Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Live from the Dilly Bistro in Marymont. Welcome to the
Shawn Miller Radio Show on the Xavier Sports Network from Learfield,
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(00:23):
easy to enjoy, and by Dilly Bistro, presenting sponsor of
the Shawn Miller Radio Show. Now Here are Joe Sunderman
and Byron Larkin.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
Welcome to the Sean Miller Show live from Dilly Pistro
and Marymont. I'm Joe Sunderman along with Byron Larkin and
the head coach of the Xavier Musketeers, Sean Miller. Another
great crowd, Thanks for coming out on a cold night
here in December. It's great to see everybody. Xavier now
seven to one on the season, and on Sunday night,
Zavier knocked off South Carolina State seventy one to sixty eighth.
(00:56):
The number if you'd like to give us a call
five one three seven fifty five hundred five one three
seven fifty five hundred and Coach, the first thing I
want to ask you. You talked in your post game
about it takes eight to fifteen games to really maybe
understand your team, even as a head coach, though you've
watched them all summer long and through the fall up
(01:17):
to this point. Talk about that a little bit.
Speaker 3 (01:20):
Yeah, you know, Joe, I think that you know, game
experience is the best way to really gauge uh, not
only your team, but a lot of times players, and
you start to figure out what combinations of players seem
to work better. Sometimes it's what combinations of players, even
though they're teammates, don't necessarily bring out the best in
(01:41):
each other. When they're out there as a group of
five and you know, you practices, you learn a lot.
You certainly learn the pecking order of who should start,
who are your best at doing certain things against each other.
But it's not until you really get the opportunity to
play a true road game, play a team like Michigan,
go through the different experiences that we go through, and
(02:03):
I think here in the next couple of weeks today
I think was practice forty one. So you've been at it,
you know, forty some times. As you two guys, know,
like you get into those forty some practices, that's a
lot that's not just starting out, consider the summer and
the fall in addition to that, so that familiarity. I
think as we enter the month of December, which we're
(02:23):
now in and head towards Christmas, you know, at some
point you know what you have. That doesn't mean that
it's a finished product. All of us are trying to
get better and sometimes you know, injuries, foul trouble, and
sometimes the opposite, younger players or guys off the bench
really finding their niche and playing better and better. As
the season grows, things can certainly improve, diminished change. I
(02:47):
think all of us know that. But to get where
you came from on the question, Joe, you know we're
learning more and more. I thought we learned a lot
over the last two games, and I'll address both games.
You know, I thought that when we played Michigan that
Michigan was an overall better team than us. They're deeper,
they're bigger, they have a lot of talent, and in
(03:11):
particular on that night when we played them, you have
to realize that their four man wolf was shooting sixteen
percent from three coming into the game. He not only
went four for four, he went four for four in
the first fourteen minutes of the of the game. So
you know, when a guy goes four for four in
(03:31):
the first half, that changes things. I don't care who
you're playing. His buddy, the center, who had never attempted
a three point shot in his career, made one. So
between their four and their five all in the first half,
we absorbed five made threes in five attempts from their
four and their five, and they were combined, you know,
sixteen percent going into the game. So we caught Michigan
(03:53):
on a good night. We were down eleven and to half,
and if you really look at the game, which we
have thoroughly, at the eight minute mark, under the eight
minute mark, we were down eight points, so you know,
down eleven at the half, really were plus three through
the first twelve minutes of the second half. You could
feel it. I don't think in any scenario that we
(04:14):
had enough on that particular night to win the game.
Just it just didn't. We were playing up till the
entire night. But I do know this, we had plenty
to not lose by twenty five. When you turn the
page and say the end of the game and Michigan, God,
they beat us to death. They beat us seventy eight
to fifty three. They beat us tonight, they beat us
(04:35):
nineteen to two in the last seven and a half
minutes of the game. That's an issue. That's a problem.
There's a reason that happened. Our guys didn't stop trying.
We ran out of gas. Playing two games in three
days against South Carolina one day in between, and playing
against Michigan, who's deep and fast and talented. You could
feel us wearing down as that game were on in
(04:57):
the nineteen to two in the last eight minutes. Was
a function of that. So you know, you look at it.
I wish we didn't lose seventy eight to fifty three.
That hurts a lot of things. Number one, our pride.
But I think we really see that game for what
it was learning from it. Coming back now to our
last game South Carolina State, I thought we had a
(05:18):
number of guys that were unsettled in the role that
they had. We were coming off of our first loss
of the year, not a lot of time in between.
We showed up Sunday. We were a little flat, even
our starters were, and we played against a hard playing,
(05:38):
tough minded athletic nothing to lose team, and the couple
of different times we had a chance to put them away,
which I want to address. So in that game, among
all the things that could have gone better for us,
with five minutes to go in the game, we were
winning fifty eight to forty three. Once you think we're
(06:00):
fifty eight to forty three is what we were winning
the game. With a little bit more than five minutes
to go, we won seventy one sixty eight. So if
you think about it, in the last five minutes of
the game, they and Essence scored twenty five points. Well,
they only had forty three in thirty five minutes. We
(06:23):
wore down again, We wore down, and we subbed less
in that game than we did even in the Michigan game.
Right now, part of what we are thirsty, hungry really
just in dire need for is we need overall better
play from our bench. Silver Lining, I think as you
look at Jerome Hunter and everybody in here knows Jerome's story,
(06:46):
you can't expect him on the first game of this
season to come out and pick up where he left
off from the last time everybody saw him play. He's
been through way too much physically and mentally emotionally to
take the first four weeks of season and be at
his best. So some of what we've been dealing with
with Jerome is he's a work in progress. The other
(07:07):
night was his best game of the year. He was
five for six from the floor against South Carolina. He
scored in double figures. Against South Carolina State, he scored
in double figures. He played a season high twenty seven minutes.
Watching him in practice today, I think he's more sure
of himself. I think he's healthier. I think some of
it physically is getting in better shape. You know, you
(07:29):
guys know playing basketball is it's hard to explain to people.
It's not like running on a treadmill or you know,
lifting weights or even running long distance.
Speaker 2 (07:38):
It's just a.
Speaker 3 (07:38):
Different way of being in shape. And if you're coming
off of a torn achilles, it takes some adjusting. So
I believe Jerome's in a good place, and he's the
one guy who doesn't start the game that I think
is really moving in a good way. We've done a
lot of talking over the last week with our guys,
and I think that our guys that aren't starting the
game understand their role better. I think they're starting to
(08:01):
adjust to being here, I understand that on my end
and our staffs, and we have to maybe give them
a little bit more rope, give them more of an opportunity.
We certainly haven't given up on them. I have no
doubt that we have the ability to get more quality
play from the bench then we've shown and with that,
and I'll use one game as the example, Jackson State,
(08:23):
which is our largest margin of victory this season. Jackson
State isn't a great team, I get it, but if
you combine Dante Maddox and John Uglely in that game,
I think they combined maybe for twenty five points. And
if you think back to that game, the way it felt,
that's the one difference between that game and every game
we've played. We really got amazing production from the guys
(08:45):
that didn't start. The way we have it set up
is we play nine nine players every game. Jerome is
the sixth man at this moment, and now it's just
up to us to get more productivity, get those guys comfortable.
I know they can do it. I think when you
look at South Carolina State and Michigan, because of Michigan's
depth and talent and just the way South Carolina state
(09:08):
played and the way that I subbed, we really ran
into identical problems in both games, different different problems, same version,
if that makes sense. So learning our team, we're hard
at it to give those guys more confidence, more of
an opportunity. And then at the same time, it's not
just them, there are other things we're working hard on.
(09:29):
I think that every coach at this time of year
is we're so far from a finished product, and it's
so much about just improving here as we keep moving forward.
Speaker 4 (09:38):
Coach other than Jerome Hunter, when you look at wanting
more production from your bench, when you look at Maddox
and John Hugly in your mind, is one more important
than the other. In my opinion, John Hughglely is a
guy that's really got to give you more because because
he's really like drained. If he doesn't give you, that
(10:00):
means that's more time that Zach Fremantle has to be
on the floor and you don't have. You're down a
big already with let's send a Treori. And John Hugley's
more than capable. You know he's talented, and but in
your opinion, is there one more important than the other.
Speaker 3 (10:18):
I think they're all important, Byron, But I agree with
your assessment. You know, John's that third big, and look,
if we had four bigs, part of the question you
would be asking me is like, how do you get
all of them in the game? How do you make
them work? That's the problem I'd love to have once sure,
you know, you know we brought the scene in here
to be who he is. It'd be nice to have him.
We don't have him, so we've now moved on from that.
