WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.560 --> 00:00:03.879 Historic day, the introduction of Alex Jensen, the seventeenth head 2 00:00:03.919 --> 00:00:07.759 coach of the Utah men's basketball program. Our next guest 3 00:00:07.839 --> 00:00:09.839 is well qualified to talk about the hire. 4 00:00:10.000 --> 00:00:11.400 He worked with him at the Jazz. 5 00:00:11.560 --> 00:00:15.320 Smithy also knows the bio arrhythms of the University of Utah. 6 00:00:15.439 --> 00:00:19.600 Richard Smith on a Monday afternoon, Smitty, Happy Monday, sir, 7 00:00:19.640 --> 00:00:21.839 how are you, Spence. 8 00:00:21.920 --> 00:00:24.800 We're doing good. I appreciate you having me on. It's 9 00:00:24.800 --> 00:00:27.280 fun to be able to be on with you on 10 00:00:27.359 --> 00:00:32.439 a day when one of my good friends is getting 11 00:00:32.479 --> 00:00:35.320 introduced as the head coach of the University of Utah. 12 00:00:35.399 --> 00:00:39.039 It's a great day for him, but even better day 13 00:00:39.079 --> 00:00:40.439 probably for the university. 14 00:00:41.240 --> 00:00:43.719 So let's dig into it, Smitty, as I referenced, you 15 00:00:43.799 --> 00:00:46.520 spent a number of years with the Utah Jazz forty 16 00:00:46.520 --> 00:00:48.920 in total, and I believe nine of those you were 17 00:00:48.920 --> 00:00:52.399 a coworker with Alex Jensen, who was the lead assistant 18 00:00:52.439 --> 00:00:54.679 under Quinn Snyder, and then Alex spent one year with 19 00:00:54.799 --> 00:00:56.039 Will Hardy before. 20 00:00:55.759 --> 00:00:58.640 Heading down to Dallas. What do we need to know? 21 00:00:58.679 --> 00:01:01.000 What should we know about al Alex Jensen, the coach 22 00:01:01.039 --> 00:01:03.359 and the person somebody who work closely with him. What 23 00:01:03.359 --> 00:01:05.959 would you say to our community about the what what 24 00:01:06.000 --> 00:01:07.519 they should know about their new head coach. 25 00:01:09.120 --> 00:01:12.079 Well, first of all, I've known Alex ever since he 26 00:01:12.120 --> 00:01:15.159 was a player after you for for Rickmy Jerris, and 27 00:01:15.200 --> 00:01:17.920 of course then he went to played overseas for a 28 00:01:18.000 --> 00:01:19.680 number of years, and then when he came back and 29 00:01:19.719 --> 00:01:23.040 got into coaching, he actually was working with Coachman Jerifs 30 00:01:23.079 --> 00:01:26.640 at Saint Louis University and then uh and then ended 31 00:01:26.680 --> 00:01:29.519 up going to the G League and being an NBA 32 00:01:30.439 --> 00:01:32.959 G League Coach of the Year while he was there, 33 00:01:33.000 --> 00:01:35.599 before he got to the Jazz and he's he's not 34 00:01:35.640 --> 00:01:38.480 only got a great basketball resume, but he's got all 35 00:01:38.519 --> 00:01:42.200 of obviously his roots, uh, you know here in the 36 00:01:42.239 --> 00:01:48.040 state of Utah. He's uh, he's a Centerville guy, Wumont grad, 37 00:01:48.760 --> 00:01:54.280 University of Utah grad, all all whack player. He's just 38 00:01:54.400 --> 00:01:58.000 a he's a solid guy. He's a solid basketball guy. 39 00:01:58.599 --> 00:02:01.200 He's a guy who's going to get into the homes 40 00:02:01.200 --> 00:02:05.000 of a lot of a lot of recruits, especially in 41 00:02:05.040 --> 00:02:07.680 the western region of the United States. And I think 42 00:02:07.719 --> 00:02:10.439 that's probably one of the main things that the University 43 00:02:10.439 --> 00:02:13.120 of Utah needs right now is someone who's you know, 44 00:02:13.120 --> 00:02:16.479 as you're looking at what what BUYU has been able 45 00:02:16.520 --> 00:02:19.560 to do the