Arkansas Razorbacks coach Mike Neighbors looks at upcoming tournament in Palm Springs, Fla., before resuming the regular season next week.
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00:00 >> I guess we could ask this after the game Saturday, but
00:03 just what's that looked like, I guess the week since playing Sanford and
00:08 Little Rock getting ready for these games down there.
00:12 >> Got back home, switched our bags around, had a quick practice and
00:16 got down here to enjoy the sun a little bit today.
00:19 We got in practice early at home.
00:21 I'm kind of losing track of my days today, Tuesday.
00:25 Yeah, so we practiced Monday, got on the plane,
00:27 got down here in time to see the sunset.
00:30 I enjoy a little bit of time down here in a little bit warmer weather,
00:33 not that much warmer.
00:35 Got a good practice in today and spent a little time on the beach,
00:41 have a picnic out there on the beach.
00:42 And now we got them back in the hotel ready to feed them and
00:45 got an early tip time.
00:46 So traveling a little bit of film, mainly we didn't review a whole lot about Stanford.
00:53 We hadn't spent so much time as we have the two days,
00:55 you had to prepare for two opponents at once.
00:58 So we spent all our time doing that.
00:59 >> And then just talking about the first opponent ahead, Illinois,
01:04 I know they were preseason ranked.
01:07 And they were pretty good last year, made the tournament and
01:10 returned a lot of people just thoughts, I guess, on them.
01:13 >> Well, Sean has got a similar philosophy as we do when it comes to scheduling,
01:17 find out what your team's made of.
01:18 I think all their losses are to really good teams.
01:22 They do return all five starters from a team that went to the NCAA tournament.
01:25 Added a few nice pieces as well to that.
01:29 But a lot of experience,
01:32 it's gonna be an unbelievably good matchup at all five spots.
01:35 I think, you kind of look across the board,
01:37 there's a kind of a natural matchup for each player.
01:40 Their three guards are very dynamic.
01:42 I think our three guards are dynamic.
01:44 Saylor and Shoup Hill at the four and then Miriam and
01:49 Bostic at the five, that's pretty good matchups across the board to start.
01:54 They may have a little advantage on this in depth and experience.
01:56 But sometimes in these events, it's a smaller venue.
02:00 We're both on neutral floors, we both hadn't traveled,
02:04 we've both been balancing fun in the sun and work.
02:09 So they're always a cool matchup.
02:11 I'm glad we get to play them.
02:13 I think they're gonna be a tournament team again.
02:16 I mean, it's hard to stay ranked when you play good people like they have.
02:20 So I think it's a team that when the big 10 season rolls around,
02:25 they're gonna be in the mix.
02:26 >> Wait, coach, can you turn your phone this way?
02:30 Yeah, there you go, perfect.
02:33 >> Hold on, is that us?
02:36 I'm having to try to charge, okay, I'll just hold it.
02:38 >> I just have one more.
02:41 It's just I know you were optimistic on Emory before the Samford game.
02:45 Is she gonna be available?
02:47 >> She is not, my luck, my optimism was maybe me being an enthusiast
02:52 on the Indian grams test, but she's still in too much pain to play.
02:58 I don't feel good about putting her out there.
02:59 Jenna is continuing to come along.
03:03 So we got Jenna that can play in those minutes between her and
03:06 Christina splitting time with Sailor.
03:08 But we would love to have had Emory back, but
03:10 we didn't get the news that we wanted.
03:12 So we'll be really patient with that.
03:13 This is one of those deals that if you don't make the right decision,
03:17 it could be a long term deal for work.
03:19 It's a tough injury, even in baseball, but really for basketball players,
03:24 it's one of those things that has some long term effects on it.
03:27 So we're gonna take it really slow.
03:28 I think we were all optimistic and hopeful, and we'll stay that way.
03:31 It's one of those things they said that can kind of
03:34 change as a week to week type deal.
03:38 So knowing that she's a tough kid though,
03:41 I know that the second that she feels like she's able,
03:44 she'll be telling me that she's ready to go.
03:46 >> Thanks.
03:49 >> Yep.
03:49 >> Does anyone else have any questions?
03:52 Okay, Daniel, go ahead.
03:54 >> Yeah, two early morning games for you.
03:58 I know you played the early one at the beginning of the year with the kids.
04:02 Just what is it like?
04:03 Y'all haven't played a tournament since y'all were down in Florida the last time.