(10:40):
But a rotation of Jerome, a healthy Jerome, and Zach
and John. I think that we have three different types
of players that can all work with each other and
get us to the finish line. And I believe this
and I saw it again today and today's practice. I
thought John had a great practice today and it was
great to see. Is added to dude, his character, his
(11:01):
work ethic checkout, because it's not easy when you're used
to playing and now you're not, when you're being held
to a certain standard. And maybe from his perspective, you know,
he just wants and needs more opportunity. We like to
give it to him, and it's it's kind of like
a two way street. But I agree Byron with an
improved John, more productive John off the bench. I think
(11:23):
that allows our team to be the best it can be.
And then I think when you look at the perimeter
between Dante Maddox's ability to shoot three point shots and score,
Trey Green his ability to back up Davon and make
open shots. You know, now you have a team where
you're playing eight nine guys and it's set up we're
on a given night. Sometimes our best players might be
(11:45):
people that don't start the game. You know, That's was
our thought through the fall. I still think that can
be true. It just hasn't happened through the first eight games.
Speaker 2 (11:55):
How many different positions could you use your home hunter?
Speaker 3 (11:58):
You know, we right now just to get it both
feet on the ground. We're playing them inside at either
of the two big positions. You know, I think if
Jerome was really confident and healthy and things removing, you
could always put him in there with two big guys
to give you different size and maybe give him more opportunity.
But with the way Marcus Foster's playing, and I think
(12:22):
what Dylan Swain has done and what he could continue
to be, we're pretty solid at the wingspot. Joe, you
could play three guards with Dante Maddox, Ryan Conwell and
Davion McKnight, which was part of our plan, and I
think that that would happen before we would play Jerome anywhere.
But the position he's playing.
Speaker 2 (12:41):
All right, You're listening to the Sean Miller Coaches Show
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the Varsity Network. Welcome back to the Sean Miller Show
from Dilley Bistro and Marrimont.
Speaker 4 (12:53):
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Speaker 2 (13:11):
Seant of the game against North Carolina State the last
three minutes, I almost felt like you had to make
more decisions and do more coaching in the last three minutes.
You've done all year long in terms of how that
game was working its way out, And the big decision
was to put Trey Green on the floor.
Speaker 3 (13:26):
Yeah, and I'm glad you brought that up. Joe and
I talked in my post game, you know, and questions
that were asked after the game about Trey. I don't
think there's many things in sports that are more pressure
packed than being the free throw shooter in the last minute,
the last few seconds of a game when it's one
(13:48):
possession down to up to tie game up one. But
when you consider that Tray had not played until then,
you know, there's a side of me that didn't want
to even put him in that position. Is the only
reason that we did is and I've told both of
you guys this. You know, we have this thing called
stripe work, which we really work daily as far back
(14:10):
as early summer, all through the summer into the fall,
making fifty free throws a day. And you know, just
I've never been around anybody who shoots the ball from
the free throw line like him. I mean, really, he's.
Speaker 2 (14:24):
Saying something because you've watched a lot of free throw
shooters over the year.
Speaker 3 (14:26):
If you have his stats on the year, I know
he hasn't got there.
Speaker 2 (14:29):
A lot, but six for six, okay, six for six.
He's going to be a.
Speaker 3 (14:33):
Career ninety plus percent free throw shooter. Really, but it
was great to see him go the line and make
them he won the game for us and UH and
we were able to get the ball to him a
couple of times in that situation to actually put him
in a position to go to the free throw line.
So my hat, I take my hat off the tray.
I think all of our team really was super excited
(14:56):
for him. He should feel great about it. I know
he does, and you know, I hope it's a sign
of things to come, because in those situations where you're
in these you know, single possession games and he's out
on the court, you know he's he's somebody that is
really clutch and very accurate from the free throw line.
I'm great to see him doing it.
Speaker 2 (15:16):
I enjoy his style with the free throw line. We've
watched enough basketball. There's so many different ways to approach
the free throw line. Some guys will stay there the
entire two shots. Some guys will move back to the
top of the key and back again in between shots.
Trey Green, though, when he catches the ball, it's all business.
I think it's like one dribble of spinn and it's gone, yeah.
And I think when you practice, you get a lot
more shots up that way. For now, dribbling three or
(15:36):
four times for starters, you know, but I just kind
of admire his approach to the whole thing. It's very
very work there, like and you know.
Speaker 3 (15:43):
The bigger picture with him is, you know, nobody on
our team that's part of a program. You know, takes
his craft more stronger, more seriously than Trey Green. You know,
if he were the golfer, he would be the guy
who shows up one hour before his tee time and
he goes a routine, and he goes from the you know,
(16:03):
putts to drive and uses all the clubs. He's the
guy that stays after the round. I mean, he is
a workaholic when it comes to shooting the ball. And uh,
that's why he's such a terrific free throw shooter, Sehn
and shooter and shooter in general.
Speaker 4 (16:16):
John did when you talked about it over someone mentioned
it to me over the summertime that he had some
crazy amount of days where you were doing your stripe
work and he went a couple of days without missing
a free throw.
Speaker 3 (16:31):
Yeah, it's like a I don't want to give you
the wrong number, buyern, but I all have this information.
You guys can ask me the next time we get together.
But he's made fifty in a row. I mean, I
mean maybe fifty times. I mean, really he is. If
he's going to shoot fifty, he might miss one or two.
(16:55):
But there are weeks upon weeks to go by a
month where Trey's missed five free throws in that setting,
in that fifty you know, to make fifty a day setting.
So yeah, I mean when I when I'm saying this,
I have great and feeling and I have some amazing
numbers to back up my claim. But I put him
(17:15):
up against anybody.
Speaker 4 (17:16):
And also it's in that particular game. He played a
lot in the first half, but he didn't play much
in the second half. So for him to you know,
he could have very easily kind of sulked and be like, well,
I'm not getting in and then oh, all of a
sudden they need me. Ryan Conwell fouls out with a
couple of minutes to go, and now you were asked
to come in and be the difference in the game.
(17:39):
And he was able to answer that call. That's just
not easy just from you know, sitting down, like, Okay,
all the pressure in the world is on you to
make two, and he did and he made four.
Speaker 3 (17:50):
No doubt. No, that it's not an easy thing to do,
and we all tip our hat to him. I talked
to him in front of the team after the game
just to make sure just that we all recognized how
difficult it was for him to do. And you know
what an impact it had on the final score.
Speaker 2 (18:08):
Coach, the last two ballgames, Michigan and South Carolina State,
I got the impression that your opposition they were really
trying to get up close to your guards defensively and
pressure them as far from the bucket as they possibly could.
Is that something that is relatively new as to how
the opponents are playing you and how do you counter that?
Speaker 3 (18:28):
No, I mean both teams were at the you know,
level one through ten pressure. I think Michigan's at level nine,
you know, I put South Carolina State at level ten.
And with that comes the next phase, and that is
they're going to value And you know what we shot
in the South Carolina State game. We shot thirty six
free throws, you know, and I thought the game was
(18:49):
very well officiated, but you know, we could have shot
round four. You shoot forty free throws in a forty
minute game, It's it's a terrible game. It's it's it's
not fun so with that style and that's what they
give up. And if you ever could take better care
of the ball, then we did. You know, that style
can really work against you. But to your point, Joe,
it's something we're well aware of. We're working on it.
(19:10):
It's something that we as a team have to get
better at doing. There's certain things we have to clean up,
certain things maybe we have to stay away from. And
I think to some degree, like our guards, especially in
the South Carolina State game, they have to play better.
They have to get open, they have to handle the ball,
they have to be more sure, they have to play
with more force and speed. Things that they've done in
(19:32):
that game they didn't and it really again amplified what
South Carolina State did to us.
Speaker 4 (19:38):
Coach, what were you telling your guys during the game
when South Carolina State was it was like a dead
deny on the wings and really hard kind of initiating
the offense at the free throw line, extended during the timeouts.
What kind of game adjustments were you telling, you know,
guys like Daveon McKnight to do to counter that.
Speaker 3 (20:01):
Yeah, I mean, I think it was so extreme Viyron
of how they played us that if I had a
do over, or if we ran into this again, we
actually would abandon what we normally do and just put
the ball in the middle and let a guy run
up and screen and keep everyone's base and just play
off of that because you don't oftentimes see that because
(20:22):
there's no help, right and if they run to help
on drives and different things, they're gonna put themselves in
a position to foul. And they did. The problem is
we turned the ball over, and quite frankly, there were
times when their pressure won out and to your point,
getting open driving the ball in. In certain ways, the
(20:44):
way that game is played is it puts it puts
our players in a position to make good basketball play.
Sometimes it's like a straight line drive, jump stop, bounce past,
catch it, shot, fake, get fouled, score. It's not about
the play, it's about just you just have to make plays.
And that kind of takes the chalkboard out of it
to some degree. And a lot of times when you
(21:05):
play a team that's skilled, that's older, that's confident, you know,
you play right into our hands by doing that. And
it surprised me that we weren't better at a couple
of areas. I thought Dalen Swain in particular, he had
a couple of plays where you're just scratching your head.
