Tony Bennett discusses the upcoming Virginia men's basketball season at UVA media day.
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00:00Yeah, those are always, you know, I think except for that first year, we've always done that.
00:06You know, who knows what's the best if you do one of those and one exhibition.
00:11We did obviously go to Italy, so we played a little bit in that setting.
00:16But, you know, you go against those teams, we scrimmage for 40 minutes and then we add another session.
00:23And maybe if guys didn't play as much, you want to look at just different combinations.
00:28But it's good because obviously, you know, Maryland and UConn are quality teams and it's hard fought.
00:35And you're going against really, you know what you're going to go against.
00:38And so it was good for us to play against them.
00:42What did we find out that we didn't know?
00:44I think it's just a continuation of the things you need to work on, the areas that, you know, where you look at stats.
00:52Boy, we got exposed in this area up here.
00:54We did some things well.
00:55And then even from a personnel standpoint, you know, you can throw guys in and look at that and you don't you're not worried.
01:01The crowd's not in there. Let's see how this combination does.
01:04But I think having the European trip and this, I think I learned that, you know, we do have quality depth.
01:13I'd like to say I think we shoot the ball a little better than last year, although that obviously can come and go.
01:19And, you know, I think that'll have to be a strength of ours.
01:22We have a very experienced team and then we have a very young team.
01:25It's like almost two teams. And but I think we saw that.
01:29But but when you go against the Yukons and the Maryland's, you get a different taste of physicality on the glass, you know, running, trying to guard different actions.
01:39And it just shows you where where you got to keep working. It's just an ongoing process.
01:43But I tried to share with our guys before the Yukon game.
01:47I think why initially it was a comment, why the Bucks and the Celtics have gotten off to a good start.
01:54And someone said they're both clear compared to maybe the other teams on their identity.
02:01And then they just go out and play. And that's what you're kind of trying to establish.
02:06So because we played in Italy, because we have some experienced guys, let's try to be as clear as we can in our identity and what we need to do.
02:15Learn about it and then just go out and play. And I think, you know, players play best when they're freed up to play.
02:23We talk about playing with freedom and joy, but obviously you have to have the soundness and the discipline to go with it.
02:27So, you know, those are some of the things.
02:30There's just those areas that stand out, Jeff, that you always look at each game that you can tighten up soundness with the ball, play on the glass.
02:37Usually it goes to those little areas of being tight and getting games.
02:42And sometimes you get exposed to someone that you're just you're not as sound and sure as you need to be in the key areas.
02:49Tony, along the lines of having almost two different rosters, young and old,
02:55how does a young player such as Isaac McNeely fit in in your mind after having seen him in Italy and then in the scrimmages?
03:03Yeah, I mean, I think he's all the young guys and you hear me say this every year, but it's always true.
03:10They show great promise, great flashes.
03:13And some guys will just be called into action because they're needed in certain spots.
03:18I thought Isaac McNeely showed some really good stuff, as all of them did, but specifically him in Italy.
03:25And then in these scrimmages, you know, he brings a dynamic kind of combo type of guard that stretches the defense.
03:32And he's continuing to continue to learn the defense and he stretches it with his shooting.
03:37And, you know, these guys, the young guys, when they get to play with Kihei and Jaden and Reese and our other Armand guys that have played, that helps them.
03:45But he showed that almost every one of the young guys seem like they're they got a shot.
03:50They take it. They play pretty fearless in some ways.
03:54And I like that. And I like that about Isaac. And, you know, I go back a year and think, boy, the biggest he's playing, you know, in West Virginia and, you know, in Polka, Idaho.
04:05Same with all the guys. And these are always new experiences.
04:07So I'm excited about this group.
04:10I really am and what they will become. And Isaac has had a strong start.
04:15Certainly has areas to improve, but he's done some good stuff.
04:17You know, the blue-white scrimmage that you guys, I don't know how many of you guys came to it.
04:21You know, guys you saw, I didn't think it was a great defensive performance by their team, but you saw them, you know,
04:27knock down shots and play some pretty good ball, as all of them did.
04:32So. Mike and then Lee.
04:36Tony, I ask you every year at this point kind of where you're at with the defense every year.
04:39You kind of say work in progress. We're getting there.
04:42But are you further along because of Italy, because of the experience?
04:45But do you feel better about the tightness of the defense or are you at the same point kind of you always are?
04:50Yeah, I mean, I think the real games will, you know, in our schedule is terrific.
04:55Starting right away in our first one.
