1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:02,599 Speaker 1: I feel like you've played four games, and I feel 2 00:00:02,600 --> 00:00:06,120 Speaker 1: like you've played four different types of games. Right. You've 3 00:00:06,120 --> 00:00:08,520 Speaker 1: had games where you've shot it well, maybe too many turnovers. 4 00:00:08,520 --> 00:00:10,240 Speaker 1: You've had games where you've taken care of the ball, 5 00:00:11,000 --> 00:00:12,600 Speaker 1: didn't shoot it as well. I think you've had games 6 00:00:12,600 --> 00:00:14,640 Speaker 1: where you've defended at a pretty high level, like Dayton, 7 00:00:14,760 --> 00:00:17,000 Speaker 1: some games where there's maybe been some slippage. Over these 8 00:00:17,040 --> 00:00:18,720 Speaker 1: four games, what have you learned about your team? 9 00:00:19,640 --> 00:00:23,320 Speaker 2: We're learning a lot on the fly here, and you're 10 00:00:23,360 --> 00:00:27,360 Speaker 2: not wrong in a lot of ways. And again this 11 00:00:27,400 --> 00:00:31,320 Speaker 2: isn't a complaining things. It's when you we now have 12 00:00:32,680 --> 00:00:37,280 Speaker 2: a true professional model, except it's a free agency every year. 13 00:00:37,880 --> 00:00:40,280 Speaker 2: And so when we have all these and I'd say 14 00:00:40,280 --> 00:00:43,240 Speaker 2: eighty eighty percent of the teams are structured this way 15 00:00:43,280 --> 00:00:46,159 Speaker 2: now in college basketball, certainly in the power for and 16 00:00:46,200 --> 00:00:49,080 Speaker 2: when you have this, you're you know, you're going to 17 00:00:49,200 --> 00:00:52,279 Speaker 2: need games against other opponents to kind of, you know, 18 00:00:52,320 --> 00:00:53,840 Speaker 2: find your way and learn your team. 19 00:00:53,920 --> 00:00:56,440 Speaker 3: And it's the coaches, certainly, it's also. 20 00:00:56,240 --> 00:00:58,560 Speaker 2: The players finding their way and learning new systems and 21 00:00:58,640 --> 00:01:02,080 Speaker 2: learning each other. That's why I've been beating the drum 22 00:01:02,680 --> 00:01:05,840 Speaker 2: for the a preseason model let's play four or five 23 00:01:05,880 --> 00:01:09,759 Speaker 2: games and maybe it doesn't look like it looks not 24 00:01:09,840 --> 00:01:12,160 Speaker 2: just for us, for everybody to this extent. 25 00:01:12,240 --> 00:01:15,399 Speaker 3: Early in November, all that said, MO, like, yeah, we're learning. 26 00:01:16,160 --> 00:01:19,680 Speaker 2: I think there's been some stretches that I'm proud of, 27 00:01:19,840 --> 00:01:23,200 Speaker 2: right Like, you can see some sustained success and some 28 00:01:23,200 --> 00:01:27,039 Speaker 2: stretches and games in the aspects of the games that 29 00:01:27,080 --> 00:01:30,120 Speaker 2: we value, whether it's some things in our defense, whether 30 00:01:30,160 --> 00:01:32,640 Speaker 2: it's some things in our transition game, whether it's some 31 00:01:32,760 --> 00:01:35,920 Speaker 2: offensive execution. And then there's some stretches where, quite frankly, 32 00:01:35,959 --> 00:01:38,959 Speaker 2: that stuff's not there. We're working through that so we 33 00:01:39,000 --> 00:01:41,920 Speaker 2: can get more consistent. As we get more consistent, we're 34 00:01:41,959 --> 00:01:44,160 Speaker 2: going to become a better and better basketball team as 35 00:01:44,200 --> 00:01:46,640 Speaker 2: long as the work ethic and mindset within our locker 36 00:01:46,720 --> 00:01:47,520 Speaker 2: room stays the same. 37 00:01:47,600 --> 00:01:48,920 Speaker 3: And it's to this point it's been good. 38 00:01:49,040 --> 00:01:51,320 Speaker 1: I asked you about this on Sunday before the game. 39 00:01:51,560 --> 00:01:53,920 Speaker 1: Dan A. Thomas, a guy that you can lean on. 40 00:01:53,960 --> 00:01:56,200 Speaker 1: You've got all these new guys you're trying to figure 41 00:01:56,200 --> 00:01:59,360 Speaker 1: out who can do what. I think people forget. Number one, 42 00:01:59,520 --> 00:02:02,560 Speaker 1: how good data was, especially down the stretch last year. 43 00:02:03,240 --> 00:02:05,560 Speaker 1: How awesome is it to have a guy like that 44 00:02:05,560 --> 00:02:07,440 Speaker 1: that you can lean on. You look at a game 45 00:02:07,520 --> 00:02:10,000 Speaker 1: like Friday, this is a high end college basketball game. 46 00:02:10,080 --> 00:02:11,840 Speaker 1: You want this to be a game in the second half. 47 00:02:12,240 --> 00:02:13,679 Speaker 1: How nice is it to be able to lean on 48 00:02:13,720 --> 00:02:15,360 Speaker 1: a guy like him on both ends of the floor. 