But you also remember that Dalan is so young. You
know how many times has Dalen played in a game
(21:26):
like that against that style. Not nearly as many as
you think. He's at the beginning of the second year.
So I think that's an experience that you gain from.
I think Dalen will be better when he's forced to
play against a similar style moving forward, and I think
our team will as well. We addressed it today through
film yesterday, through film today, through practice, and it was
(21:47):
a great learning experience for our guys.
Speaker 2 (21:49):
If you'd like to call and a talk with coach
Sean Miller, the number is five one, three, seven nine,
fifty five hundred and this is the Sean Miller Coaches
Show from Billy Bistrol and Marymount on fifty five KRC
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(22:09):
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Speaker 4 (22:10):
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Speaker 2 (22:22):
Late in the game, Devin McKnight mab where I thought
was a terrific play. You have three seconds left on
the shot clock. The ball was inbounded, I believe, right
of asking along the baseline. And that's one of the
cooler plays, a cooler in terms of a player just
realizing the situation, counting down the clock in his head
to catch it, pump fake, take a dribble to his
left and not rush the shot. After all that and
(22:45):
Dreana it was a huge three for Davian McKnight. Did
you call that play from the bench or how does
that come about?
Speaker 3 (22:51):
You know at that point, because you don't know what
defense they're in their zone? Man, you know number one,
get the ball in safely and everybody recognize how much
times on the clock. Can you get a second shot
and just make sure that whoever takes it you feel
good about it. Obviously, Davion, we trust him. Davion didn't
necessarily play as well in that game, but you know,
we talked a lot about Trey at the end. Remember
(23:14):
Davion made the last two free throws, so we made
six in a row, not four. Trade made four in
a row, and then Davion made two more. Daveon is
also a very clutch free throw shooter, somebody who's gotten
better since he came here from the free throw line.
And that three point shot that was the biggest field
goal of the game. That was the biggest basket of
the game. You know, without that, the game could go
(23:35):
a different way. So in terms of clutch, the two
free throws he made and that three point shot, you
love to see your point guard, especially you're seenior point
guard do that. In the game, Davion was nine for
ten from the free throw line.
Speaker 4 (23:48):
Coach, we got some numbers relative to that. Trey Green
is shooting over the summertime. It was reported that there
were eighteen straight days of making fifty free.
Speaker 2 (24:01):
Throws in a row.
Speaker 3 (24:02):
Yeah, that's true.
Speaker 4 (24:03):
So yeah, so eighteen days he made fifty free throws
in a row.
Speaker 3 (24:10):
But the other number I think is for the summer,
he checked in it two thousand for two thousand and
thirty three, So he missed thirty three free throws to
make two thousand for the summer. Yeah, I mean again,
I want to say that again. That's you know, when
you make two thousand, and it took you two thousand
and thirty three shots to make two thousand, there aren't
(24:30):
a lot of those people walking around the world. He's
he's he can really shoot the free throw.
Speaker 2 (24:35):
But you compared his preparation to a golfer that goes
to the golf course and uses every club, something I
would never consider doing Byron. Mike does tray green golfer?
You know, and how good is you? I bet he'll be.
Speaker 3 (24:46):
Hey, I'm going to tell you if he took up golf,
I bet heavily that he'll be a very good golfer. Yeah,
for sure, he is a beautiful shot. And again the
work ethic of Trey and how much time he's put
in and you know, same thing with making threes and games.
There's games are probably evidence. Game at Providence last year
during his freshman year was a great example where he
can change the game with his ability to shoot. And uh,
(25:08):
you know, I thought again one of the games this
year that he impacted the final score was the other
night doing what he did from the free throw line.
Speaker 4 (25:15):
There's always been a college a challenge for him since
he's been in college. The defending bigger guards. And I
noticed Uh in thee in the South Carolina State game,
and probably Michigan. I didn't notice it as much as
soon as he comes in, they try to isolate and
post him up, UH and try to take advantage of
him on the defensive end inside his lack of size.
(25:39):
So coach, how do you how do you account for
that on the defensive end?
Speaker 3 (25:43):
You know number one is just coaching him. I mean
him being aware of it, him being really alert, you know,
just not ever being caught by surprise that something like
that could be a part of it. And then you know,
when you're the smaller guy, gotta be tough, minded and
physical and then play with that chip on your show
and chase moving in a good direction and getting better
in that area.
Speaker 2 (26:05):
Cam Fletcher six seven, two hundred and thirty pound grand
which student. I'm impressed with him in practice. I know
he's come on off with knee injury and it kind
of taking him slow to get back in the stream
of things. Say, if we look forward to February, what
type of role do you foresee for him? Or is
that anybody's guests or even hard for you to imagine.
Speaker 3 (26:24):
Cam has a great attitude he continues to work every day. Joe,
I don't know what the future this season holds, just
in terms of a bigger opportunity it could come. You know.
One of the things from a characteristic perspective that we're
struggling with as a team is our offensive rebounding, being
able to get second shots, being able to get second
shots and go back up and get foult and sometimes
(26:47):
as you know, those fifty to fifty balls and hustle
plays and missing a free throw and getting in the
offensive rebound that tip ends. Those are plays that impact winning,
and we don't have enough of that. That's one thing
I think Cam Fletcher can really do. You know, we're
asking Dalen Swaying to be better in that area. I
think Marcus Foster can give us more in that area,
and then of course Jerome as he continues to play more.
(27:10):
That's one of many things Jerome does well. Zach has
always been a better defensive rebounder than offensively, but I
think again Zach can contribute in that area. John Uglik
contributing that area. So that's something that when you look
at playing time or if Cam would get an opportunity,
he'd get it with that in mind that he will
help in an area that we need help in at
(27:31):
this moment.
Speaker 4 (27:33):
Got a question Marcus Foster. You know, he's I describe
him as he seems steady to me relative to his offense,
but you were telling me he does a lot more.
He means a lot more to this team than just
on the offensive end.
Speaker 3 (27:50):
Yeah, I mean his ability to pass Byron. He had
four assists in one turnover in the last game that
we played, you know, when a lot of guys struggled,
he didn't. And his assist to turnover ratio on the season.
His defense is he may be our team's best overall
Defender's say, him and Dalen together are both very good.
(28:11):
You know, he draws the assignment game in game out
of a tough matchup. He'll be challenged at TCU on Thursday,
you know, match up against good players and shooters. But
he rebounds the ball. He does a lot of different things.
He's a smart player. He fits in well with a
lot of different groups that we put on the court.
And Marcus can can shoot, you know, his free throw
(28:32):
shooting and his three point shooting. He's starting to come
around as he's out there a little bit more. But
he can make open threes, free throw shooting, he can
get to the line and knock him in. What he
is in is great off the dribble. He's not somebody
that's going to create his own shot. We're not really
asking him to do that either, but I've been you know,
I think one of the bright spots here through the
(28:53):
first eight games is his continued development in his steady play.
Speaker 2 (28:58):
All right, you're listening to the Sean Miller Coaches Show
from Dilly Bistro and Mary about fifty five KRC and
the Varsity Network. Welcome back to Dilwey Pistro and the
Sean Miller Coaches Show. Bud Like Proun sponsor Xavior Athletics,
Easy to drink, Easy to enjoy.
Speaker 4 (29:15):
Coach. We talked about everybody except probably your most explosive
or most steady offensive player on the team, and that's
Ryan Conwell. He's a transfer from Indiana State and there
was a lot a lot of fanfare about him when
he decided to come and play for Xavier, and he
looks like he's living up to the billing. If you
(29:36):
look at his numbers, he's sixteen points a game. He's
shooting forty six percent from three he's playing thirty minutes.
What's he like to coach?
Speaker 3 (29:46):
He's a he's a great guy to coach Byron. I
mean he works hard every day. He's got a great attitude.
You know, sometimes when you shoot the ball like him
in so much is about your offense, you don't really
know what was he a good defender? How is he defensive?
And you know he's he's a very strong in a
very smart defensive player as well. He's a two way
(30:07):
guy on offense. He plays the game the right way.
He is an elite shot making ability and defensively is
very trustworthy, sturdy, tough minded. He does it every day
in practice, and I think he's only going to get
better with time. You know. Just again, we're eight games in.
As we learn him, more learn our team, more teammates,
(30:27):
et cetera, and are able to clean up and execute better,
I think he'll benefit tremendously.
Speaker 4 (30:33):
And he's got another year after this.
Speaker 2 (30:34):
Correct he does well, you know, part of getting Ryan
open on the screens in different ways to do that
as teams catch you, how often do you have to
change that up or get a counter to that, or
use the original way to get him open as a
decoy and do somethings that happened just continually.