04:58But, you know, you hope just guys that are in our program have a little more know-how and hopefully the depth you have helps you play a little harder.
05:08But still a work in progress, as it always is.
05:13I can't say yet, but we're playing hard and I've liked that.
05:17And, you know, we'll find out soon enough for sure.
05:22Tony, can you address the potential in your backcourt?
05:25And do you think Reese, can you see Reese taking his game to a new level this season?
05:29Yeah, I sure hope so. I think every guy took, really went to work on their game.
05:35And, you know, they've gotten stronger in the weight room and we really challenged them.
05:38And I think last year those returners, you know, they did some good things, of course,
05:43but it left a desire to try to improve and get better individually and collectively as a team.
05:49And they took it to heart. And I think Reese, you know, you see his his defensive anticipation, his hands.
05:56I thought he's gotten a little more aggressive with his ability to attack the paint.
05:59They all have worked hard on their shot. And so I think he has definitely improved.
06:04And again, we saw that in Italy, certain games where he really looked good and certainly in the scrimmages.
06:10So I think I'm hopeful because he's now into his third year.
06:13And you've heard me say that when you become an upperclassman,
06:16I think going into that third year, it just feels a little different.
06:21And I think you just it's your first year is your first year.
06:24You know, the second year you should make a big improvement.
06:26But when you become an upperclassman, there should be a I mean, you're perfect, but a steadiness there.
06:30So I think I hope we're going to see the fruits of his labor and he'll be an important piece.
06:36Tony, in a similar vein, there's always whispers coming out of secret scrimmages.
06:41That's how it goes. But also seeing Caden play in Italy, he stretched the floor a little bit more.
06:45He seems to have mid-range game a little bit more.
06:48Has his game gotten more complete? And where would you like to see him keep improving as you head into the season?
06:53Yeah, he added some good strength this offseason, and that's what we really challenged him with.
06:58And he worked hard on just his game. And yeah, if he has a rhythm shot,
07:02we want him to take it in the mid post if they drop off or that mid range.
07:07And, you know, you saw some of that in Italy. So he's done that in the scrimmages.
07:10So absolutely. You know, I think his you know, he's he's he's long.
07:16He's active. We want him to just attack the areas that he can impact the game in
07:21and add those other supplemental things, knocking down a shot, making a play.
07:25But, you know, catching a lob, running the floor,
07:29hopefully being that anchor to our defense and getting all over the glass on both ends.
07:34And then, yep, making some plays off of some drives and things like that.
07:37I think he's just he's now in his third year.
07:40So same as Reese, you just he's a little more he is more comfortable.
07:45And so I think that that has helped. So, yeah, he had a really good game against the team in Italy.
07:49And he's shown some good flashes for sure. I think he's an improved player with his strength.
07:54So that's helped.
07:57With with Jayden and Armand in their second year in the system,
08:00where do you think they've improved defensively?
08:02What do you think they understand about the defense now that maybe they didn't throughout last year?
08:07Yeah, I just think, you know, repetition.
08:09You become a better you understand how hard you have to play, how continuous you have to be.
08:15That's a new thing to a lot of the young guys coming in.
08:19And you just you get a little better at anticipating and understanding angles.
08:23It's just little by little. Incrementally, they look more comfortable.
08:27And, you know, they're a year in Coach Curtis's strength and conditioning program.
08:31So you just you hope they're laterally quicker and stronger.
08:34So all those things just add to it.
08:36And again, I think it was Jerry Tarkanian who said about his teams,
08:41the more I put in their minds, the slower their feet become.
08:44And and again, when your mind can be clear, you know, there's certain things you have to understand.
08:49There's a process you have to go through. When your mind's a little clearer, you can move a little quicker.
08:52You're not, you know, he who hesitates his loss. I don't know who said that.
08:55I don't think that was Tarkanian, but but might have been probably Lombardi, right?
09:01I don't know. John Wooden, right? That's right. That sounds like a John Wooden.
09:05But so, yeah, I think just the know how and comfort.
09:08OK. And, you know, there's always new things you're looking at and doing, but they do feel more.
09:14They seem to be obviously a little more established.
09:16And, you know, as I tell the young guys, when I try to encourage them,
09:21next year, the first year's next year, you're going to be looking at those incoming first years.
09:26And you're just going to be like, I feel sorry for you, man.
09:29I understand this is hard because it's a lot when you come in.
09:32No matter what system, everybody makes a big deal of whether you're going to any system.