49 00:02:16,360 --> 00:02:19,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, And I appreciate you recognizing how well he played 50 00:02:19,080 --> 00:02:21,799 Speaker 2: at the end of last year, because you know, people 51 00:02:22,600 --> 00:02:25,360 Speaker 2: tend to forget that he missed you know, five six 52 00:02:25,440 --> 00:02:28,760 Speaker 2: weeks to start the year last year, not just preseason. 53 00:02:28,800 --> 00:02:31,600 Speaker 2: He missed games, and he was coming off of a 54 00:02:31,639 --> 00:02:34,400 Speaker 2: foot injury. He had a setback, had to get shut 55 00:02:34,440 --> 00:02:37,840 Speaker 2: down completely. It took him a while, not just to 56 00:02:37,840 --> 00:02:40,200 Speaker 2: find his rhythm, but defined his confidence in his way 57 00:02:40,240 --> 00:02:42,880 Speaker 2: within our team. I thought he finished the year like 58 00:02:42,919 --> 00:02:45,320 Speaker 2: the data that we've always known, and then I thought 59 00:02:45,320 --> 00:02:48,639 Speaker 2: it went into the offseason where he had a terrific offseason. 60 00:02:48,919 --> 00:02:50,239 Speaker 3: He's had a great preseason. 61 00:02:50,880 --> 00:02:54,600 Speaker 2: He's confident, he's matured, he's really evolved Mowe into a 62 00:02:54,680 --> 00:02:57,680 Speaker 2: leader in a lot of ways in our program. And 63 00:02:57,720 --> 00:03:01,919 Speaker 2: he gets what putting that is all about, Like he 64 00:03:02,080 --> 00:03:04,840 Speaker 2: understands it, and then that matters for the rest of 65 00:03:04,880 --> 00:03:08,360 Speaker 2: our guys. So I'm excited about his start, not surprised, 66 00:03:08,800 --> 00:03:11,720 Speaker 2: and I think I don't think it's a fleeting thing. 67 00:03:11,800 --> 00:03:13,440 Speaker 2: I think it's something that he's going to be able 68 00:03:13,480 --> 00:03:14,600 Speaker 2: to sustain throughout the year. 69 00:03:15,240 --> 00:03:17,200 Speaker 1: I've mentioned this team in the post game on Sunday, 70 00:03:17,720 --> 00:03:21,320 Speaker 1: Kishan Tillery gave you a spark. And it's one game. 71 00:03:21,639 --> 00:03:23,919 Speaker 1: It's November. He has a lot of growing to do. 72 00:03:24,080 --> 00:03:26,560 Speaker 1: But it felt to me like maybe you could see 73 00:03:26,560 --> 00:03:28,560 Speaker 1: the light bulb come on just a little bit. Would 74 00:03:28,600 --> 00:03:30,240 Speaker 1: that be a fair way of putting it. 75 00:03:30,680 --> 00:03:32,400 Speaker 2: I think if I was in your shoes, it's a 76 00:03:32,400 --> 00:03:34,880 Speaker 2: fair way to put it, because you hadn't got to see. 77 00:03:34,720 --> 00:03:36,480 Speaker 3: Him all through the summer and the fall. 78 00:03:37,840 --> 00:03:40,960 Speaker 2: But if you take the games that he's played, I 79 00:03:41,200 --> 00:03:44,600 Speaker 2: understand that comment. I think from my perspective, I've seen 80 00:03:44,600 --> 00:03:46,240 Speaker 2: the light bulb come home all the time, and I 81 00:03:46,280 --> 00:03:49,800 Speaker 2: see it go off sometimes like any freshman point guard, right, 82 00:03:49,880 --> 00:03:54,840 Speaker 2: And I think all of those things, whether they're really 83 00:03:54,840 --> 00:03:56,760 Speaker 2: good moments, and he had some really good moments when 84 00:03:56,760 --> 00:03:58,440 Speaker 2: we had an exhibition he gains a Michigan. I thought 85 00:03:58,480 --> 00:04:00,880 Speaker 2: he had some great moments the other night, or some 86 00:04:00,960 --> 00:04:04,440 Speaker 2: of these negative moments that could be frustrating for a fan, 87 00:04:04,960 --> 00:04:08,840 Speaker 2: a teammate or the head coach, right, those are actually 88 00:04:08,920 --> 00:04:11,560 Speaker 2: really good for his growth. We need we need him 89 00:04:11,600 --> 00:04:13,920 Speaker 2: to be ready to play in Big twelve games. He's 90 00:04:14,000 --> 00:04:16,960 Speaker 2: capable of being an impact player as a freshman in. 91 00:04:16,960 --> 00:04:19,039 Speaker 3: The Big twelve. I believe he will be. 92 00:04:19,600 --> 00:04:21,680 Speaker 2: So these ups and downs, even though they may be 93 00:04:21,760 --> 00:04:24,279 Speaker 2: frustrating in times, for all of us and him included, 94 00:04:24,560 --> 00:04:25,480 Speaker 2: they're very important. 