04:07 Just how's that different than maybe a regular week to week?
04:11 >> Yeah, I think our kids prefer them a little bit later than 11.
04:15 But when you're down in a place like this,
04:17 you wanna be able to get out and enjoy the day too.
04:19 So they're kind of come with the territory, but we started practicing at 11.
04:24 Once finals were over, we had a bunch of 11 o'clock practices last week
04:28 to kind of acclimate our bodies to getting up, getting around.
04:31 And I don't know, we've kind of got, I don't know,
04:34 we might have kept more morning people than I thought we did.
04:37 We've had good energy.
04:39 There's been a lot of smiles, a lot of laughs.
04:41 I haven't been having to really do much motivating or inspiring.
04:46 They've been in good moods.
04:47 So I don't know, maybe 11 o'clock is our thing.
04:50 But I'm anxious that our side of the bracket will both play,
04:55 our opponent will play after us tomorrow.
04:58 So we get a little bit extra rest when it comes to that too.
05:01 I hate the early games in preparation, but I love them once they're over.
05:05 >> Bouncing off what Ethan asked about Emory,
05:10 just kind of, is that kind of, are you looking to lengthen out the rotation at
05:14 all until you get Emory back or are you just kind of sticking with-
05:18 >> I mean, it's gonna be Chris and Jenna.
05:20 I mean, it's gonna be Chris, Jenna, and Keats coming off the bench.
05:22 That's our eight.
05:24 Carly Johnson's kind of sitting there.
05:26 She's been doing really good in practice.
05:28 And I think we could call on her if we needed to, but not quite probably ready.
05:31 And B's coming along as well.
05:34 So those are our only available players with Maren and
05:38 Lauren Lindsey sitting over there, kind of going through a red shirt,
05:42 gray shirt situation with those two kids.
05:44 So with Jenna, Christina, and Keats,
05:50 those will be our count on kids and then Carly when we need her.
05:53 >> Thank you, thanks, coach.
05:56 >> You got it.
05:56 >> Dudley.
05:59 You good?
06:09 >> I can ask one in the meantime while we wait on him.
06:16 >> Yeah, go.
06:16 >> I have one that popped in my head actually after the game on Saturdays.
06:20 I know y'all did all those personality stuff in the off season to try and
06:24 just get to know each other better.
06:25 I realized I noticed after the game that Mac and Sam talking about Talia,
06:30 they said she's somebody who whenever, I mean,
06:33 clearly it just was a little rattled on Saturday.
06:35 She needs some encouraging words, but a lot of time just to herself.
06:39 It was like they were picking up on personality things.
06:41 I'm just wondering if there's other ways you've seen that stuff pay off.
06:44 It seemed like a clear example of them knowing their teammate better.
06:48 >> No, it's paid off.
06:49 I mean, at the end of the year, we'll sit down, I think,
06:52 and probably come up with a list of it, but it's a growing list.
06:56 And they're exactly right.
06:57 Talia is an eight, and we have several eights on our team and coaching staff.
07:04 And they do need some time.
07:05 They don't need words sometimes.
07:07 They need their space.
07:08 They need their time.
07:10 And then they come out of it.
07:11 What I noticed from Talia, which is the first time I've ever seen it in a freshman,
07:16 her shot wasn't going so she turned to defense.
07:18 That's a big step, man.
07:21 That's a big step.
07:23 Now she's emotional.
07:25 And don't judge her because sometimes people look at her and
07:28 they think one thing and it's another.
07:31 They think she's pouty or they think that she's mad or pissed.
07:36 She's not.
07:37 That's just the way she deals with things.
07:39 And she's not the only one.
07:40 Sam's an eight too.
07:42 Coach Todd's an eight.
07:43 We've got a lot of eights.
07:44 Jaycee's an eight.
07:45 We got a lot of eights.
07:46 And knowing those things about each other, Lacey's made a card,
07:50 which I carry right here in my little handy dandy thing I carry on every road trip.
07:57 And when I have to have a crucial conversation with one of my players or
08:02 my staff, I go to that card.
08:04 And it gives me some guidance.
08:07 I still trust my gut a lot.
08:09 There's times I don't.
08:11 I look over there and go, hey, Miriam's a two, three, I know.
08:14 And she's a helper and she's a peacemaker and she wants everybody to get along.
08:18 And but I do think it helps.
