Iowa coach interview
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00:00 [BLANK_AUDIO]
00:06 >> All right, we're ready to questions for coach.
00:08 [BLANK_AUDIO]
00:12 >> Brian, I saw a lot of reaction on social media,
00:15 different colleagues of yours saying, congratulating you.
00:18 What did all the texts and messages you've received mean?
00:22 >> It's been great, Tom, I really appreciate it.
00:25 I've been in the business a long time.
00:27 I've made a lot of friends and have a lot of respect for various people.
00:33 And whether it be players that I coached or coaches that I worked with or
00:37 coached against, so if they recognize you, you certainly appreciate it.
00:43 >> Beth was obviously named as the permanent AD.
00:47 Just what are your thoughts on that?
00:50 >> It's great.
00:51 I'm happy that she can do her job now the way she wants to.
00:57 I think one of the things that impressed me about her was, from the beginning,
01:00 I think she was really doing the job and not worried about trying to get the job.
01:05 And a lot of respect for how she's approached everything.
01:09 My meetings with her have been outstanding.
01:12 She's got great vision.
01:14 She's got a great personality and she's eager to move our program forward along
01:19 with everybody else, so looking forward to working with her.
01:23 >> Anything from this last time you played Purdue that you'll take into this game?
01:27 >> Well, I hope so.
01:29 We didn't play very well.
01:30 We didn't rebound well.
01:33 Our defense was not what it needs to be.
01:37 And they're a hard team to defend.
01:38 We all recognize that.
01:40 But our defense was not connected at all in that game.
01:45 So we have to be better.
01:50 >> The injury that Josh went through his senior year of high school,
01:54 how did you just see him deal with that and help him kind of-
01:57 >> He just kind of ignored it.
01:58 I'm fine.
02:01 I mean, he never said one thing about it.
02:02 I really, and I've said this before,
02:05 I thought we were really gonna have to redshirt him.
02:07 But he was ready to go and he's really good for us.
02:10 Won some games last year because of him.
02:13 So, yeah, I think you're seeing, obviously somebody's a little bit different
02:18 after having time to get his strength back.
02:21 He was always a really good athlete.
02:23 >> Was there legitimate discussions of are we gonna redshirt or?
02:27 >> It never really got to that because he was cleared to play and
02:33 he said I'm ready to go.
02:34 We felt like we needed him and we did.
02:37 >> Expect Patrick to play on Saturday?
02:40 >> 50/50.
02:44 >> How would you describe Josh's personality on the court and off it?
02:49 >> It's about the same.
02:49 He's pretty quiet, but really locked in, really focused.
02:56 He's a serious guy and he's an intense competitor.
03:05 But he's also really cerebral, Mike.
03:08 I mean, he really knows and understands the game.
03:12 And he knows and understands what the game plan is.
03:15 And he's a great team guy in the sense that it's never about him.
03:25 But then he ends up impacting the game in a big way.
03:28 >> When he's in with Tony, do you really have a point guard or
03:32 a shooting guard or do you just have two guards?
03:35 >> Pretty much just have two guards.
03:36 And I think that's the beauty of it, cuz they both enjoy having it and
03:41 they both can play without it and they're both effective.
03:44 Sometimes guys, they're fine with it, but they're not as effective.
03:49 They both are.
03:49 >> Something that I've noticed these last few games is that the lineup
03:55 is kinda tightened up, you're not going as deep into the bench.
03:58 Is that something that- >> I prefer not to, but
04:01 sometimes the way the game goes will dictate that.
04:03 I think probably more so in the Nebraska game maybe than the Minnesota game.
04:10 >> With Josh, how much is it a challenge of just trying to get him to be more
04:16 aggressive, is that something like you- >> Well, I think you can see that happening.
04:20 I mean, he's had the green light, as far as I'm concerned, since he got here.
04:24 He's always been a guy who could go get a bucket, go make a play.
04:28 As I've said many times, he's a really good defender.
04:32 He'll be a good rebounder as well at his size.
04:37 He can guard bigger guys, smaller guys.
04:40 Just a very, very effective, very valuable player in our program.
04:44 >> Tony's impacting you guys in so many ways on both ends.
04:47 How important is that right now for playing like a senior, but
04:50 the assists, the steals?
04:52 >> Yeah, and he seemingly can make big plays at important times in the game,
04:59 which you need your veteran guys to do.
05:02 He recognizes that.
05:03 I've just really been impressed with his overall performance, but
05:09 in particular, his ability to lead in that regard and
05:13 impact the game in a variety of ways.
05:14 I think he's always been good at that.
05:15 >> What makes Purdue's offense as a whole so efficient?
