Opening Statement
"When you go from game one to game two, it's not about who you're playing. Like I said before, it doesn't matter if you're playing North Georgia or North Carolina. The way we walked through and the pace and our energy this afternoon, I thought that we might be playing North Carolina with the pace and our energy that they brought. We felt like we were going to play well, and they had a good practice yesterday. You want to make a jump. You want to make improvements. You have to understand that it's not about how you score. It's about how you defend, how you rebound, how you run without the ball, and I thought we did a better job with that. In a regular season, we would have had the two exhibitions, and we would have been on game seven by now. Right now, this is the equivalent of having two exhibition games were you're really trying to learn about your team. Tonight, I thought we were aggressive, and we definitely got after it. We didn't play to score.
We had 32 deflections at the half and we finished with 62 for the game. We were in bonus at the 13:57 mark in the first half, which was absolutely huge. We had guys moving. We definitely had some turnovers, but on three of Sahvir Wheeler's I was clapping for him because we had more rim runs in this game than we might have had in a month last year, and that can't happen. We have to have that rim game. We have to have a better break, and our kids have to learn how to run and get under the passes from him. I'm proud of the way he's playing with double figures in two straight games. That's big time, and that doesn't happen many times anywhere. I thought Toumani Camara really did a nice job tonight coming out with an attack mindset, a rebounding and defensive mindset rather than a scoring or shooting mindset. In return, he gets 19 points. Like some of the guys said, everyone on this team is returning with a much different role than they had last year. Plus, our new guys are in a different role than they might have been in at their places. So, everything is an adjustment period right now, but we're getting there.
That was a well coached team. They ran their offense outstanding. We knew they did. It was really good for us to have to make decisions defensively and make adjustments defensively. We did a lot of positive things, plus 19 on the glass and plus 10 at the foul line. a lot of people played. There were definitely too many turnovers, especially with people trying to make plays. They were unselfish plays. A couple of them, we put our head down like we were trying to score and didn't know there was someone there to take a charge. We can't do that, but guys are learning and guys are starting to come together. Every day is a process of coming more together and becoming more consistent and more connected, and that's where leadership still has to emerge. If we keep doing those things, we'll get tougher, and that's what we want to be able to do. We want to get mentally tougher because we're not big and we're not old, so we have to find those other ways. Tonight was a better step for us there.
On the team’s performance and places for improvement…
“We were active. The biggest thing we wanted to make a jump from game one to game two was our pace of play. We wanted the game defensively. We wanted to establish the game rebounding-wise. You can’t come out and establish the game with jump shots. Brian Fish made a great point today. He said, ‘Everybody on our team that’s returning is in a much different role than they were a year ago.’ Even Sahvir Wheeler to a degree. When you don’t have Ray Hammonds out there, when you don’t have seniors out there like Tyree Crump or Jordan Harris, and certainly when you don’t have Anthony Edwards out there, everything is different. And so, establishing where you’re at, establishing how you’re going to play is one thing, but establishing how you’re going to be committed to the things that mean the most, which is the defense, the rebounding, the running of the floor, the unselfish play, cutting, passing the basketball, that takes time. The bottom line for us is we’ve got to control what we control which is our defensive effort, our rebounding intensity, our ability to run the floor, and how well we move with the ball and move without it. I thought we got better.”
On North Georgia…
“They ran their offense extremely well. They’re very well-coached. They have shooters. They moved the ball, they never panicked. They made us chase them, and I thought our guys did a good job of mixing defenses, but that was a good team and our guys stayed solid with it.”
On defensive intensity...
"We had some size, which we're not going to have most nights. It was more about our activity. we were moving our feet. We were active. We were talking. It was like shell drill defense, the stuff you do every day. Guys were connected. Sometimes we over helped. In the first half, 15 of their 26 points came from the three-point line, but we weren't giving up points in the paint, which is important. We were changing up defenses. We want to change up defenses because they were taking 23, 25, 26 seconds, the majority of the time off the clock during the game. To get those shot clock violations with guys not breaking down, fouling, giving up a drive, those are really good things. That's something that we have to build on. We have to be a very collective group defensively, and there were times tonight when we showed that."
On changing up the defense from man to zone…
“They were super engaged, that’s a great term. Whether we were man, zone or pressing, they were very active. That’s how we have to play. We have to be a combination defensive team, an ever changing defensive team. We’re not going to lead the league in blocked shots, we have to be able to draw charges, we have to be able to rally to the ball, we have to rotate, we have to be able to slide over and slide back, we have to get deflections, we have to get back. Those types of things are going to be hugely important. Yesterday, one thing we did, I showed last night our team Stanford’s defense against Alabama. Alabama is a high throttle, offensive team and Stanford in that game, got back on defense, they limited them to one shot many times, they rallied, they were connected. My message to the guys was, maybe Stanford is older but they’ve practiced even less than we have in the PAC-12. We want to win in this league against teams like Alabama and all these other teams, we have to be incredibly connected. Any message we can give them, whether it’s a visual, whether it’s somebody else, because we don’t have enough film of ourselves. We’re gaining more film of ourselves now, but any of those types of things we want to show. It doesn’t matter what our defense is, it’s got to be active, versatile, connected and it’s got to limit people to one shot.”