95 00:04:25,839 --> 00:04:28,400 Speaker 3: All that said, he's a really good player. 96 00:04:28,839 --> 00:04:32,159 Speaker 2: He fits here, he fits Cincinnati, and he's gonna have 97 00:04:32,200 --> 00:04:33,360 Speaker 2: an important role this year. 98 00:04:34,880 --> 00:04:36,599 Speaker 1: Louisville's a little bit different than the last time you 99 00:04:36,640 --> 00:04:39,320 Speaker 1: played him, you know. And I watched him against Kentucky. 100 00:04:39,320 --> 00:04:42,719 Speaker 1: They scored ninety six. That's their lowest point total this season. 101 00:04:42,760 --> 00:04:46,159 Speaker 1: Michale Brown's a load. We saw Ryan Conwell up close 102 00:04:46,240 --> 00:04:49,280 Speaker 1: last year. Where do you even start with that team? 103 00:04:49,680 --> 00:04:51,560 Speaker 3: Yeah, somebody said that to me, he said. 104 00:04:51,640 --> 00:04:53,600 Speaker 2: You know, Louisville scored one hundred and three out of 105 00:04:53,640 --> 00:04:55,279 Speaker 2: the last four games they played. 106 00:04:55,279 --> 00:04:56,719 Speaker 3: I said, yeah, and the one time they didn't, they 107 00:04:56,720 --> 00:04:57,600 Speaker 3: scored ninety six. 108 00:04:57,680 --> 00:04:57,880 Speaker 1: You know. 109 00:04:59,040 --> 00:05:00,000 Speaker 3: No, it's. 110 00:05:01,800 --> 00:05:03,880 Speaker 2: There's a reason why people are picking them to win 111 00:05:03,920 --> 00:05:07,160 Speaker 2: the National Championship. And people were saying that before they 112 00:05:07,200 --> 00:05:10,480 Speaker 2: even played a game. And so you know, when you're 113 00:05:10,520 --> 00:05:14,320 Speaker 2: playing a team that has that type of expectation, there's 114 00:05:14,400 --> 00:05:20,640 Speaker 2: reasons for it. They're they're terrifically dynamic offensively. Uh, you know, 115 00:05:20,800 --> 00:05:23,360 Speaker 2: whether it's in their transition game, whether it's in their 116 00:05:23,400 --> 00:05:24,279 Speaker 2: half court execution. 117 00:05:25,000 --> 00:05:25,240 Speaker 3: Uh. 118 00:05:25,920 --> 00:05:29,400 Speaker 2: It seems like they have four guys that would be 119 00:05:29,440 --> 00:05:32,039 Speaker 2: the primary and some of them already have been the 120 00:05:32,200 --> 00:05:35,320 Speaker 2: number one offensive weapon on any team they play on 121 00:05:35,400 --> 00:05:38,080 Speaker 2: in college. But there's four of them that are all 122 00:05:38,080 --> 00:05:40,880 Speaker 2: guards on their team. And you know, I say that 123 00:05:40,960 --> 00:05:43,960 Speaker 2: with with with to compliment the job they've done putting 124 00:05:44,160 --> 00:05:48,360 Speaker 2: that group together. So yeah, that's that's what happens. When 125 00:05:48,400 --> 00:05:50,920 Speaker 2: you play against teams that you know, or the six 126 00:05:51,000 --> 00:05:53,240 Speaker 2: ranked team in the country. They present challenges. But what 127 00:05:53,320 --> 00:05:56,440 Speaker 2: a great opportunity for us. I like our guys too. 128 00:05:56,720 --> 00:05:58,279 Speaker 2: I like some of the things we can do too, 129 00:05:58,760 --> 00:06:00,880 Speaker 2: and I'm excited for the opportun tunity for the ball 130 00:06:00,920 --> 00:06:02,720 Speaker 2: to go up against you know, one of the best 131 00:06:02,720 --> 00:06:04,160 Speaker 2: teams in college basketball right now. 132 00:06:04,200 --> 00:06:07,839 Speaker 1: All right, As a longtime UC fan, this is the 133 00:06:07,880 --> 00:06:10,039 Speaker 1: game that I wish we had every single year. So 134 00:06:10,160 --> 00:06:12,839 Speaker 1: take me how a game like this comes together. 