our new gear this this coming year and we're
hoping before the holidays to have a gear shop.
Speaker 3 (37:00):
Open, up okay, all right there.
Speaker 2 (37:02):
You Go, adam hall the head coach Of The Utah
valley university. Wrestling team appreciate, Your, time bryce, thank you
good luck this. Upcoming season we'll take a. Quick break
we'll wrap everything up coming up next right Year on
bryce And ban ucci one three nine and ninety EIGHT
three ESPs.
Speaker 1 (37:15):
And bia nucci ON one o three nine then ninety EIGHT,
three Espn The Band tell Me the price And bi
anucci podcast wherever you get your? Podcast today, all.
Speaker 2 (37:30):
Right getting ready to wrap things up Live From Sleepy Rich.
Golf course i'm starting to get Hungry and i'm seeing
hot dogs that are being cooked up by the wrestling team, Down.
Speaker 3 (37:39):
Here jordan there's also.
Speaker 2 (37:41):
A bunch of like sweets and cookies down there that's dangerous.
Speaker 5 (37:44):
Starting early.
Speaker 3 (37:48):
I'm already hungry because i can. SMELL them i haven't eaten.
Speaker 2 (37:51):
Yet today i've, Also heard i've been told one of
my friends Said That Sleepy Rich golf course has the
best breakfast burrito in the State.
Speaker 3 (37:59):
Of Utah so i'm to take that one for.
Speaker 5 (38:03):
A spin if, that's true that's, that is that's wrong
to all the All the mexican restaurants and like. Taco stands, if,
That yeah i'm not. BUYING that i don't Know if i'm.
Speaker 3 (38:15):
Buying that, All right if, That's true i'll let. You
know i'll give.
Speaker 2 (38:20):
THE review i will give the review tomorrow on the
show After after i've. Had it i'm going to eat
one Today and i'll tell you exactly what it. Tastes
like you can come on down hang out with me
for the next like thirty minutes, or so if you
just want to chill out. Or not it is what you,
you know it is what. It is but we're Here
At Sleepy Ridge.
Speaker 5 (38:38):
Golf, course wow we're great. Selling there come on down
if you want, or not whatever.
Speaker 2 (38:44):
Or not it depends on if you have a, busy
day maybe get a. Hot dog you might be able
to slide a. Hot dog i'm not telling you. You
can i'm saying you might be. Able to we're going
to wrap things up with a couple of THINGS that i,
useing notes things that you need. To know but before we,
do so do you want to tell you about our
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Speaker 3 (39:05):
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Speaker 2 (39:07):
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the Bryce and bianucci. Sent you as we wrap it
up here, this morning couple THINGS that i do want
to let you. Know about Reminder on friday stadium opening
there's a ribbon cutting that is happening for a new
thirty million dollars stadium here in the State. Of utah
(40:46):
It's At Utah. Valley university for the men's, in soccer
pro men's and women's. Soccer programs that is a. Beautiful
facility you see it right OFF of I Fifteen university,
parkway exit and that's going to be the Home Of
utah valley soccer for four years. TO come a top
five facility in the country Is what i've, Been. Told
(41:06):
jordan we were just barely Up in eugene Checking out.
Oregon's facilities you want to talk about an athletic department
that has a lot, of money.
Speaker 3 (41:14):
THAT everything i was not impressed with the.
Speaker 2 (41:16):
Soccer Facilities utah valley now has a better soccer facility
Than the university of organ which is something to brag
about a.
Speaker 5 (41:23):
Little, bit yeah THEY had i mean they have. The
track the track facility was pretty nice.
Speaker 3 (41:28):
Up there it, was okay it. Wasn't bad I've seen i've,
seen better.
Speaker 5 (41:35):
Have, you no that is. Pretty crazy, You're, right like
it's a huge investment, in Soccer And utah valley has
The only division one men's soccer team and the women
are a top team. Every year so it's. It's fun
i'm looking forward. To it i'm looking forward to sitting.
Speaker 3 (41:52):
In the shade.
Speaker 5 (41:53):
Over there That's what i'm. Looking for there's the sunsets
behind the. Grand stand that's gonna.
Speaker 2 (41:57):
Be nice no better Spot For kyle Beckerman and crystal
maz programs.
Speaker 3 (42:01):
To play they're gonna bring in some big names this.
Speaker 2 (42:04):
Upcoming season women's soccer team's got a COUPLE of sec teams.
Coming through they're gonna kick things Off with Utah on monday.
And more and that's gonna be a lot of exciting
stuff coming Up. On friday so if you want to check,
that out get a free tour of. The stage just
swing on By. On friday i'll be out there hanging out,
with everybody talking with a lot, of people and you
can follow Me on twitter for all. The latest There
(42:24):
At larsen sports you also have the latest From BOTH
utah byu. Football, camps jordan did you just try and
say something?
Speaker 3 (42:32):
To?
Speaker 5 (42:32):
Me, SORRY no i was, gonna say are we gonna
light a car? On fire like like last year before the?
Speaker 3 (42:36):
Home open you know we. Wasn't us it, Wasn't us
but there might be a little bit.
Speaker 5 (42:41):
Of that is that a new tradition? Just lighting just
just LIGHTING these.
Speaker 2 (42:46):
I don't condone it because maybe we could be, held responsible,
But hey i'm Not saying.
Speaker 3 (42:50):
I'm not indors it.
Speaker 5 (42:51):
Wasn't cool, I'm like i'm not you shouldn't, do it
but if, you do you, know it let.
Speaker 3 (42:57):
Us, know yeah we can use the social media. Presence. There,
Yeah no i'm not sure that's, gonna happen but.
Speaker 2 (43:07):
We'll keep you up today with all things football as
we get closer to the football Season byu utah kick
off their football season in seventeen days, From now we'll
keep you up today with all the latest on both
of those two. Fall camps as we get closer and
closer the football season. Kicking off you can also hear
high School Football, THIS friday Provo Hosts green canyon right
(43:30):
here on one, of three nine and ninety EIGHT Three Espn.
The fan that's gonna be a radio, only broadcast but
you can check out our YouTube page the rest of
the season as we go throughout the rest of the
season bring you all of the high school football action
on both our YouTube page and right here ON one
o three nine and ninety EIGHT Three Espn. The fan
one other thing to remind you of This, upcoming friday
we're GONNA. Have, jb Long the voice Of The Los
(43:51):
angeles rams. Join us he'll tell us about preseason game,
number two which you can hear right here on the
home Of The Los angeles rams In the State of
utah one three nine ninety, EIGHT. Three Espn the fan
that'll be coming Up, on saturday, that game and of
course the interview right Here On bryson Bianucci On friday MORNING.
Speaker 3 (44:09):
With, jb long the voice Of, The Rams.
Speaker 2 (44:11):
Jordan banucci anything else you want to let the people
know before we wrap.