On how they handle playing three games in one week…
“I think to us, it’s not optimal, but for this year, it’s very probable. I told the guys too, we may get to a situation where we have three games in three weeks, let alone three games in one week. Who knows what way this season is going to go. Anything you do is getting you ready for what’s coming. It just so happens that this is the way it’s going to be. We wanted to get another game, we wanted to make sure we had another game because it’s so important to play against somebody else. It was not optimal, but like I said, it’s probably going to be probably down the road. We were able to do a couple of those things tonight, they really shoot the ball well. They have a couple of guys that can shoot it at a high level and when I get done with this, I’ll watch tonight’s game they played, I heard they won. I think they’re well coached, I’ve known those guys since we were all in Indiana and they were at Indiana-Purdue Fort Wayne and they’ve done a really good job there. They have guys that can make shots, they have some matchup problems with guards that can post up, with a point guard that is a really good deliverer and looking for people, and they have a couple of shooters that fire it whenever they catch it. We have to be really on top of that. We’ll measure where we’re at and get a good mix of mental and physical and understand that the most important thing is to be as fresh as we can be Friday night at seven.”
On scoring distribution benefitting/harming offense...
"While it's harmed it, I think it's going to be really, really important that it happened. I don't think our offense is even close yet. I mean, we're really not. We're not even close to understanding the random cutting that goes into this. We are not just a system of cutting, we are cutting and moving and it's going to take some time for that. We're learning about our players. We are learning about some of the older guys where it's best for them. I think it says that that's the way it's going to be all year. I think this team is going to be-if we're going to have any success at all, it's going to be with a lot of guys that can score different nights, its balance scoring. We don't have Anthony Edwards out there, everybody knows that. So bottom line is, it's got to come from a lot of the different people, and we've got to have a lot of different people who feel they are capable. But here's the problem, okay? Probably not going to be the leading score. The bottom line is, when the ball finds energy and you are moving without it and you're making the next pass, balance is good. And we knew that as we built this team. We knew that was going to be a situation. We didn't replace the number one pick in the draft with the probable number one pick in the draft. What we got to be able to do is make sure that we understand the best way for us to win. As I just said to the guys in the locker room, I'm committed to that every day, it's not anything we are deviating from. So, get on board and understand what it takes to be successful and embrace it and do it together.
On off season training and improvement in strength and conditioning...
"I think they have improved tremendously. I think Sean Hayes and his staff, we've got a strength team down there, have done a fantastic job. Guys, like Toumani Camara were working really hard when they were gone during the pandemic before we were back in school. And I thought Sean did a fantastic job. Tye Fagan was working extremely hard. I think Sean did a great job within the rules of giving them a lot of insights and ideas and things that they could do to get better. But at the end of the day, you can't govern it or legislate it back then, so they had to do it. Some guys didn't do a very good job and some guys didn't do as much with their bodies, and that plays itself out. Some guys didn’t do as much with their bodies—that plays itself out. For the most part, they all have done a really good job here. You know some started behind. Jonathan Ned is still a long way from where he needs to be strength-wise. Tye McMillan is a long way from where he needs to be strength-wise. Bottom line — Justin Kier has gone up six inches on his vertical jump since he has been at Georgia. I mean, that is pretty impressive stuff. I think our strength and conditioning and training team is fantastic. The one thing that we try to do here as part of our development program is to make sure we are not only developing our strength during the season but we are building our athleticism. We want to continue to do that, so hopefully we will continue to make strides.”
On how that translates to on the court improvements, especially with sophomore returners…
“More explosiveness, quicker bursts, better footwork, better defensive feet. I think it will come out even more being stronger with the ball, with finishing through contact. Jackson Etter has been a workhorse. Jackson Etter has worked extremely hard. As I said to the coaches and team after, he would never had made that move in a game last year. I mean that was a powerful, strong move. That is a product of not only confidence but getting his body stronger. Jackson Etter, as I said to the team, the two times that the bench absolutely erupted, on that bench, was Jackson Etter’s drive and Jackson Etter’s foul that looked like a block shot. When you work and you go at it, your teammates respect it. Right? They respect it big time. If you don’t work, they don’t respect it. Bottom line is when you work in the track and field, in the sandpit, in the weight room, in the other conditioning aspects, on the court doing extra—people respect that and you are going to be rewarded. That is how this has got to move. This is how this program has got to move for us. This is how they become more together. That improvement and them gaining confidence on what they are doing athletically and strength-wise is a huge component on how much better they get on the court.”
On looking towards future SEC season...
