1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:04,000 Speaker 1: Talk. This is ESPN fifteen thirty on Oigart. Thanks for 2 00:00:04,080 --> 00:00:07,680 Speaker 1: listening today. The Chad and Rick College Basketball Spectacular is 3 00:00:07,720 --> 00:00:09,879 Speaker 1: coming up in the five o'clock hour, and it will 4 00:00:09,880 --> 00:00:14,600 Speaker 1: be interrupted midway through so we can talk with Richard 5 00:00:14,600 --> 00:00:17,480 Speaker 1: Skinner about Joe Flacco, who did not practice today, and 6 00:00:17,560 --> 00:00:19,079 Speaker 1: Mike Pennell and so much more. 7 00:00:19,320 --> 00:00:22,439 Speaker 2: I was thinking about that. I mean, Chad used to 8 00:00:22,440 --> 00:00:23,279 Speaker 2: work with Skinny. 9 00:00:23,440 --> 00:00:24,799 Speaker 1: Yeah, man, Rick does a podcast. 10 00:00:24,840 --> 00:00:26,520 Speaker 2: Skinny. Couldn't we come up with a name for that? 11 00:00:26,600 --> 00:00:29,520 Speaker 1: Ooh, we should just have Skinny in here and let 12 00:00:29,560 --> 00:00:31,200 Speaker 1: me leave for the rest of the day and just 13 00:00:31,240 --> 00:00:35,240 Speaker 1: let those three guys do their thing that that option 14 00:00:35,360 --> 00:00:38,080 Speaker 1: is on the table. We are we're trying to we 15 00:00:38,440 --> 00:00:42,199 Speaker 1: hear they're trying to track down Wes Miller. Are we 16 00:00:42,240 --> 00:00:43,360 Speaker 1: going to be stood up by? 17 00:00:43,479 --> 00:00:44,040 Speaker 2: What? See? 18 00:00:44,040 --> 00:00:44,479 Speaker 1: This is? 19 00:00:45,080 --> 00:00:45,280 Speaker 2: You know? 20 00:00:45,520 --> 00:00:48,279 Speaker 1: This is this is one of those instances where this 21 00:00:48,360 --> 00:00:50,839 Speaker 1: is why you know it's not a podcast. This is 22 00:00:50,880 --> 00:00:52,920 Speaker 1: a live radio show. If this was a podcast, we 23 00:00:52,960 --> 00:00:55,920 Speaker 1: could just sit around and that's okay, we'll hit record 24 00:00:56,000 --> 00:00:59,480 Speaker 1: once the coach calls no, no, no no. We Instead we 25 00:00:59,600 --> 00:01:02,080 Speaker 1: just go on and complain about the fact that the 26 00:01:02,200 --> 00:01:07,440 Speaker 1: guest is late. So hopefully here Wes Miller in Uh. 27 00:01:07,640 --> 00:01:09,200 Speaker 1: In just a few I could have I could have 28 00:01:09,240 --> 00:01:12,920 Speaker 1: continued my conversation with Darren Horn called Darren hornback. I'm 29 00:01:12,920 --> 00:01:16,800 Speaker 1: sure he'd love to chat with us. I'm sure Wes 30 00:01:16,920 --> 00:01:20,000 Speaker 1: is doing something really important and uh, when he has 31 00:01:20,040 --> 00:01:22,399 Speaker 1: done with that, I'm I'm sure we'll hear from him. 32 00:01:27,400 --> 00:01:28,080 Speaker 2: Feels huh. 33 00:01:28,160 --> 00:01:30,840 Speaker 1: Oh yeah the hell talk to Mike. Mike, you want 34 00:01:30,840 --> 00:01:32,200 Speaker 1: to talk UC basketball with me? 35 00:01:34,520 --> 00:01:36,160 Speaker 2: Roll go with it. 36 00:01:37,560 --> 00:01:39,600 Speaker 1: Are you excited for the upcoming you see? 37 00:01:39,600 --> 00:01:39,679 Speaker 2: Oh? 38 00:01:39,680 --> 00:01:41,240 Speaker 1: Wait a minute, wait a minute, Wait a minute, Mike. 39 00:01:41,280 --> 00:01:43,280 Speaker 1: I hate to do this. I'm looking at the screen. 40 00:01:43,680 --> 00:01:47,000 Speaker 1: Wes Miller. That's him, right? Is that him? Tarren? Yes, 41 00:01:47,040 --> 00:01:49,680 Speaker 1: all right, you got to answer it. Put there you 42 00:01:49,720 --> 00:01:51,200 Speaker 1: want me to do it? Okay, Hi, there you go. 43 00:01:51,240 --> 00:01:52,520 Speaker 1: There's the head coach of the Bearcats. 