Speaker 3 (30:50):
We gradually implement things as the year goes on. But
you know, as you know, just getting good at things
takes time. So we have a couple of mainstays. But
I'll tell you that a lot like Quincy all the
very last year, when you're an elite shooter is a guard.
There's no better gift than transition. You know, when a
game gets going fast and you're unaccounted for, and you
know you're flying, whether you have the ball, you don't
(31:12):
have it, you're in the corner, you're in the left corner,
in the right corner, you're trailing to play, and the
defense can't quite account for where you are and where
the ball is. Those are usually the games where guys
like Ryan shine and break open the game. If you
think about Quincy at the Paul, what did he do
on that night? There was maybe different than every other night.
He got more open looks and transition on that night
(31:33):
than any other night, and he had one of those
major games from three. Ryan's gonna have the same thing happen.
But I think the one common theme will definitely be
the faster the game is. The more we play together,
that's what's going to free him up. Not as much
the set play as we run, as much as the
open court. And I think that's what we have to
continue to get better at. We're good at it, we
(31:54):
could be a lot better at it moving forward.
Speaker 2 (31:57):
Goatch, having waiting all night to ask about this guy,
Zach Fremantle. He is on a big East on a
roll average is sixteen points and eight rebounds a ballgame.
But his consistency is what I'm really admiring this year
is jump hooks, turning with his right hand, his left hand,
in his variety of way that he can score, and
his defensive rebound, as you point out, has been there
every single night for you. I know we've talked about
(32:18):
it before, but I'm surprised to how well he operates
even against seven footers. He's got a remarkable ability to
get a shot off.
Speaker 3 (32:25):
Zach is a very good player for us right now.
You know, I think he's always been Offense has come
easier to him than defense, but he's a much improved
defensive player. I think he's given more effort and more
concentration on that side of the ball. At least since
I've been here, and it's great to see his maturity
and growth. But right now, if he's not leading the
(32:45):
Big East and defensive rebounding, he's second. That's pretty good.
I know we're still early on through the first eight games,
but get into December and you played eight to ten games.
You know all of us have played, and you know
there's one guy who has more defensive rebounds than everybody else.
But he gives us that element. And in addition to
(33:05):
giving us that element, you'd mention it in just his versatility,
his three point shot. Right now at the moment, it
has been a little bit off just watching him shooting
practice and watching his work ethic a lot. Like we
talked about Trey, nobody loves the game and works harder
at it every day than Zach. He's always in the gym.
That's going to come back around. I just think that
his ability to shoot is something that he has this
(33:27):
year more than he ever has.
Speaker 4 (33:30):
I mean, every night that he's you know, he laces
him up. It's almost like he's undersize compared to the
because he's guarding the opponent's center usually and defensively. I
was a little worried about him before the season started,
but he seems to be able to hold his own.
How has he been been grading out defensively so far?
Speaker 3 (33:49):
He's doing fine. That's a challenge for him, it's a
challenge for our team. You know, we have to mix
in trapping, being able to double team the post, and
you know there are times we've done it a little bit.
They're moving forward, There's no doubt at times we're going
to have to live and die with that and make
that part of what we do. That's something we're working
on even when we don't do it in games. It's
(34:11):
something we have to be ready for and have that
a part of our every day in practice to keep
him out of foul trouble, to protect him. And then
you know, the other part, Byron is just my hope
is that John Uglely can continue to give us a
little bit more, a little bit more, a little bit
more as we move forward, and you know that more
than anything, will take pressure off of the Zach defending
the post.
Speaker 2 (34:30):
You mentioned John had a good practice today. What do
you actually see when you say that about a player
just moving well, making shots, welling up on defense, not foulling.
What is it?
Speaker 3 (34:39):
Yeah, he played with a lot of energy today. And
you know, I think when you when you just watch
John today, there's no doubt that he hasn in him.
And uh, you know, I think most importantly, attitude is
a big part of this. And when you're not getting
the opportunity, you can a lot of times go one
of two ways. In John's case, he had a great attitude.
(35:00):
And you know he continues to work extra with Coach
Kettler on a daily basis, you know, extra in the gym.
And I thought today had a really good practice.
Speaker 2 (35:10):
This is a Sean Miller Coaches Show from Dilley Bistro
and Marymount on fifty five KRC, hand of Varsity Network.
Welcome back to Dilley Bistro and the Sean Miller Coaches Show.
Always great to see a packed house here at Dilli Bistro.
The food's great, the service is awesome, and we sure
appreciate everybody making an effort to be with us here
on Monday and Tuesday nights. But we'll be here next
Monday night, that's December the sixth. I'd love to see
(35:31):
you back here at Dilley Bistro again.
Speaker 4 (35:33):
Coach. A Thursday night, the Musketeers play their first true
road game at TCU. Jamie Dixon, longtime coach there. I
think he played there. Tell us a little bit about
their team.
Speaker 3 (35:49):
You know, they're a very good team. They've been in
a tournament each of the last three years. You know,
we've obviously gone against Jamie Dixon when he used to
be the coach at Pitt and then he left Pitt
to go to Tea. On their team, like us, they
have a lot of guys that are new. They have
a lot of guys that are coming from different programs.
You know, I think Noah Reynolds, number twenty one, is
(36:11):
one of the keys to their team because he can
really shoot and score. Very very skilled player. The other
guy can really shoot the ball is number zero Wenzel,
and you look at number twenty one and zero. I
bring that up because they're not a team filled of
three point shooters. They have a lot of guys who
do different things, drive the ball, play the game. They're
(36:32):
not really big the one big They have a number
eight ou Day who came from Kansas who's a lob threat,
a shot blocker. But they play four perimeter players in
one big. But a lot of the guys that are
perimeterive players drive the ball and do a good job driving.
Their defense is man demand. They force a lot of turnovers.
They pressure, so you know, we're getting used to that,
(36:54):
but that's what they do and they use their defense
to get out in transition. During the last two years,
we've been, you know, one of the highest scoring teams
in transition each of the last two years. So has TCU.
So when you think of their pace of play, they
play a similar pace as us. They also play a
(37:14):
pace similar to Michigan, so it's going to be a
fast game. They they're opportunistic off their defense. We got
to do a great job on the road of taking
care of the ball, rebounding the ball, handling pressure better,
and just really being who we are and look in
that type of game, we have to get contributions from
our bench.
Speaker 4 (37:33):
Coach, Are you comfortable playing in an uptempo style?
Speaker 2 (37:37):
Is that?
Speaker 4 (37:38):
Are you happy with that?
Speaker 3 (37:39):
Or will you prefer.
Speaker 4 (37:40):
Playing against someone who plays a little different tempo?
Speaker 3 (37:43):
No, I don't think it matters as much as long
as we stay true to who we are. I think
that's probably more important.
Speaker 2 (37:51):
Do you prefer a game with a lot more possessions
than say less, I would say, yeah, I think that's
what you play.
Speaker 3 (37:55):
It's just more enjoyable to be there.
Speaker 2 (37:57):
It is. Does a game like this afford more open
three point shots? In that sense, yes, should get more
scattered Like.
Speaker 3 (38:02):
You'll talk a lot, I think in our game, I
would be surprised if there's not a lot of open
court opportunities both ways.
Speaker 2 (38:09):
How does Avier run their secondary break? Is that just
naturally occur and you're telling them look for trailers. I
know Zach Freemantle gets a lot of stuff off, so
I'm gonna call it the secondary break when he trails.
And yeah, you know he shot sixty percent from three
point ranger right there about two years ago.
Speaker 3 (38:22):
So you know Zach Zach is. I think he'll end
up shooting a good percentage. We want him to shoot
three point shots and look, like you mentioned, Joe, I
think we can be a good three point shooting team.
We've shown it and right now we've got to get
back on track. Hopefully it'll happen on Thursday.
Speaker 2 (38:39):
You made the comment we hear about every team we play.
They have a whole new roster, maybe ten new guys,
eleven new guys. That's not uncommon and does that make
Scott real quicker? Does that makes Scott any more difficult
that you can't go back or some history on them?
Speaker 3 (38:50):
Well, I mean yes and no. Well, now that we're
eight games in, I think we know how they play together.
But I mean, just just me sizing this up. You
got one, two, three, four, five, six, six transfers and
three freshmen. So yep, they have nine new guys.
Speaker 2 (39:05):
All right, thank you for joining us for the Sean
Miller Coaches Show from Billy Pistro and Merriman on fifty
five KARC and the Varsity Network.
Speaker 1 (39:15):
Live from the Dilly Bistro in Marrimont. This has been
the Sean Miller Radio Show on the Xavier Sports Network
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(39:38):
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Live from the Dilly Bistro in Marymont. Welcome to the
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(00:23):
easy to enjoy, and by Dilly Bistro, presenting sponsor of
the Shawn Miller Radio Show. Now Here are Joe Sunderman
and Byron Larkin.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
Welcome to the Sean Miller Show live from Dilly Pistro
and Marymont. I'm Joe Sunderman along with Byron Larkin and
the head coach of the Xavier Musketeers, Sean Miller. Another
great crowd, Thanks for coming out on a cold night
here in December. It's great to see everybody. Xavier now
seven to one on the season, and on Sunday night,
Zavier knocked off South Carolina State seventy one to sixty eighth.