09:36It's just faster. The volume of work, the intensity. And there's a lot going on in that mind.
09:41And they're dealing with a lot of things on the court, off the court.
09:43So those guys are more established and they're older, too.
09:47Take one in the back, Preston.
09:49Depth-wise, two years ago, you had a lot of guys fighting for a rotation spot.
09:52Last year, you had kind of a rotation.
09:55This year, you come back with a much bigger roster.
09:57Just kind of as you're figuring out how you want to shape your roster in this day of college basketball,
10:01how do you see maybe the rotation switching as you all kind of get into the season?
10:06Yeah, I think, you know, the competition, the games will reveal that.
10:09How guys perform. Practices are pretty spirited.
10:12And it's not always clear cut.
10:15I think as the season evolves, you get a feel for how guys are going.
10:19There could be other circumstances. But, you know, what we did in Italy probably won't work.
10:23We sat three guys and I had nine available and we played them all equal minutes.
10:26I'm sure everybody would love that. But it won't.
10:29But, you know, you've got to decide what your rotation is,
10:32how comfortable you are in terms of do you go, you know, some teams go 90, some 10, some eight, some seven.
10:38And I think just establishing that and part of that with this preseason schedule,
10:43you're going to have opportunities to see yourself in a lot of hotly contested or high level games.
10:48And we'll see how that plays out. Some of it's how guys improve once you get into games,
10:53because you don't know some guys, you don't practice.
10:56And all of a sudden they get in games and different things happen, good or bad.
10:59And, you know, that's it's just what you sort of keep evaluating and seeing.
11:04So I don't have an exact answer. We are a hard and fast, you know, eight man, nine man rotation, seven man.
11:10You can say last year we got down to about six and a half, seven.
11:13So the year before it was more.
11:15Okay.
11:17How good of a rebounding team is this right now?
11:22Is that an area that needs to get better?
11:25Offensively or defensively? Either one.
11:28I think there's guys that certainly can go to the glass on the offensive end
11:31and they should be able to get some.
11:33And you always challenge your team to do that.
11:36Defensive rebounding is it's just one of those cornerstones.
11:39You better be rock solid in that.
11:41And that's a challenge to be a good defensive rebounding,
11:45especially the likes of, you know, the teams that, you know, we've played.
11:49It was different in Italy. You know, you get American basketball is a little different,
11:53a little more athletic and how hard guys go.
11:55Some teams send three or four to the glass, some teams send two.
11:59That's a work in progress. That's something you just you keep working on, working on, working on.
12:04I think we have some improvement to do in that area because,
12:08you know, we talk about always eliminate the things that are going to get you beat.
12:12Eliminate losing. You guys have heard me say that so many times.
12:15Limit the offensive rebounds. One and done them.
12:18And take care of the ball and make teams play against a set defense.
12:21You kind of start with those.
12:23And so I think you got to be hopefully clipping that, you know,
12:27A minuses, B pluses or A's as this thing gets going.
12:30And that's when we work on hard and when they don't do it well,
12:34you know, we challenge them and we practice it harder.
12:38Tony, your national ranking in three-point accuracy last year was in the mid-200s.
12:45When you're that below average, how much does that...
12:48That's not mine personally.
12:50Okay, good. I just want to make sure.
12:53Bok like that. No. I get it. I got you.
12:56I think... Go ahead. Finish your question.
12:58How much does that compromise what you're trying to do inside?
13:01Yeah. Yeah. I mean, spacing is really important.
13:04It's the name of the game, you know, in so many ways.
13:06And that's how a lot of teams are playing.
13:08I do think we have guys that have improved their shot shooting this season.
13:12And, you know, it's still always about getting quality shots,
13:16but spacing matters when guys can stretch the floor.
13:18We talked about or you asked about McNeely.
13:20I think, you know, Reese has improved his shot.
13:23Kihei has. Armand, all of them have worked.
13:25You have other guys. So Ben, we haven't talked about him,
13:29but when the floor can be spaced, we have...
13:33I don't, you know, time will tell what kind of shooting team we are,
13:36what level, but I think we, again, have improved our depth
13:39and our shooting is more of a threat outside shooting this year.
13:42So that will help.
13:43So what was that?
13:46Did you ask anything specific, more specific than that?
13:48So that's... Yeah.
13:50And yeah, last year, you know, at times you felt it.
13:53And again, if you're getting open shots and guys take them,
13:55shooting is a funny thing.