44 00:01:52,600 --> 00:01:52,800 Speaker 2: Coach. 45 00:01:52,840 --> 00:01:54,680 Speaker 1: It's it's Mo. You're on the radio. How's it going? 46 00:01:56,080 --> 00:01:58,640 Speaker 2: Sorry, my staff just ran a phone to me, so 47 00:01:58,720 --> 00:02:00,960 Speaker 2: I think they thought it was tomorrow, not tonight. 48 00:02:01,200 --> 00:02:05,840 Speaker 1: Oh that's all right, we could is everything? Okay, We're great, 49 00:02:05,920 --> 00:02:07,640 Speaker 1: let's roll man, all right, let's do it. Let's well, 50 00:02:07,640 --> 00:02:09,919 Speaker 1: I appreciate you doing this. Cincinnati getting set to open 51 00:02:09,960 --> 00:02:13,720 Speaker 1: up the season on Monday against against Western Carolina. It's 52 00:02:13,760 --> 00:02:17,000 Speaker 1: awesome to have you. You've had a chance to exhibition games. 53 00:02:17,639 --> 00:02:20,320 Speaker 1: Some stuff went right, some stuff went wrong. How have 54 00:02:20,440 --> 00:02:23,839 Speaker 1: you used the Michigan and Arkansas games to uh get 55 00:02:23,840 --> 00:02:24,920 Speaker 1: your team ready for Monday. 56 00:02:26,600 --> 00:02:30,400 Speaker 2: I'll tell you what. I've been beating this drum pretty 57 00:02:30,400 --> 00:02:33,560 Speaker 2: hard for years with anybody that'll listen. But I wish 58 00:02:33,639 --> 00:02:37,919 Speaker 2: we could play four or five opponents in the preseason. 59 00:02:37,960 --> 00:02:41,040 Speaker 2: I think when the season started it would make the 60 00:02:41,120 --> 00:02:44,880 Speaker 2: product better. In November and December, we get more out 61 00:02:44,880 --> 00:02:49,559 Speaker 2: of seeing another jersey and we do out of seven practices, 62 00:02:50,600 --> 00:02:53,440 Speaker 2: and so, you know, I think they were they were 63 00:02:53,440 --> 00:02:57,720 Speaker 2: good tools for our development and for our preseason. There 64 00:02:57,800 --> 00:03:01,040 Speaker 2: was a lot to unpack from both games, and you know, 65 00:03:01,080 --> 00:03:04,000 Speaker 2: we tried, we tried to use them to prepare for 66 00:03:04,320 --> 00:03:06,160 Speaker 2: Monday night when the thing tips up for real. 67 00:03:08,000 --> 00:03:11,799 Speaker 1: Through the two exhibition games, all the off season workouts, 68 00:03:11,880 --> 00:03:15,520 Speaker 1: and then the weeks of quote official practice. What have 69 00:03:15,560 --> 00:03:19,080 Speaker 1: you come to like most about your team? 70 00:03:19,120 --> 00:03:23,760 Speaker 2: You know, they've been intentional about getting connected. I think 71 00:03:23,760 --> 00:03:26,400 Speaker 2: when you've got a ton of new faces, which happens 72 00:03:26,000 --> 00:03:30,760 Speaker 2: in today's college basketball, today's college athletics, you're going to 73 00:03:30,840 --> 00:03:33,000 Speaker 2: have years that you get a lot of turnover. And 74 00:03:33,760 --> 00:03:35,200 Speaker 2: you know, one of the goals that we've had for 75 00:03:35,280 --> 00:03:38,640 Speaker 2: this team is in February, we want to play like 76 00:03:38,680 --> 00:03:40,840 Speaker 2: a team that's been together for two to three years, 77 00:03:40,880 --> 00:03:44,400 Speaker 2: even though we're not, and we got to make all 78 00:03:44,440 --> 00:03:46,520 Speaker 2: of us have to make efforts to try to build 79 00:03:46,520 --> 00:03:49,240 Speaker 2: those connections on and off the court, and this group's 80 00:03:49,280 --> 00:03:53,840 Speaker 2: been very intentional about that. They've taken that intention to practice. Now. 81 00:03:54,000 --> 00:03:57,120 Speaker 2: We weren't as good in practice last week, but it 82 00:03:57,160 --> 00:03:59,080 Speaker 2: seems to be clicking a little bit better