"I don't think there is any way to know. I don't know anybody that could even project that right now with any sense of knowledge. It's just all too new, right. it really is and when you have eight new guys it’s all too new. really in a realistic year we wouldn't have even started the regular season yet because we would have just played two exhibitions or a scrimmage, right? like I said before, and everyone is in the same boat, twenty-one years as a head coach and that's the first time that's ever happened. When you had no idea walking into a win-loss situation game, what you're going to do, what is going to happen. Everybody is like that, so I don't know if anybody can look, everything is different. These kids have to generate their own enthusiasm so much, because even though we have fans here it's not 10,000, right? And nobody has that. Although it did look like Texas Tech, Houston had quite a few people at it the other day. I am wondering how they got so many. This deal is going to be unique for a long period of time. I don't know if you can put a timeline on any of that, I know I don't have one. I just want to see improvement every day. Now we actually have our own film to watch and not just practice film but we have opponent film and its December 2nd. think about that right? It is just all different now, so I like the way they're getting better though, I like the way they're working. I think some guys will separate and unfortunately if you don't work real hard you will separate the other way. Hopefully we have a bunch of guys that understand that competitiveness every day is going to be crucial. I know we are not real grown up right now and I know we are not as mature when we have so many new guys but I am coaching them like they need to be. Hopefully we can speed the process up that way too."
On physical strength conditioning and staying sharper in the game...
"Oh yeah I think so. We are scrimmaging more this year and we are doing a lot more with our break but it was not good on Sunday. Our break was not as good and I know we scored 85 points but our rim running was non-existent and that was a big, big point of emphasis especially yesterday. On film and on the court. some guys really stepped it up, that's why I didn't get upset when we were trying to throw it over the top. absolutely it's all a part of the vision of where we want to go with this team and we are not big enough and have sky scraper guys that are just going to line up down low and are going to throw it into and it's going to be points in the paint through the post up constantly. I mean it’s not that we have to be creative, we have good schemes. we have to have great movement, we have to have great without-the-ball movement and great ball movement and with that comes we have to have the running game. then we have to get the recognition of the running game which we are not at yet. We have to create some turnovers, we have to limit to one shot, there are so many things that go into. what conditioning and being able to play through fatigue and being able to play through the disappointments of missing a shot and the things like that are really, really important. Most people get fatigued in their own disappointment than they do in how hard they're playing. the guys that are playing hard it's really easy to see when they hit a wall get them out go back in. That's what I am trying to get them to understand. You start jogging because you didn't get the ball or you missed the shot or you got your feelings hurt on something, you are coming out and you may not get back in. That is the only way that it can get built moving forward. An answer to Mike's question, that's how I am coaching. We have to coach that now, we don't have three, four, five weeks to get down the line like 'well we will just let you play thought it,' I’ll let you play through all kinds of effort mistakes as long as you're making great effort but I won't let you play lack of effort mistakes, lack of awareness mistakes very long because the games are for real and we don't have an experienced team we know we can rely on X amount of things to carry us through if things get tight. it's got to be our ability to play fast, play hard, play together. move without the ball, get up and down the court that's how we want to play. As I have said all along we weren't even as close to as fast as we wanted to play last year not even close. now we can’t have a lot of turnovers night in and night out but we'll get better and that conditioning is going to be a huge part of that.”
On the game atmosphere this year...
"There is a lot different. But it is what it is. Our people are doing a really good job with the music. They are doing a really good job at trying. They are making adjustments. We have already made adjustments from game one to game two, and we will continue to do that. It is all in pencil right now, it doesn't matter what it is, it is all in pencil. I was just reading today, there are some new things with CDC guidelines that could impact college. People are looking at those for the basketball season and the end of football. Everyday there is something new that we are learning. We have to be able to adjust and be able to make decision on the fly. We have to work together as a team with the athletic department, operations staff, and basketball program to try and make this the best atmosphere as it can possibly be. Now, do I expect it to sound like 10,000 people in there yet? No. But we are heading there. I mean we are heading for that even though I know we won't get mor than 17% or 18% of people in there, the way the rules are stated unless they change. Maybe they will? But that doesn't mean we cannot do even more with the enthusiasm and energy that we are trying to provide with the music and things of that nature. I thought it was even better tonight than it was game one and hopefully it'll be better game two. I don't think we can sit around and worry about who is not here or what we don't have. I think we have to put a lot of focus and attention on controlling what we can control."
Toumani Camara, Sophomore
On how his connection with Sahvir Wheeler has grown since last year…
“It’s the second year that we’ve played together, so the connection between me and him is growing every day and we have a great connection with everybody. We’re like a family, everybody’s close and we spend a lot of time together. It’s just a connection that Sahvir [Wheeler] has with everybody; he’s the head of the team. He’s a good point guard.”
On PJ Horne’s development since arriving in Athens…
“PJ Horne is a great shooter. I think coming into the program, he’s doing a lot of things that he was not used to doing at his old school. He’s learning a lot, and I’m learning a lot from him because he’s a veteran so he’s teaching us stuff every day. He’s a great teammate and I think he’s going to be great so I’m happy to have him here.”
On if heightened defensive intensity was a focus coming into the game…
“Yeah, that’s what you have got to do in a basketball game: imposing the tempo. We need to control the tempo; we don’t want the other team to control the tempo. We have to put our energy first and be the one controlling the court so we put a lot of pressure on the basketball and the defensive part is the main thing that you should do on the basketball court. We are getting better every day at it, so I think it’s going to be very helpful.”