last couple of years with Mark Pope 46 00:02:19.599 --> 00:02:23.479 and now with Kevin Young in their recruiting base, and 47 00:02:23.599 --> 00:02:26.439 with all of this nil stuff going on, you know, 48 00:02:26.520 --> 00:02:29.479 one of the things that the University of Utah probably 49 00:02:29.520 --> 00:02:32.599 has has fallen behind on is just the ability to 50 00:02:32.719 --> 00:02:36.400 recruit the players they need to compete uh at a 51 00:02:36.439 --> 00:02:39.599 conference like the Big Twelve and and and hopefully for 52 00:02:39.719 --> 00:02:42.319 them and be able to get themselves back in the 53 00:02:42.439 --> 00:02:46.360 national stage at some point. And I think Alex Jensen 54 00:02:46.439 --> 00:02:50.280 has all the credentials and all the back background to 55 00:02:50.319 --> 00:02:51.919 be able to be able to do that. 56 00:02:52.599 --> 00:02:52.719 UH. 57 00:02:52.879 --> 00:02:55.039 And that's been the I think the big crux of 58 00:02:55.080 --> 00:02:59.000 what the US issues have been for the men's basketball 59 00:02:59.039 --> 00:03:00.759 program in recent years. 60 00:03:01.400 --> 00:03:02.960 So a lot of good stuff there, Smidia. 61 00:03:03.280 --> 00:03:06.680 I wonder how you would characterize because we've been talking 62 00:03:06.680 --> 00:03:11.159 about reasonable expectations right away for Alex And this is 63 00:03:11.199 --> 00:03:13.800 a question as we sit here on Saint Patrick's Day. 64 00:03:14.599 --> 00:03:17.759 It's difficult to fully answer because there are a number 65 00:03:17.759 --> 00:03:19.800 of months before the start of next year and we 66 00:03:19.840 --> 00:03:23.080 have no idea who's going to play for Alex. We 67 00:03:23.080 --> 00:03:25.319 don't know how many of these young men that are 68 00:03:25.319 --> 00:03:26.759 on the roster now will come back. We don't know 69 00:03:26.800 --> 00:03:29.080 who's going to bring in transferport or recruiting, what have you. 70 00:03:29.159 --> 00:03:32.360 But from your perspective, as somebody has been around this 71 00:03:32.439 --> 00:03:34.919 game for decades and decades, what would you say to 72 00:03:35.000 --> 00:03:38.479 the community about what a reasonable expectation is year one 73 00:03:38.919 --> 00:03:40.120 as Alex's the head coach. 74 00:03:41.560 --> 00:03:45.520 Well, you'll see a team that's going to be steeped 75 00:03:45.639 --> 00:03:49.159 in the fundamentals. That's what that's what he grew up 76 00:03:49.159 --> 00:03:53.680 on playing for coach mcgarritt's and then when he you know, 77 00:03:53.719 --> 00:03:55.919 in his coaching career, when he was in the G League, 78 00:03:55.960 --> 00:03:58.240 he was not only the G League Coach of the Year, 79 00:03:58.240 --> 00:04:01.919 but he also they had the best defensive team in 80 00:04:01.960 --> 00:04:04.960 the G League. And so, uh you combine that with 81 00:04:05.000 --> 00:04:08.520 then his his work with Quinn Snyder and the Jazz 82 00:04:08.680 --> 00:04:12.000 and and when they had the Mitchell Golbayer teams. Uh, 83 00:04:12.039 --> 00:04:14.280 you know, those teams really got after they were top 84 00:04:14.360 --> 00:04:17.680 five defensive teams for a number of years. And so 85 00:04:17.720 --> 00:04:21.439 you're gonna see a team that that works hard, team 86 00:04:21.480 --> 00:04:25.600 that has all the defensive fundamentals in place. The thing 87 00:04:25.639 --> 00:04:29.160 that they're going to have to you know, solve is 88 00:04:29.199 --> 00:04:32.199 the issue of getting talent, and and that's really what 89 00:04:32.279 --> 00:04:36.079 it is. Craig Smith, you know, is a terrific coach. 