(00:56):
The number if you'd like to give us a call
five one three seven fifty five hundred five one three
seven fifty five hundred and Coach, the first thing I
want to ask you. You talked in your post game
about it takes eight to fifteen games to really maybe
understand your team, even as a head coach, though you've
watched them all summer long and through the fall up
(01:17):
to this point. Talk about that a little bit.
Speaker 3 (01:20):
Yeah, you know, Joe, I think that you know, game
experience is the best way to really gauge uh, not
only your team, but a lot of times players, and
you start to figure out what combinations of players seem
to work better. Sometimes it's what combinations of players, even
though they're teammates, don't necessarily bring out the best in
(01:41):
each other. When they're out there as a group of
five and you know, you practices, you learn a lot.
You certainly learn the pecking order of who should start,
who are your best at doing certain things against each other.
But it's not until you really get the opportunity to
play a true road game, play a team like Michigan,
go through the different experiences that we go through, and
(02:03):
I think here in the next couple of weeks today
I think was practice forty one. So you've been at it,
you know, forty some times. As you two guys, know,
like you get into those forty some practices, that's a
lot that's not just starting out, consider the summer and
the fall in addition to that, so that familiarity. I
think as we enter the month of December, which we're
(02:23):
now in and head towards Christmas, you know, at some
point you know what you have. That doesn't mean that
it's a finished product. All of us are trying to
get better and sometimes you know, injuries, foul trouble, and
sometimes the opposite, younger players or guys off the bench
really finding their niche and playing better and better. As
the season grows, things can certainly improve, diminished change. I
(02:47):
think all of us know that. But to get where
you came from on the question, Joe, you know we're
learning more and more. I thought we learned a lot
over the last two games, and I'll address both games.
You know, I thought that when we played Michigan that
Michigan was an overall better team than us. They're deeper,
they're bigger, they have a lot of talent, and in
(03:11):
particular on that night when we played them, you have
to realize that their four man wolf was shooting sixteen
percent from three coming into the game. He not only
went four for four, he went four for four in
the first fourteen minutes of the of the game. So
you know, when a guy goes four for four in
(03:31):
the first half, that changes things. I don't care who
you're playing. His buddy, the center, who had never attempted
a three point shot in his career, made one. So
between their four and their five all in the first half,
we absorbed five made threes in five attempts from their
four and their five, and they were combined, you know,
sixteen percent going into the game. So we caught Michigan
(03:53):
on a good night. We were down eleven and to half,
and if you really look at the game, which we
have thoroughly, at the eight minute mark, under the eight
minute mark, we were down eight points, so you know,
down eleven at the half, really were plus three through
the first twelve minutes of the second half. You could
feel it. I don't think in any scenario that we
(04:14):
had enough on that particular night to win the game.
Just it just didn't. We were playing up till the
entire night. But I do know this, we had plenty
to not lose by twenty five. When you turn the
page and say the end of the game and Michigan, God,
they beat us to death. They beat us seventy eight
to fifty three. They beat us tonight, they beat us
(04:35):
nineteen to two in the last seven and a half
minutes of the game. That's an issue. That's a problem.
There's a reason that happened. Our guys didn't stop trying.
We ran out of gas. Playing two games in three
days against South Carolina one day in between, and playing
against Michigan, who's deep and fast and talented. You could
feel us wearing down as that game were on in
(04:57):
the nineteen to two in the last eight minutes. Was
a function of that. So you know, you look at it.
I wish we didn't lose seventy eight to fifty three.
That hurts a lot of things. Number one, our pride.
But I think we really see that game for what
it was learning from it. Coming back now to our
last game South Carolina State, I thought we had a
(05:18):
number of guys that were unsettled in the role that
they had. We were coming off of our first loss
of the year, not a lot of time in between.
We showed up Sunday. We were a little flat, even
our starters were, and we played against a hard playing,
(05:38):
tough minded athletic nothing to lose team, and the couple
of different times we had a chance to put them away,
which I want to address. So in that game, among
all the things that could have gone better for us,
with five minutes to go in the game, we were
winning fifty eight to forty three. Once you think we're
(06:00):
fifty eight to forty three is what we were winning
the game. With a little bit more than five minutes
to go, we won seventy one sixty eight. So if
you think about it, in the last five minutes of
the game, they and Essence scored twenty five points. Well,
they only had forty three in thirty five minutes. We
(06:23):
wore down again, We wore down, and we subbed less
in that game than we did even in the Michigan game.
Right now, part of what we are thirsty, hungry really
just in dire need for is we need overall better
play from our bench. Silver Lining, I think as you
look at Jerome Hunter and everybody in here knows Jerome's story,
(06:46):
you can't expect him on the first game of this
season to come out and pick up where he left
off from the last time everybody saw him play. He's
been through way too much physically and mentally emotionally to
take the first four weeks of season and be at
his best. So some of what we've been dealing with
with Jerome is he's a work in progress. The other
(07:07):
night was his best game of the year. He was
five for six from the floor against South Carolina. He
scored in double figures. Against South Carolina State, he scored
in double figures. He played a season high twenty seven minutes.
Watching him in practice today, I think he's more sure
of himself. I think he's healthier. I think some of
it physically is getting in better shape. You know, you
(07:29):
guys know playing basketball is it's hard to explain to people.
It's not like running on a treadmill or you know,
lifting weights or even running long distance.
Speaker 2 (07:38):
It's just a.
Speaker 3 (07:38):
Different way of being in shape. And if you're coming
off of a torn achilles, it takes some adjusting. So
I believe Jerome's in a good place, and he's the
one guy who doesn't start the game that I think
is really moving in a good way. We've done a
lot of talking over the last week with our guys,
and I think that our guys that aren't starting the
game understand their role better. I think they're starting to
(08:01):
adjust to being here, I understand that on my end
and our staffs, and we have to maybe give them
a little bit more rope, give them more of an opportunity.
We certainly haven't given up on them. I have no
doubt that we have the ability to get more quality
play from the bench then we've shown and with that,
and I'll use one game as the example, Jackson State,
(08:23):
which is our largest margin of victory this season. Jackson
State isn't a great team, I get it, but if
you combine Dante Maddox and John Uglely in that game,
I think they combined maybe for twenty five points. And
if you think back to that game, the way it felt,
that's the one difference between that game and every game
we've played. We really got amazing production from the guys
(08:45):
that didn't start. The way we have it set up
is we play nine nine players every game. Jerome is
the sixth man at this moment, and now it's just
up to us to get more productivity, get those guys comfortable.
I know they can do it. I think when you
look at South Carolina State and Michigan, because of Michigan's
depth and talent and just the way South Carolina state
(09:08):
played and the way that I subbed, we really ran
into identical problems in both games, different different problems, same version,
if that makes sense. So learning our team, we're hard
at it to give those guys more confidence, more of
an opportunity. And then at the same time, it's not
just them, there are other things we're working hard on.
(09:29):
I think that every coach at this time of year
is we're so far from a finished product, and it's
so much about just improving here as we keep moving forward.
Speaker 4 (09:38):
Coach other than Jerome Hunter, when you look at wanting
more production from your bench, when you look at Maddox
and John Hugly in your mind, is one more important
than the other. In my opinion, John Hughglely is a
guy that's really got to give you more because because
he's really like drained. If he doesn't give you, that
(10:00):
means that's more time that Zach Fremantle has to be
on the floor and you don't have. You're down a
big already with let's send a Treori. And John Hugley's
more than capable. You know he's talented, and but in
your opinion, is there one more important than the other.
Speaker 3 (10:18):
I think they're all important, Byron, But I agree with
your assessment. You know, John's that third big, and look,
if we had four bigs, part of the question you
would be asking me is like, how do you get
all of them in the game? How do you make
them work? That's the problem I'd love to have once sure,
you know, you know we brought the scene in here
to be who he is. It'd be nice to have him.
We don't have him, so we've now moved on from that.
(10:40):
But a rotation of Jerome, a healthy Jerome, and Zach
and John. I think that we have three different types
of players that can all work with each other and
get us to the finish line. And I believe this
and I saw it again today and today's practice. I
thought John had a great practice today and it was
great to see. Is added to dude, his character, his
(11:01):
work ethic checkout, because it's not easy when you're used
to playing and now you're not, when you're being held
to a certain standard. And maybe from his perspective, you know,
he just wants and needs more opportunity. We like to
give it to him, and it's it's kind of like
a two way street. But I agree Byron with an
improved John, more productive John off the bench. I think
(11:23):
that allows our team to be the best it can be.