135 00:06:14,440 --> 00:06:18,720 Speaker 2: You know, we're just looking for really quality games in 136 00:06:18,760 --> 00:06:22,520 Speaker 2: our non conference that number one prepares for the Big twelve. 137 00:06:23,440 --> 00:06:25,720 Speaker 2: Number two give us the right opportunity to build a 138 00:06:25,760 --> 00:06:32,119 Speaker 2: resume for the selection day. And then you know three 139 00:06:32,440 --> 00:06:36,599 Speaker 2: are exciting and draw interest. And you know, this game 140 00:06:36,640 --> 00:06:40,240 Speaker 2: came about because it was willingness on both sides, which 141 00:06:40,320 --> 00:06:42,800 Speaker 2: was the first step, and then there was a way 142 00:06:42,800 --> 00:06:46,040 Speaker 2: to make it happen. And so again, I love games 143 00:06:46,120 --> 00:06:49,560 Speaker 2: like this for all those reasons. I certainly love that 144 00:06:49,600 --> 00:06:52,200 Speaker 2: our fans get to see this rivalry again, and I'm 145 00:06:52,200 --> 00:06:55,000 Speaker 2: excited to experience it for the first time since I've 146 00:06:55,040 --> 00:06:57,680 Speaker 2: been at Cincinnati. But I am excited that Louisville and 147 00:06:57,880 --> 00:06:59,479 Speaker 2: Cincinnati are playing basketball again. 148 00:06:59,680 --> 00:07:01,920 Speaker 1: A right one more, Pat Kelsey. You talked about him, 149 00:07:01,960 --> 00:07:03,600 Speaker 1: a guy that you've known for a very long time, 150 00:07:03,600 --> 00:07:06,719 Speaker 1: a guy you've coached against. He's obviously coming home. Walked 151 00:07:06,720 --> 00:07:09,600 Speaker 1: me through your relationship with Pat Kelsey and what you 152 00:07:09,680 --> 00:07:11,760 Speaker 1: like about watching his teams play. 153 00:07:11,960 --> 00:07:14,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, Patt and I've known each other since I was 154 00:07:14,120 --> 00:07:17,480 Speaker 2: a high school high school player, and they were recruiting 155 00:07:17,480 --> 00:07:19,040 Speaker 2: me a little bit at Wake Forest when he was 156 00:07:19,040 --> 00:07:21,920 Speaker 2: a young assistant there for Skip Prosser. And you know, 157 00:07:21,960 --> 00:07:24,200 Speaker 2: I know this is like sacrilegious to say anything good 158 00:07:24,200 --> 00:07:27,640 Speaker 2: about Xavier when you're the Cincinnati coach. But Skip Prosser, 159 00:07:27,840 --> 00:07:32,080 Speaker 2: who is Pat's mentor, was always so unbelievably kind to me. 160 00:07:32,520 --> 00:07:35,240 Speaker 3: And when I came to Cincinnati, and you know like that. 161 00:07:35,520 --> 00:07:37,560 Speaker 2: That's the one thing I've always said is I don't 162 00:07:37,680 --> 00:07:40,160 Speaker 2: I don't care about I care a lot about the 163 00:07:40,160 --> 00:07:42,720 Speaker 2: Crosstown shootout, but you can't ever say a bad word 164 00:07:42,760 --> 00:07:46,360 Speaker 2: to me about Skip Prosser. So because of Skip, that's 165 00:07:46,360 --> 00:07:48,760 Speaker 2: how Pat and I got to know each other back 166 00:07:48,760 --> 00:07:51,480 Speaker 2: when I was a youngster. We've been in this profession 167 00:07:51,520 --> 00:07:54,240 Speaker 2: for a long time. We've had a friendship for a 168 00:07:54,320 --> 00:07:57,120 Speaker 2: very long time. Our families know each other. I mean, 169 00:07:57,560 --> 00:08:00,400 Speaker 2: you know, his family here in Cincinnati has been very 170 00:08:00,440 --> 00:08:02,320 Speaker 2: kind and warm to me. I think the world of them. 171 00:08:02,840 --> 00:08:05,320 Speaker 2: You know, he knows my family. So there's a ton 172 00:08:05,360 --> 00:08:07,120 Speaker 2: of history there. Now, when the ball goes up, I 173 00:08:07,120 --> 00:08:08,800 Speaker 2: don't think any of that crap is going to matter 174 00:08:09,320 --> 00:08:12,040 Speaker 2: on either end. But if people want to know you, 175 00:08:12,160 --> 00:08:14,000 Speaker 2: I think a lot of Pat Kell see his family, 176 00:08:14,520 --> 00:08:17,600 Speaker 2: and we've known each other for gosh, well over twenty years.