08:22 We coach these kids fairly, but we don't treat them equally.
08:26 because not everybody needs equality.
08:28 They need equitable treatment.
08:30 They need to be talked to the way they need to be talked to.
08:33 They need to be heard the way they need to be heard.
08:35 And if I come at a kid that gets defensive with a real tough tone,
08:41 then that message is never going to get heard.
08:43 So I think I said when we first started talking about at the beginning of the year,
08:48 I have kind of pooh-poohed these tests like this in the past.
08:53 I really have.
08:55 These personality tests, I've never put much stock in.
08:58 But I think because Lacey was such a strong believer in it,
09:01 it got me down that path and spent a little bit more time with.
09:05 And I have seen ways, and I think there's still ways we can all grow from it.
09:09 But to hear Mac and Sam say that about them,
09:11 that shows that that stuff's being applied.
09:14 [BLANK_AUDIO]
09:17 >> Can you hear me now?
09:18 >> You're good.
09:19 >> We can.
09:20 >> All right, I wanted to ask the question because this will be the first time in
09:23 40 years I've done it from a doctor's office.
09:26 >> I'll get you, man, you're all right.
09:27 >> It's just a regular checkup.
09:29 But obviously, you talked about the schedule and how tough it was.
09:35 And certainly it has been.
09:36 Talk about how you've done so far and
09:38 what are your main things you want to finish up before you get into the SEC play?
09:42 >> Yeah, I mean, we're starting to shoot the ball a little bit better.
09:45 We're taking care of it better.
09:46 Our shot quality is going up.
09:48 I think we've eliminated some of these shots that nobody in the world can make.
09:54 I think defensively, we've learned to trust each other a little bit.
09:57 We're more games into accepting our roles have been identified, but
10:03 it takes a while to accept them once you get there.
10:05 I think our rotations because of injuries and
10:09 departures has kind of solidified itself and I think now we can go to work.
10:14 I've seen a big change in our practices.
10:16 So I hope those things carry over to games because we're gonna have to really be
10:20 good, we're gonna have to be, not be able to practice too long.
10:25 So we have to practice sharply so that we can have our legs when it comes game time.
10:29 But, sorry, fighting off a little Florida cold.
10:36 I know- >> I got a stethoscope and
10:37 stuff we can use over here.
10:38 >> Yeah, can we get a diagnosis there?
10:40 >> Yeah.
10:42 >> From what I've seen in the SEC play,
10:44 we're gonna have to rebound it defensively a little bit better.
10:46 If we do all the things defensively that we've done to create a missed shot and
10:54 these teams in the SEC have kids that can just rebound and stick it back in,
10:58 that really doesn't do us a lot of good.
11:00 So we have got to get committed to hitting people and
11:06 we let people run by sometimes.
11:09 So the defensive rebounding and then continuing down that path of not turning
11:13 it over and taking really good shots, we are starting to gain confidence in our
11:16 shots, so I think we got to keep getting more and more of them.
11:19 >> All right, appreciate it.
11:22 >> Yeah, hey, good luck down there.
11:23 >> [LAUGH] >> It's one of those places where I want
11:27 to say stay positive, but you almost want to be negative in the doctor's office.
11:30 >> Yeah, absolutely.
11:32 >> Never understood how we get that term so backwards, but hope you're negative.
11:36 >> Yes.
11:39 >> All right, Jacob, we'll wrap up with you.
11:41 >> Hey, coach, I just wanted to ask you about, you used the term,
11:45 the Coach Cal arrogant term about the way you guys played against UAPB.
11:50 Last Wednesday, you used it after the Samford game.
11:52 Obviously, Illinois is a Big Ten opponent, but UIC as well.
11:56 How is, you talked about having conversations with your team in practice
12:00 about addressing every game and being ready to play every game.
12:03 How have you seen that kind of taken by the team, obviously, after the loss and
12:08 in preparation for this tournament?
12:10 >> It was one of those ones that hurts you enough to make some changes.
12:14 Nothing changes until you make changes.
12:16 So we've made some changes, and
12:17 I think the kids have seen the positive results of that.
12:20 It was real clear watching that film.
12:23 I mean, it was just so blatantly clear.
12:27 So you've asked for ways, so I'll tell you.
12:30 We've talked about, and we say it in practice, and we say it in pregame,
12:34 hey, be on the good clips.
