1 00:00:01,320 --> 00:00:05,120 Speaker 1: Eighteen away from four o'clock. This is ESPN fifteen thirty. 2 00:00:05,160 --> 00:00:08,479 Speaker 1: The Miami RedHawks are ranked twenty fourth in the latest 3 00:00:08,520 --> 00:00:12,959 Speaker 1: AP Top twenty five Men's College Basketball poll. Travis Steel's 4 00:00:13,000 --> 00:00:15,880 Speaker 1: team hasn't played since last Tuesday. They're back in action 5 00:00:15,920 --> 00:00:19,079 Speaker 1: tomorrow night home game against UMass which will tip off 6 00:00:19,120 --> 00:00:22,480 Speaker 1: at nine pm, and then they have their annual Alumni 7 00:00:22,680 --> 00:00:25,160 Speaker 1: Day and one Miami Day on three thirty at three 8 00:00:25,239 --> 00:00:29,120 Speaker 1: thirty on Saturday, as the red Hawks host Northern Illinois. 9 00:00:29,120 --> 00:00:32,640 Speaker 1: We get a treat for me, somewhat of a treat 10 00:00:32,680 --> 00:00:36,080 Speaker 1: because I'm doing this show from home today, so we 11 00:00:36,360 --> 00:00:38,960 Speaker 1: get an in studio visit from Travis Steele, and yet 12 00:00:38,960 --> 00:00:42,280 Speaker 1: I'm not even there for it. Nonetheless, it's awesome to 13 00:00:42,320 --> 00:00:43,400 Speaker 1: have you and good to talk to you. 14 00:00:43,800 --> 00:00:46,159 Speaker 2: Thanks for having me on moment. I'm a little disappointed 15 00:00:46,280 --> 00:00:49,599 Speaker 2: you didn't get that shovel out, you know, like ah 16 00:00:49,760 --> 00:00:53,080 Speaker 2: shovel in that driveway or the shovel was out. 17 00:00:53,400 --> 00:00:57,840 Speaker 1: My back is killing me, you know, but the school 18 00:00:57,920 --> 00:01:00,760 Speaker 1: shut down yesterday. My wife or an hour and a 19 00:01:00,800 --> 00:01:03,760 Speaker 1: half to get to work, so unfortunately for me, I 20 00:01:03,760 --> 00:01:05,280 Speaker 1: don't get a chance to hang out with you. 21 00:01:05,360 --> 00:01:08,600 Speaker 3: But I think I think you'll get by nonetheless, I hope. 22 00:01:08,640 --> 00:01:13,800 Speaker 1: So a week between games, right, you played last Tuesday 23 00:01:13,800 --> 00:01:17,280 Speaker 1: a thriller at Kent State. What is what is practice 24 00:01:17,400 --> 00:01:19,560 Speaker 1: like in season, especially when you're coming off a couple 25 00:01:19,600 --> 00:01:22,080 Speaker 1: of overtime games, when you have that much time between 26 00:01:22,080 --> 00:01:22,880 Speaker 1: games during the year. 27 00:01:23,480 --> 00:01:25,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think Number one, you want to sharpen your saw. 28 00:01:26,000 --> 00:01:28,120 Speaker 2: You know, some things maybe that that I didn't like, 29 00:01:28,280 --> 00:01:30,240 Speaker 2: that I haven't liked with our team the last you know, 30 00:01:30,240 --> 00:01:32,920 Speaker 2: a few games, you look for patterns and and and 31 00:01:33,280 --> 00:01:35,720 Speaker 2: so we really focused on a few things systematically to 32 00:01:35,760 --> 00:01:38,040 Speaker 2: get better. But you also got to keep them in shape. 33 00:01:38,200 --> 00:01:40,840 Speaker 2: Right during the season you worry about you know, you 34 00:01:40,840 --> 00:01:43,440 Speaker 2: want to get your guys up and down to keep 35 00:01:43,440 --> 00:01:46,080 Speaker 2: that cardio going because you can lose it very, very 36 00:01:46,160 --> 00:01:49,080 Speaker 2: very quickly. So just sharpening our saw more than anything. 37 00:01:49,080 --> 00:01:51,080 Speaker 2: Getting healthy as well a little bit of it. We 38 00:01:51,080 --> 00:01:53,400 Speaker 2: took a couple of days off, but really focused in 39 00:01:53,440 --> 00:01:54,480 Speaker 2: on our defensive system. 40 00:01:54,560 --> 00:01:57,520 Speaker 1: Right now, what would that be you talked about the 41 00:01:57,520 --> 00:01:59,880 Speaker 1: things you haven't liked, would that be on defense? 42 00:02:00,080 --> 00:02:00,680 Speaker 3: You would start? 43 00:02:01,080 --> 00:02:03,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, you know, like, listen, we're scoring and we haven't 44 00:02:03,280 --> 00:02:05,040 Speaker 2: even shot the ball well and we're still scoring. Over 45 00:02:05,080 --> 00:02:08,280 Speaker 2: one hundred points in the last three games, in each 46 00:02:08,320 --> 00:02:10,240 Speaker 2: of them. But like, we got to get better, you know, 47 00:02:10,400 --> 00:02:14,920 Speaker 2: just just our execution of our traps, execution of our 48 00:02:14,960 --> 00:02:19,160 Speaker 2: defensive rebounding, blocking out, being more physical. Just those are 49 00:02:19,200 --> 00:02:21,120 Speaker 2: a few of the trends that we saw kind of 50 00:02:21,120 --> 00:02:23,679 Speaker 2: the last three games that we got to get fixed 51 00:02:23,680 --> 00:02:26,640 Speaker 2: if we want to continue to get wins here moving forward. 