Speaker 5 (44:14):
It, up now you're like a school principle here in the,
last segment just just this was just. An announcement, good,
lord yes, all right.
Speaker 2 (44:22):
Keep it throw me a list Of everything i've got,
to Announce and i've got to get through it before my.
Speaker 3 (44:26):
Time's up, No.
Speaker 5 (44:27):
Kidding, We're no we're up. Against it we got to.
Get out it'll be a we got we got good,
stuff tomorrow.
Speaker 2 (44:32):
All right we'll see you again tomorrow right Here On
bryson BIANUCCI one o three nine NINETY.
Speaker 3 (44:36):
Three espn
You're listening to Bryson bia Nucci on one oh three,
(00:03):
nine and ninety eight three ESPN the band. Download the
Bryson bia Nucci podcast wherever you get your podcast today.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
Welcome back again, I Know two this morning on a
Wednesday edition of the program, live from Sleepy Ridge Golf
Course at the Utah Valley University Golf Invitational, the thirty
first annual.
Speaker 3 (00:27):
I'm Bryce Larsen.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
Jordan Binucci's back in our Salt Lake City studios hanging out.
But right now we've got a guest that joins us
quite often. It's been a minute since we've talked to
him though here on the program, but it is Todd Phillips,
the head coach of the Utah Valley men's basketball program,
that joins us here to kick off our number three coach, longtime,
no talk has your off season been.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
It's been great. Excited to be here on the beautiful
day and I was supposed to be hot today, but
right now it is perfect out here on the golf course.
My big regret is, maybe it's not a regret, but
I'm not playing right now. We're just as a whole
shaking hands and give them out some t shirts. But
I've been excited to be here. Yeah, how is the
golf game? An I'm decent at golf. I'm just good
enough to take and beat. You know, I don't I
(01:09):
don't do golf enough probably, you know, ten fifteen times
a year. I do enjoy it. You know, you have
one good shot brings you back, I think, is what
they say. And so just good enough to go out
with some guys. And what I try to do is
not necessarily beat guys. But when guys play, hopefully I
get him to play bad, you know, and I and
then I can make they can lose the ball a
couple of times from strokes, and but I do enjoy playing.
(01:32):
And it's just a great, great golf tournament right now.
And excited to be here. Do you have a favorite
course that you play in the state of Utah? This
is one of the best, right and I know the
people who own this thing and run it. This is
one of the best courses in the state. I love here.
You know. We play up a talent's cove as well,
and you know, and then I'm up to the country
club quite a bit too at Riverside, And so this
is actually probably five minutes from my house here and
(01:54):
vineyard so so so I love the course here. It
looks like the greens are great today and so excited.
Speaker 2 (02:00):
Yeah, it's a beautiful day out here at Sleepy Rich
Golf Course for sure. Let's talk a little bit of basketball.
Basketball seasons coming up right around the corner. Your team
looks a little bit different from a season ago, but
there are some guys that return, like Jackson Holcombe, Trevin Lenhart, knowa,
Tates are all back. What are you expecting from these
guys that return in terms of just leadership and what
(02:21):
they bring to the court this year.
Speaker 3 (02:22):
Yeah, I mean, I think that's the biggest thing. Continuity
a little bit, you know, I think obviously those guys
all have a big impact on our team this year,
and so continuity is huge in this ever changing, you know,
whatever landscape it is of the college basketball. You know,
it's like, you know, I think Baylor lost every single
guy they they left and transferred, and so you know,
we have about four or five guys back, some young guys,
(02:44):
a couple of red shirts that that didn't play last
year but have been in the program. Understand the culture,
Understand the winning, winning mentality we have and so no,
we hit the ground running this summer, had eight weeks
with the guys, to be honest with really liked the team,
really like their energy. You know, the young guys are
willing to learn, sit and watch a lot of tape
with the coaches, you know, And I think I think
(03:06):
people are gonna like our team. I think we're long
and athletic, and they played really really hard.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
A couple of guys that you lose down low, but
you you've done a good job in replacing him. I
think the biggest question for me is who's going to
replace a guy like Carter Welling, who is so great
on the defensive end of the court. Who do you
have coming in on defensive side that's going to step
up and be that shop blocker in the force in
the middle. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (03:28):
No, I think that's a good question. I don't have
an answer for you. You know, I just saw Carter
he got married the other day, and congrats to him.
But you know, I don't know if we say, hey,
we got this guy to replace him. I think we've
got guys that do somethings similar and and and it's
better in some different areas. Obviously, we have his brother
back Hayden as your two in our program, which is
huge for us, and I think he'll he'll make a
(03:50):
big step up. And he had some big games for
us last year. And you know, his goal is just
be consistent what he's doing, you know, be good game
in and game out. And that's really hard, especially if
you younger guys, to be consistent game in and game out.
And so we're excited for him to step up. You know,
I really like our big I think we've got some
really good bigs coming in that can help. You know,
Isaac Hawkins, we climb hawk, six', ten ultra, athletic bouncy shot.
(04:14):
Blocker he'll help with the shot. Blocking you, know we
do all the stats and do all the analytics for the,
summer and you, know kind of looking at, that we
didn't blok as many shots this, summer but like we
shot about the same amount of shots in all our live.
Play we only started really our live, play you, know
our five on, five and you know we're three or
four block shots. Less but we also were missing we're
missing our big six eleven kid that just got in
(04:35):
here From. Israel Isaac davis only got to play half
the summer and just kind of getting through some stuff
that's going on, there you, know with our. Guys so
we had a lot of guys in and out with,
injuries and, still you, know our four blocks kind of
shy of what we did last. Summer SO i think
we have a lot of pieces that helped step in.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
Last year in The Western Athletic conference before you make
the jump over to The Big. West we'll talk about
The Big wests in a, minute BUT i do want
to get your thoughts on the conference this. Year the
conference slate a little bit. Different you're gonna see some
teams three times a. Year what does that mean for
you in terms of preparation and what are your thoughts
on the conference?
Speaker 3 (05:06):
Schedule, YEAH i mean interesting. Thing you, know a, great
great day to be alive with with with the craziness
of college. Basketball you, Know i've done it actually multiple
times at the junior college. Level as far as playing
teams three, times it's not. Easy and actually what you're
gonna up doing to playing teams four times by the
time you play in the. Tournament you, know it's just
kind of this old. Cliche you, know you're going and
play each each game is a different. ONE i think
(05:28):
where you get in the trap a little bit is
like say you beat them at their, place and then
you get them a, home then you got to go
on the road against, like, oh these guys are, Easy
we're gonna beat these. Guys and it's just not the.
Case you. Know our goal is what has been every,
year is to get better as the year goes, Right
we'll put a super super aggressive non conference schedule. Together
it's really. Tough you, know the schedule's not. Out, YEAH
i know a bunch of people have been asking about.