again this 83 00:03:59,160 --> 00:04:02,240 Speaker 2: week with trying to make this about just getting better 84 00:04:02,280 --> 00:04:05,360 Speaker 2: every single day. So there's been some really good cultural 85 00:04:05,400 --> 00:04:07,840 Speaker 2: type things that they've done. I want to be able 86 00:04:07,840 --> 00:04:09,480 Speaker 2: to say the same thing about this team at the 87 00:04:09,560 --> 00:04:13,440 Speaker 2: end of January and the end of February. But so far, 88 00:04:13,560 --> 00:04:14,000 Speaker 2: so good. 89 00:04:14,480 --> 00:04:18,919 Speaker 1: Is blending so many new guys together along with the 90 00:04:18,960 --> 00:04:21,400 Speaker 1: players you brought back. Is this way of doing things 91 00:04:21,440 --> 00:04:23,120 Speaker 1: has it finally become normal? 92 00:04:24,720 --> 00:04:28,120 Speaker 2: Yeah? I don't think it's it's that normal at this point. 93 00:04:28,320 --> 00:04:31,520 Speaker 2: You know, certainly, the more retention you have of the 94 00:04:31,600 --> 00:04:34,640 Speaker 2: right guys, I think the job is a little easier 95 00:04:34,680 --> 00:04:37,719 Speaker 2: on the coach earlier in the year because just certain 96 00:04:37,760 --> 00:04:41,200 Speaker 2: things that you know carry over you can just kind 97 00:04:41,200 --> 00:04:44,360 Speaker 2: of count on. But this is going to happen all 98 00:04:44,680 --> 00:04:48,039 Speaker 2: It happened all throughout college athletics. So trying to get 99 00:04:48,040 --> 00:04:51,480 Speaker 2: the team ready in all facets what it takes to 100 00:04:51,839 --> 00:04:55,520 Speaker 2: compete in college basketball, that's a that's a goal. That's 101 00:04:55,520 --> 00:04:57,560 Speaker 2: why we had the summer practices. It's why I wish 102 00:04:57,600 --> 00:05:00,800 Speaker 2: we had four exhibitions and that type of thing, but 103 00:05:01,080 --> 00:05:03,479 Speaker 2: it is. It's the new normal, and there'll be years 104 00:05:03,480 --> 00:05:05,760 Speaker 2: that you don't have that and you have quite an advantage. 105 00:05:05,760 --> 00:05:08,279 Speaker 2: We don't have that advantage this year, so we got 106 00:05:08,279 --> 00:05:09,120 Speaker 2: to get to it quickly. 107 00:05:09,360 --> 00:05:13,240 Speaker 1: Does it feel like this roster it's a little bit 108 00:05:13,240 --> 00:05:15,560 Speaker 1: easier to kind of identify who's going to do what 109 00:05:15,800 --> 00:05:17,640 Speaker 1: at this stage in the season, at least. 110 00:05:19,080 --> 00:05:23,360 Speaker 2: I think so. We we've been pretty clear, especially since 111 00:05:23,360 --> 00:05:27,200 Speaker 2: our last exhibition on the role of definition, you know, 112 00:05:27,320 --> 00:05:31,799 Speaker 2: and it was interesting. We were in a ninety minute 113 00:05:31,800 --> 00:05:35,240 Speaker 2: film session followed by a practice that lasted as long 114 00:05:35,320 --> 00:05:39,200 Speaker 2: until my ops on Sunday, till my ops got told 115 00:05:39,240 --> 00:05:41,920 Speaker 2: me I had no I couldn't have to get them 116 00:05:41,960 --> 00:05:45,640 Speaker 2: off the floor. You know how that goes so that 117 00:05:45,720 --> 00:05:48,200 Speaker 2: was great about that exhibition. It's a chance to get 118 00:05:48,200 --> 00:05:52,000 Speaker 2: to get everybody's damn attention. But you know, we're in 119 00:05:52,000 --> 00:05:54,960 Speaker 2: that that that film session, and there's a bunch of 120 00:05:55,000 --> 00:05:57,760 Speaker 2: opportunities to stop and go who does this well? And 121 00:05:57,839 --> 00:05:59,880 Speaker 2: they were able to answer a lot of the questions 122 00:06:00,120 --> 00:06:02,440 Speaker 2: you talked about, like who are the best shooters? You know, 123 00:06:02,480 --> 00:06:04,440 Speaker 2: who are the guys that should have more freedom there? 