52 00:02:27,520 --> 00:02:30,560 Speaker 1: You know, you you go to overtime and you know, 53 00:02:30,720 --> 00:02:33,120 Speaker 1: Ian Elmer hits the shot against Buffalo, you win that 54 00:02:33,160 --> 00:02:34,880 Speaker 1: game at a home You then go to Kent State. 55 00:02:34,960 --> 00:02:37,800 Speaker 1: That was an event, right, I mean they were ready 56 00:02:37,800 --> 00:02:39,720 Speaker 1: for you. And when you get that number next to 57 00:02:39,720 --> 00:02:41,520 Speaker 1: your name, and you and I talked talked about this 58 00:02:41,520 --> 00:02:44,160 Speaker 1: a couple of weeks ago. You know, you you take 59 00:02:44,200 --> 00:02:47,480 Speaker 1: everybody's best shot. The Golden Flashes were ready for you. 60 00:02:47,480 --> 00:02:49,799 Speaker 1: You played great in the first half, the game goes 61 00:02:49,840 --> 00:02:52,640 Speaker 1: to overtime. Give me an idea of what you're telling 62 00:02:52,680 --> 00:02:55,480 Speaker 1: your guys after things unfolded the way they did those 63 00:02:55,560 --> 00:02:58,320 Speaker 1: those second twenty minutes before you go to the extra frame. 64 00:02:59,160 --> 00:03:01,320 Speaker 2: Yeah, this is we're taking the show on the road. 65 00:03:02,040 --> 00:03:04,080 Speaker 2: We want to play five more minutes. Man, this is great. 66 00:03:04,120 --> 00:03:06,240 Speaker 2: This is that environment was elite. I mean it was 67 00:03:06,280 --> 00:03:09,360 Speaker 2: sold out. I'd never seen Kent State sold out, you know, 68 00:03:09,480 --> 00:03:11,880 Speaker 2: my four is my fourth year there. But it was 69 00:03:11,880 --> 00:03:13,840 Speaker 2: they were gonna store in the court, they were, their 70 00:03:13,880 --> 00:03:16,960 Speaker 2: students were already. There was a lot of free beer 71 00:03:17,080 --> 00:03:18,839 Speaker 2: and there. I wish I could get a free beer 72 00:03:18,880 --> 00:03:20,799 Speaker 2: out there too, mo I mean, like maybe after I 73 00:03:20,880 --> 00:03:22,600 Speaker 2: told Rob's center office said can you get can I 74 00:03:22,639 --> 00:03:26,119 Speaker 2: get one? But it was you know, it's fun, man, 75 00:03:26,240 --> 00:03:27,840 Speaker 2: Like this is what we were, which is what you 76 00:03:27,880 --> 00:03:31,880 Speaker 2: played college athletics for, to be in those moments, those environments. 77 00:03:32,720 --> 00:03:36,360 Speaker 2: Our guys love to compete. Our guys were excited to 78 00:03:36,360 --> 00:03:39,040 Speaker 2: play that last overtime clip and we felt like we 79 00:03:39,080 --> 00:03:40,560 Speaker 2: had all the momentum and we had been in these 80 00:03:40,600 --> 00:03:43,680 Speaker 2: situations before where we felt like it was an advantage Miami. 81 00:03:45,320 --> 00:03:48,240 Speaker 3: It's advantage having Peter Soonter on your team. Man. You know, 82 00:03:48,520 --> 00:03:51,200 Speaker 3: he makes he makes the shot to beat Buffalo. 83 00:03:51,800 --> 00:03:54,040 Speaker 1: It's felt at times and he's been great all year long, 84 00:03:54,080 --> 00:03:56,560 Speaker 1: but these last two you know, your team has had 85 00:03:56,560 --> 00:03:58,560 Speaker 1: stretches where he's kind of had to put it offensively 86 00:03:58,600 --> 00:04:00,880 Speaker 1: at least on his back. Walk me through, you get 87 00:04:00,920 --> 00:04:03,800 Speaker 1: him from Bellermann. Walk me through the decision to bring 88 00:04:03,880 --> 00:04:05,000 Speaker 1: him to Oxford. 89 00:04:05,240 --> 00:04:05,440 Speaker 3: Yeah. 90 00:04:05,680 --> 00:04:09,360 Speaker 2: You know, we played them my first year here at 91 00:04:09,360 --> 00:04:14,440 Speaker 2: Miami and we were we were dreadful, but we beat them, 92 00:04:14,640 --> 00:04:16,600 Speaker 2: and I'll never forget. During the middle of the game, 93 00:04:16,640 --> 00:04:18,920 Speaker 2: I leaned over to our staff. I said, fellas, why 94 00:04:18,960 --> 00:04:23,280 Speaker 2: isn't he here? He needs to be at Miami, And uh, 95 00:04:23,320 --> 00:04:27,120 Speaker 2: it's funny. You know, life comes full circle. He enters 96 00:04:27,120 --> 00:04:29,200 Speaker 2: the portal and