Big Dance

"Big Dance" Interviews: Butler forward Matt Howard

Jon Teitel — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 21:14:45 -0700

To say the least this subject of CHN writer Jon Teitel's "Big Dance" interview series had a good opening weekend. Butler forward Matt Howard scored the game-winning points in both of Butler's win, scoring on a offensive rebound in the second round win over Old Dominion and following that up with a free throw with 0.8 seconds remaining in their win over top-seed Pittsburgh. Howard's had quite the career in Indianapolis, and he and his teammates aren't done yet. Butler takes on Wisconsin in a Southeast Region semifinal on Thursday night.

Jon Teitel: You became the first player to make the conference All-Tournament team for four consecutive seasons, and you have been conference tournament MVP in each of the last two conference tournaments. How are you able to play your best when it matters the most?

Matt Howard: It's just preparing to play that way. It's not a case of just getting up for the most important games. If you don't play well and consistently throughout the year by doing your job, then you're not going to be able to turn it on when it matters most. It's about being consistent. But your effort is probably recognized more in the games toward the end of the season.

JT: You hit your head on the floor in last year's semifinal win over Michigan State, and you missed the Wright State game last month after suffering a mild concussion. How close did you come to missing the title game against Duke, and are you worried that all of your head injuries might be starting to add up?

MH: That's one of the least of my worries at this point. Obviously it was a worry for our athletic training staff when they sat me out for the Wright State game, but I'm not really worried about that going forward. We have a great medical staff, and I have confidence in their care.

JT: You scored 11 points in 19 minutes in last year's two-point loss in the title game. Did you think Gordon Hayward's shot at the buzzer was going in, and what was the feeling like in your locker room afterward?

MH: I had a pretty decent view of it and at first didn't really think it was going to have a chance. But then you turn around and it was right on target, and maybe that made (the loss) more heartbreaking. There was a great feeling of disappointment in the locker room after the game, in some degree because we were so close, but also because it was our last game together. At the same time, we were proud of the way we competed and put ourselves in a position to have a chance to win. You couldn't ask for our guys to play any harder, and it would have been more disappointing if you didn't play well and end up losing by more.

JT: Last month you were named Division I Academic All-American of the Year. What importance do you place on academics, and how do you balance it with athletics?

MH: Academics are really important. It's like the NCAA statement about our athletes going pro and most are in something other than sports. At some point, everyone needs something that they can fall back on and academics give you that chance to succeed outside of athletics. I want to be my best in everything, not just sports, so it's important that do my job in the classroom.

JT: After a three-game losing streak heading into February, your team has won 9 straight: do you feel like your team is playing its best basketball of the season right now? [note: asked before start of the tournament]

MH: I would say the best of the season but we know that we can still play better. There's always some things that come up and when you watch game tape, you always see things that you can be better at. But as a team, and especially on the defensive end, we're playing as well as we have all year.

"Big Dance" Interviews: Hampton head coach Ed Joyner

Jon Teitel — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 13:29:11 -0700

Earlier today CHN writer Jon Teitel spent a few minutes with Hampton head coach Ed Joyner, whose Pirates won the MEAC conference tournament to earn an automatic bid. The 16-seed in the West Region, Hampton will take on top-seed Duke in a second round matchup on Friday in Charlotte.

Jon Teitel: Your father and uncle are both Division II coaches. Who is the best coach in the family?

Ed Joyner: Right now I think my little cousin Steven is the best. He is the woman's coach Winston Salem State, and he just gets to sit around and talk to all of us!

JT: They grew up living next door to Hall of Fame coach Clarence "Big House" Gaines. Did you ever get to meet him yourself, and what is the most important thing you ever learned from him?

EJ: I got to have several conversations with him. The biggest thing he told me is that you always have to pass the first test in order to get in the door to do anything: the eye test. This applies to any aspect of your life, whether it is basketball or something else. Our team tries to look a certain way, play a certain way, and carry ourselves a certain way.

JT: You were a two-time conference Defensive Player of the Year at Johnson C. Smith. What is your secret to playing great defense?