(05:49):
That it is getting really. CLOSE i think we have
one game left to fill and so we just got
to get that. Done but uh, yeah you got you
got to get better as a year goes. On and
and you know what we've done the last two, year
play our best basketball down the. Stretch and you know
two years ago we went eight of ten and basically
ten to ten down the stretch this last. Year and
SO i think as you get playing and every game
is a different one for, you just continue to be
(06:11):
play your best.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
Basketball Todd phillips is here at the head coach of
The utah valley men's basketball. Team I'm bryson Ban. Nucci
ONE o three nine and ninety eight THREE espn The.
Fan you mentioned the preseason. Schedule it's getting really. Close
can you give, us can you give us anything of?
Speaker 3 (06:24):
It can you TELL i KNOW i shouldn't have said
much about. That, yeah can you slide us a little?
Information you, KNOW i THINK i think we have more
home games this. YEAR i can tell WHEN i do
this a little, Bit i'll give you a little bit
of an excuse or a reason why it takes a
while for mid majors to do your. Schedule, obviously we're
trying to get the best teams to get into our, place,
(06:44):
which if you, know in college basketballright, now nobody's traveling
to anybody's place to. Play, yeah it's just kind of it's.
Weird it's like people don't want to do that. Anymore
so you get neutral. Games we we do have a
neutral game at The Delta. Center i'm Not clay sure
if that's been Announcedhit so MAYBE i won't you who
we're playing and all that. Stuff but But i'm looking
at my sid over here and he's, saying but, yeah, don't,
(07:06):
don't don't be breaking. Stuff And i'm kind of done
with this. Stuff SOMETIMES i tell say THINGS i, shouldn't
but that's coming. Out so we have a really good
non conference schedule coming, up and who we're, playing we're
gonna be up to the roads some really good. Teams you. Know,
anyway as as a, team you're trying to get teams
to play, you to buy you to go in and,
play and and when you you're better and better and
(07:28):
your strengthen you know you're a better. Team it comes
down you look at The King palm, ratings the net,
rating and so a lot of teams have a have
a formula and, say, hey we're not going to play
anybody over this, net you, know and and and so
we get in, that we fall in that trap of
we're above, that you, know usually a top hundred, team
and so we just it's really hard to find, games
and so our schedule always takes longer just just because of.
(07:50):
That you, know you're trying to find the right. Fit
last year we WERE i think In alabama four times
early in the. Year this this, YEAR i think we'll
be on The west coast for the most, part and
tried to try to make the schedule work out that.
Way BUT i will say it's it's it's it might
be our best non conference schedule that we've had as
far as home games and really good road.
Speaker 2 (08:08):
Games so you mentioned they do it off The Ken
palm ratings and the different ratings that they. Have obviously
that would have been for the season prior, correct.
Speaker 3 (08:16):
Correct how do they justify.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
In doing that when your team doesn't even look the
same as last year's, Team you have fifteen new guys
on the. Roster how do they justify that in scheduling
when then you have no idea what you've got in
a team?
Speaker 3 (08:27):
Anyway, Right, no it's all. Projections you'd be shocked at
everything that's out. There there's there's multiple analytics programs that
we that we subscribe to pay for whatever you want
to call, it and it will have every single kid
that we've like if you look at our team up
every kid that we have, signed and so then they'll
they'll do their voodoo or whatever they do with that
(08:47):
their analytics based on those guys transfers coming. In you,
know obviously it doesn't come into account like how well
the guys end up playing at your. Program we haven't
done the due diligence to go back and, say, man
they're way off on all this. Stuff but like we
look at all that for who we're looking to play next.
Year you, know what do they have coming? Back who
they signed to bring? In you, Know and so some teams, like,
(09:07):
hey they were terrible last, year and then you look
what they've done and, like oh we've signed two top
top ten. Kids we got this kid transferred from another
high major and so you got you, got you got
to you got to go through. That and LIKE i,
said there's programs out there that we buy and subscribe
to that that that give us all that data and
entail and you, know just playing like playing the big,
boys they see all. That and then you look in
year and year out what teams are, doing you, know
(09:29):
AND i think At Utah, valley you, know they might
not know some of the guys were bringing. In we're
trying to find diamonds in the, rough just Like Dom.
NELSON i, Mean dom Was Black player of The year
AND i don't know if anybody in the in in
our league even knew who he was before we stepped
on the court and start. Playing and so it's not
a perfect, science but but what teams Use.
Speaker 2 (09:49):
Adam jacobson runs to the analytics for you, guys in house.
There how big has it been to have him in
the program the last couple of seasons to understand a
lot of that analytics stuff and what is he brought
to the?
Speaker 3 (09:59):
Table what difference has it? Made, yeah that's a that's
a that's a great. Question so What? Adam adam spent
a couple of years in it with an analytics program
right working for, them so he knows the ins and,
outs BECAUSE i think that's one of the difficult, teams
especially a guy like me who who kind of grew
up in the era before analytics is IS i LOVE
i love the, NUMBERS i love the. Information we use
(10:20):
it a, lot use it a lot to help develop our,
guys but like, now taking those numbers and what they really, mean,
Right AND i think What adam brought as another layer
of understanding of what you're looking at when you, say,
hey THE ppp is at one point two compared to
a one point one or you know a point a
one point. Zero you, know field goal percentage compared to
(10:41):
compared to what you're doing from three point percentage and
the adjusted field goal and all that. Stuff and so
he brought not only the data and helped the, data
but he also brought the understanding of that to help
our players especially and our coaches drive that to make
better decisions and what we.
Speaker 2 (10:57):
Do Todd phillips is here On bryce and Ban ucci's
head coach of The Utah valley men's basketball, team right
here on the home of The wolverines ONE o, three
nine to nine to, THREE espn The. Fan as we
look forward to this upcoming, season a couple of newcomers
that are on this. Roster who who do you think
is going to make the biggest impact that you've seen
(11:17):
so far throughout the, offseason a guy that some fans
might not know but will step in and have a
huge role for this team this.
Speaker 3 (11:24):
Year, yeah that's a good. Question you, know the, summers this,
summer the, numbers we do the, numbers we look at
what they were last year and do all. That that's
a good. QUESTION i THINK i think we were a
lot of guys that are gonna step up and. Play
probably the probably the guy that a lot of people
are really excited, about Who i'm very excited about Is.
Hendricks Tyler hendricks is a transfer From Central florida six.'
(11:46):
six trying to think of a comparable, for him or
just how to describe his game. Really Smooth what tyler
brings is a guy who does. Everything right he's just
always in the. Right spot he's he's been around the
game for three years now with he's red shirted and
played a couple. Of years he's coming From the, big
twelve and so he just understands how to play and
(12:06):
so that that's such a big jump for him coming
in big help for us because, you know you're bringing
good junior college kids and kids are. Transfer in, you
know they got to learn and they got to understand.