13:56You know, you want to take them,
13:58but it certainly allows you when you're stretching it to either.
14:01Get to the rim more, drop it inside.
14:03So it makes a difference.
14:05Zach, and then Mike.
14:06Coach, you talked about the potential for more depth this season.
14:09Do you think that also correlates to maybe more line-up flexibility
14:12and versatility with guys like Isaac, Ben,
14:15who can sort of play different positions like that?
14:17And what do you think that does for your team?
14:19Yeah.
14:20You know, I told our guys, you know, we have 12 guys that can play.
14:24Will 12 play?
14:25No.
14:26And Chase Coleman has done a good job for us.
14:28He's gotten better, actually.
14:29I haven't talked about him, but, you know, and I said,
14:32all right, right now I have one practice.
14:34I said, all right, here's our guys that are top seven right now.
14:38I said, you top seven, any of you could start.
14:40I said, you other five, any of you could get into the top seven.
14:45And a lot of you in that top seven could slide to the,
14:48you know, eight through 12 or 13, however you want to do it.
14:52I think it could.
14:53And again, the games will determine that.
14:55So, flexibility, absolutely.
14:58Starting lineups, yeah, I think you could have flexibility.
15:00You could go small.
15:01You could go big.
15:02You can shift some guys around and do that.
15:04So, I think that's real.
15:06And I hope our guys, you know, the chemistry will be good.
15:09And it's just there's going to be different guys at different times.
15:13And I think that that's something we did not have last year.
15:16We were pretty locked in.
15:17And so, I like that, the ability to do that.
15:20And, you know, I started the same starting lineup the first two scrimmages.
15:26And, you know, we'll see heading into this one.
15:28But I think there's a case where you can,
15:30depending upon the team you're playing,
15:31it could be different guys at different times.
15:34So, good question.
15:37Your defense has been anchored over the years by guys
15:41like Mitchell and Farrington.
15:44Tremendously athletic at the back of the pack,
15:47but also very knowledgeable about what it's supposed to be.
15:50Caden seems like he's got the athleticism.
15:53Where is he in terms of the knowledge and comfort?
15:55Yeah, that's important.
15:56I think if you look at our numbers,
15:57the last maybe three years have dropped a little bit defensively.
16:02You know, we've been okay.
16:04But, you know, last year, though we didn't shoot it well,
16:06our points per possession were okay.
16:07Our points per possession defensively weren't great.
16:10And we have been blessed, you know,
16:11going from, you know, DeAndre at that four spot,
16:15even, you know, obviously Mamadi, Isaiah, Akil, Darion.
16:19And, you know, the list, Braxton, the list goes on and on.
16:22And then, you know, Sam, who's unbelievable
16:25at what he's doing and a lot of our guys, and Trey.
16:27Sam, a little more skilled, not as athletic as those guys,
16:30only one year in the system.
16:31Trey, one year.
16:33Jaden, one year.
16:34And so it's a little different in that spot.
16:36I think that four-anchor spot and five have been,
16:39and I didn't mention Jack, too, significant.
16:42Caden's got the length.
16:43He's got, I think, the athleticism
16:46that would be important for us.
16:47And, you know, with Ben and Jaden, it's a little different.
16:49But they've got a – that's a key.
16:51That spot's key for us.
16:52So I hope Caden can bring an anchor.
16:55I hope Papi can.
16:56And then, you know, we've got experience
16:58in the backcourt with Kihei and Reese.
17:00And then that four spot, Jaden's got a year
17:02and Ben's going to have to use his mind.
17:04But it's not a – you wouldn't say,
17:05well, that's DeAndre.
17:06That's Akil.
17:07That's Isaiah.
17:08That's Braxton.
17:09It's a little different.
17:10And I think that spot's an important spot.
17:11So we keep working on it.
17:13And maybe there's some adjustments here and there.
17:15Maybe there's some adjustments here and there.
17:16And I'm hopeful we can take a step defensively.
17:19That's going to be important this year.
17:21Caroline.
17:22You mentioned chemistry.
17:23How would you rate the chemistry of the squad right now,
17:26especially having that trip to Italy,
17:28having the scrimmages,
17:29and having this experience mixed with a lot of the new guys?
17:32Like, how would you rate where it's at comparatively?
17:34Really good.
17:35And that's what – I mean, at the start of the year,
17:36it's always good.
17:37But that trip is – that's one of the great advantages of that.
17:41The things we got to experience and do were –
17:43they were remarkable.
17:44And so I think they're good.