EJ: Playing defense is both a pride thing and a team thing. You have to do whatever you can do to limit your man from scoring, but you also need to have faith in the guys behind you to back you up.

JT: Darrion Pellum was named 2011 MEAC Tournament MVP after originally transferring from Virginia Tech. How has he been able to come in and be such a great player for you?

EJ: Having an ACC pedigree, he came in with a chip on his shoulder and wanted to prove himself to everyone. He has matured tremendously on the court for us, and I am glad he got some of the accolades he has received. This week he will have a chance to see how he does against a great ACC team.

JT: You will be facing top-seed Duke on Friday in Charlotte. How are you going to prepare for the defending champs?

EJ: I am not sure if you can fully prepare for the Blue Devils, but I want my guys to be mentally ready for our first tournament together. Duke will make sure we are 100% physically prepared...otherwise they will run us off the court.

"Big Dance" Interviews: Texas-San Antonio head coach Brooks Thompson

Jon Teitel — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 17:58:20 -0700

As part of his "Big Dance" interview series CHN writer Jon Teitel spent some time with Texas-San Antonio head coach Brooks Thompson, whose Roadrunners will make their first NCAA appearance since 2004 when they lost to top-seeded Stanford in the first round. UTSA takes on Alabama State on Wednesday night in the "First Four", with the winner advancing to take on East top-seed Ohio State on Friday in Cleveland.

Jon Teitel: You started your college career at Texas A&M before transferring to Oklahoma State, where you later became a grad assistant under Eddie Sutton. What made Coach Sutton such a great coach and what is the most important thing you ever learned from him?

Brooks Thompson: When you think of Coach Sutton the word that comes to mind is "discipline" but in a very positive way. He was a perfectionist when it came to Xs and Os. I learned even more when I worked for him, to see how much he cared about his players behind the scenes.

JT: You were a first round pick in the 1994 NBA Draft, where you played for five teams in four years. Why did you decide to get into coaching, and who was the best NBA coach you ever had?

BT: I had a bunch of good NBA coaches, but Jeff Van Gundy was my all-time favorite. I remember when Bill Self was recruiting me to go to Oklahoma State and I thought that was pretty cool, so I am getting to live my dream now.

JT: Devin Gibson began his career by being named 2008 Southland Rookie of the Year, and he is finishing his career in the NCAA Tournament after being named Southland Tournament MVP. How proud are you of everything that Devin has accomplished throughout his career?

BT: Devin had a vision when we started this program, and he trusted what we were doing and has been very loyal to us for four years. I was so happy for him when we clinched the title that I went over and gave him a big hug and told him how proud I was of him.

JT: You have guys on your roster from Australia, Greece, and Yugoslavia. How are you able to recruit internationally as a mid-major school, and what is the biggest difference in coaching foreign players vs. American players?

BT: It is just a lot of hard work and hard travel...although you cannot complain about having to go to Australia! The other guys were over here in America already: one at a junior college and one at a prep school. None of them had played the AAU circuit before so some of the basketball terminology was a little confusing to them, but their English is fine.

JT: You have a play-in game on Wednesday in the "First Four" against Alabama State. How big of an advantage is it to get the extra day to prepare (rather than having to play on Tuesday), and what the heck are you going to do if you win and have to play one-seed Ohio State on two days notice?!

BT: We just have to worry about AL ST right now. It helps to get some rest and have an extra travel day. Our coaching staff has had a chance to watch some more film, and then we can teach our guys what we know about Alabama State.

"Big Dance" Interviews: Notre Dame forward Carleton Scott

Jon Teitel — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 17:47:43 -0700

As part of his "Big Dance" interview series CHN writer spent a few moments with Notre Dame forward Carleton Scott, one of the key cogs for the Fighting Irish. Notre Dame struggled when he was out with a hamstring injury in January, taking off upon his return. The two-seed in the Southwest, Notre Dame opens with Akron on Friday in Chicago.

Jon Teitel: You missed all of your freshman season after breaking your foot and four games in January after tearing your hamstring. How healthy are you feeling, and are you happy that you will be able to finish your career on the court instead of in rehab?

Carleton Scott: I am feeling really good, and am happy to be back on the court with my brothers.