Our system he's a guy that from day one kind
of figured it out and, you know a guy that's
just just there all. The time AND so i think
the fans were really. Like. Him uh he. Does everything
he can shoot, the three he gets to, the rim
(12:27):
he rebounds, and defense, and, so uh he's gonna be
a guy that's gonna be a big anchor for us
just as we, move forward especially or in the years
guys are growing. And learning you know him And obviously
trail who's returner. For us treuv's kind of one of those.
Guys too he just kind of does. Everything right and as,
a coach It's, like OKAY sometime i focus on other guys,
a lot but those are guys are always in the
(12:47):
right spot and and and and make our make our
team run. Really well what was the recruiting process Like For.
Speaker 2 (12:52):
Tyler, hendricks obviously his brother plays For The, utah jazz
so that helps out a little Bit In.
Speaker 3 (12:57):
Taylor, Hendricks uh but what was that?
Speaker 2 (12:59):
Recruiting, process like it's not often you pulling well, for
actually it is kind of often that you guys pulling
dudes from the State. Of florida how is it that
you guys recruited out of the State of florida?
Speaker 3 (13:08):
So well bringing him Here, to, UTAH well i tried
TO get i tried to get a condo, out THERE
so i spend a lot of time, out there, you
know AND so i can just go around and watch. Kids,
play no it's just, just networking. You know recruiting him
was really. Really, good obviously, his mom mom was, a
great huge factor. In it she she Lives In, salt
lake and so she won both boys closer and and
we were very happy to oblige. With that AND so
(13:30):
i think it's been a. Great dynamic he's been able
to work out with his brother all, summer long and,
you know just continue to. Get better and so that's
that that's been a big plus, for us, you know with.
With HIM and i think the comfort level right away
that he has, with us and, you know basically feels
good when you come, and, say hey we need you
to we need you be a dude, for us right
and and we we want we see you, doing this this,
and this and putting high expectations and high goals. On
(13:53):
him and you know He's embracet he's embracet for us,
for sure and and so he's gonna be a great piece,
for us.
Speaker 2 (13:59):
ALL right a lot of fans want to know as
you look forward, next year you'll be In The big
west playing a Bunch of, california schools a lot of great.
Speaker 3 (14:07):
BASKETBALL talent a couple of them were.
Speaker 2 (14:10):
Right there probably should have been a two big league,
last year but just couldn't quite get that second team into.
The tournament what does it look like in the future
With The big west and those schools that are gonna
be coming through orum?
Speaker 3 (14:21):
Next, Year, yeah no it's gonna it's gonna be a really,
good league. You KNOW and, i think to be honest,
with you the last, few Years the whack has kind
of been a little bit ahead Of The big west
as far As The kem palm ranks all that stuff.
Like that but the last couple of years they've made.
HUGE strides i think they actually were one up on
us last. Year too they might have been The Tenth,
rink league The Ninth rink league something like that last
(14:41):
year because of how good their top, teams performed. You
know and so it's gonna be a lot of fun going.
THE league i think the biggest DIFFERENCE for us is
the amount. Of teams, you know it's gonna be a
huge probably they're talking, right now maybe twenty game, league
schedule the twenty, two, games wow and so that's a lot.
Of games that's a lot of. League games but we're excited.
For it obviously Going to california is a lot closer
(15:02):
than than Flying. To texas but no excited. For that
but to be honest with you are our sole focus
this year is On, the whack, you know the last
our last year, in it and it's it's been a.
Great league it's been Great For. Utah valley and then
our goals go out and win this thing again and
and and go TO The. Ncaa tournament does.
Speaker 2 (15:20):
It change recruiting at all having the State of california
open up to you a little bit more with the
opportunity to go and play more games.
Speaker 3 (15:26):
Throughout the State. Of, CALIFORNIA yeah i think it does a.
Little bit, YOU know i think the recruiting nowadays has.
Probably changed it's probably flipped on its head the last
three years of. Of regions hey we recruit. This region
hey we, Do this hey we. Do that we're not
a big, region, team, like hey You, got california You,
got florida You got Utah. And texas, you know we're
we're kind of scaring around trying to bring the right
(15:48):
Guys Into utah valley that that fit our culture and and,
you know kind of that then that dynamic that we've
kind of put together as a staff for recruiting of
what what, works, here right and and so with the,
transfer portal which union, COLLEGE kids, i mean you're you're
getting kids from, from, everywhere right, you know, like, say
hey we Were in israel looking at kids and we
saw saw Our Recruit, JEWEL no i mean we we
(16:09):
we watched college basketball and saw On a big. Twelve
team he he was a good freshman who didn't, play
much but, you know it's looking for. An opportunity and
so those guys are the guys that we've had tons of.
Success with, you know younger guys maybe it's not quite,
their turn and then we get them to our place
and and give them a little bit more love and,
say hey it's, your turn and to have them step
up and, be big big. Time players, all.
Speaker 2 (16:31):
Right you promoted two dudes on the, coaching, Staff uh
Trey obviously Ivory tray young now an, assistant coach Along With,
trevor stranger an assistant coach who was formerly.
Speaker 3 (16:41):
The ops guy.
Speaker 2 (16:42):
As well talk to us a little bit about those
two dudes and why you made.
Speaker 3 (16:46):
That. DECISION yeah I think trev's thing is some people ask,
those questions, you know why? What what what's? You, Know
basically trev we changed his, job TITLE and i think
part of the reason we wanted to change his job
title is because he does more than just just do.
Operation stuff, you know now nowadays you can have. Five
coaches they can all be on, the floor they can
all coach on, the floor they can, all recruit they
(17:06):
can basically. Do Everything, So treuv truv just, has, more
more more duties piled onto his his, his, workload right
and he was already doing it the, last year so
we just wanted to kind of identify that, to, say
hey he's just not, a guy uh just doing. The schedule,
you know he's on the floor with, the guys he's meeting,
with them he's talking, and coaching and he's a big
part of of of. Our success, You know i've moved
(17:28):
him up to my dobo ONCE once i got the
job as FROM a ga and he's been here with
all our success. We've had so he's been fantastic. For
us and and now with the with the, better title
we just got to give him even, more work right
and that, what happens just more work, That way so
we'll we'll get him going some more and the same
thing a. Little bit Trey obviously trey now is his
(17:49):
his title is from from skill development to to. Assistant
coach but, you know we're really big with all of
our staff is trying to develop them from the. Get
go there's no job that's too big or. Too small
i've learned that over. My years is obviously being an
assistant with with head coaches who, you Know coach connor
Who's at, washington now is a mentor. OF mine i
(18:10):
coach with him for eight years and he'd be the
guy that'd get out and sweep the floor sometimes before
practice if it wasn't. Done right he's the ONE that
i all go clean the dry erase board if if
it's not done and ready to go and so use that.