17:47Our leadership, our older guys, they're about the right stuff.
17:50Our young guys are.
17:51That's what we try to really continue to recruit to,
17:55what we want in this program.
17:57We talk about it a lot.
17:59We challenge our guys.
18:00We challenge ourselves.
18:01Can we be the kind of team that represents
18:03what's important to us?
18:04Obviously, our pillars are important to us,
18:06how we are as teammates, how we care for each other,
18:09and still be great competitors.
18:11And I – you know, I love that about Kihei and Reese
18:15and Jaden and Armand and Poppy and Katelyn.
18:18I go through the guys and every one of them,
18:21you know, they're just – they learn –
18:24they're encouraging each other, but they'll get after each other.
18:27And they're good with the young group.
18:29And I've seen the young guys kind of, you know,
18:30band together too, which they need to.
18:32So I think that part is good.
18:34And I think that it's a healthy – it's a healthy team.
18:37You know, we've been blessed.
18:38You know, we've been blessed.
18:39We've been good that way for pretty much most
18:41of the years we've been here.
18:42But this team seems to enjoy each other.
18:44We've got time for a couple more in the back.
18:46Tony, in perimeter defense specifically,
18:48went to a little bit below par last year.
18:50Did you challenge the guys in the offseason
18:52in that department?
18:53And how do you challenge players like, say, Kihei or Armand
18:57compared to maybe the new guys who have more length?
19:00How does that work?
19:01What was your message in the offseason?
19:03Yeah, I mean, I think, as I said, defensively,
19:05we probably weren't at our best.
19:08And Kihei and Reese, you know, have a lot of experience.
19:13They've played a lot of games, and they're quick,
19:15and they can really get after the ball.
19:17But they've got to be as complete as they can.
19:19A lot of times it was Armand.
19:21We used – you know, whether it was Cody
19:23or other guys in there.
19:24And, you know, it's just – you just – I wish I could say
19:29there's this secret formula for defense.
19:31It's just every day you work at it.
19:33I mean, you talk about getting stronger.
19:35And strength does help with defense.
19:37And, you know, obviously you get as quick as you can laterally.
19:39But it's what you do when you get together
19:41and what you demand as coaches and what you hold
19:43each other accountable to.
19:45And I think Kihei and Reese know they have great challenges
19:49in front of them, but they can be the – you know,
19:51when you talk about bookends, your point guard
19:53or your guards, and then that back line.
19:55If you can be strong in those areas,
19:57it can really set up your defense.
19:59And the young guys, when they struggle,
20:01we have good chemistry, but there's some –
20:03you know, there's accountability,
20:05and that's what we want.
20:07And we challenge them, and guys know that.
20:09So that's what you want when the players
20:11are leading each other.
20:13And I think they know that that holds a key this year
20:15because we – a couple years ago,
20:17we could win with our defense.
20:19Last year we couldn't do that.
20:21We'll see about this year.
20:23But I think you have to be balanced in both.
20:25And I'm hoping we'll be more balanced this year
20:27than we were last year.
20:30Coach, this is something you've talked about before,
20:32but the changing landscape of NIL,
20:34how are you balancing that
20:36with your team's core values?
20:38Yeah. No, again,
20:40I think it's great. We have –
20:42I think our guys are about
20:44the right stuff, even the guys we're recruiting.
20:46And I think there's
20:48good opportunities for young men,
20:50so I have no problem with it.
20:52It's just, you know, if that becomes the main thing
20:54and we get consumed with that,
20:56then I think that would not be the case.
20:58What's great about Virginia,
21:00what's great I think about our program is
21:02you can kind of have it all here.
21:04I talk about that a lot,
21:06the experience on the court, improving,
21:08hopefully being a part of a winning team,
21:10your academic experience, your social experience,
21:12and growing together.
21:14Now there's opportunities, you know,
21:16for NIL opportunities,
21:18maybe perhaps not like some.
21:20You know, you're hearing crazy stories,
21:22so who knows what's true.
21:24But if it ever gets out of bounds
21:26in our program, that'll be a bad sign.
21:28But it doesn't mean it's wrong
21:30for guys to pursue that or have opportunities.
21:32But if it just becomes
21:34all-consuming or that's the one thing,
21:36you know,
21:38then I think it's not in the right place.
21:40And if that's what someone wants,
21:42when we recruit, we're very clear.