JT: Your teammates have had their own problems (Tim Abromaitis was arrested with Irish QB Nate Montana at a party in July, Scott Martin missed all of last year with left ACL tear, etc.). Do you feel that everyone will be able to overcome all of their own obstacles and focus on the task at hand?

CS: I do, because that is what we have been doing all year. Scott has come back strong for us, and we have made a good run thanks to him and Tim.

JT: Since coming back from the injury your team has won 12 of 14 games. Do you feel like your team is playing its best basketball of the season right now?

CS: We are getting there, and we hope to be peaking at the right time of year, which is March.

JT: You had 14 points and 10 rebounds in a first round loss to ODU in 2010. What did you learn from last year's tournament that you think will help you succeed in this year's tournament?

CS: It was a terrible feeling after the loss, so I do not want to have that feeling anymore. I have tried to learn some things by watching the film of that game, as much as it hurts.

JT: Coach Brey was an assistant at Duke when they won a pair of NCAA titles in 1991 and 1992. What makes him such a great coach and what has he taught you about what it takes to succeed in March?

CS: He has been a great coach for us and trusts us, so we trust him too. A lot of teams have coaches who do not trust their players, but he lets us make a lot of decisions and gives us guidance.

"Big Dance" Interviews: George Mason head coach Jim Larranaga

Jon Teitel — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 17:38:15 -0700

Earlier today CHN writer Jon Teitel caught up with George Mason head coach Jim Larranaga as part of his "Big Dance" interview series. Coach Larranaga's Patriots won the CAA regular season title by two games but were bounced in the CAA semis by eventual runner-up VCU. George Mason is the eight-seed in the East and will take on Villanova Friday in Cleveland.

Jon Teitel: You became a household name during your magical run to the Final Four in 2006. What did you learn from that experience about what it takes to succeed in March?

Jim Larranaga: I think it is important to be playing well and feel good about yourselves. It is also important to play well on both ends at the court, especially rebounding on the defensive end.

JT: Earlier this month you were named CAA Coach of the Year. What did it mean to you to receive such an outstanding honor?

JL: An individual honor like that is really about the group, which includes both players and assistant coaches.

JT: You won 16 straight games before losing to VCU in the CAA Tournament. Do you feel like your team is playing its best basketball of the season right now?

JL: I thought we played our best in late February when we beat VCU and Northern Iowa on the road. We are hoping to play at that level or beyond come Friday.

JT: On Friday in Cleveland you will face Villanova, who is the first team to ever lose its final five games and still make the NCAA Tournament. Do you feel fortunate to be catching the Wildcats at the right time or are you worried that they will take out their frustration on your team, or other?

JL: One of the things about losing is who did you lose to, and Villanova played an incredible schedule this season as most of their conference losses were on the road to fellow tournament teams. They are a tested NCAA Tournament team, and we know it will be a major challenge for us.

JT: As an assistant at Virginia who went to the Final Four twice in the early 1980s you got to work with a great big man in Ralph Sampson. How will you try to stop another great big man (Jared Sullinger) if you beat Villanova and have only two days to prepare for the Buckeyes?

JL: Your preparation in the tournament is about being as good as you can be. We do not try to make a lot of substantial changes in a short times as we want our players to be confident in what has worked so far.

"Big Dance" Interviews: Alabama State head coach Lewis Jackson

Jon Teitel — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 17:27:15 -0700

Recently CHN writer Jon Teitel caught up with Alabama State head coach Lewis Jackson, whose Hornets take on Texas-San Antonio in a "First Four" matchup on Wednesday night with the winner getting East top seed Ohio State on Friday in Cleveland. In addition to his accomplishments as head coach, Jackson is one of the greatest players in the history of Alabama State basketball.

Jon Teitel: You are the fourth all-time leading scorer in Alabama State history with 2,203 points and your #33 is retired. How good a player were you back in the day, and how has being so good on the court made you so good on the sideline?

Lewis Jackson: I like to think that I was a good all-around player. I was a junior when we moved up to Division I. I also worked hard on defense, which is an issue I push along to my current players.