SAME mentality i like to get those. Things done. You
KNOW sometimes i do it because it calms my nerves a.
Little bit get in and just do do something you
don't have to. Think about but we train all our
(18:32):
guys from from from our gas to our skilled. Development
guys we want them to be able to step into
those roles and and and the more they're capable, of
doing the more we're gonna put on.
Speaker 2 (18:41):
Their workload you also Brought back. Jaden McClanahan this time
is a. Graduate assistant tell us a little bit about
the process Of bringing.
Speaker 3 (18:47):
Jaden, BACK yeah i mean THE processes i Was working
jayden and when he is a senior playing, for us,
great mind hungry to be a, watch video always looking
for the next, next advantage next thing that helps, You
KNOW and i, told him as, a senior, you's like
you need to BE a ga. Next year you need
to come work. For me, you da. Da da and,
you know he wanted to look into the pro game a,
little bit, you know get his feet wet there and and,
(19:09):
you know, like everybody we all want to. Play FOREVER
but i think he's right where he needs. To be
he's gonna be a great grad assistant. For us he's
going to be tremendous with. Our guys he had big.
Time energy both Him and trey bring the juice every
day and so just. REALLY excited, i MEAN it's i
feel great about. Our staff we've been really lucky to
keep guys and have a, little turnover and you know
it's it's when you have a great staff then then
(19:31):
it gives you even more confidence as a.
Speaker 2 (19:33):
Head coach, All right Head Coach todd phillips here with
Us On, bryson, banucci coach good luck this.
Speaker 3 (19:38):
Upcoming season we appreciate you sitting down, With us thank
you excited, for it and appreciate you.
Speaker 2 (19:42):
Being, here absolutely we'll take a quick break and we'll
be back on the. Other side right Here On bryson
banuci want of three nine and ninety EIGHT THREE espn.
Speaker 3 (19:58):
Al right back. At it bryson being if SHE won, oh.
Speaker 2 (20:00):
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on Brice And. BIA nucci a little bit of a
(21:13):
surprise guest stepping in.
Speaker 3 (21:14):
Right Now It's. Adam hall how are, We doing.
Speaker 4 (21:16):
Adam great appreciate you having on me on and honestly
like being HERE for.
Speaker 3 (21:23):
Uv, athletics yeah it's always a.
Speaker 2 (21:26):
Fun event love being, out here hanging out everybody Here
With Utah. Valley university let's start out with your team
the upcoming season in. The winter obviously you've had a
really good run. In recruiting Started With terrell barrokleff got
Him From penn state. Last year walk us through what
he meant for your squad a season ago and what
(21:48):
he's up.
Speaker 4 (21:48):
To, now yeah it was a big Deal convincing terrell
and his parents to come. BACK home i don't think
it was a huge SELL because i think he wanted
to come, Back home but at the, same time he
was being Recruited, BY Lehigh, Nc State, Iowa State, oklahoma
state some of these programs that that have a little
bit more tradition and history than. We do and he
(22:09):
decided to come back home and and really cement his
place in history with us and Became An all american
in our program and has really put us on the
map this year and really excited for. His future he
wants to continue competing and, right now he actually just
last week FINISHED his nba did it. One year he's
(22:29):
he's an exceptional, human being and so kind of, letting
him letting him calm down right now and and enjoy
a little bit the rest of. His summer and he's
been doing a lot of camps and clinics as he,
should be, you know just reaping the benefits of his of.
His success but he is he's going to be with
us a part of a big part of. Our program
and in terms, of recruiting we actually picked up one
(22:50):
of his former teammates From From penn state, As Well,
david evans and he's already making an impact in.
Speaker 3 (22:55):
Our program and.
Speaker 4 (22:58):
We i would say of the top five guys in
the State of utah and the twenty twenty, Five class
we picked up three, of them, You know so in
terms of where we're at, recruiting wise we're actively recruiting.
Speaker 3 (23:09):
Twenty twenty six and twenty twenty, seven.
Speaker 4 (23:11):
Now and we're on some pretty.
Speaker 3 (23:14):
Good guys but you mentioned Bringing In.
Speaker 2 (23:16):
David evans you've kind of Started A penn state Pipeline
To Utah. Valley university what is that like when these
guys hit the transfer portal and what's the pitch to
Come To Utah valley university coming from these big ten
schools that are fantastic and phenomenal.
Speaker 4 (23:29):
At, wrestling yeah it was more like does? It fit,
you know did it Fit? For terrell did it Fit?
For David and i'm saying it fits, for everyone and
we're pretty selected when it comes to. The portal we're
not just crazy all over. The portal we're actively recruiting
high school guys and building relationships with them and building
a future and a foundation with those guys that we
(23:52):
see with a four or five. Year career but with that,
being said everybody's situation, is DIFFERENT and i Think with
dave and With, with terrell they just want to an
opportunity to be the guy somewhere and they were stuck
Behind Some all americans and national Champions At, penn state
as you, can imagine and for them it was just a.
Speaker 2 (24:07):
Different situation so it's. Pretty easy how much is? A
poll how much of it is a poll to wrestle
In The? Big twelve and where Does The big twelve
stack up to the rest of. The COUNTRY because i
think there's a lot of people here in the State
of utah they Don't Realize Utah Valley university wrestles is
an affiliate member Of The big. Twelve conference so where
Does the big twelve stack up Against The big ten
and some of these.
Speaker 4 (24:25):
Other, CONFERENCES yeah i would say in terms, of depth
we're probably the second best conference in the country Behind The.
Big ten like everybody understands just the depth Of The,
Big ten but in terms Of The, big twelve it's
getting better and better.
Speaker 3 (24:36):
Every YEAR and i would.
Speaker 4 (24:38):
Say a lot of the affiliate Programs Like, utah Valley Like,
northern Colorado, like wyoming we're pushing to break into the top.
Twenty FIVE and i think it's a big deal for
the conference as, in general but also when you're trying
to compare it in recruiting recruits understand That The big
twelve is a. Big deal and the interesting thing Is
(25:00):
we i've actually had a NUMBER of byu fans and
athletes kind of, scoff that like is this?
Speaker 3 (25:05):
A joke like why do you Have a big? Twelve
symbol and? You're sure and the reality is we actually
Joined the big TWELVE before byu did. Long BEFORE so
i don't throw.
Speaker 4 (25:15):
That in, people's FACE but i want people to, understand
that like, we are we are In the. Big twelve
so it's a big deal, in recruiting it's a big
deal for our, athletic department just having the national visibility
and a.
Speaker 2 (25:25):
Big conference speaking, of which it's actually pretty funny because
a lot of people outside of the State of utah.