And then I think when you look at the perimeter
between Dante Maddox's ability to shoot three point shots and score,
Trey Green his ability to back up Davon and make
open shots. You know, now you have a team where
you're playing eight nine guys and it's set up we're
on a given night. Sometimes our best players might be
(11:45):
people that don't start the game. You know, That's was
our thought through the fall. I still think that can
be true. It just hasn't happened through the first eight games.
Speaker 2 (11:55):
How many different positions could you use your home hunter?
Speaker 3 (11:58):
You know, we right now just to get it both
feet on the ground. We're playing them inside at either
of the two big positions. You know, I think if
Jerome was really confident and healthy and things removing, you
could always put him in there with two big guys
to give you different size and maybe give him more opportunity.
But with the way Marcus Foster's playing, and I think
(12:22):
what Dylan Swain has done and what he could continue
to be, we're pretty solid at the wingspot. Joe, you
could play three guards with Dante Maddox, Ryan Conwell and
Davion McKnight, which was part of our plan, and I
think that that would happen before we would play Jerome anywhere.
But the position he's playing.
Speaker 2 (12:41):
All right, You're listening to the Sean Miller Coaches Show
from Delli Bistro and Marriemont on fifty five KRC and
the Varsity Network. Welcome back to the Sean Miller Show
from Dilley Bistro and Marrimont.
Speaker 4 (12:53):
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Speaker 2 (13:11):
Seant of the game against North Carolina State the last
three minutes, I almost felt like you had to make
more decisions and do more coaching in the last three minutes.
You've done all year long in terms of how that
game was working its way out, And the big decision
was to put Trey Green on the floor.
Speaker 3 (13:26):
Yeah, and I'm glad you brought that up. Joe and
I talked in my post game, you know, and questions
that were asked after the game about Trey. I don't
think there's many things in sports that are more pressure
packed than being the free throw shooter in the last minute,
the last few seconds of a game when it's one
(13:48):
possession down to up to tie game up one. But
when you consider that Tray had not played until then,
you know, there's a side of me that didn't want
to even put him in that position. Is the only
reason that we did is and I've told both of
you guys this. You know, we have this thing called
stripe work, which we really work daily as far back
(14:10):
as early summer, all through the summer into the fall,
making fifty free throws a day. And you know, just
I've never been around anybody who shoots the ball from
the free throw line like him. I mean, really, he's.
Speaker 2 (14:24):
Saying something because you've watched a lot of free throw
shooters over the year.
Speaker 3 (14:26):
If you have his stats on the year, I know
he hasn't got there.
Speaker 2 (14:29):
A lot, but six for six, okay, six for six.
He's going to be a.
Speaker 3 (14:33):
Career ninety plus percent free throw shooter. Really, but it
was great to see him go the line and make
them he won the game for us and UH and
we were able to get the ball to him a
couple of times in that situation to actually put him
in a position to go to the free throw line.
So my hat, I take my hat off the tray.
I think all of our team really was super excited
(14:56):
for him. He should feel great about it. I know
he does, and you know, I hope it's a sign
of things to come, because in those situations where you're
in these you know, single possession games and he's out
on the court, you know he's he's somebody that is
really clutch and very accurate from the free throw line.
I'm great to see him doing it.
Speaker 2 (15:16):
I enjoy his style with the free throw line. We've
watched enough basketball. There's so many different ways to approach
the free throw line. Some guys will stay there the
entire two shots. Some guys will move back to the
top of the key and back again in between shots.
Trey Green, though, when he catches the ball, it's all business.
I think it's like one dribble of spinn and it's gone, yeah.
And I think when you practice, you get a lot
more shots up that way. For now, dribbling three or
(15:36):
four times for starters, you know, but I just kind
of admire his approach to the whole thing. It's very
very work there, like and you know.
Speaker 3 (15:43):
The bigger picture with him is, you know, nobody on
our team that's part of a program. You know, takes
his craft more stronger, more seriously than Trey Green. You know,
if he were the golfer, he would be the guy
who shows up one hour before his tee time and
he goes a routine, and he goes from the you know,
(16:03):
putts to drive and uses all the clubs. He's the
guy that stays after the round. I mean, he is
a workaholic when it comes to shooting the ball. And uh,
that's why he's such a terrific free throw shooter, Sehn
and shooter and shooter in general.
Speaker 4 (16:16):
John did when you talked about it over someone mentioned
it to me over the summertime that he had some
crazy amount of days where you were doing your stripe
work and he went a couple of days without missing
a free throw.
Speaker 3 (16:31):
Yeah, it's like a I don't want to give you
the wrong number, buyern, but I all have this information.
You guys can ask me the next time we get together.
But he's made fifty in a row. I mean, I
mean maybe fifty times. I mean, really he is. If
he's going to shoot fifty, he might miss one or two.
(16:55):
But there are weeks upon weeks to go by a
month where Trey's missed five free throws in that setting,
in that fifty you know, to make fifty a day setting.
So yeah, I mean when I when I'm saying this,
I have great and feeling and I have some amazing
numbers to back up my claim. But I put him
(17:15):
up against anybody.
Speaker 4 (17:16):
And also it's in that particular game. He played a
lot in the first half, but he didn't play much
in the second half. So for him to you know,
he could have very easily kind of sulked and be like, well,
I'm not getting in and then oh, all of a
sudden they need me. Ryan Conwell fouls out with a
couple of minutes to go, and now you were asked
to come in and be the difference in the game.
(17:39):
And he was able to answer that call. That's just
not easy just from you know, sitting down, like, Okay,
all the pressure in the world is on you to
make two, and he did and he made four.
Speaker 3 (17:50):
No doubt. No, that it's not an easy thing to do,
and we all tip our hat to him. I talked
to him in front of the team after the game
just to make sure just that we all recognized how
difficult it was for him to do. And you know
what an impact it had on the final score.
Speaker 2 (18:08):
Coach, the last two ballgames, Michigan and South Carolina State,
I got the impression that your opposition they were really
trying to get up close to your guards defensively and
pressure them as far from the bucket as they possibly could.
Is that something that is relatively new as to how
the opponents are playing you and how do you counter that?
Speaker 3 (18:28):
No, I mean both teams were at the you know,
level one through ten pressure. I think Michigan's at level nine,
you know, I put South Carolina State at level ten.
And with that comes the next phase, and that is
they're going to value And you know what we shot
in the South Carolina State game. We shot thirty six
free throws, you know, and I thought the game was
(18:49):
very well officiated, but you know, we could have shot
round four. You shoot forty free throws in a forty
minute game, It's it's a terrible game. It's it's it's
not fun so with that style and that's what they
give up. And if you ever could take better care
of the ball, then we did. You know, that style
can really work against you. But to your point, Joe,
it's something we're well aware of. We're working on it.
(19:10):
It's something that we as a team have to get
better at doing. There's certain things we have to clean up,
certain things maybe we have to stay away from. And
I think to some degree, like our guards, especially in
the South Carolina State game, they have to play better.
They have to get open, they have to handle the ball,
they have to be more sure, they have to play
with more force and speed. Things that they've done in
(19:32):
that game they didn't and it really again amplified what
South Carolina State did to us.
Speaker 4 (19:38):
Coach, what were you telling your guys during the game
when South Carolina State was it was like a dead
deny on the wings and really hard kind of initiating
the offense at the free throw line, extended during the timeouts.
What kind of game adjustments were you telling, you know,
guys like Daveon McKnight to do to counter that.
Speaker 3 (20:01):
Yeah, I mean, I think it was so extreme Viyron
of how they played us that if I had a
do over, or if we ran into this again, we
actually would abandon what we normally do and just put
the ball in the middle and let a guy run
up and screen and keep everyone's base and just play
off of that because you don't oftentimes see that because
(20:22):
there's no help, right and if they run to help
on drives and different things, they're gonna put themselves in
a position to foul. And they did. The problem is
we turned the ball over, and quite frankly, there were
times when their pressure won out and to your point,
getting open driving the ball in. In certain ways, the
(20:44):
way that game is played is it puts it puts
our players in a position to make good basketball play.
Sometimes it's like a straight line drive, jump stop, bounce past,
catch it, shot, fake, get fouled, score. It's not about
the play, it's about just you just have to make plays.
And that kind of takes the chalkboard out of it
to some degree. And a lot of times when you
(21:05):
play a team that's skilled, that's older, that's confident, you know,
you play right into our hands by doing that. And
it surprised me that we weren't better at a couple
of areas. I thought Dalen Swain in particular, he had
a couple of plays where you're just scratching your head.
But you also remember that Dalan is so young. You
know how many times has Dalen played in a game
(21:26):
like that against that style. Not nearly as many as
you think. He's at the beginning of the second year.
So I think that's an experience that you gain from.