JT: You were inducted into the SWAC Hall of Fame in 1999. What did it mean to you to receive such an outstanding honor, and what does it mean to you to represent the SWAC in the NCAA Tournament?

LJ: It was a great honor for the SWAC to think that much of me. It is very rewarding and very exciting to represent the SWAC, and we will go out and play as best we can.

JT: Your wife Freda is the Alabama State women's basketball head coach. What is the best part of having a wife who coaches the same sport at the same school as you, and what is the...not-best part?

LJ: The best part is having someone who can give you a fair assessment of what you are doing, as we usually get to watch each other's teams play right before or after our own games. She continues to coach once she gets home...but that is good as well!

JT: Your two leading scorers are Tramayne Moorer (2011 SWAC Tournament MVP) and Tramaine Butler. Is it a logistical nightmare when you try to shout out instructions to two guys with the same name?

LJ: Pretty much everyone on the team has a nickname. Moorer is "Scoop" and Butler is "Butter", and it has worked out pretty well for us.

JT: You have a play-in game on Wednesday in the "First Four" against UTSA. How big of an advantage is it to get the extra day to prepare (rather than having to play on Tuesday), and what the heck are you going to do if you win and have to play #1-seed Ohio State on 2 days notice?!

LJ: In the 2009 NCAA Tournament we were in the play-in game on Tuesday night, which was very hectic for us because we had to fly out there at 5AM on Monday after winning our conference tourney earlier that weekend. The extra day has worked out well for us so far. It would take a couple of weeks to prepare for the Buckeyes, but if we face them then we will just try our best.

"Big Dance" Interviews: Cincinnati assistant coach Darren Savino

Jon Teitel — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 17:14:49 -0700

As part of his "Big Dance" interview series CHN writer Jon Teitel spent some time with Cincinnati assistant coach Darren Savino, who is in his first season with the program after spending the prior four season as an assistant at Rutgers. Coach Savino has coached at all three New York metropolitan area Big East schools at one point or another in his career, and in high school he was a part of the 1989 national champions at St. Anthony HS in Jersey City. The Bearcats open with 11-seed Missouri on Thursday.

Jon Teitel: You won a high school national championship at St. Anthony (NJ) in 1989 while playing with Bobby Hurley under his father and coach Bob Sr. How much of an influence was Bob Sr. on your decision to become a coach, and what made Bobby able to succeed in the NCAA Tournament once he got to Duke?

Darren Savino: There is no doubt that being around Coach Hurley was a big influence. I was friends with Bobby growing up, so I have been around their family forever. I think Coach Hurley is one of the best coaches at any level. Bobby was often the smallest guy on the court, but his heart and determination separated himself from other athletes.

JT: Yancy Gates was suspended for the Pitt game last month after blowing up at a coach in practice. How has he been able to control his emotions since coming back from suspension?

DS: Yancy is an emotional kid by nature who wants to win and to play well. When you struggle as an athlete (as we all do), you have to learn how to channel your emotions in the right way. He has been tremendous for us since coming back.

JT: Dion Dixon ended last season by losing the ball out of bounds against West Virginia in the Big East Championship. Do you think he has the confidence to handle the ball in the closing seconds of a game this week?

DS: I have not noticed Dion having any effects from that play this season, as he has done really well while playing at both guard spots.

JT: Your team plays #11-seed Missouri in Washington, D.C. on Thursday. Do you have to spend a lot of extra time preparing for Missouri due to their frenetic pace?

DS: Every coaching staff is going through what we are in terms of cramming in a lot of stuff right away. We think Missouri is very similar to Providence as they are very aggressive with their hands on defense and are good at pressing and gambling, so we will use a similar game plan for that and try to not give up any easy layups.

JT: The Big East has a record 11 teams in this year's tournament. How has conference play prepared your team for the tournament, and how great would it be to get revenge against Connecticut on Saturday?

DS: Almost all of our 18 league games this year felt like NCAA Tournament games, so we will be prepared to play a talented team like Missouri. If we are lucky enough to play Connecticut we will be ecstatic and it will be a great game. We are not worried about revenge; just want to get to the next game.