Know it i've Gone on oklahoma radio to talk football
with them and, they say oh You Do utah valley
tell us about the, wrestling team And So oklahoma state and.
Those teams let's talk about that match last Year With
oklahoma state bringing INTO The, uccu center tons of people
show up. For it what was the atmosphere like and
what was that like for you as?
Speaker 4 (25:46):
The coach it, was unbelievable our first first home match
and we set in the tennis record had over five thousand,
people THERE and i credit our administration And Especially, cameron
deering who pushed really hard to promote the duel and
did some cool things like had a, shirt giveaway, and
honestly the day of the crew IN, the uccu they
were scrambling to put pull out more stands because all of,
(26:09):
a sudden ticket sales, Were jumping, AND honestly i want
to have at least one big marquee duel at the
beginning of the year that's.
Speaker 3 (26:16):
Before the high school season.
Speaker 4 (26:17):
THAT draws i think we had over one thousand high
school students at the duel, last year and so this
year is some kind OF like i know you're probably
getting to, this question but some sneak.
Speaker 3 (26:25):
Peak early look at.
Speaker 4 (26:27):
Our schedule we're Actually hosting stanford IN The. Uccu center
they're going to be a top fifteen team to start The,
Year saturday, november first and then we end the regular
Season hosting nebraska and their ranked number two or number
three in the country Right now february.
Speaker 3 (26:42):
Twenty, first wow.
Speaker 2 (26:43):
THAT'S yeah, i mean you look at the wrestling schedule every,
single year ranked team after, ranked team whether it's Here
in orum or on the road. As well and that's
one thing that's so GREAT about uvu wrestling is that it's.
Top notch tell me what it's like in the state
of you taught the high school level in terms of
how much talent is here for wrestling at the high
school level and what there is to.
Speaker 3 (27:04):
Recruit from it's.
Speaker 4 (27:05):
Really good and we're fortunate enough to be The only
division one program in the state and so in terms
of the highest level recruiting where we're not fighting Against
the utah OR a byu Or A, weaver state and,
that's great but our biggest opponents when it comes to
recruiting Is, the Nebraska's the, ohio States The, penn states
(27:27):
and just kids leaving. The state and we've changed, the narrative,
i'd say with a lot of the best recruits in
the state and that you can Come To utah valley.
Speaker 3 (27:35):
And Win and terrell was a big part.
Speaker 4 (27:38):
Of THAT and i think just the momentum we have
with the program and people are starting to see that
and get really excited.
Speaker 3 (27:42):
About it, AND yeah i would say a number of these.
Speaker 4 (27:46):
Programs coming in and plucking kids out of the state
and it's just a testament to the high school coaches
and also the club coaches in. The State kyler sanderson
has his own Club that's kale's brother up north And.
Speaker 3 (27:58):
The lamont Brother And craig Lamont And.
Speaker 4 (28:02):
Ethan lofthouse they Have The champions club which is, further
south CLOSER, to us and both, those guys both those
clubs do a great job in developing individuals and we're
trying to keep a number of them.
Speaker 2 (28:11):
In State adam hall is HERE with us head Coach
The Utah valley wrestling Team on bryce and Bing ut
you want to three nine to ninety EIGHT three Espn.
The fan we're live Here At Sleepy Rich golf Cars,
golf course part Of The Utah Valley golf invitational that's
taken on taking place, here today the.
Speaker 3 (28:29):
Thirty first annual.
Speaker 2 (28:30):
Golf tournament you good at golf GOLFED any i can hit,
THE ball i can.
Speaker 4 (28:34):
Make contact yeah it doesn't always, go Straight but i'm
athletic enough to hit. The ball that's how it is
for all. OF us, i think just have some fun.
Speaker 3 (28:42):
Out there it's like.
Speaker 4 (28:43):
Anything though IT'S like i actually think golf is a lot,
like wrestling where wrestling you have three different general positions
that you're working and it's, pretty broad but it's the
same thing. In golf you have, short game mid range,
and driving, you know and it takes, a while and
it's a very hands on sport with you're going to,
get better you got to put in, the time no doubt.
Speaker 3 (29:02):
About it talking about putting in.
Speaker 2 (29:03):
The time the, OTHER day i saw you post on
social media about nutrition and teaching the guys how to
meal prep and different things. Like that how important is
that specifically for the sport of wrestling versus other sports,
where yeah nutrition and keeping your bodies right, is good
but we're talking about making weight here and what went
into teaching those.
Speaker 3 (29:19):
Guys that we're.
Speaker 4 (29:21):
Really fortunate to have a dietician work directly with. Our
team AND as i said in, my post she's, pretty
ambitious and she came to me and wanted to do
a like a summer series and it started last year
and it's moved into this year and it's really cool
where she starts out by teaching our student Athletes in
june about macro and, micro nutrients and then she moves
to meal prepping and then this coming month or this
(29:42):
month when we get back, Into school she's going to
teach them about, nutrient timing because the biggest thing in
athletics and sports and elite level fitness and in sports
is what to eat and when to.
Speaker 3 (29:53):
Eat it not like generally people know.
Speaker 4 (29:55):
Like, what's healthy but they don't know when to, eat it,
you know and what's the best in terms of providing
the best energy for workouts.
Speaker 3 (30:04):
And recovery you also came OVER From.
Speaker 2 (30:08):
Nc state tell us a little bit About How utah
valley COMPARES To nc state and what you've been able
to build it into in your short time here.
Speaker 4 (30:15):
So, FAR yeah i would say it's a little bit
more like apples to oranges where you're AT a i
wouldn't say a, smaller university but an athletic department that
is growing and doesn't have as much depth. And, history
SURE but i Would Say. UTAH valleys i describe, our
university in our, athletic department in our program a lot like,
(30:35):
A startup like it's an exciting place to be in
exciting times because there's a lot of new things that
are happening in all of. Those areas and not saying
there WASN'T At, nc state but it was just a
little bit different of, an environment and you're trying to
set the bar and expectations of what you had at
a SCHOOL Like nc state and the resources that you,
(30:56):
had there and continue to PUSH and i think it
it's been pretty receptive with our administration and the support,
we HAVE and i mean it's. A tech you see
it at our, duel meets with our presidents showing up
to the dual meets and and our athletic, directors THERE
and i think that it just shows the amount of
support and that they want to see this.
Speaker 3 (31:15):
Program win for.
Speaker 2 (31:16):
New fans that might be listening that, Are, LIKE okay
i know a little bit, about WRESTLING but i don't
know a lot. About it what's the easiest way to
get into watching wrestling and understanding what's actually happening out
there on?
Speaker 4 (31:28):
The, mat well interesting that you say that that was
the biggest question market is how do we draw? Casual
fans and we created a video that we play every
before every duel meet that basically describes what scoring is
and what the, rules are so we encourage, people, like
hey come out check.