I think Dalen will be better when he's forced to
play against a similar style moving forward, and I think
our team will as well. We addressed it today through
film yesterday, through film today, through practice, and it was
(21:47):
a great learning experience for our guys.
Speaker 2 (21:49):
If you'd like to call and a talk with coach
Sean Miller, the number is five one, three, seven nine,
fifty five hundred and this is the Sean Miller Coaches
Show from Billy Bistrol and Marymount on fifty five KRC
and the Varsity Network. Welcome back to the Sean Miller
Coaches Show from Billy Bistro Merriymount on fifty five KARC
(22:09):
and the Varsity Network.
Speaker 4 (22:10):
When you're out of town and want to keep up
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to College Sports Live with the Varsity Network app.
Speaker 2 (22:22):
Late in the game, Devin McKnight mab where I thought
was a terrific play. You have three seconds left on
the shot clock. The ball was inbounded, I believe, right
of asking along the baseline. And that's one of the
cooler plays, a cooler in terms of a player just
realizing the situation, counting down the clock in his head
to catch it, pump fake, take a dribble to his
left and not rush the shot. After all that and
(22:45):
Dreana it was a huge three for Davian McKnight. Did
you call that play from the bench or how does
that come about?
Speaker 3 (22:51):
You know at that point, because you don't know what
defense they're in their zone? Man, you know number one,
get the ball in safely and everybody recognize how much
times on the clock. Can you get a second shot
and just make sure that whoever takes it you feel
good about it. Obviously, Davion, we trust him. Davion didn't
necessarily play as well in that game, but you know,
we talked a lot about Trey at the end. Remember
(23:14):
Davion made the last two free throws, so we made
six in a row, not four. Trade made four in
a row, and then Davion made two more. Daveon is
also a very clutch free throw shooter, somebody who's gotten
better since he came here from the free throw line.
And that three point shot that was the biggest field
goal of the game. That was the biggest basket of
the game. You know, without that, the game could go
(23:35):
a different way. So in terms of clutch, the two
free throws he made and that three point shot, you
love to see your point guard, especially you're seenior point
guard do that. In the game, Davion was nine for
ten from the free throw line.
Speaker 4 (23:48):
Coach, we got some numbers relative to that. Trey Green
is shooting over the summertime. It was reported that there
were eighteen straight days of making fifty free.
Speaker 2 (24:01):
Throws in a row.
Speaker 3 (24:02):
Yeah, that's true.
Speaker 4 (24:03):
So yeah, so eighteen days he made fifty free throws
in a row.
Speaker 3 (24:10):
But the other number I think is for the summer,
he checked in it two thousand for two thousand and
thirty three, So he missed thirty three free throws to
make two thousand for the summer. Yeah, I mean again,
I want to say that again. That's you know, when
you make two thousand, and it took you two thousand
and thirty three shots to make two thousand, there aren't
(24:30):
a lot of those people walking around the world. He's
he's he can really shoot the free throw.
Speaker 2 (24:35):
But you compared his preparation to a golfer that goes
to the golf course and uses every club, something I
would never consider doing Byron. Mike does tray green golfer?
You know, and how good is you? I bet he'll be.
Speaker 3 (24:46):
Hey, I'm going to tell you if he took up golf,
I bet heavily that he'll be a very good golfer. Yeah,
for sure, he is a beautiful shot. And again the
work ethic of Trey and how much time he's put
in and you know, same thing with making threes and games.
There's games are probably evidence. Game at Providence last year
during his freshman year was a great example where he
can change the game with his ability to shoot. And uh,
(25:08):
you know, I thought again one of the games this
year that he impacted the final score was the other
night doing what he did from the free throw line.
Speaker 4 (25:15):
There's always been a college a challenge for him since
he's been in college. The defending bigger guards. And I
noticed Uh in thee in the South Carolina State game,
and probably Michigan. I didn't notice it as much as
soon as he comes in, they try to isolate and
post him up, UH and try to take advantage of
him on the defensive end inside his lack of size.
(25:39):
So coach, how do you how do you account for
that on the defensive end?
Speaker 3 (25:43):
You know number one is just coaching him. I mean
him being aware of it, him being really alert, you know,
just not ever being caught by surprise that something like
that could be a part of it. And then you know,
when you're the smaller guy, gotta be tough, minded and
physical and then play with that chip on your show
and chase moving in a good direction and getting better
in that area.
Speaker 2 (26:05):
Cam Fletcher six seven, two hundred and thirty pound grand
which student. I'm impressed with him in practice. I know
he's come on off with knee injury and it kind
of taking him slow to get back in the stream
of things. Say, if we look forward to February, what
type of role do you foresee for him? Or is
that anybody's guests or even hard for you to imagine.
Speaker 3 (26:24):
Cam has a great attitude he continues to work every day. Joe,
I don't know what the future this season holds, just
in terms of a bigger opportunity it could come. You know.
One of the things from a characteristic perspective that we're
struggling with as a team is our offensive rebounding, being
able to get second shots, being able to get second
shots and go back up and get foult and sometimes
(26:47):
as you know, those fifty to fifty balls and hustle
plays and missing a free throw and getting in the
offensive rebound that tip ends. Those are plays that impact winning,
and we don't have enough of that. That's one thing
I think Cam Fletcher can really do. You know, we're
asking Dalen Swaying to be better in that area. I
think Marcus Foster can give us more in that area,
and then of course Jerome as he continues to play more.
(27:10):
That's one of many things Jerome does well. Zach has
always been a better defensive rebounder than offensively, but I
think again Zach can contribute in that area. John Uglik
contributing that area. So that's something that when you look
at playing time or if Cam would get an opportunity,
he'd get it with that in mind that he will
help in an area that we need help in at
(27:31):
this moment.
Speaker 4 (27:33):
Got a question Marcus Foster. You know, he's I describe
him as he seems steady to me relative to his offense,
but you were telling me he does a lot more.
He means a lot more to this team than just
on the offensive end.
Speaker 3 (27:50):
Yeah, I mean his ability to pass Byron. He had
four assists in one turnover in the last game that
we played, you know, when a lot of guys struggled,
he didn't. And his assist to turnover ratio on the season.
His defense is he may be our team's best overall
Defender's say, him and Dalen together are both very good.
(28:11):
You know, he draws the assignment game in game out
of a tough matchup. He'll be challenged at TCU on Thursday,
you know, match up against good players and shooters. But
he rebounds the ball. He does a lot of different things.
He's a smart player. He fits in well with a
lot of different groups that we put on the court.
And Marcus can can shoot, you know, his free throw
(28:32):
shooting and his three point shooting. He's starting to come
around as he's out there a little bit more. But
he can make open threes, free throw shooting, he can
get to the line and knock him in. What he
is in is great off the dribble. He's not somebody
that's going to create his own shot. We're not really
asking him to do that either, but I've been you know,
I think one of the bright spots here through the
(28:53):
first eight games is his continued development in his steady play.
Speaker 2 (28:58):
All right, you're listening to the Sean Miller Coaches Show
from Dilly Bistro and Mary about fifty five KRC and
the Varsity Network. Welcome back to Dilwey Pistro and the
Sean Miller Coaches Show. Bud Like Proun sponsor Xavior Athletics,
Easy to drink, Easy to enjoy.
Speaker 4 (29:15):
Coach. We talked about everybody except probably your most explosive
or most steady offensive player on the team, and that's
Ryan Conwell. He's a transfer from Indiana State and there
was a lot a lot of fanfare about him when
he decided to come and play for Xavier, and he
looks like he's living up to the billing. If you
(29:36):
look at his numbers, he's sixteen points a game. He's
shooting forty six percent from three he's playing thirty minutes.
What's he like to coach?
Speaker 3 (29:46):
He's a he's a great guy to coach Byron. I
mean he works hard every day. He's got a great attitude.
You know, sometimes when you shoot the ball like him
in so much is about your offense, you don't really
know what was he a good defender? How is he defensive?
And you know he's he's a very strong in a
very smart defensive player as well. He's a two way
(30:07):
guy on offense. He plays the game the right way.
He is an elite shot making ability and defensively is
very trustworthy, sturdy, tough minded. He does it every day
in practice, and I think he's only going to get
better with time. You know. Just again, we're eight games in.
As we learn him, more learn our team, more teammates,
(30:27):
et cetera, and are able to clean up and execute better,
I think he'll benefit tremendously.
Speaker 4 (30:33):
And he's got another year after this.
Speaker 2 (30:34):
Correct he does well, you know, part of getting Ryan
open on the screens in different ways to do that
as teams catch you, how often do you have to
change that up or get a counter to that, or
use the original way to get him open as a
decoy and do somethings that happened just continually.
Speaker 3 (30:50):
We gradually implement things as the year goes on. But
you know, as you know, just getting good at things
takes time. So we have a couple of mainstays. But
I'll tell you that a lot like Quincy all the
very last year, when you're an elite shooter is a guard.