"Big Dance" Interviews: Bucknell Postseason Teleconference

Jon Teitel — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 09:54:31 -0700

Yesterday CHN writer Jon Teitel took part in the postseason teleconference for the Patriot League champion Bucknell Bison. The Bison lost just one league game during the regular season, and big man Mike Muscala was named Patriot League Player of the Year. Although experienced, Bucknell last played in the NCAA Tournament in 2006.

Center Mike Muscala

On his two buzzer-beaters: "Both of the buzzer beaters I made in January (against Richmond and Holy Cross) were due to great help from my teammates who gave me great screens and passes. I would not call myself a "clutch" player, as I have missed some free throws this year."

On the NCAA Tournament: "I am not sure how much pressure there will be in the NCAA Tournament until I step onto the court, but I am excited to be going to D.C. We all trust in each other and know that we need to play together in order to win."

On Bucknell's play of late: "I do think that we are one of the hottest teams in the country (won 23 of their last 25 games), but the loss to Army in January helped us get re-focused so I am excited to see what we can do this week. Our defense has helped us win a lot of games this year."

On their preseason expectations: "Our expectations this year were to win a conference championship, which we were able to achieve."

On what he looks to do on the floor: "I just try to do the little things: holding seals in the post, not let the ball get stolen, etc. I just take what the defense gives me and try to play good defense as well myself."

On Bucknell's offense: "We know we have a ton of options on offense even if we have different game plans for each game."

On how they'll handle the experience: "We will savor every minute of it because it is a dream come true, but we are also here to win games."

Head coach Dave Paulsen

On his team: "We are really excited to represent Bucknell and the Patriot League. I have never had a more coachable group in my 17 years as a coach than this group. We were ecstatic when they announced our name on the selection show...until we saw that we would be playing Connecticut! We have a team that will not beat itself and is hard to score on. We also have a strong assist-to-turnover ratio and are among the nation's leaders in free throw percentage."

On Connecticut: "When I look at the tapes of Connecticut I get nightmares! With travel, logistics, tickets and media I have not had a lot of time to watch the Huskies, but they are playing at a really high level and have one of the best players in the country in Kemba Walker."

On what his experience at Williams College taught him: "After winning the Division II national title in 2003 at Williams, the thing I learned about winning postseason games is that you have to recruit good players."

On what he and his staff look to emphasize: "We continue to stress to our guys that you have to take your defensive intensity and focus up a notch while also relaxing on the offensive end, which is a lot easier said than done."

On his experience with Michigan in the 1990 NCAA Tournament: "I remember Jeff Fryer making a ton of threes for LMU when they beat our Michigan team in the 1990 tourney (149-115). It was an absolute annihilation.

"Big Dance" Interviews: Akron Postseason Teleconference

Jon Teitel — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 09:38:05 -0700

Yesterday CHN writer Jon Teitel participated in MAC champion Akron's postseason teleconference in advance of their second round matchup with two-seed Notre Dame. Keith Dambrot's Zips were last in the NCAA Tournament in 2009, losing to Gonzaga in the first round.

Senior small forward Brett McKnight

On the team turning things around: "What turned our season around after a slow start is that we just kept fighting to get better and we came together as a team. We had a bad loss to Eastern Michigan, and Coach Dambrot came in after that and said, 'enough is enough'."

On dealing with adversity: "I was devastated to be suspended for seven games earlier this season, but it was a mistake that I created. I was hungry to just play basketball, so to make it to the NCAA tourney for the second time is a great feeling and I cannot wait to play."

On Notre Dame: "I have not seen Notre Dame play that much this year, but I know they are a good team and have guards who can shoot the ball."

On Akron's strengths: "Our strengths entering the tournament is that a lot of us have tourney experience. We did not know what to expect back in 2009 but now we are veterans and can handle the atmosphere."

On the foul line: "I kind of laughed at myself after shooting an airball free throw in the MAC title game. I was just shocked! I was calm at the end and did not feel any pressure. It felt really good to go out in my final game as a senior to go out with a win over Kent State by making the game-winning free throws."

Head coach Keith Dambrot

On the Zips' season: "We are very excited about the opportunity and fought very hard to get here. It was one of the most difficult seasons we have ever had, but I am proud of our resiliency. I just try to control what I can, and Notre Dame has a great program."