On if he made it a point to be more aggressive in the offense tonight…
“Definitely, that was one of the things that I had to work on. We have a team with such a wide variety of talent so one day it might be my day, last game was Tye Fagan and Andrew Garcia and then Sahvir Wheeler also had a good game today and it was me. I think we’re not going to have one man scoring, everybody on the team can score. Of course, I had to work on myself and be more aggressive, but I think it’s the same for everybody, everybody can have their night.”
On what this offseason looked like for his training…
“I knew it was going to be really important for me to get stronger, especially in the SEC — a very strong conference. I put some weight on and I worked on all my skills which was something that was really important for me and I think that’s what Sahvir [Wheeler] did also and the other returners all did a good job at it. I think it helped the team especially this jump from a freshman to a sophomore needs to be big because coming from high school you don’t really have the experience and everything that I now have so I knew exactly what I had to work on, and my strength was definitely a big part of it.”
On how much weight he gained and where he felt he needed to get better…
“I put on five pounds and I think the thing that I really needed to work on was my consistency. I need to be able to finish plays and be more consistent in everything that I do and stay positive, always be positive. I’m always going to be positive for my teammate, but also be positive about what I do. I think that’s the main things that I need to work on.”
On not having the band at the games…
“I love the band! Stegman is different without the band! It’s something that changes especially with the fans and everything but it’s something we need to get used to because it can really affect us that much. We need to stay focused on what we do and I wish we could fill up the stands like last year, maybe even more this year, but it is what it is, and we need to keep going through it.”
Sahvir Wheeler, Sophomore
On focus against lesser opponents…
“I think it is the same mindset, the same preparation, the same everything as if we are playing the number one team in the country. We deal with every opponent. We game plan to win the game no matter who we are playing against. I think we did a great job of coming out with some energy on the defensive end and I know it took us a little bit to get going scoring wise but once we got going, we were going, and had great energy. We did a way better job defensively then we did last game.”
On fewer fans and the effort to create energy on the bench…
“Definitely, I think having energy on the bench is imperative even if you have a crowd of 10,000 people, because those are the guys you can communicate with. Those are the guys you see on the sidelines. Obviously during this time in a pandemic, having your guys on the bench and having your own energy is a big thing because those are the guys who have your back. And the fact you can hear them loud and clear helps as well. Us creating that energy and us sustaining that energy—ultimately it did help us in this game—and we got to keep that going.”
On what coach Crean says at halftime and during time outs to make adjustments…
“This past game was a little slow start. Defense was good. It was 3-1 and that’s imperative. Making sure our defense is on point. We know we can in bunches, we can score in spurts, and at times we can score at half court and at transition. As long we kept our pace, we knew we were going to wearthem down. We kept strong at the defensive end knowing our offensive is going to come.”
On the day-to-day nature of the season right now…
“His big thing has been be able to adjust and be able to be really flexible. Try to get better each day. We only have the day that we are in so that is his biggest thing be flexible. We are preparing as if we are going to play every game that’s on our schedule. If it does cancel, we are preparing as if we are going to have another opponent. So, coach Crean has been big on playing on demand and being ready on demand. I’m constantly putting work in, I’m at practice competing at practice. We’re working on our craft outside of practice. So, he’s constantly having us be prepared. I think that is his favorite word right now is preparation and being able to adjust.”
On his second double-double and the feeling going into the season...
“I think I feel a little bit more comfortable. Obviously, I am in my second year so all the hard work I put in on the off-season I’m starting to see it. Most of that double-double stuff is a credit to my teammates as well because those are the guys are that finishing the plays and making the shots. So, I give all the credit to them, those guys have really been locked in all summer. Each guy individually has gotten better. If they are a new person, they’ve gotten better since they’ve gotten here until now. Obviously, the returners have gotten better. I think that is more of a credit to them than it is to me. And hopefully, we can keep this going where everyone is playing really well.
On the eight new guys and how he is playing with them…
“I think as far as the eight new guys, I don’t think we really think of it as the same feel of it being eight new guys. Because most of those guys have college experience already, whether they come from the JUCO level or they’re grad transfers. Those guys bring a level of maturity, a level of knowledge, and a level of an eagerness of willing to learn and implement that stuff we are doing in our offense and on defense as well. It’s more like guiding them along the ropes. Because guys who are sophomores Toumani, myself, CB, Jaykwon, Jaxon and upperclassmen like Tye Fagan—those guys have already had a year or two of experience under coach Crean under our belt. They are also adding knowledge to what they know and got from their previous school. So, I think it’s been an easy adjustment just that everyone has that college experience already. And to say where we are, we got a lot of work to do, I think that is every team in the country, but I think game by game or the last few games we’ve seen a lot of progress. I think on the defensive end and our ability to make free throws and get to the line. We have some really positive stuff going. We also have stuff to work on so I think we are not close to where we can be, but I am really excited to see where the rest of the season has in store.”