this is a this is a true story, mo. 97 00:04:29,520 --> 00:04:31,920 Speaker 2: I actually just received the commitment from a kid. I 98 00:04:32,000 --> 00:04:34,479 Speaker 2: drove eight hours in a car to go get a 99 00:04:34,520 --> 00:04:38,160 Speaker 2: commitment from another transfer and I'm on my way back 100 00:04:38,200 --> 00:04:42,400 Speaker 2: home and I see, Hey, Peter Souter just enters the 101 00:04:42,400 --> 00:04:46,279 Speaker 2: transfer portal, and I tell our staff I said, fellas, 102 00:04:46,440 --> 00:04:48,400 Speaker 2: I'm gonna call this kid that we just got this 103 00:04:48,480 --> 00:04:52,159 Speaker 2: commitment from. I'm tell him I'm out and I'm gonna 104 00:04:52,160 --> 00:04:54,119 Speaker 2: go all in on Pete. I know I want Pete. 105 00:04:54,120 --> 00:04:55,960 Speaker 2: That's the guy I want. I haven't even talked to 106 00:04:56,000 --> 00:04:58,320 Speaker 2: Peter's souiter yet. I didn't even know he'd have any interest, 107 00:04:59,279 --> 00:05:01,400 Speaker 2: but I knew who I I wanted, right, And so 108 00:05:01,920 --> 00:05:04,120 Speaker 2: I called the kid, told him, Hey, listen, we're gonna 109 00:05:04,120 --> 00:05:06,400 Speaker 2: have to go a different direction, and I called Peter 110 00:05:06,480 --> 00:05:08,880 Speaker 2: shooter and I said, hey, listen, want to get you 111 00:05:08,920 --> 00:05:12,240 Speaker 2: on campus immediately. And he was on campus probably within 112 00:05:12,320 --> 00:05:15,240 Speaker 2: a week and a half. And he committed while he 113 00:05:15,320 --> 00:05:18,040 Speaker 2: was on campus. But I knew exactly who he wanted. 114 00:05:18,080 --> 00:05:21,080 Speaker 2: He is the ultimate winner, like he won in high school. 115 00:05:21,120 --> 00:05:23,520 Speaker 2: He went to Carmel High School, won a couple of 116 00:05:23,560 --> 00:05:28,640 Speaker 2: state titles there. Just play so hard, like you feel Peter, 117 00:05:29,240 --> 00:05:33,080 Speaker 2: And he's an incredible teammate leader, has a knack for 118 00:05:33,160 --> 00:05:36,240 Speaker 2: the big moment, like you said, like he knows when 119 00:05:36,279 --> 00:05:38,919 Speaker 2: to take games over. I knew what he could become. 120 00:05:38,920 --> 00:05:41,760 Speaker 2: Now you looked at his shooting percentage. He shot below 121 00:05:41,800 --> 00:05:43,640 Speaker 2: thirty percent from three. I think I was twenty eight 122 00:05:43,680 --> 00:05:46,719 Speaker 2: percent during his last season at Bellerman. But I knew 123 00:05:46,720 --> 00:05:48,839 Speaker 2: he could become a better shooter. I thought, I felt 124 00:05:48,839 --> 00:05:51,200 Speaker 2: like I could help him in that area, and we 125 00:05:51,240 --> 00:05:52,960 Speaker 2: really sold him on that and he's put all the 126 00:05:53,000 --> 00:05:55,520 Speaker 2: time in. He's become a very good shooter. Obviously here 127 00:05:55,560 --> 00:05:56,120 Speaker 2: at Miami. 128 00:05:57,800 --> 00:06:00,440 Speaker 1: You mentioned the first season and when you took the 129 00:06:00,520 --> 00:06:02,800 Speaker 1: job at Oxford, you were kind enough to come on 130 00:06:03,040 --> 00:06:05,640 Speaker 1: and you said it like, mo I got my hands full, right, 131 00:06:05,720 --> 00:06:07,800 Speaker 1: I mean it was. This wasn't this wasn't going to 132 00:06:07,839 --> 00:06:10,720 Speaker 1: be overnight, and this wasn't going to be easy. And 133 00:06:11,080 --> 00:06:13,839 Speaker 1: I know your program maybe isn't where you wanted, although 134 00:06:13,880 --> 00:06:15,680 Speaker 1: twenty and oh is a really good place when you 135 00:06:15,720 --> 00:06:19,440 Speaker 1: think back to that first season. Give me some thoughts 136 00:06:19,480 --> 00:06:22,480 Speaker 1: on what it was like then to now and what 137 00:06:22,520 --> 00:06:25,520 Speaker 1: it's taken you and taken this program to go from 138 00:06:25,560 --> 00:06:27,200 Speaker 1: what it was that first year, and it was a 139 00:06:27,279 --> 00:06:29,559 Speaker 1: rough go to where you guys are right now ranked 140 00:06:29,600 --> 00:06:31,920 Speaker 1: and undefeated here in late January. 