124 00:06:04,960 --> 00:06:07,200 Speaker 2: So it's even with a lot of things without even 125 00:06:07,240 --> 00:06:09,240 Speaker 2: having to tell them, they were able to tell themselves. 126 00:06:09,320 --> 00:06:12,000 Speaker 2: And so I think there is some clarity on what 127 00:06:12,240 --> 00:06:15,520 Speaker 2: roles are that'll certainly keep evolving, you know with the 128 00:06:15,560 --> 00:06:18,520 Speaker 2: new team over the next like four or five weeks, 129 00:06:18,520 --> 00:06:22,680 Speaker 2: but I think we'll be more defined with offensive roles 130 00:06:24,040 --> 00:06:26,400 Speaker 2: with this team than we were last year. And even 131 00:06:26,400 --> 00:06:27,200 Speaker 2: with new faces. 132 00:06:27,560 --> 00:06:30,560 Speaker 1: Was was that something that you prioritize when you set 133 00:06:30,560 --> 00:06:32,799 Speaker 1: out to build this roster when the off season started. 134 00:06:34,400 --> 00:06:38,680 Speaker 2: Absolutely, Like coaching in the Big Twelve the last two years, 135 00:06:39,320 --> 00:06:42,479 Speaker 2: you know, the one thing that you learn is you 136 00:06:42,560 --> 00:06:46,640 Speaker 2: better have some old experienced guys, so you better have 137 00:06:46,720 --> 00:06:51,040 Speaker 2: some toughness, and that's physical and mental toughness, and then 138 00:06:51,080 --> 00:06:53,720 Speaker 2: you do have to have a level of skill like 139 00:06:53,960 --> 00:06:59,160 Speaker 2: at some point, the coaches, the players are old, physical 140 00:06:59,200 --> 00:07:02,400 Speaker 2: and tough. At some point, if you don't have enough skill, 141 00:07:02,440 --> 00:07:05,039 Speaker 2: they can figure out how to defend you. And so 142 00:07:05,400 --> 00:07:09,560 Speaker 2: adding you know, enough skill, enough shooting, enough decision making, 143 00:07:09,720 --> 00:07:13,560 Speaker 2: enough shot creation. That was intentional. But those first two 144 00:07:13,560 --> 00:07:16,200 Speaker 2: boxes we wanted to try to check as well, and 145 00:07:16,400 --> 00:07:18,480 Speaker 2: and I thought we did a nice job at least 146 00:07:18,480 --> 00:07:22,480 Speaker 2: of checking those boxes with roster creation. Now it sounds good. 147 00:07:22,480 --> 00:07:24,160 Speaker 2: Now we've got to go out and play that damn way, 148 00:07:24,400 --> 00:07:26,040 Speaker 2: you know, And that that's what that's what we've been 149 00:07:26,040 --> 00:07:28,400 Speaker 2: working on this whole offseason and this whole preseason. 150 00:07:28,640 --> 00:07:32,480 Speaker 1: Your program has a general manager NBA champion Corey Evans, 151 00:07:32,520 --> 00:07:36,560 Speaker 1: and that role is becoming common across college sports, specifically 152 00:07:36,600 --> 00:07:40,880 Speaker 1: men's college basketball. Take me through the collaborative process with 153 00:07:41,000 --> 00:07:44,280 Speaker 1: your program with a coach and a general manager. 154 00:07:46,320 --> 00:07:48,360 Speaker 2: Yeah. I appreciate you asking the question, though, because I 155 00:07:48,400 --> 00:07:51,280 Speaker 2: think a lot of people, you know, assume that general 156 00:07:51,320 --> 00:07:54,880 Speaker 2: managers in college basketball is the same thing as a 157 00:07:54,920 --> 00:07:58,040 Speaker 2: general manager, and uh and pro well, I guess we 158 00:07:58,120 --> 00:08:00,720 Speaker 2: are pro sports, but I mean and call a state 159 00:08:00,760 --> 00:08:03,760 Speaker 2: to stay, But in college basketball is different than another 160 00:08:03,800 --> 00:08:08,320 Speaker 2: pro sports, So you know, in the GM of a 161 00:08:08,400 --> 00:08:12,760 Speaker 2: normal professional franchise is usually the guy that hires the coach, 162 00:08:12,840 --> 00:08:16,400 Speaker 2: right like similar to the athletic director. That's not the 163 00:08:16,440 --> 00:08:19,800 Speaker 2: case with the way that we're implementing that role at Cincinnati. 