UNG Head Coach Dan Evans
On his thoughts on the game…
“I thought it was a good test for us. It was exactly what we thought we were going it get. They’re athleticism, physicality, pace, things that we can’t necessarily simulate day to day. So, I think from our perspective, that’s a really good thing to deal with and honestly have to manage. So, it was everything we thought they would be. Maybe a little more crisper on defense than they were had been on Sunday, which is a good sign for them. Their size—when it just came down to it, their size on two, three, four five. It became very difficult to deal with. When you pair that size with number two, Sahvir Wheeler’s dynamic play, it just became really difficult for us to handle.”
On how his team has improved week to week after playing Mercer and now Georgia…
“I think we did get better. I do think we got more comfortable in certain things. They certainly took us out of things with their pressure, their zone and the 1-2-2. Our inability to stop them in transition and really our inability to hit some solid looks early in the game that led to their transition really put us in a tough spot in order for us to sustain anything. I do think we improved, I do think we’re more comfortable in what we’re trying to do. We are trying to manage a lot of change. We have a lot of new faces, a lot of new roles. We are managing the health of some people, so, with those things in mind, we showed some things that I appreciate about us. We have to be a lot better as a staff, as a team than what we’ve been. I do think we’re making progress. Playing a team of Georgia’s caliber is one way we can get better.”
“We were active. The biggest thing we wanted to make a jump from game one to game two was our pace of play. We wanted the game defensively. We wanted to establish the game rebounding-wise. You can’t come out and establish the game with jump shots. Brian Fish made a great point today. He said, ‘Everybody on our team that’s returning is in a much different role than they were a year ago.’ Even Sahvir Wheeler to a degree. When you don’t have Ray Hammonds out there, when you don’t have seniors out there like Tyree Crump or Jordan Harris, and certainly when you don’t have Anthony Edwards out there, everything is different. And so, establishing where you’re at, establishing how you’re going to play is one thing, but establishing how you’re going to be committed to the things that mean the most, which is the defense, the rebounding, the running of the floor, the unselfish play, cutting, passing the basketball, that takes time. The bottom line for us is we’ve got to control what we control which is our defensive effort, our rebounding intensity, our ability to run the floor, and how well we move with the ball and move without it. I thought we got better.”
On North Georgia…
“They ran their offense extremely well. They’re very well-coached. They have shooters. They moved the ball, they never panicked. They made us chase them, and I thought our guys did a good job of mixing defenses, but that was a good team and our guys stayed solid with it.”
On defensive intensity...
"We had some size, which we're not going to have most nights. It was more about our activity. we were moving our feet. We were active. We were talking. It was like shell drill defense, the stuff you do every day. Guys were connected. Sometimes we over helped. In the first half, 15 of their 26 points came from the three-point line, but we weren't giving up points in the paint, which is important. We were changing up defenses. We want to change up defenses because they were taking 23, 25, 26 seconds, the majority of the time off the clock during the game. To get those shot clock violations with guys not breaking down, fouling, giving up a drive, those are really good things. That's something that we have to build on. We have to be a very collective group defensively, and there were times tonight when we showed that."
On changing up the defense from man to zone…
“They were super engaged, that’s a great term. Whether we were man, zone or pressing, they were very active. That’s how we have to play. We have to be a combination defensive team, an ever changing defensive team. We’re not going to lead the league in blocked shots, we have to be able to draw charges, we have to be able to rally to the ball, we have to rotate, we have to be able to slide over and slide back, we have to get deflections, we have to get back. Those types of things are going to be hugely important. Yesterday, one thing we did, I showed last night our team Stanford’s defense against Alabama. Alabama is a high throttle, offensive team and Stanford in that game, got back on defense, they limited them to one shot many times, they rallied, they were connected. My message to the guys was, maybe Stanford is older but they’ve practiced even less than we have in the PAC-12. We want to win in this league against teams like Alabama and all these other teams, we have to be incredibly connected. Any message we can give them, whether it’s a visual, whether it’s somebody else, because we don’t have enough film of ourselves. We’re gaining more film of ourselves now, but any of those types of things we want to show. It doesn’t matter what our defense is, it’s got to be active, versatile, connected and it’s got to limit people to one shot.”
On how they handle playing three games in one week…
“I think to us, it’s not optimal, but for this year, it’s very probable. I told the guys too, we may get to a situation where we have three games in three weeks, let alone three games in one week. Who knows what way this season is going to go. Anything you do is getting you ready for what’s coming. It just so happens that this is the way it’s going to be. We wanted to get another game, we wanted to make sure we had another game because it’s so important to play against somebody else. It was not optimal, but like I said, it’s probably going to be probably down the road. We were able to do a couple of those things tonight, they really shoot the ball well. They have a couple of guys that can shoot it at a high level and when I get done with this, I’ll watch tonight’s game they played, I heard they won. I think they’re well coached, I’ve known those guys since we were all in Indiana and they were at Indiana-Purdue Fort Wayne and they’ve done a really good job there. They have guys that can make shots, they have some matchup problems with guards that can post up, with a point guard that is a really good deliverer and looking for people, and they have a couple of shooters that fire it whenever they catch it. We have to be really on top of that. We’ll measure where we’re at and get a good mix of mental and physical and understand that the most important thing is to be as fresh as we can be Friday night at seven.”