12:36 We make a good, the bad, and the ugly, kind of a three-stage,
12:41 don't be on the ugly, man.
12:43 You don't wanna be that kid everybody's looking at, going,
12:46 what is happening here?
12:47 What just happened?
12:49 They just walked by you, or you just did something completely out of character.
12:53 What is going on?
12:54 You don't wanna be on that part of the film.
12:57 Because to me, that's when that arrogance steps in there.
12:59 Hey, we can just go out there, and I don't have to really hit anybody, or
13:03 I don't have to cut when they cut.
13:05 I'm so fast, I can make up for it.
13:08 Not anymore.
13:09 The talent has gotten so spread out across our country.
13:12 And I mean, now with the rest of our schedule, I mean, USC's good too.
13:15 You're not gonna catch us being arrogant.
13:18 I don't think another game out of the year.
13:20 But sometimes it takes that one slap in the face.
13:23 Dudley and I have talked about this before.
13:27 When it happens in baseball, sees everybody goes, that's just baseball.
13:31 I've always wondered why nobody ever says, that's just basketball.
13:35 They don't ever say that about a basketball game.
13:37 All that happens all the time in baseball.
13:39 Well, it can happen in any sport.
13:41 And I think sometimes it has to happen to you.
13:44 I think it's really hard to learn all the time from winning, and
13:46 you need a tough lesson.
13:47 So we got ours, and I think we took it.
13:51 Nobody pointed fingers at anybody.
13:54 They took a lot of responsibility and accepted a lot of the blame.
13:57 And in fact, probably heaped more upon themselves than even the coaches did.
14:01 So no loss is a good loss.
14:06 But if you learn from them, they don't have to be terrible losses.
14:09 >> And then you touched on my next question a little bit,
14:12 talking about Talia's impact on the defensive side of the ball.
14:15 Mikayla and Sam both talked about, hey, I don't think she had a bad game against.
14:19 Sam thought she was really impressive on the defensive side of the ball.
14:23 And so what have you seen from her throughout the season,
14:26 grasping defensive concepts and then just being a man-to-man defender in general,
14:30 that part of the game that's not talked about probably enough?
14:33 >> Yeah, it's how she earned her position starting because of how she defended.
14:38 There's always gonna be concepts that she's gonna get better and better at.
14:41 Because literally right now, Jacob, every word that comes out of our mouth is
14:46 literally a new terminology for her or a new scheme.
14:49 And she looks around and goes, well, what the hell does that mean?
14:53 And once she figures it out, she goes and does it.
14:55 But she stole the ball in the inbounds, laid it in, and
14:58 she started picking the kid up full court and really hounding her.
15:00 And she takes a lot of pride in taking charges.
15:04 I think it's more so once everybody gets comfortable playing with her, so
15:08 she can go help other places too.
15:10 Tendencies as a freshman is to worry too much about your man,
15:13 cuz you don't wanna be on that ugly field, cuz your man did something.
15:17 But I think what Mac and Sam have been really instrumental in helping her with
15:22 is knowing that, hey, you didn't have a bad game, you just didn't shoot it well.
15:28 That doesn't mean [BLANK_AUDIO]
15:35 On having to be great every single game to make a McDonald's All-American team or
15:40 to make player of the year for Gatorade in your state.
15:43 You really can't afford a bad game.
15:46 You can do that in the college level cuz you got teammates.
15:49 And I really think what our kids are starting to grasp is that it's kinda nice
15:53 not to have to have the pressure to go out there and get 25 a night.
15:58 Dunji used to talk about it all the time.
16:00 Cuz I loved one night just to show up and be able to just play and
16:03 see what happens.
16:04 So I think what they're realizing, and Talia too, Mac and
16:08 Sam can hit you for 25 in a hurry too.
16:10 Taylor can hit you for that, and Miriam's got it in her too.
16:13 So I think that the comfortable zone, we're been growing a lot, so
16:19 we've not had much comfort.
16:22 I think Talia is gonna continue to see more and more on both offense and defense.
16:26 But defense is a lot of effort, a lot of want to, and man,
16:30 when she did the other night, it completely changed, I thought, the second half.
16:34 So I'm glad those two kids pointed that out too.
16:37 >> And then last thing, or sorry.
16:41 >> Go ahead.
16:41 >> No, go ahead.
16:42 >> I was just gonna ask one more thing.
16:44 I know you like to let your team enjoy these trips.