Speaker 3 (31:46):
It out it's actually a really, fun environment especially.
Speaker 4 (31:48):
If it's IN, The, uccu, like yeah we're pushing really
hard to get people Out. For, november first it's before
the high. School season it's like, right when, you know before,
the holidays and just hoping that we can get. People
out it's On, us saturday and so it's, you know
hoping that we draw a. Big crowd and playing THAT
video i think helps a lot so, People, UNDERSTAND oh
i understand Now what, i'm watching and for them it
(32:09):
becomes a little bit more like Once you it's like
the FIRST time i, WATCHED cricket i didn't really know
like what was, going on and it made it hard
for me. To watch but as SOON as i understood
stood the rules in, THE scoring i enjoyed the strategy of.
Speaker 2 (32:21):
It, all right before we let you, go here tell
us where your lineup's at for this upcoming season and
who we can expect to be big playmakers for you this.
Speaker 3 (32:29):
Upcoming, SEASON yeah i just running down. Weight classes.
Speaker 4 (32:34):
You know we return a Starter in bridger ricks at one,
twenty five and he's gonna be pushed by a guy
that red shirted this. Last year tellanek. Thirty three we're
gonna have a few guys in, the mix a. Couple
Freshmen geronimo rivera who's in in state twenty twenty five
one of the top recruits coming in as Well As,
jay cassinetto and we have a, Local Guy. Casey curtis
(32:55):
we have a few. Guys there one, forty one we
have A Stalwart, hayden drew he's. A senior we have
a few guys in, the Mix Including dave evans at one,
forty nine, one five six. Seventy four probably the biggest
question marks that we have because we have some guys
changing weight classes and our starter, Last Year riker former
will likely be. Moving up our starter at one, Seventy
(33:16):
Four mark takara will likely be moving down to a
better fit for his weight And With terrell beharkoff leaving
him being, a senior, you know it leaves a little
bit of.
Speaker 3 (33:26):
A whole so we're kind of figuring out those.
Speaker 4 (33:28):
Weight classes we have some some newcomers coming in at one,
seventy four one, Eighty Four caleb ulenhap returns with a
couple extra guys in, the mix and one Ninety Seven
kale bending returns and and same thing At Heavyweight Jack,
Jack forbes and, you know we didn't honestly lose very
many guys this, last year we only lost a few
guys and we added, you know eight eight freshman, slash
(33:51):
transfers and so it's going to be an exciting year
where we actually got a whole year of development with
with our guys and to, build relationships and it's going to.
Be exciting and people, ask, me like how's the team
going to be? This year the only ONLY thing i
say is we're going to. Be better we spent the
entire summer training in developing and they're Going to people
are going to see it.
Speaker 2 (34:10):
This year in terms of expectations for, YOUR squad a
lot of fans understand expectations, for basketball make The Dan,
cuba tournament maybe win a game. Or two same thing
for baseball With With, nate rasmussen they make the regional
win a Game.
Speaker 3 (34:23):
Against oregon, for.
Speaker 2 (34:25):
Wrestling is it more of an individual type of expectation
where this individual guy is going to GO To ncaa
nationals or is there an expectation that your team as
a whole is going to be a team that can
Wrestle At nationals and?
Speaker 3 (34:38):
What's that what should that expectation be for your squad? This?
Speaker 4 (34:41):
YEAR yeah I Think greg williams did a great job
setting a bar where he Had Two all americans in,
one year finished in the top, twenty five had five
national qualifiers half his lineup, one year and so he
kind of he set, that bar and it's an expectation
for us to have have five. National qualifiers are better
to Have An all american every single year and to
(35:02):
be in the top twenty five at the. NATIONAL tournament,
i mean we finished thirty fifth last year And with
terrell making, the podium and like we finished Ahead of Oklahoma,
and rutgers, you Know a big twelve And a big.
Speaker 3 (35:12):
Ten team so, for us with the resources, we have
like those.
Speaker 4 (35:15):
Are expectations it's not, just, like well we hope to
finish in front of these teams that we expect to
be in the top twenty five because we expect a
lot out.
Speaker 2 (35:21):
Of, ourselves yeah we're just Talking With todd phillips about
the change To The. Big west does that affect wrestling
at all when they move over To The?
Speaker 3 (35:29):
Big west obviously you're In the.
Speaker 2 (35:30):
Big twelve is there any shifts anything that changes within
your program because?
Speaker 3 (35:34):
Of that.
Speaker 4 (35:36):
NOT necessarily i think in terms of the visibility of
our school and. Our UNIVERSITY when i talk to the
other coaches in. The department, they're excited. They're happy like
Talking To nate rasmus and, he's, like yeah they're generally
a team or two teams that make it out Of
The big west TO The ncaa regionals, every year, You
know so it's going to be a step up for
them and it's just gonna be better. For everybody at
(35:56):
the end of, the day when we grow Through The.
Big west we're winning In The. Big west it winning
begets other. Other winning we're just excited that one team.
Is winning we want that same, success Absolutely.
Speaker 2 (36:08):
All right has conference re alignment Hit the big twelve
and wrestling at all the last couple, Of years.
Speaker 3 (36:11):
Not yet but there's there is realignment. That's happening but
as Far as, i'm concerned we're In the.
Speaker 4 (36:18):
Big, Twelve yeah i'm not really thinking about IT because i.
Speaker 3 (36:22):
Only can Control what. I'm controlling and there's a.
Speaker 4 (36:24):
Lot of people out, there like why, aren't you, you
know moving To the pac twelve it makes more sense,
or whatever, you know and it's, it's, like well we're
In the big twelve and for the, time Being especially
jared has openly said us said to said to me
like now we're in the, big twelve, you know and
until things drastically changed, like nothing nothing's really going to change.
Speaker 3 (36:43):
For us, all, right final final one. For you we'll
let you go.
Speaker 2 (36:45):
After this where can fans pick up one of those
sweet polos that that?
Speaker 3 (36:49):
Thing's Nice but i'm gonna need one, OF them, I
know i gotta get.
Speaker 4 (36:51):
You, one yeah, we're uh we're rolling out our all
of our new gear this this coming year and we're
hoping before the holidays to have a gear shop.
Speaker 3 (37:00):
Open, up okay, all right there.
Speaker 2 (37:02):
You Go, adam hall the head coach Of The Utah
valley university. Wrestling team appreciate, Your, time bryce, thank you
good luck this. Upcoming season we'll take a. Quick break
we'll wrap everything up coming up next right Year on
bryce And ban ucci one three nine and ninety EIGHT
three ESPs.
Speaker 1 (37:15):
And bia nucci ON one o three nine then ninety EIGHT,
three Espn The Band tell Me the price And bi
anucci podcast wherever you get your? Podcast today, all.