On scoring distribution benefitting/harming offense...
"While it's harmed it, I think it's going to be really, really important that it happened. I don't think our offense is even close yet. I mean, we're really not. We're not even close to understanding the random cutting that goes into this. We are not just a system of cutting, we are cutting and moving and it's going to take some time for that. We're learning about our players. We are learning about some of the older guys where it's best for them. I think it says that that's the way it's going to be all year. I think this team is going to be-if we're going to have any success at all, it's going to be with a lot of guys that can score different nights, its balance scoring. We don't have Anthony Edwards out there, everybody knows that. So bottom line is, it's got to come from a lot of the different people, and we've got to have a lot of different people who feel they are capable. But here's the problem, okay? Probably not going to be the leading score. The bottom line is, when the ball finds energy and you are moving without it and you're making the next pass, balance is good. And we knew that as we built this team. We knew that was going to be a situation. We didn't replace the number one pick in the draft with the probable number one pick in the draft. What we got to be able to do is make sure that we understand the best way for us to win. As I just said to the guys in the locker room, I'm committed to that every day, it's not anything we are deviating from. So, get on board and understand what it takes to be successful and embrace it and do it together.
On off season training and improvement in strength and conditioning...
"I think they have improved tremendously. I think Sean Hayes and his staff, we've got a strength team down there, have done a fantastic job. Guys, like Toumani Camara were working really hard when they were gone during the pandemic before we were back in school. And I thought Sean did a fantastic job. Tye Fagan was working extremely hard. I think Sean did a great job within the rules of giving them a lot of insights and ideas and things that they could do to get better. But at the end of the day, you can't govern it or legislate it back then, so they had to do it. Some guys didn't do a very good job and some guys didn't do as much with their bodies, and that plays itself out. Some guys didn’t do as much with their bodies—that plays itself out. For the most part, they all have done a really good job here. You know some started behind. Jonathan Ned is still a long way from where he needs to be strength-wise. Tye McMillan is a long way from where he needs to be strength-wise. Bottom line — Justin Kier has gone up six inches on his vertical jump since he has been at Georgia. I mean, that is pretty impressive stuff. I think our strength and conditioning and training team is fantastic. The one thing that we try to do here as part of our development program is to make sure we are not only developing our strength during the season but we are building our athleticism. We want to continue to do that, so hopefully we will continue to make strides.”
On how that translates to on the court improvements, especially with sophomore returners…
“More explosiveness, quicker bursts, better footwork, better defensive feet. I think it will come out even more being stronger with the ball, with finishing through contact. Jackson Etter has been a workhorse. Jackson Etter has worked extremely hard. As I said to the coaches and team after, he would never had made that move in a game last year. I mean that was a powerful, strong move. That is a product of not only confidence but getting his body stronger. Jackson Etter, as I said to the team, the two times that the bench absolutely erupted, on that bench, was Jackson Etter’s drive and Jackson Etter’s foul that looked like a block shot. When you work and you go at it, your teammates respect it. Right? They respect it big time. If you don’t work, they don’t respect it. Bottom line is when you work in the track and field, in the sandpit, in the weight room, in the other conditioning aspects, on the court doing extra—people respect that and you are going to be rewarded. That is how this has got to move. This is how this program has got to move for us. This is how they become more together. That improvement and them gaining confidence on what they are doing athletically and strength-wise is a huge component on how much better they get on the court.”
On looking towards future SEC season...
"I don't think there is any way to know. I don't know anybody that could even project that right now with any sense of knowledge. It's just all too new, right. it really is and when you have eight new guys it’s all too new. really in a realistic year we wouldn't have even started the regular season yet because we would have just played two exhibitions or a scrimmage, right? like I said before, and everyone is in the same boat, twenty-one years as a head coach and that's the first time that's ever happened. When you had no idea walking into a win-loss situation game, what you're going to do, what is going to happen. Everybody is like that, so I don't know if anybody can look, everything is different. These kids have to generate their own enthusiasm so much, because even though we have fans here it's not 10,000, right? And nobody has that. Although it did look like Texas Tech, Houston had quite a few people at it the other day. I am wondering how they got so many. This deal is going to be unique for a long period of time. I don't know if you can put a timeline on any of that, I know I don't have one. I just want to see improvement every day. Now we actually have our own film to watch and not just practice film but we have opponent film and its December 2nd. think about that right? It is just all different now, so I like the way they're getting better though, I like the way they're working. I think some guys will separate and unfortunately if you don't work real hard you will separate the other way. Hopefully we have a bunch of guys that understand that competitiveness every day is going to be crucial. I know we are not real grown up right now and I know we are not as mature when we have so many new guys but I am coaching them like they need to be. Hopefully we can speed the process up that way too."
On physical strength conditioning and staying sharper in the game...