141 00:06:32,720 --> 00:06:34,279 Speaker 2: You know, the first thing I would say is you 142 00:06:34,279 --> 00:06:35,719 Speaker 2: got to make sure you get the right people in 143 00:06:35,760 --> 00:06:38,039 Speaker 2: the room. And I had a great staff, and I 144 00:06:38,080 --> 00:06:40,239 Speaker 2: was very confident of that, even though maybe we weren't 145 00:06:40,240 --> 00:06:42,680 Speaker 2: getting the results that we wanted year one. We're just 146 00:06:42,680 --> 00:06:46,479 Speaker 2: trying to lay the foundation and get our culture established, 147 00:06:46,920 --> 00:06:50,480 Speaker 2: recruit to our culture, get some of our young guys 148 00:06:50,800 --> 00:06:53,320 Speaker 2: some experience. I knew it was going to be a 149 00:06:53,360 --> 00:06:56,800 Speaker 2: rebuild at Miami, probably a little bit more than what 150 00:06:56,839 --> 00:06:59,080 Speaker 2: i'd even anticipated. Just you never know what's under the 151 00:06:59,120 --> 00:07:01,800 Speaker 2: hood until you open up open it up right. And 152 00:07:02,240 --> 00:07:03,920 Speaker 2: from a culture standpoint, we really had to grow. I 153 00:07:04,000 --> 00:07:06,360 Speaker 2: knew from a talent standpoint, we had to grow from 154 00:07:06,360 --> 00:07:08,360 Speaker 2: a marketing base. We had to grow. We had nobody 155 00:07:08,360 --> 00:07:11,600 Speaker 2: attending our games. Shoot, we had my wife, Amanda and 156 00:07:12,120 --> 00:07:14,679 Speaker 2: our two kids at the time. We have three kids 157 00:07:14,680 --> 00:07:17,760 Speaker 2: now since, but there are two kids. I mean, we 158 00:07:17,800 --> 00:07:20,720 Speaker 2: had about ten fifteen fans in the stands, it felt like. 159 00:07:20,800 --> 00:07:22,520 Speaker 2: And so it was. We knew it was gonna be 160 00:07:22,520 --> 00:07:25,840 Speaker 2: a complete rebuild and we played. Listen, we did the 161 00:07:25,880 --> 00:07:28,320 Speaker 2: long game. I told David Saylor athlet director, We're going 162 00:07:28,360 --> 00:07:30,119 Speaker 2: to play the long game. We're gonna recruit high school. 163 00:07:30,120 --> 00:07:32,520 Speaker 2: We're gonna play freshmen. We're gonna get them better. We 164 00:07:32,600 --> 00:07:35,400 Speaker 2: may take some lumps, but just stick with me a 165 00:07:35,400 --> 00:07:37,280 Speaker 2: little bit here. It's going to probably take till year 166 00:07:37,320 --> 00:07:41,440 Speaker 2: three and year three obviously last year we won twenty 167 00:07:41,440 --> 00:07:44,920 Speaker 2: five games, set a single season record at Miami for 168 00:07:45,000 --> 00:07:47,120 Speaker 2: wins in a season, and then we were able to 169 00:07:47,120 --> 00:07:49,160 Speaker 2: retain a lot of those guys you know, Mo and 170 00:07:49,320 --> 00:07:52,160 Speaker 2: and going into here to year four, and it's led 171 00:07:52,160 --> 00:07:54,600 Speaker 2: to obviously a really good start here to this season. 172 00:07:54,640 --> 00:07:56,720 Speaker 2: And you know, but the goals not to be twenty 173 00:07:56,720 --> 00:07:58,680 Speaker 2: to zero, the goals not to be top twenty five 174 00:07:58,760 --> 00:08:00,960 Speaker 2: or whatever that is, and you know, the goal is 175 00:08:01,000 --> 00:08:03,080 Speaker 2: can we advance in the instead of BLA tournament, And 176 00:08:03,160 --> 00:08:05,240 Speaker 2: in order to do that, we have to continue to 177 00:08:05,280 --> 00:08:07,640 Speaker 2: get better as the season goes on. We have to 178 00:08:07,640 --> 00:08:10,800 Speaker 2: be obsessed with trajectory over the results. And I love 179 00:08:10,880 --> 00:08:13,240 Speaker 2: this streak that we're on, but at the end of 180 00:08:13,280 --> 00:08:16,440 Speaker 2: the day that the key for us is the trajectory piece, 181 00:08:17,120 --> 00:08:20,880 Speaker 2: and as a program holistically and as a season as well, 182 00:08:21,240 --> 00:08:23,760 Speaker 2: it kind of as the season goes on. So I've 183 00:08:23,760 --> 00:08:26,680 Speaker 2: been proud of the growth that we've made obviously, but 184 00:08:26,800 --> 00:08:29,640 Speaker 2: there's still a lot more to attain obviously here moving forward. 