90 00:04:37.759 --> 00:04:40.560 You know, he had he had hard working teams at 91 00:04:40.720 --> 00:04:44.040 you and his four years there. He obviously showed before 92 00:04:44.160 --> 00:04:47.600 that his ability to be able to win games at 93 00:04:47.720 --> 00:04:50.639 Utah State and the previous schools he was at. He 94 00:04:50.759 --> 00:04:54.120 just didn't have the horses, uh, you know, to be 95 00:04:54.160 --> 00:04:57.000 able to compete, you know, at the big twelfth level 96 00:04:57.040 --> 00:04:59.920 at the way that they wanted him to. Uh. That's 97 00:05:00.120 --> 00:05:02.759 what Alex's biggest deal is going to have to be 98 00:05:03.399 --> 00:05:07.639 is to surround himself with a group of people, coaches, 99 00:05:09.000 --> 00:05:13.240 nil people the keep on your staff that can help 100 00:05:13.319 --> 00:05:17.079 you to get the players that you need to be 101 00:05:17.160 --> 00:05:20.639 able to compete. The coaching will be there, the basketball 102 00:05:20.720 --> 00:05:24.879 component will be present. They're gonna just going to have 103 00:05:25.000 --> 00:05:27.959 to be able to get the players they need who 104 00:05:28.040 --> 00:05:31.000 have the talent and the skill level to be able 105 00:05:31.040 --> 00:05:34.079 to play and be able to, you know, to to 106 00:05:34.319 --> 00:05:38.279 win at that level. Once they get the personnel in place, 107 00:05:38.800 --> 00:05:41.680 then you'll be able to see a team that's making 108 00:05:41.800 --> 00:05:45.199 progress and a team that's going to have the chance 109 00:05:45.240 --> 00:05:47.000 to have a lot of success. 110 00:05:48.199 --> 00:05:50.319 From your vantage point, s Bindy, I've been talking about 111 00:05:50.319 --> 00:05:52.600 this today with our guests, and you know a lot 112 00:05:52.600 --> 00:05:55.319 of people here at the Huntsman Center. Whatever part of 113 00:05:55.399 --> 00:05:58.519 the ecosystem you kind of exist in with the University 114 00:05:58.560 --> 00:06:01.639 of Utah, if you're a former player, if you're an alum, 115 00:06:01.720 --> 00:06:05.160 if you're a current student, if you are a booster, 116 00:06:05.360 --> 00:06:07.600 if you're a season ticket holder, or if you just 117 00:06:07.639 --> 00:06:09.319 go to games, or if you cover games like we 118 00:06:09.399 --> 00:06:11.920 do on the media side, it feels like this has 119 00:06:11.959 --> 00:06:15.079 been a decision for Mark Harlan that has been wildly 120 00:06:15.439 --> 00:06:18.240 you know, widely, i should say, and consistently applauded as 121 00:06:18.279 --> 00:06:18.959 the right move. 122 00:06:19.639 --> 00:06:20.800 Does it feel that way to you? 123 00:06:20.839 --> 00:06:23.480 I mean, this is a basketball community that's badly in 124 00:06:23.560 --> 00:06:25.920 need of some sort of shot of life, and it 125 00:06:26.000 --> 00:06:28.160 kind of feels like the Alex Jensen news has been 126 00:06:28.399 --> 00:06:29.360 a little bit of that shot. 127 00:06:29.399 --> 00:06:30.920 Then maybe this community needs. 128 00:06:32.240 --> 00:06:35.079 Yeah. Well, I again, he's a guy that everybody in 129 00:06:35.120 --> 00:06:38.600 the community knows, they know of his background. He's not 130 00:06:38.720 --> 00:06:42.000 a guy who's coming in, you know, from the outside 131 00:06:42.439 --> 00:06:45.959 that who's trying to ingratiate himself with the fan base 132 00:06:46.120 --> 00:06:49.680 or or get people to know who he is. Everybody 133 00:06:49.720 --> 00:06:52.639 knows Alex He's a homegrown guy, you know. But at 134 00:06:52.639 --> 00:06:56.959 the same time, sometimes those things also come, you know, 135 00:06:57.040 --> 00:07:01.199 with their own set of circumstances that you, as the individual, 136 00:07:01.560 --> 00:07:05.240 you'll have to overcome. You know, people know what he's about, 137 00:07:05.319 --> 00:07:07.600 they know what kind of a coach, what kind of 138 00:07:07.639 --> 00:07:12.240 personality he has, they know how he's approached his career, 139 00:07:12.800 --> 00:07:17.000 you know, all along, and so there's not a getting 140 00:07:17.040 --> 00:07:21.279 to know you period with him in that regard. What 141 00:07:21.360 --> 00:07:24.399 it's going to take is the patience of the Utah 142 00:07:24.480 --> 00:07:28.600 fan base to understand that you don't just do this overnight. 143 00:07:29.000 --> 00:07:32.439 You have to have the players. And I know I'm 144 00:07:32.439 --> 00:07:35.759 being redundant and saying that, but that's that's the one 145 00:07:35.800 --> 00:07:39.720 issue that the you has had is being able to 146 00:07:39.759 --> 00:07:42.759 get those guys at that level. You see all the 147 00:07:42.839 --> 00:07:47.399 excitement that's been created in provo, you know, with the 148 00:07:47.480 --> 00:07:50.040 recruiting that the players they had. Mark Polpe did a 149 00:07:50.120 --> 00:07:54.199 terrific job parlaid that into, you know, even a bigger 150 00:07:54.240 --> 00:07:57.920 time job at a blue blood like Kentucky. They got 151 00:07:58.000 --> 00:08:01.560 Kevin Young to come from the NBA. Kevin Young is 152 00:08:01.560 --> 00:08:05.839 installed his own offense down there, in his own program, 153 00:08:06.199 --> 00:08:08.720 in the in the eyes of running it like an 154 00:08:08.839 --> 00:08:11.720 NBA type program. You know, Alex is going to have 155 00:08:11.800 --> 00:08:14.800 to compete with that, and in order to do that, 156 00:08:14.839 --> 00:08:17.439 he's going to be able to have He's going to 157 00:08:17.480 --> 00:08:20.480 have the opportunity to get the kind of players who 158 00:08:20.519 --> 00:08:22.399 can come in and do that. I mean, b y 159 00:08:22.519 --> 00:08:26.040 U doesn't just go out and get the number one 160 00:08:26.759 --> 00:08:30.439 so called rated recruit out of high school who's from Boston, 161 00:08:30.480 --> 00:08:34.440 Massachusetts and have them happen to come to Provo Utah 162 00:08:34.639 --> 00:08:38.279 like that doesn't just happen. That's something that's embedded in 163 00:08:38.440 --> 00:08:42.399 how they're approaching the job that they're doing down there, 164 00:08:42.679 --> 00:08:45.720 and he and Alex and his staff at the you 165 00:08:46.440 --> 00:08:48.279 is going to have to look at it with that 166 00:08:48.360 --> 00:08:51.399 kind of mindset to be able to figure out how 167 00:08:51.480 --> 00:08:54.919 they can go about creating that kind of excitement in 168 00:08:54.960 --> 00:08:59.279 their program to want to have players around the country 169 00:08:59.480 --> 00:09:02.159 who want to look at Utah and want to come 170 00:09:02.200 --> 00:09:06.600 and be part of the history and the fabric that 171 00:09:06.799 --> 00:09:10.759 Utah basketball has been for so long in this community. 