"Oh yeah I think so. We are scrimmaging more this year and we are doing a lot more with our break but it was not good on Sunday. Our break was not as good and I know we scored 85 points but our rim running was non-existent and that was a big, big point of emphasis especially yesterday. On film and on the court. some guys really stepped it up, that's why I didn't get upset when we were trying to throw it over the top. absolutely it's all a part of the vision of where we want to go with this team and we are not big enough and have sky scraper guys that are just going to line up down low and are going to throw it into and it's going to be points in the paint through the post up constantly. I mean it’s not that we have to be creative, we have good schemes. we have to have great movement, we have to have great without-the-ball movement and great ball movement and with that comes we have to have the running game. then we have to get the recognition of the running game which we are not at yet. We have to create some turnovers, we have to limit to one shot, there are so many things that go into. what conditioning and being able to play through fatigue and being able to play through the disappointments of missing a shot and the things like that are really, really important. Most people get fatigued in their own disappointment than they do in how hard they're playing. the guys that are playing hard it's really easy to see when they hit a wall get them out go back in. That's what I am trying to get them to understand. You start jogging because you didn't get the ball or you missed the shot or you got your feelings hurt on something, you are coming out and you may not get back in. That is the only way that it can get built moving forward. An answer to Mike's question, that's how I am coaching. We have to coach that now, we don't have three, four, five weeks to get down the line like 'well we will just let you play thought it,' I’ll let you play through all kinds of effort mistakes as long as you're making great effort but I won't let you play lack of effort mistakes, lack of awareness mistakes very long because the games are for real and we don't have an experienced team we know we can rely on X amount of things to carry us through if things get tight. it's got to be our ability to play fast, play hard, play together. move without the ball, get up and down the court that's how we want to play. As I have said all along we weren't even as close to as fast as we wanted to play last year not even close. now we can’t have a lot of turnovers night in and night out but we'll get better and that conditioning is going to be a huge part of that.”
On the game atmosphere this year...
"There is a lot different. But it is what it is. Our people are doing a really good job with the music. They are doing a really good job at trying. They are making adjustments. We have already made adjustments from game one to game two, and we will continue to do that. It is all in pencil right now, it doesn't matter what it is, it is all in pencil. I was just reading today, there are some new things with CDC guidelines that could impact college. People are looking at those for the basketball season and the end of football. Everyday there is something new that we are learning. We have to be able to adjust and be able to make decision on the fly. We have to work together as a team with the athletic department, operations staff, and basketball program to try and make this the best atmosphere as it can possibly be. Now, do I expect it to sound like 10,000 people in there yet? No. But we are heading there. I mean we are heading for that even though I know we won't get mor than 17% or 18% of people in there, the way the rules are stated unless they change. Maybe they will? But that doesn't mean we cannot do even more with the enthusiasm and energy that we are trying to provide with the music and things of that nature. I thought it was even better tonight than it was game one and hopefully it'll be better game two. I don't think we can sit around and worry about who is not here or what we don't have. I think we have to put a lot of focus and attention on controlling what we can control."
Toumani Camara, Sophomore
On how his connection with Sahvir Wheeler has grown since last year…
“It’s the second year that we’ve played together, so the connection between me and him is growing every day and we have a great connection with everybody. We’re like a family, everybody’s close and we spend a lot of time together. It’s just a connection that Sahvir [Wheeler] has with everybody; he’s the head of the team. He’s a good point guard.”
On PJ Horne’s development since arriving in Athens…
“PJ Horne is a great shooter. I think coming into the program, he’s doing a lot of things that he was not used to doing at his old school. He’s learning a lot, and I’m learning a lot from him because he’s a veteran so he’s teaching us stuff every day. He’s a great teammate and I think he’s going to be great so I’m happy to have him here.”
On if heightened defensive intensity was a focus coming into the game…
“Yeah, that’s what you have got to do in a basketball game: imposing the tempo. We need to control the tempo; we don’t want the other team to control the tempo. We have to put our energy first and be the one controlling the court so we put a lot of pressure on the basketball and the defensive part is the main thing that you should do on the basketball court. We are getting better every day at it, so I think it’s going to be very helpful.”
On if he made it a point to be more aggressive in the offense tonight…
“Definitely, that was one of the things that I had to work on. We have a team with such a wide variety of talent so one day it might be my day, last game was Tye Fagan and Andrew Garcia and then Sahvir Wheeler also had a good game today and it was me. I think we’re not going to have one man scoring, everybody on the team can score. Of course, I had to work on myself and be more aggressive, but I think it’s the same for everybody, everybody can have their night.”
On what this offseason looked like for his training…
“I knew it was going to be really important for me to get stronger, especially in the SEC — a very strong conference. I put some weight on and I worked on all my skills which was something that was really important for me and I think that’s what Sahvir [Wheeler] did also and the other returners all did a good job at it. I think it helped the team especially this jump from a freshman to a sophomore needs to be big because coming from high school you don’t really have the experience and everything that I now have so I knew exactly what I had to work on, and my strength was definitely a big part of it.”
On how much weight he gained and where he felt he needed to get better…
“I put on five pounds and I think the thing that I really needed to work on was my consistency. I need to be able to finish plays and be more consistent in everything that I do and stay positive, always be positive. I’m always going to be positive for my teammate, but also be positive about what I do. I think that’s the main things that I need to work on.”