185 00:08:30,360 --> 00:08:32,600 Speaker 1: You know, it was striking to me watching the Kent 186 00:08:32,679 --> 00:08:35,600 Speaker 1: State game and you talked about, you know, getting people 187 00:08:35,640 --> 00:08:37,719 Speaker 1: interested in getting people to come to Mallett Hall, and 188 00:08:38,040 --> 00:08:41,840 Speaker 1: watching that game at Kent State, there's lots of red 189 00:08:41,880 --> 00:08:44,600 Speaker 1: behind your bench, and maybe that's always the case when 190 00:08:44,640 --> 00:08:46,880 Speaker 1: you play up there. I'm sure there are Miami alums 191 00:08:46,880 --> 00:08:49,840 Speaker 1: and in Northeast Ohio that comes see the Red Hawks 192 00:08:49,880 --> 00:08:51,880 Speaker 1: when they play at Kent State or an Akron, But 193 00:08:52,640 --> 00:08:54,480 Speaker 1: a little bit different when when you guys have the 194 00:08:54,520 --> 00:08:57,840 Speaker 1: record you had going into that game, and I know 195 00:08:57,960 --> 00:09:00,559 Speaker 1: that's translated to folks coming to Mallett Hall. 196 00:09:00,760 --> 00:09:02,600 Speaker 3: It's probably not where you want it to be. 197 00:09:02,679 --> 00:09:06,360 Speaker 1: But are you noticing that the Miami community, whether it's 198 00:09:06,360 --> 00:09:09,720 Speaker 1: folks on campus, the alumni base, people here in this 199 00:09:09,760 --> 00:09:12,240 Speaker 1: part of the part of the state, do you notice 200 00:09:12,240 --> 00:09:14,240 Speaker 1: the momentum building in terms of interest? 201 00:09:14,559 --> 00:09:17,319 Speaker 2: I do, you know. I think obviously we're getting a 202 00:09:17,360 --> 00:09:19,200 Speaker 2: lot of publicity right now. Our guys are, and they 203 00:09:19,200 --> 00:09:21,400 Speaker 2: deserve it. Man, we got great players, great human beings 204 00:09:21,480 --> 00:09:24,080 Speaker 2: in our locker room, and I think our alumni bas 205 00:09:24,160 --> 00:09:28,040 Speaker 2: is obviously very excited right now. And you know, wherever 206 00:09:28,040 --> 00:09:31,560 Speaker 2: we've gone, it's been a day Nearest sellout, Bowling Green, Toledo, 207 00:09:32,480 --> 00:09:37,040 Speaker 2: Kent State, right State, and we're getting everybody's best shot. 208 00:09:37,400 --> 00:09:39,120 Speaker 2: And I think here, you know, we haven't even had 209 00:09:39,200 --> 00:09:43,040 Speaker 2: students here oh yet for the second semester, so ours 210 00:09:43,040 --> 00:09:46,839 Speaker 2: class was supposed to be today got canceled. First day back. 211 00:09:47,160 --> 00:09:49,559 Speaker 2: You know, I'm sure they're all excited. I'm sure they're 212 00:09:49,640 --> 00:09:52,280 Speaker 2: up at Brick the Bar up there with the Wiseman's, 213 00:09:52,960 --> 00:09:56,840 Speaker 2: you know, but they probably having a great time, you know. 214 00:09:56,960 --> 00:10:00,720 Speaker 2: But they the Buffalo game, we had an incredible crowd 215 00:10:00,760 --> 00:10:05,440 Speaker 2: with no students. I was really really pleased. Akron we 216 00:10:05,480 --> 00:10:08,600 Speaker 2: had a great crowd with no students, and you see 217 00:10:08,600 --> 00:10:10,920 Speaker 2: it building now all of a sudden, I think we 218 00:10:10,960 --> 00:10:14,000 Speaker 2: had a couple thousand tickets already downloaded by our students 219 00:10:14,000 --> 00:10:17,160 Speaker 2: for tomorrow night's game for UMass, which we've never had, 220 00:10:17,840 --> 00:10:21,080 Speaker 2: you know, so you do feel this it mounting, right, 221 00:10:21,160 --> 00:10:25,000 Speaker 2: And I'm so excited because I want, I'm hopeful that 222 00:10:25,400 --> 00:10:30,079 Speaker 2: everybody can see what a successful men's basketball program can 223 00:10:30,120 --> 00:10:35,160 Speaker 2: do for a community of Oxford or Miami, the alumni, 224 00:10:35,360 --> 00:10:37,559 Speaker 2: the students, and we want to be able to give 225 00:10:37,559 --> 00:10:42,280 Speaker 2: the students an incredible experience. And I'm excited because you 226 00:10:42,280 --> 00:10:44,319 Speaker 2: can't see it definitely mounting. Man, you can see the 227 00:10:44,360 --> 00:10:45,920 Speaker 2: excitement building, which is great. 228 00:10:46,960 --> 00:10:48,400 Speaker 1: I think you had and I think it was the 229 00:10:48,440 --> 00:10:50,280 Speaker 1: Central Michion game. I think you had the swimming and 230 00:10:50,320 --> 00:10:53,600 Speaker 1: diving team in uniform. Yes, there's not much of a uniform, 231 00:10:53,679 --> 00:10:56,440 Speaker 1: right behind the other team's basket. I thought what we 232 00:10:56,480 --> 00:10:59,079 Speaker 1: could do is maybe I could join them and wear 233 00:10:59,200 --> 00:10:59,760 Speaker 1: something similar. 234 00:10:59,800 --> 00:11:03,440 Speaker 2: If you like, man, that'd be the biggest distraction ever. 235 00:11:03,440 --> 00:11:05,720 Speaker 2: There'd be no way that opponent's gonna make a free throw. 236 00:11:06,559 --> 00:11:08,480 Speaker 2: I may be distracted over there. I'd be like, oh 237 00:11:08,520 --> 00:11:13,880 Speaker 2: my goodness, gracious. What is that? A big shout out 238 00:11:13,920 --> 00:11:16,040 Speaker 2: to our swim and dive team though, that was incredible. 