164 00:08:19,960 --> 00:08:23,400 Speaker 2: That was a higher that myself and my staff made, 165 00:08:23,480 --> 00:08:27,120 Speaker 2: and Corey is just another part of our staff. What 166 00:08:27,120 --> 00:08:30,560 Speaker 2: what I looked for was the value of having somebody 167 00:08:30,600 --> 00:08:33,760 Speaker 2: that three hundred and sixty five days a year thinks 168 00:08:33,800 --> 00:08:38,040 Speaker 2: about player personnel in every single way, whether that's recruiting, 169 00:08:38,080 --> 00:08:43,600 Speaker 2: whether it's retention, whether that's the contractual side, whether it's 170 00:08:43,640 --> 00:08:47,960 Speaker 2: the financial side, which is whether it's the fundraising side. 171 00:08:47,960 --> 00:08:51,240 Speaker 2: I mean, there's so many dynamics that have made this 172 00:08:51,360 --> 00:08:54,040 Speaker 2: job different, you know than it was four or five 173 00:08:54,120 --> 00:08:58,040 Speaker 2: years ago. Having somebody that just focuses on a lot 174 00:08:58,120 --> 00:09:01,360 Speaker 2: of those dynamics I think, I thought, I thought, and 175 00:09:01,440 --> 00:09:05,360 Speaker 2: now I believe has great value. And then with Corey 176 00:09:05,520 --> 00:09:08,360 Speaker 2: there was a long standing relationship. He's somebody that I've 177 00:09:08,400 --> 00:09:10,480 Speaker 2: known for well over a decade, from back when he 178 00:09:10,600 --> 00:09:14,520 Speaker 2: was you know, in college, uh, starting his own scouting 179 00:09:14,559 --> 00:09:19,160 Speaker 2: service it old dominion, uh, and in servicing division from programs. 180 00:09:19,200 --> 00:09:23,600 Speaker 2: So he's a friend, a professional friend, and somebody who's 181 00:09:23,679 --> 00:09:26,040 Speaker 2: who was his career. I followed and he was ready 182 00:09:26,440 --> 00:09:29,640 Speaker 2: for a new opportunity and a new challenge. So it 183 00:09:29,720 --> 00:09:31,280 Speaker 2: really did work out for us. 184 00:09:31,559 --> 00:09:34,520 Speaker 1: I cannot wait for Monday, and now the time that 185 00:09:34,600 --> 00:09:36,120 Speaker 1: you thought you were going to be talking to me 186 00:09:36,160 --> 00:09:38,000 Speaker 1: tomorrow is wide open. You can come up with something 187 00:09:38,040 --> 00:09:40,960 Speaker 1: else to do. There you go. 188 00:09:41,160 --> 00:09:43,960 Speaker 2: Somebody made an air, but that's just the turnover. So 189 00:09:44,000 --> 00:09:46,520 Speaker 2: we sprint back and played the next place. If we 190 00:09:46,559 --> 00:09:48,400 Speaker 2: had more than more than one of those, we got 191 00:09:48,440 --> 00:09:50,320 Speaker 2: a problem. But that's the first turnover of the week. 192 00:09:50,360 --> 00:09:53,000 Speaker 1: From the fact, you know, what if if if that's if, 193 00:09:53,040 --> 00:09:55,680 Speaker 1: that's the worst thing that happens this season. Uh, you 194 00:09:55,720 --> 00:09:57,880 Speaker 1: guys are going to cut down that so uh. I 195 00:09:57,880 --> 00:09:59,880 Speaker 1: appreciate it as always. Coach, thanks so Much'll see him 196 00:09:59,880 --> 00:10:03,960 Speaker 1: on Okay. Thanks, There you go. Wes Miller getting set 197 00:10:04,080 --> 00:10:08,839 Speaker 1: for Monday night Cincinnati hosting West Western Carolina.