05:20 >> Say that again?
05:21 >> Purdue's offense efficiency, I think, is-
05:24 >> Yeah, they have veteran guys.
05:28 They have the National Player of the Year.
05:29 They have multiple three-point shooters.
05:30 They have depth and competitive guys at every spot.
05:36 You really have to defend on every possession to stop them.
05:43 Matt runs really good stuff, always has.
05:45 He gets the ball to people that he wants to have opportunity to score, and
05:50 they do a good job.
05:51 You're a very unselfish group.
05:52 >> What are the challenges that you face as a program
05:58 that an administrator can help mitigate, change, enhance, help you move forward?
06:05 >> Well, I think a lot of ways.
06:08 I mean, I worked for a great one in Gary Barn.
06:13 I've been really lucky.
06:14 I've said that before.
06:16 The ADs that I've worked with, worked for, and I kind of, I will say this,
06:22 you can't have any success in this business unless you have that kind of
06:26 relationship with your athletic director.
06:28 It has to be a partnership.
06:29 And we also have to understand that
06:36 that person is also in charge of every other sport that's here.
06:39 So we can't have tunnel vision, like I want what I want, and that's it.
06:44 Now, we identify the things that we need to do moving forward,
06:49 whether it be with facilities or now with NIL,
06:55 with pretty much anything that impacts our program.
06:59 So there's a constant communication going on between us.
07:03 We meet regularly to talk about our collective vision for the program moving forward.
07:12 Obviously, sometimes that requires funds.
07:15 How do we do that?
07:18 I'm prepared to help.
07:21 She's ready to step up and help in that area.
07:25 So I think for her, you look at her resume and her background,
07:32 she knows and understands how to get it done.
07:35 And I think we'll work together to make that happen.
07:39 >> Saw the video in Minnesota of you coming in the locker room after the game,
07:44 and guys giving you a little shower.
07:46 Just what all was that like for you?
07:49 >> It was great.
07:49 You don't get to do that very much.
07:54 And we talk about this all the time.
07:59 There's a business side to this, everything that we do.
08:02 But they accomplished something really special.
08:07 They won three in a row.
08:08 They got down 10 to 1, came back, and really stuck together.
08:12 We had great contribution from a lot of different people.
08:15 So it's a great feeling in a locker room.
08:18 But they felt really good for me, and they wanted to have fun.
08:24 And you want them to have fun.
08:25 The journey is, like I said, it can be business-like, but
08:30 we have to enjoy the ride, and that was a lot of fun for all of us.
08:34 >> That spin move that Brock had in the middle of the lane,
08:37 I think it was in the second half, and then he ended with that floater.
08:40 I think he sent the Minnesota defender kind of sliding away.
08:43 Is that something that is, I don't know, unique, having that type of body control,
08:48 especially at his size, being able to finish?
08:52 >> Yeah, I mean, that's what makes him special.
08:54 He has great feel for that.
08:55 It was a big play in the game.
08:58 It was a point in the game where a nice momentum shift, big hoop like that.
09:05 The bench was really involved, really excited.
09:09 And just when you get a guy that performs that way off the bench,
09:16 it's so impactful.
09:18 >> There's a, Beth has conducted, and I guess the department has conducted
09:22 a feasibility study on Carver, what may happen next phase.
09:27 She's expressed her interest in bringing the students close to the floor.
09:31 What's kind of your assessment on what maybe needs to happen with
09:35 the whole structure, which has been here for 40 years?
09:37 >> Yeah, I think some changes have to be made.
09:40 I think she's thinking that through and looking at options.
09:46 Again, that's gonna require a great deal of fundraising.
09:51 And a lot of people have to, when you think about what's going on right now,
09:56 we're finishing up some other projects.
09:59 So I feel confident that we'll get that done and
10:03 moving forward, exactly what it's gonna look like, I'm not sure yet.
10:07 But she's on top of that.
10:08 >> When you're in a way arena and the student section's right on you,
10:13 like some places the zone, how much, is that a distraction for you guys?
10:17 Is it something you guys have to deal with?
10:19 >> It's one of the reasons why we do the meetings on the court.
10:26 So once we move there, it's not a factor.
10:32 If you try to do it and they're right behind,
10:38 it would be more difficult to communicate what you wanna do.
10:41 But we move out on the court, team's there, you can't even see them.
10:45 They might say stuff during the game, but they really can't affect the guys that
10:51 are on the floor, they try to mess with the guys that are on the bench.
10:54 Sometimes a little bit of jaw in there, but that's all part of it.
10:59 >> All right, thanks, guys.
11:01 >> Thanks, Frank.
11:02 (laughing)