There's no better gift than transition. You know, when a
game gets going fast and you're unaccounted for, and you
know you're flying, whether you have the ball, you don't
(31:12):
have it, you're in the corner, you're in the left corner,
in the right corner, you're trailing to play, and the
defense can't quite account for where you are and where
the ball is. Those are usually the games where guys
like Ryan shine and break open the game. If you
think about Quincy at the Paul, what did he do
on that night? There was maybe different than every other night.
He got more open looks and transition on that night
(31:33):
than any other night, and he had one of those
major games from three. Ryan's gonna have the same thing happen.
But I think the one common theme will definitely be
the faster the game is. The more we play together,
that's what's going to free him up. Not as much
the set play as we run, as much as the
open court. And I think that's what we have to
continue to get better at. We're good at it, we
(31:54):
could be a lot better at it moving forward.
Speaker 2 (31:57):
Goatch, having waiting all night to ask about this guy,
Zach Fremantle. He is on a big East on a
roll average is sixteen points and eight rebounds a ballgame.
But his consistency is what I'm really admiring this year
is jump hooks, turning with his right hand, his left hand,
in his variety of way that he can score, and
his defensive rebound, as you point out, has been there
every single night for you. I know we've talked about
(32:18):
it before, but I'm surprised to how well he operates
even against seven footers. He's got a remarkable ability to
get a shot off.
Speaker 3 (32:25):
Zach is a very good player for us right now.
You know, I think he's always been Offense has come
easier to him than defense, but he's a much improved
defensive player. I think he's given more effort and more
concentration on that side of the ball. At least since
I've been here, and it's great to see his maturity
and growth. But right now, if he's not leading the
(32:45):
Big East and defensive rebounding, he's second. That's pretty good.
I know we're still early on through the first eight games,
but get into December and you played eight to ten games.
You know all of us have played, and you know
there's one guy who has more defensive rebounds than everybody else.
But he gives us that element. And in addition to
(33:05):
giving us that element, you'd mention it in just his versatility,
his three point shot. Right now at the moment, it
has been a little bit off just watching him shooting
practice and watching his work ethic a lot. Like we
talked about Trey, nobody loves the game and works harder
at it every day than Zach. He's always in the gym.
That's going to come back around. I just think that
his ability to shoot is something that he has this
(33:27):
year more than he ever has.
Speaker 4 (33:30):
I mean, every night that he's you know, he laces
him up. It's almost like he's undersize compared to the
because he's guarding the opponent's center usually and defensively. I
was a little worried about him before the season started,
but he seems to be able to hold his own.
How has he been been grading out defensively so far?
Speaker 3 (33:49):
He's doing fine. That's a challenge for him, it's a
challenge for our team. You know, we have to mix
in trapping, being able to double team the post, and
you know there are times we've done it a little bit.
They're moving forward, There's no doubt at times we're going
to have to live and die with that and make
that part of what we do. That's something we're working
on even when we don't do it in games. It's
(34:11):
something we have to be ready for and have that
a part of our every day in practice to keep
him out of foul trouble, to protect him. And then
you know, the other part, Byron is just my hope
is that John Uglely can continue to give us a
little bit more, a little bit more, a little bit
more as we move forward, and you know that more
than anything, will take pressure off of the Zach defending
the post.
Speaker 2 (34:30):
You mentioned John had a good practice today. What do
you actually see when you say that about a player
just moving well, making shots, welling up on defense, not foulling.
What is it?
Speaker 3 (34:39):
Yeah, he played with a lot of energy today. And
you know, I think when you when you just watch
John today, there's no doubt that he hasn in him.
And uh, you know, I think most importantly, attitude is
a big part of this. And when you're not getting
the opportunity, you can a lot of times go one
of two ways. In John's case, he had a great attitude.
(35:00):
And you know he continues to work extra with Coach
Kettler on a daily basis, you know, extra in the gym.
And I thought today had a really good practice.
Speaker 2 (35:10):
This is a Sean Miller Coaches Show from Dilley Bistro
and Marymount on fifty five KRC, hand of Varsity Network.
Welcome back to Dilley Bistro and the Sean Miller Coaches Show.
Always great to see a packed house here at Dilli Bistro.
The food's great, the service is awesome, and we sure
appreciate everybody making an effort to be with us here
on Monday and Tuesday nights. But we'll be here next
Monday night, that's December the sixth. I'd love to see
(35:31):
you back here at Dilley Bistro again.
Speaker 4 (35:33):
Coach. A Thursday night, the Musketeers play their first true
road game at TCU. Jamie Dixon, longtime coach there. I
think he played there. Tell us a little bit about
their team.
Speaker 3 (35:49):
You know, they're a very good team. They've been in
a tournament each of the last three years. You know,
we've obviously gone against Jamie Dixon when he used to
be the coach at Pitt and then he left Pitt
to go to Tea. On their team, like us, they
have a lot of guys that are new. They have
a lot of guys that are coming from different programs.
You know, I think Noah Reynolds, number twenty one, is
(36:11):
one of the keys to their team because he can
really shoot and score. Very very skilled player. The other
guy can really shoot the ball is number zero Wenzel,
and you look at number twenty one and zero. I
bring that up because they're not a team filled of
three point shooters. They have a lot of guys who
do different things, drive the ball, play the game. They're
(36:32):
not really big the one big They have a number
eight ou Day who came from Kansas who's a lob threat,
a shot blocker. But they play four perimeter players in
one big. But a lot of the guys that are
perimeterive players drive the ball and do a good job driving.
Their defense is man demand. They force a lot of turnovers.
They pressure, so you know, we're getting used to that,
(36:54):
but that's what they do and they use their defense
to get out in transition. During the last two years,
we've been, you know, one of the highest scoring teams
in transition each of the last two years. So has TCU.
So when you think of their pace of play, they
play a similar pace as us. They also play a
(37:14):
pace similar to Michigan, so it's going to be a
fast game. They they're opportunistic off their defense. We got
to do a great job on the road of taking
care of the ball, rebounding the ball, handling pressure better,
and just really being who we are and look in
that type of game, we have to get contributions from
our bench.
Speaker 4 (37:33):
Coach, Are you comfortable playing in an uptempo style?
Speaker 2 (37:37):
Is that?
Speaker 4 (37:38):
Are you happy with that?
Speaker 3 (37:39):
Or will you prefer.
Speaker 4 (37:40):
Playing against someone who plays a little different tempo?
Speaker 3 (37:43):
No, I don't think it matters as much as long
as we stay true to who we are. I think
that's probably more important.
Speaker 2 (37:51):
Do you prefer a game with a lot more possessions
than say less, I would say, yeah, I think that's
what you play.
Speaker 3 (37:55):
It's just more enjoyable to be there.
Speaker 2 (37:57):
It is. Does a game like this afford more open
three point shots? In that sense, yes, should get more
scattered Like.
Speaker 3 (38:02):
You'll talk a lot, I think in our game, I
would be surprised if there's not a lot of open
court opportunities both ways.
Speaker 2 (38:09):
How does Avier run their secondary break? Is that just
naturally occur and you're telling them look for trailers. I
know Zach Freemantle gets a lot of stuff off, so
I'm gonna call it the secondary break when he trails.
And yeah, you know he shot sixty percent from three
point ranger right there about two years ago.
Speaker 3 (38:22):
So you know Zach Zach is. I think he'll end
up shooting a good percentage. We want him to shoot
three point shots and look, like you mentioned, Joe, I
think we can be a good three point shooting team.
We've shown it and right now we've got to get
back on track. Hopefully it'll happen on Thursday.
Speaker 2 (38:39):
You made the comment we hear about every team we play.
They have a whole new roster, maybe ten new guys,
eleven new guys. That's not uncommon and does that make
Scott real quicker? Does that makes Scott any more difficult
that you can't go back or some history on them?
Speaker 3 (38:50):
Well, I mean yes and no. Well, now that we're
eight games in, I think we know how they play together.
But I mean, just just me sizing this up. You
got one, two, three, four, five, six, six transfers and
three freshmen. So yep, they have nine new guys.
Speaker 2 (39:05):
All right, thank you for joining us for the Sean
Miller Coaches Show from Billy Pistro and Merriman on fifty
five KARC and the Varsity Network.
Speaker 1 (39:15):
Live from the Dilly Bistro in Marrimont. This has been
the Sean Miller Radio Show on the Xavier Sports Network
from Learfield, presented by Try Health. Try Health provides surprisingly
human care that drives the best health outcomes. Be seen,
be heard, be healed. Visit tryhealth dot com, bud Late,
(39:38):
Easy to Drink, Easy to Enjoy, and by Dilly Bistro,
presenting sponsor of the Sean Miller Radio Show. The preceding
has been a Learfield presentation on the Xavier Sports Network.
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