16:47 So can you give us a peek behind the curtain on any fun vacation plans here?
16:52 >> Yeah, Lacey got us a picnic on the beach today.
16:55 I don't think our kids really knew what it was gonna be.
16:58 I heard them on the bus going, we're gonna be out there how long?
17:01 We're gonna be doing what?
17:03 And once we climbed over that retaining wall, there's this real nice setup,
17:07 little gazebo setup with tables and pillows and
17:11 carpet right there on the sand, the wind was blowing.
17:14 And I mean, it was beautiful.
17:16 And you could just hear that sound in their voice like, wow,
17:18 this is more than what I was anticipating.
17:21 So a game of football broke out on the wake with some of our kids.
17:28 And I was talking to a couple that was there just sitting on the beach.
17:32 And he said, I can't believe you're letting your kids play football over there.
17:35 Don't y'all have a game tomorrow?
17:36 I said, we do.
17:37 I said, we do, but I've learned a long time ago.
17:39 Probably if I don't let them do stuff like that,
17:41 then they're gonna get hurt in the game.
17:42 So I've never, we played tackle football one time before one of our biggest games
17:47 when I was an assistant coach.
17:48 I learned that from Kevin McGuff.
17:50 Injuries are gonna happen.
17:51 So obviously we don't put them in situations where they're gonna be too tired.
17:56 But I mean, again, if we wanted to keep them in the hotel,
18:00 I'd take them to some northern city that was iced in and snowed in and
18:04 we didn't have the desire, we wouldn't come to Florida.
18:08 But I think the cultural experiences, the times you spend with your teammates,
18:13 playing in the sand, the girls came down and played with my boys.
18:16 They built sandcastles.
18:18 We were fighting off seagulls, playing football.
18:20 I truly believe in our sport, those things will be as remembered as much as
18:26 the two games we're getting ready to play.
18:27 So I don't wanna be that guy that that's all we remember about their experience
18:33 in college, but you do have to walk a fine line with that.
18:36 You have to go out and perform well and these kids know that.
18:38 They know that we're gonna, it's the old work hard, play hard method or whatever.
18:42 But they know that they're gonna do that.
18:43 If they'll work hard in practice, we're gonna give them something fun.
18:46 And we'll take them to the mall tonight and kinda let them spread out and
18:49 eat on their own.
18:50 And I get criticized for that some, I don't know what they're eating.
18:54 And if they're not gonna eat right, we don't have a chance.
18:56 I trust them.
18:58 So you have to give them some trust until they stop earning it.
19:01 But we'll go shopping tonight and then we'll see, we'll be done tomorrow by 11.
19:07 We play at 11, we'll be done before the sun goes down.
19:10 So depending on how quickly we can get our film knocked out,
19:13 we got something else fun planned for tomorrow.
19:15 >> All right, Daniel.
19:19 >> I was just gonna sneak in one more.
19:23 What else is in that box if you don't mind sharing, if you can share?
19:28 >> Pens, phone chargers, my cards that I write the kids on.
19:35 Notes that I get from various coaches, notes I get from players.
19:42 The notes that I handwrite them and give them for each game.
19:45 I've got three or four different sizes.
19:48 I'm fascinated by roadies.
19:49 I stood backstage and watched roadies load and unload stage crews.
19:57 So it helps me stay organized.
19:58 So I've got three or four different sizes of those I carry around and
20:01 each thing's kind of got their spot.
20:04 My calendar's in there, play cards, game notes, scouting reports, stuff like that.
20:11 >> Is that something you've done your entire career or is that a new thing?
20:16 >> Head coaching, my head coaching career, yeah.
20:18 And then they kind of, each one of them kind of becomes a time capsule for
20:23 that year.
20:24 At the end of the year, I clean them out and put in the last copy of Kylie's game
20:28 notes, all the box scores, all our practice schedules.
20:32 Anything that reminds me of that year, it goes up on a shelf.
20:38 So I've got 10 of those sitting there now.
20:39 Something I wanted to do is when I was an assistant coach,
20:43 I kept writing in my little book.
20:45 When I'm a head coach, I'm gonna do things this way.
20:47 So that's when it started.
20:49 >> Thanks, coach.
20:52 >> You got it.
20:54 >> All right, thanks everyone.
20:55 We'll do a Zoom after the game tomorrow, just so a heads up.
20:59 I'll send a link tomorrow morning.