On not having the band at the games…
“I love the band! Stegman is different without the band! It’s something that changes especially with the fans and everything but it’s something we need to get used to because it can really affect us that much. We need to stay focused on what we do and I wish we could fill up the stands like last year, maybe even more this year, but it is what it is, and we need to keep going through it.”
Sahvir Wheeler, Sophomore
On focus against lesser opponents…
“I think it is the same mindset, the same preparation, the same everything as if we are playing the number one team in the country. We deal with every opponent. We game plan to win the game no matter who we are playing against. I think we did a great job of coming out with some energy on the defensive end and I know it took us a little bit to get going scoring wise but once we got going, we were going, and had great energy. We did a way better job defensively then we did last game.”
On fewer fans and the effort to create energy on the bench…
“Definitely, I think having energy on the bench is imperative even if you have a crowd of 10,000 people, because those are the guys you can communicate with. Those are the guys you see on the sidelines. Obviously during this time in a pandemic, having your guys on the bench and having your own energy is a big thing because those are the guys who have your back. And the fact you can hear them loud and clear helps as well. Us creating that energy and us sustaining that energy—ultimately it did help us in this game—and we got to keep that going.”
On what coach Crean says at halftime and during time outs to make adjustments…
“This past game was a little slow start. Defense was good. It was 3-1 and that’s imperative. Making sure our defense is on point. We know we can in bunches, we can score in spurts, and at times we can score at half court and at transition. As long we kept our pace, we knew we were going to wearthem down. We kept strong at the defensive end knowing our offensive is going to come.”
On the day-to-day nature of the season right now…
“His big thing has been be able to adjust and be able to be really flexible. Try to get better each day. We only have the day that we are in so that is his biggest thing be flexible. We are preparing as if we are going to play every game that’s on our schedule. If it does cancel, we are preparing as if we are going to have another opponent. So, coach Crean has been big on playing on demand and being ready on demand. I’m constantly putting work in, I’m at practice competing at practice. We’re working on our craft outside of practice. So, he’s constantly having us be prepared. I think that is his favorite word right now is preparation and being able to adjust.”
On his second double-double and the feeling going into the season...
“I think I feel a little bit more comfortable. Obviously, I am in my second year so all the hard work I put in on the off-season I’m starting to see it. Most of that double-double stuff is a credit to my teammates as well because those are the guys are that finishing the plays and making the shots. So, I give all the credit to them, those guys have really been locked in all summer. Each guy individually has gotten better. If they are a new person, they’ve gotten better since they’ve gotten here until now. Obviously, the returners have gotten better. I think that is more of a credit to them than it is to me. And hopefully, we can keep this going where everyone is playing really well.
On the eight new guys and how he is playing with them…
“I think as far as the eight new guys, I don’t think we really think of it as the same feel of it being eight new guys. Because most of those guys have college experience already, whether they come from the JUCO level or they’re grad transfers. Those guys bring a level of maturity, a level of knowledge, and a level of an eagerness of willing to learn and implement that stuff we are doing in our offense and on defense as well. It’s more like guiding them along the ropes. Because guys who are sophomores Toumani, myself, CB, Jaykwon, Jaxon and upperclassmen like Tye Fagan—those guys have already had a year or two of experience under coach Crean under our belt. They are also adding knowledge to what they know and got from their previous school. So, I think it’s been an easy adjustment just that everyone has that college experience already. And to say where we are, we got a lot of work to do, I think that is every team in the country, but I think game by game or the last few games we’ve seen a lot of progress. I think on the defensive end and our ability to make free throws and get to the line. We have some really positive stuff going. We also have stuff to work on so I think we are not close to where we can be, but I am really excited to see where the rest of the season has in store.”
UNG Head Coach Dan Evans
On his thoughts on the game…
“I thought it was a good test for us. It was exactly what we thought we were going it get. They’re athleticism, physicality, pace, things that we can’t necessarily simulate day to day. So, I think from our perspective, that’s a really good thing to deal with and honestly have to manage. So, it was everything we thought they would be. Maybe a little more crisper on defense than they were had been on Sunday, which is a good sign for them. Their size—when it just came down to it, their size on two, three, four five. It became very difficult to deal with. When you pair that size with number two, Sahvir Wheeler’s dynamic play, it just became really difficult for us to handle.”
On how his team has improved week to week after playing Mercer and now Georgia…
“I think we did get better. I do think we got more comfortable in certain things. They certainly took us out of things with their pressure, their zone and the 1-2-2. Our inability to stop them in transition and really our inability to hit some solid looks early in the game that led to their transition really put us in a tough spot in order for us to sustain anything. I do think we improved, I do think we’re more comfortable in what we’re trying to do. We are trying to manage a lot of change. We have a lot of new faces, a lot of new roles. We are managing the health of some people, so, with those things in mind, we showed some things that I appreciate about us. We have to be a lot better as a staff, as a team than what we’ve been. I do think we’re making progress. Playing a team of Georgia’s caliber is one way we can get better.”
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