239 00:11:16,120 --> 00:11:18,439 Speaker 2: I told them after the game, I said, hey, listen, 240 00:11:18,520 --> 00:11:21,120 Speaker 2: really appreciate it. I said, we will return the favor. 241 00:11:21,160 --> 00:11:23,400 Speaker 2: We will show up a to one of your meets, 242 00:11:23,400 --> 00:11:26,880 Speaker 2: but we will not be dressed in speedos. You know, 243 00:11:26,920 --> 00:11:30,520 Speaker 2: we'll be fully clothed, probably. 244 00:11:30,120 --> 00:11:33,080 Speaker 1: For the best, probably for all parties involved. Yes, the 245 00:11:33,160 --> 00:11:36,640 Speaker 1: offer remains on the table. Nine o'clock tomorrow against UMass, 246 00:11:36,640 --> 00:11:40,000 Speaker 1: Saturday Alumni Day and one Miami Day. It's gonna be 247 00:11:40,040 --> 00:11:42,080 Speaker 1: a great day in the Miami campus Malett Hall. That's 248 00:11:42,120 --> 00:11:46,520 Speaker 1: Northern Illinois in town. A three thirty tip off. You 249 00:11:46,559 --> 00:11:49,000 Speaker 1: don't often get college basketball coaches to come visit in 250 00:11:49,040 --> 00:11:51,640 Speaker 1: studio the day before a game. So you got practice, 251 00:11:51,640 --> 00:11:53,880 Speaker 1: you got all that stuff. Walk me through the day 252 00:11:53,920 --> 00:11:56,880 Speaker 1: game eve routine for you and your staff and your team. 253 00:11:57,360 --> 00:11:59,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, you know, we practice every day at one thirty. 254 00:12:00,120 --> 00:12:03,240 Speaker 2: It's a great practice slot. My goodness, man, I love it, 255 00:12:03,240 --> 00:12:05,520 Speaker 2: as Xavier made all those years we were at three thirty. 256 00:12:06,400 --> 00:12:09,080 Speaker 2: I love the one thirty slot. But we'll go one 257 00:12:09,160 --> 00:12:12,560 Speaker 2: thirty to three thirty. We'll watch film right afterwards. We 258 00:12:12,600 --> 00:12:15,800 Speaker 2: may have a walk through in the evening. We'll have 259 00:12:15,800 --> 00:12:19,320 Speaker 2: a dinner as a team as well, just tightening things 260 00:12:19,360 --> 00:12:21,840 Speaker 2: up and then going into the We always have curfew 261 00:12:21,840 --> 00:12:25,760 Speaker 2: the night before game, you know, at ten pm, and 262 00:12:25,800 --> 00:12:27,960 Speaker 2: then we get up the next morning and our guys 263 00:12:27,960 --> 00:12:30,960 Speaker 2: will go to class MO and uh, and then we'll 264 00:12:30,960 --> 00:12:33,280 Speaker 2: have a shoot around five hours before the game at 265 00:12:33,280 --> 00:12:35,840 Speaker 2: two pm every game, and then we have a meal 266 00:12:35,920 --> 00:12:38,280 Speaker 2: right after that and then then we play the game. 267 00:12:38,600 --> 00:12:40,760 Speaker 2: So the Hayes in the barn so to speak. 268 00:12:40,960 --> 00:12:43,800 Speaker 1: Yeah, you're you're kind of like in the middle of 269 00:12:43,840 --> 00:12:46,360 Speaker 1: the dog days of the season where the end is 270 00:12:46,679 --> 00:12:49,920 Speaker 1: far away, the beginning is way in the rear view mirror. 271 00:12:50,320 --> 00:12:53,800 Speaker 1: And maybe not with this team, but is whether it's 272 00:12:53,800 --> 00:12:55,520 Speaker 1: this year in the past, is this the time of 273 00:12:55,600 --> 00:12:58,679 Speaker 1: year where you find it hard sometimes to get everybody 274 00:12:58,720 --> 00:13:00,439 Speaker 1: to lock in, just because we're kind of. 275 00:13:00,640 --> 00:13:02,720 Speaker 3: Stuck, it's snowing out, it's rough. 276 00:13:03,120 --> 00:13:04,880 Speaker 1: You know, you guys have gone weeks without the kids 277 00:13:04,920 --> 00:13:06,640 Speaker 1: on campus and it can be kind of hard to 278 00:13:06,640 --> 00:13:08,800 Speaker 1: get the guys to concentrate. Maybe that's not an issue 279 00:13:08,800 --> 00:13:10,480 Speaker 1: with this team, but it hasn't been in the past. 280 00:13:10,600 --> 00:13:12,960 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think you see weird scores in college basketball 281 00:13:13,160 --> 00:13:17,920 Speaker 2: in late January, early February. It's it's the dog days 282 00:13:18,360 --> 00:13:20,400 Speaker 2: of the season. We've been going at it since June. 283 00:13:20,920 --> 00:13:23,840 Speaker 2: I mean basketball is almost year round now. And then 284 00:13:23,880 --> 00:13:27,440 Speaker 2: you start getting these people tampering with your players, right, 285 00:13:27,480 --> 00:13:31,520 Speaker 2: I mean, people start thinking about what's next for them, right. 