Speaker 2 (37:30):
Right getting ready to wrap things up Live From Sleepy Rich.
Golf course i'm starting to get Hungry and i'm seeing
hot dogs that are being cooked up by the wrestling team, Down.
Speaker 3 (37:39):
Here jordan there's also.
Speaker 2 (37:41):
A bunch of like sweets and cookies down there that's dangerous.
Speaker 5 (37:44):
Starting early.
Speaker 3 (37:48):
I'm already hungry because i can. SMELL them i haven't eaten.
Speaker 2 (37:51):
Yet today i've, Also heard i've been told one of
my friends Said That Sleepy Rich golf course has the
best breakfast burrito in the State.
Speaker 3 (37:59):
Of Utah so i'm to take that one for.
Speaker 5 (38:03):
A spin if, that's true that's, that is that's wrong
to all the All the mexican restaurants and like. Taco stands, if,
That yeah i'm not. BUYING that i don't Know if i'm.
Speaker 3 (38:15):
Buying that, All right if, That's true i'll let. You
know i'll give.
Speaker 2 (38:20):
THE review i will give the review tomorrow on the
show After after i've. Had it i'm going to eat
one Today and i'll tell you exactly what it. Tastes
like you can come on down hang out with me
for the next like thirty minutes, or so if you
just want to chill out. Or not it is what you,
you know it is what. It is but we're Here
At Sleepy Ridge.
Speaker 5 (38:38):
Golf, course wow we're great. Selling there come on down
if you want, or not whatever.
Speaker 2 (38:44):
Or not it depends on if you have a, busy
day maybe get a. Hot dog you might be able
to slide a. Hot dog i'm not telling you. You
can i'm saying you might be. Able to we're going
to wrap things up with a couple of THINGS that i,
useing notes things that you need. To know but before we,
do so do you want to tell you about our
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Speaker 3 (39:05):
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Speaker 2 (39:07):
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the Bryce and bianucci. Sent you as we wrap it
up here, this morning couple THINGS that i do want
to let you. Know about Reminder on friday stadium opening
there's a ribbon cutting that is happening for a new
thirty million dollars stadium here in the State. Of utah
(40:46):
It's At Utah. Valley university for the men's, in soccer
pro men's and women's. Soccer programs that is a. Beautiful
facility you see it right OFF of I Fifteen university,
parkway exit and that's going to be the Home Of
utah valley soccer for four years. TO come a top
five facility in the country Is what i've, Been. Told
(41:06):
jordan we were just barely Up in eugene Checking out.
Oregon's facilities you want to talk about an athletic department
that has a lot, of money.
Speaker 3 (41:14):
THAT everything i was not impressed with the.
Speaker 2 (41:16):
Soccer Facilities utah valley now has a better soccer facility
Than the university of organ which is something to brag
about a.
Speaker 5 (41:23):
Little, bit yeah THEY had i mean they have. The
track the track facility was pretty nice.
Speaker 3 (41:28):
Up there it, was okay it. Wasn't bad I've seen i've,
seen better.
Speaker 5 (41:35):
Have, you no that is. Pretty crazy, You're, right like
it's a huge investment, in Soccer And utah valley has
The only division one men's soccer team and the women
are a top team. Every year so it's. It's fun
i'm looking forward. To it i'm looking forward to sitting.
Speaker 3 (41:52):
In the shade.
Speaker 5 (41:53):
Over there That's what i'm. Looking for there's the sunsets
behind the. Grand stand that's gonna.
Speaker 2 (41:57):
Be nice no better Spot For kyle Beckerman and crystal
maz programs.
Speaker 3 (42:01):
To play they're gonna bring in some big names this.
Speaker 2 (42:04):
Upcoming season women's soccer team's got a COUPLE of sec teams.
Coming through they're gonna kick things Off with Utah on monday.
And more and that's gonna be a lot of exciting
stuff coming Up. On friday so if you want to check,
that out get a free tour of. The stage just
swing on By. On friday i'll be out there hanging out,
with everybody talking with a lot, of people and you
can follow Me on twitter for all. The latest There
(42:24):
At larsen sports you also have the latest From BOTH
utah byu. Football, camps jordan did you just try and
say something?
Speaker 3 (42:32):
To?
Speaker 5 (42:32):
Me, SORRY no i was, gonna say are we gonna
light a car? On fire like like last year before the?
Speaker 3 (42:36):
Home open you know we. Wasn't us it, Wasn't us
but there might be a little bit.
Speaker 5 (42:41):
Of that is that a new tradition? Just lighting just
just LIGHTING these.
Speaker 2 (42:46):
I don't condone it because maybe we could be, held responsible,
But hey i'm Not saying.
Speaker 3 (42:50):
I'm not indors it.
Speaker 5 (42:51):
Wasn't cool, I'm like i'm not you shouldn't, do it
but if, you do you, know it let.
Speaker 3 (42:57):
Us, know yeah we can use the social media. Presence. There,
Yeah no i'm not sure that's, gonna happen but.
Speaker 2 (43:07):
We'll keep you up today with all things football as
we get closer to the football Season byu utah kick
off their football season in seventeen days, From now we'll
keep you up today with all the latest on both
of those two. Fall camps as we get closer and
closer the football season. Kicking off you can also hear
high School Football, THIS friday Provo Hosts green canyon right
(43:30):
here on one, of three nine and ninety EIGHT Three Espn.
The fan that's gonna be a radio, only broadcast but
you can check out our YouTube page the rest of
the season as we go throughout the rest of the
season bring you all of the high school football action
on both our YouTube page and right here ON one
o three nine and ninety EIGHT Three Espn. The fan
one other thing to remind you of This, upcoming friday
we're GONNA. Have, jb Long the voice Of The Los
(43:51):
angeles rams. Join us he'll tell us about preseason game,
number two which you can hear right here on the
home Of The Los angeles rams In the State of
utah one three nine ninety, EIGHT. Three Espn the fan
that'll be coming Up, on saturday, that game and of
course the interview right Here On bryson Bianucci On friday MORNING.
Speaker 3 (44:09):
With, jb long the voice Of, The Rams.
Speaker 2 (44:11):
Jordan banucci anything else you want to let the people
know before we wrap.
Speaker 5 (44:14):
It, up now you're like a school principle here in the,
last segment just just this was just. An announcement, good,
lord yes, all right.
Speaker 2 (44:22):
Keep it throw me a list Of everything i've got,
to Announce and i've got to get through it before my.
Speaker 3 (44:26):
Time's up, No.
Speaker 5 (44:27):
Kidding, We're no we're up. Against it we got to.
Get out it'll be a we got we got good,
stuff tomorrow.
Speaker 2 (44:32):
All right we'll see you again tomorrow right Here On
bryson BIANUCCI one o three nine NINETY.
Speaker 3 (44:36):
Three espn
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