172 00:09:11.559 --> 00:09:14.320 Let me ask you, Smitty and Richard Smith is with 173 00:09:14.399 --> 00:09:16.720 us forty years with the Jazz front office, nine of 174 00:09:16.759 --> 00:09:20.279 those years spent working with Alex Jensen. A lot of 175 00:09:20.279 --> 00:09:23.360 conversation about what Alex's staff is. 176 00:09:23.320 --> 00:09:26.639 Going to look like. And I'm old enough to remember when. 177 00:09:26.600 --> 00:09:30.200 Jerry Sloane had two assistant coaches and Don Magic Finger 178 00:09:30.240 --> 00:09:32.360 Sparks was the trainer and TC and away we go 179 00:09:32.399 --> 00:09:32.840 and we're good. 180 00:09:32.840 --> 00:09:33.559 That's all we need. 181 00:09:33.879 --> 00:09:38.879 Well, now there is a traveling party where the coaches 182 00:09:38.960 --> 00:09:41.360 take up an entire wing of the plane. It's a 183 00:09:41.399 --> 00:09:44.840 different day and age. And I've said before and I 184 00:09:44.879 --> 00:09:47.879 have no problem saying this. I know that youth fans 185 00:09:47.960 --> 00:09:50.000 might get in their feelings about whether or not they 186 00:09:50.000 --> 00:09:52.039 should copy what Byu has done. 187 00:09:52.600 --> 00:09:53.919 Well, I think they should. 188 00:09:54.080 --> 00:09:57.639 And Kevin's staff is comprised of former NBA and g 189 00:09:57.759 --> 00:10:00.600 Lee coaches on the bench. It's comprised of former NBA 190 00:10:00.720 --> 00:10:04.159 people in their strength and conditioning office. It's comprised of 191 00:10:04.159 --> 00:10:07.399 a nutritionist that followed Kevin from the Phoenix Suns. And 192 00:10:07.440 --> 00:10:09.960 there are a lot of conversations about Andre Miller, who's 193 00:10:10.000 --> 00:10:12.679 coaching the g League right now. Uh, there's some other 194 00:10:12.759 --> 00:10:16.000 names out there, but generally speakings maydy, what sort of 195 00:10:16.240 --> 00:10:18.840 staff would you like to see Alex around himself with 196 00:10:18.879 --> 00:10:20.399 to give him the best chance to make this. 197 00:10:20.320 --> 00:10:24.080 Thing right, Well, he's gonna he's gonna be able to 198 00:10:24.120 --> 00:10:26.879 get the kind of people he wants to be able 199 00:10:26.879 --> 00:10:29.879 to work with him and have the same mindset in 200 00:10:29.919 --> 00:10:32.919 the same vision that he has. The really thing that 201 00:10:33.279 --> 00:10:34.480 the thing it boils. 202 00:10:34.120 --> 00:10:40.360 Down to, uh Spence is as simplistic as it sounds, 203 00:10:40.600 --> 00:10:44.320 and much to my cagrin because I don't like saying this, 204 00:10:44.840 --> 00:10:46.919 but you have to in this day and age. 205 00:10:46.720 --> 00:10:51.120 In college basketball, you have to have the financial backing 206 00:10:51.559 --> 00:10:54.679 in your ni L and your your your approach to 207 00:10:54.720 --> 00:10:59.240 be able to to get players from a financial standpoint. 208 00:10:59.600 --> 00:11:02.159 That's the reality of what it is now. I don't 209 00:11:02.159 --> 00:11:06.240 think that's going to be sustainable myself personally. As a 210 00:11:06.279 --> 00:11:08.440 side note, I think that's going to have to change 211 00:11:08.840 --> 00:11:11.039 at some point in the near future. I don't think 212 00:11:11.039 --> 00:11:14.519 college basketball can keep going down that road. But at 213 00:11:14.600 --> 00:11:18.559 the current time, that's what the lay of the land is. 214 00:11:18.639 --> 00:11:21.879 So if you don't have the money and you don't 215 00:11:21.919 --> 00:11:26.080 have the resources to be able to attract kids, because 216 00:11:26.120 --> 00:11:28.799 that's how kids are coming up now, whether we like 217 00:11:28.840 --> 00:11:32.600 it or not. The kids who are sophomores, juniors going 218 00:11:32.639 --> 00:11:36.200 into the senior year of high school now they're looking 219 00:11:36.240 --> 00:11:39.679 at programs and saying, how can that program benefit me 220 00:11:40.080 --> 00:11:43.399 as an individual? Can it help me with my skills 221 00:11:43.440 --> 00:11:47.759 set and my talent get to a possible next level, 222 00:11:47.799 --> 00:11:51.879 which would be playing professionally. And