286 00:13:31,720 --> 00:13:34,480 Speaker 2: Coaches do too, I mean coaches do players do. And 287 00:13:34,520 --> 00:13:36,760 Speaker 2: it's like, man, can you just live in the moment, 288 00:13:37,160 --> 00:13:40,680 Speaker 2: be present where your feet are? You know? And it's 289 00:13:40,720 --> 00:13:43,520 Speaker 2: so hard for the world to do with the landscape 290 00:13:43,559 --> 00:13:46,920 Speaker 2: that we're in. But that's that's what's that's what's required. 291 00:13:47,640 --> 00:13:50,960 Speaker 2: That's what's required. And our team has zero issue with it. 292 00:13:51,120 --> 00:13:53,439 Speaker 2: This year's team and last year's team was the same. 293 00:13:53,800 --> 00:13:56,000 Speaker 2: But I've had teams or it's hard, and again, you 294 00:13:56,000 --> 00:13:58,760 Speaker 2: have to fight that human nature, right, you know, whether 295 00:13:58,760 --> 00:14:01,520 Speaker 2: it's assistant coaches trying to get head coaching opportunities, whether 296 00:14:01,559 --> 00:14:03,559 Speaker 2: it's you know, NFL is doing the same thing and 297 00:14:03,800 --> 00:14:06,960 Speaker 2: they're playing NFL playoff games and they got assistance interviewing 298 00:14:07,000 --> 00:14:10,360 Speaker 2: for for head job opportunities. You want those for those guys, 299 00:14:10,800 --> 00:14:13,760 Speaker 2: But then do they become just a little less distracted, 300 00:14:14,440 --> 00:14:18,600 Speaker 2: you know, or more distracted on the on the mission. 301 00:14:18,840 --> 00:14:20,880 Speaker 2: You know, it gets hard, man, to keep everybody moving 302 00:14:20,920 --> 00:14:23,880 Speaker 2: in the same direction for the especially during these dog days. 303 00:14:24,520 --> 00:14:27,200 Speaker 1: Where we are in college basketball, to me is weird. 304 00:14:27,240 --> 00:14:28,680 Speaker 1: And I know you got to go because I think 305 00:14:28,720 --> 00:14:33,320 Speaker 1: the on court product is awesome, But it's chaotic, man. 306 00:14:33,480 --> 00:14:35,960 Speaker 1: And the cool thing about your team is ten players 307 00:14:36,000 --> 00:14:38,040 Speaker 1: from last year, and so you feel like you can 308 00:14:38,120 --> 00:14:40,920 Speaker 1: establish a connection with the guys on your team because 309 00:14:40,960 --> 00:14:44,040 Speaker 1: they develop a connection to the university. That doesn't mean 310 00:14:44,080 --> 00:14:46,160 Speaker 1: you don't want transfers. We just talked about one of them. 311 00:14:46,720 --> 00:14:50,440 Speaker 1: But the era we're in in college basketball, I think 312 00:14:50,480 --> 00:14:52,120 Speaker 1: a lot of fans go, you know what, it's it's 313 00:14:52,160 --> 00:14:54,400 Speaker 1: not as fun and it's not as easy to follow 314 00:14:54,440 --> 00:14:57,000 Speaker 1: the sport as a whole with all the movement, and 315 00:14:57,000 --> 00:14:58,600 Speaker 1: we're bringing in dudes who have played in the G 316 00:14:58,760 --> 00:15:01,440 Speaker 1: League before I put you in charge of the sport. 317 00:15:01,480 --> 00:15:02,280 Speaker 3: How do you fix it? 318 00:15:02,760 --> 00:15:06,080 Speaker 2: Oh, Man, that's a great question. See, I think we 319 00:15:06,200 --> 00:15:08,480 Speaker 2: keep on waiting on government, and I don't think that's 320 00:15:08,520 --> 00:15:12,040 Speaker 2: the answer. I really don't. Now. I know, obviously there's 321 00:15:12,040 --> 00:15:14,880 Speaker 2: always a lawsuit away, but there's got to be some parameters, man, 322 00:15:15,520 --> 00:15:17,200 Speaker 2: There's got to be some common sense. There's a lot 323 00:15:17,200 --> 00:15:19,000 Speaker 2: of rules I think that you could throw in there, 324 00:15:19,160 --> 00:15:22,680 Speaker 2: Like I think one transfer makes sense, having a free transfer. 