On the Gerry Faust connection between the schools: "One of my neighbors and best friends is Coach Gerry Faust, who is caught in a pickle because he cannot root for either team (as he was the football coach for both schools in the past)."

On Notre Dame: "I have seen very little of Notre Dame on TV this year but I know Coach Brey is an excellent coach. They are probably one of the most skilled teams in the country. They remind me of Gonzaga in the 2009 tourney because we had our hands full trying to guard them, so we will have to play a terrific game to win. We were pretty close with Gonzaga to start before we lost our cookies a little bit."

On his team's mindset: "I told my guys that if we are hanging close with the Irish in the second half, we need to have the confidence to believe that we can win. If you do not think you are great, then you are not going to be great."

On Brett McKnight: "Brett's older brother Chris played for us so I have a great relationship with his family. Brett does not care about being a starter, which is why he has been so effective off the bench."

"Big Dance" Interviews: Princeton Postseason Teleconference

Jon Teitel — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 09:15:16 -0700

On Monday CHN writer Jon Teitel took part in the Ivy League Postseason Teleconference, which featured NCAA Tournament representative Princeton. The Tigers won their one-game playoff with Harvard on a Douglas Davis shot as time expired, and they will play four-seed Kentucky in their first NCAA appearance since 2004.

Forward Kareem Maddox

On winning Ivy Defensive Player of the Year: "I cannot take credit for the conference Defensive Player of the Year award without the help of my team on the defensive end."

On their NCAA Tournament and overall experience: "Coach Johnson and Assistant Coach Brian Earl were on the 1996 Princeton team that beat UCLA, so I am sure they will share some of their knowledge with us later this week. I think our experience will be huge for us going forward, as a lot of us have been together for four years. We did play in the postseason last year which gave us valuable experience."

On the win over Harvard: "I think the Ivy playoff game was a microcosm of our season, as it went down to the final two seconds in front of a sold-out crowd."

Guard Dan Mavraides

On Princeton's defense: "It has been a lot more fun from a player's perspective to force turnovers and run a little bit and get some easy baskets."

On preparing for Kentucky: "I think we will be mentally ready for the Kentucky game, as this is something that we have wanted really bad. We are going there to win a basketball game, so we are going to be mentally focused."

On Douglas Davis' shot: "When Doug Davis hit that shot to beat Harvard at the buzzer, it was one of the best moments of my life."

Head coach Sydney Johnson

On Kentucky: "We realize how good Kentucky is and how well we will have to play well in order to beat them. We have had a ton of close games this season, none closer than the last-second win over Harvard. Coach Calipari is fun to watch in terms of how he manages his team and makes sure they compete, and Terrence Jones is a man among boys. We have not yet decided what match-ups look best for us."

On their defensive improvement: "We have made major strides this year defensively, which allows us to get out and run a little more."

On keeping their focus on the task at hand: "A lot of our former players called me to congratulate us after we beat Harvard. You have to respect all of the stuff that goes on during the NCAA Tournament like media calls and open practices, but that is not why we are here. Coach John Thompson III kept us focused on the task at hand when he led us to the 2007 Final Four at Georgetown. I think we will be in good shape if we keep things as normal as possible and stay locked into what we have been doing well all year."

On being prepared: "I think we have an advantage this week of being game-ready due to the one-game playoff, because if we had clinched the title last Tuesday then we would have just been simulating practices last week while not knowing exactly who we would be playing."

On the players that fit into their program: "We go recruit players in the same gyms as every other coach in America, and I like guys who compete whether they are vocal or quietly confident. We want basketball players who are willing to work hard and have great grades. We do not want them to compromise on either aspect."

On the 1996 win over UCLA: "I get asked about the 1996 Princeton-UCLA game all the time, as it was a special moment both for our program and for die-hard college basketball fans."

On Kentucky: "Kentucky can certainly run up and down the floor, but if you watch tape of them you can see that they are also good at executing in the half-court offense."

On the days following the Harvard win: "It has all been surreal, as we were one bounce away from missing the tourney."