21:44There'll be opportunities, but if that is your
21:46main thing where I can get
21:48the best NIL deal only
21:50and it's not about the whole,
21:52what UVA has to offer,
21:54what this program does, the kind of people,
21:56then, you know,
21:58you got to talk about that and see.
22:00But there's still opportunities.
22:02And I think as time goes by,
22:04I hope the water finds that level
22:06or whatever the saying, however it goes.
22:08But I hope that
22:10this place will stand and people will say,
22:12no, this is about the right stuff with all the opportunities,
22:14not just chasing one thing.
22:16And that's what I'm hoping.
22:18But it is a different time, and we'll see.
22:20And that's why you hold on to your core values.
22:22That's why it's the foundation.
22:24Because when the other stuff starts shifting,
22:26you better have a strong foundation.
22:28And I think we do.
22:30Regardless of great success
22:32or not,
22:34this program is built on stuff that has lasted.
22:36And I'm grateful for that.
22:38And whenever that day comes when I'm not here,
22:40I'll know that it was built on the right stuff.
22:42And that's the one thing that
22:44I think is the best thing
22:46about, right now, Virginia basketball
22:48and what the young men bring to this program,
22:50what they take away from it.
22:52And we've got to enjoy a whole lot of good times with it.
22:56You have often said that
22:58a final decision on a red shirt
23:00would rest with the young man
23:02and his family.
23:04But is that a potential
23:06for this team?
23:08How many we have, yeah.
23:10As I said, yeah, certainly you'll have those conversations
23:12with the guys.
23:14I always do that as you get into this week.
23:16And you always talk about it.
23:18Some guys, they say, this is what I want to do.
23:20You leave it up to them.
23:22But I think as a head coach, as a staff,
23:24you look at players and you say,
23:26here's what I see. How do you feel about these scenarios?
23:28I'm big on saying,
23:30here's a best-case scenario.
23:32Most people can handle best-case scenarios.
23:34I found that in my life.
23:36Here's
23:38maybe what could happen, what I see right now.
23:40And then here's, hey, a tough scenario.
23:42How are you? How do you feel about these scenarios?
23:44And then you have conversations.
23:46I wish you could look at the crystal ball and say,
23:48this is how many minutes you're going to get.
23:50This is what's going to happen.
23:52Again, 12 guys, 13 guys are not going to play.
23:54So there's going to have to be some patience.
23:56The good thing for our young guys
23:58is we're losing
24:00five, however many guys are.
24:02There is such an opportunity in the following year.
24:04And this year is about, hopefully,
24:06us having a great year.
24:08You talk about a wide-open door.
24:10And I think that's hopeful.
24:12And that's why in this recruiting process,
24:14whatever,
24:16maybe it's in two-year increments you're looking at it.
24:18There's such a wonderful opportunity for all those guys,
24:20no matter what happens the following year.
24:22And then you'll earn what you get
24:24this first year with a veteran team
24:26for the young guys.
24:28Even the veterans have to earn what they get.
24:30Some guys might be inclined to say,
24:32hey, I'm OK with this scenario.
24:34And then they'll make their decisions
24:36based on that.
24:38And we've got a great track record of both ways.
24:40Guys that have redshirted
24:42and what it's done for them
24:44and guys that have gotten a little bit of time
24:46and been more ready the next year.
24:48So that's going to be, I think,
24:50some of the conversations we have
24:52for guys to think about.
24:54And I'll be OK with whatever our guys decide,
24:56but I'll try to give my advice.
24:58Coach, you had some pretty high-profile
25:00non-conference games early this year
25:02on your schedule.
25:04Baylor, Houston, UCLA, Illinois.
25:06Are you excited for those games
25:08as potential measure-y stick-type games
25:11for this team?
25:13Yeah, I think who you open up with
25:15and any coach that starts talking
25:17beyond your opening game
25:19is making a mistake.
25:21And so, of course, the schedule is really good.
25:23And I think players
25:25want to play against good competition.
25:27I think they're just excited to play this year
25:29and get after it starting Monday.
25:31It's hard to believe that it's here.
25:33But, yeah, no,
25:35it's a good schedule
25:37from starting Monday.
25:39And it always
25:41is that way.
25:43And those games from last year,
25:45some of the turns, we learned a lot
25:47and some of the hard outings we had
25:49and playing against some of those bigger-name teams
25:51certainly will reveal.
25:53But Navy was pretty good last year, too.
25:55I remember that awfully well.
25:57So we'll just worry about Monday night
25:59and get as ready as we can
26:01because I know that's a well-coached outfit
26:03and a good team.