325 00:15:22,920 --> 00:15:24,640 Speaker 2: I think more than that. I just don't know if 326 00:15:24,640 --> 00:15:27,840 Speaker 2: that's if we're about student athletes, about young men graduating, 327 00:15:28,520 --> 00:15:30,200 Speaker 2: I don't know if that makes a whole lot of sense, 328 00:15:30,360 --> 00:15:33,920 Speaker 2: unless maybe there's a coaching change. Maybe you get another one. 329 00:15:34,320 --> 00:15:38,520 Speaker 2: I think get make sure that agents are are licensed 330 00:15:38,680 --> 00:15:41,040 Speaker 2: through the NC Doublea's another big ones you don't just 331 00:15:41,080 --> 00:15:43,040 Speaker 2: have you know, like Mo Mo, you could be an 332 00:15:43,040 --> 00:15:45,920 Speaker 2: agent right now. It's crazy. You don't have to have 333 00:15:45,960 --> 00:15:48,160 Speaker 2: any sure And I'm not saying you wouldn't be good 334 00:15:48,240 --> 00:15:50,480 Speaker 2: or bad. I'm just saying you could just start dming 335 00:15:50,560 --> 00:15:53,960 Speaker 2: kids or text messaging guys. Yeah, I'm telling you, Like, 336 00:15:54,000 --> 00:15:56,840 Speaker 2: that's what happens. Like you just have these random people 337 00:15:56,840 --> 00:15:59,200 Speaker 2: who don't know what they're doing, and they're getting twenty 338 00:15:59,240 --> 00:16:01,920 Speaker 2: percent of the kids in IL or whatever at rev 339 00:16:02,000 --> 00:16:04,880 Speaker 2: Share and it's just insane. And I just think there's 340 00:16:04,920 --> 00:16:07,120 Speaker 2: some there's a few things that can happen that I 341 00:16:07,160 --> 00:16:09,840 Speaker 2: think are are that takes a little bit of common 342 00:16:09,880 --> 00:16:12,880 Speaker 2: sense that I think could really help it. Like you said, 343 00:16:12,880 --> 00:16:15,240 Speaker 2: we're a little I'm still holding on a little bit 344 00:16:15,280 --> 00:16:17,560 Speaker 2: to the old model. I do think like obviously in 345 00:16:17,680 --> 00:16:19,480 Speaker 2: Il is a thing, right, rev Sharre is a thing. 346 00:16:19,640 --> 00:16:23,480 Speaker 2: But I do think experience matters for these young men. 347 00:16:24,080 --> 00:16:26,240 Speaker 2: I think it matters, man. I think the culture matters. 348 00:16:26,640 --> 00:16:32,720 Speaker 2: I think the development matters, winning matters, relationships. I think 349 00:16:32,760 --> 00:16:35,240 Speaker 2: that stuff really really matters, man, because I think that's 350 00:16:35,280 --> 00:16:37,760 Speaker 2: why our guys of States is just the connectivity that 351 00:16:37,800 --> 00:16:41,840 Speaker 2: they have amongst our program and the experience. You're there's 352 00:16:41,840 --> 00:16:43,920 Speaker 2: no recruiting pitch I'm gonna give a guy after the 353 00:16:43,920 --> 00:16:47,560 Speaker 2: season that's going to keep them. It's their experience. Was 354 00:16:47,600 --> 00:16:50,800 Speaker 2: it good or was it bad? I mean, it's it's 355 00:16:50,880 --> 00:16:54,200 Speaker 2: essentially it's that. And so I do think it puts coaches. 356 00:16:55,480 --> 00:16:58,040 Speaker 2: You gotta be honest with kids, and you got to 357 00:16:58,080 --> 00:17:01,840 Speaker 2: treat them right. And you know, almost like I get 358 00:17:01,840 --> 00:17:04,280 Speaker 2: my son plays basketball Winston. He's in seventh grade at 359 00:17:04,320 --> 00:17:06,000 Speaker 2: Summit Country Day, and it's like, man, I just want 360 00:17:06,040 --> 00:17:08,639 Speaker 2: him to have a great experience. Do would I want 361 00:17:08,840 --> 00:17:11,440 Speaker 2: my son to be coached by me? You know what 362 00:17:11,480 --> 00:17:13,240 Speaker 2: I mean? I tell our staff that every day, like 363 00:17:13,640 --> 00:17:15,280 Speaker 2: do we treat guys the right way? Or were giving 364 00:17:15,280 --> 00:17:18,800 Speaker 2: them the great college experience? Student athlete experience that we 365 00:17:18,880 --> 00:17:20,800 Speaker 2: promised them, you know, and I think it's good to 366 00:17:20,800 --> 00:17:21,840 Speaker 2: hold our feet to the fire. 367 00:17:24,000 --> 00:17:25,880 Speaker 1: Well said, I know you have a lot going on. 368 00:17:26,080 --> 00:17:29,240 Speaker 1: Can't thank you enough. Congratulations on what you've done so 369 00:17:29,400 --> 00:17:32,600 Speaker 1: far this season. Best of luck tomorrow, this weekend, the 370 00:17:32,680 --> 00:17:34,359 Speaker 1: rest of the year. Hopefully we can do it again. 371 00:17:34,880 --> 00:17:37,160 Speaker 1: And you know, I'll see if I go find this beeato. 372 00:17:37,240 --> 00:17:42,040 Speaker 1: Thanks so much coaching, Thanks Mo, Travis Steele. The RedHawks 373 00:17:42,080 --> 00:17:44,639 Speaker 1: home tomorrow night, nine o'clock tip off agains you masked 374 00:17:44,640 --> 00:17:47,800 Speaker 1: it on Saturday for Alumni Day and one Miami Day 375 00:17:47,880 --> 00:17:51,400 Speaker 1: is Miami takes on Northern Illinois, both games at Mallett Hall. 376 00:17:51,560 --> 00:17:55,480 Speaker 1: It is four o'clock on ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station.