also while I'm doing that, 223 00:11:52.320 --> 00:11:55.960 what are they going to do for me personally in 224 00:11:56.039 --> 00:11:59.919 terms of financial rewards? And so that's just the reality 225 00:12:00.080 --> 00:12:03.440 of it. And so unless the U has that platform 226 00:12:03.840 --> 00:12:07.720 to operate from and then they have a staff that 227 00:12:07.720 --> 00:12:11.720 that shows that they can help you to progress, they 228 00:12:11.720 --> 00:12:15.720 can help you to improve your ability to be able 229 00:12:15.720 --> 00:12:19.320 to continue playing and and maybe get a career out 230 00:12:19.360 --> 00:12:21.840 of this sport. Uh, then you're going to have a 231 00:12:21.840 --> 00:12:25.159 hard time. You're gonna be always swimming upstream. And that's 232 00:12:25.240 --> 00:12:27.279 that's what the that's what he's going to be dealing 233 00:12:27.279 --> 00:12:30.159 with now. So I would assume, and I don't know this. 234 00:12:30.960 --> 00:12:33.159 Alex and I have texted back and forth since you 235 00:12:33.240 --> 00:12:38.240 got the job, but we haven't talked personally. But he's, uh, 236 00:12:38.279 --> 00:12:41.240 he's gonna have I'm sure he took the job, uh 237 00:12:41.600 --> 00:12:45.120 with the knowledge that I'm going to have those kinds 238 00:12:45.559 --> 00:12:49.000 that kind of support and those kinds of resources to 239 00:12:49.120 --> 00:12:51.559 help me to get on that that kind of a 240 00:12:51.639 --> 00:12:55.200 playing field. And then from there we can take it, 241 00:12:55.720 --> 00:12:57.759 you know, to where we need to in terms of 242 00:12:57.799 --> 00:13:02.360 the basketball stuff. But that but the recruiting, getting eyes 243 00:13:02.960 --> 00:13:06.120 on your program, and getting interest in your program from 244 00:13:06.679 --> 00:13:10.159 players like that and from players in the transfer portal, 245 00:13:10.840 --> 00:13:13.120 all that stuff. You're going to have to attract them 246 00:13:13.159 --> 00:13:16.279 by the money that you have available and also the 247 00:13:16.320 --> 00:13:20.240 staff that you have around you to help those individuals 248 00:13:20.279 --> 00:13:24.879 feel like they can come and improve and get themselves 249 00:13:24.919 --> 00:13:28.600 into a better situation, you know, in their lives going forward. 250 00:13:28.679 --> 00:13:31.240 That's what he's going to have to be dealing with 251 00:13:31.600 --> 00:13:33.519 coming up in the near future. 252 00:13:34.000 --> 00:13:37.440 I know you actually just kind of answered what I'm 253 00:13:37.440 --> 00:13:39.320 about to ask you again, but I do want to 254 00:13:39.360 --> 00:13:43.480 elaborate on it because I feel like Alex taking the 255 00:13:43.600 --> 00:13:48.960 job Smithy is an indicator that things are good financially 256 00:13:49.240 --> 00:13:52.840 economically and the state of you know, the athletic department 257 00:13:52.879 --> 00:13:55.639 and what Mark Carlin and whoever else promised Alex that 258 00:13:55.679 --> 00:13:59.080 they would allocate towards his success. Do you read it 259 00:13:59.120 --> 00:14:01.679 the same way? Because I've been told by more than 260 00:14:01.720 --> 00:14:05.240 a few people that Dallas liked Alex and they wanted 261 00:14:05.279 --> 00:14:08.360 Alex to stay, and Alex and Natalie enjoyed living in Dallas, Like, 262 00:14:08.399 --> 00:14:11.799 I don't think this was a desperation job grab from 263 00:14:11.799 --> 00:14:13.159 a guy who had a job that he liked an 264 00:14:13.200 --> 00:14:15.240 awful lot. So the fact that he simply just took 265 00:14:15.279 --> 00:14:18.639 the job, doesn't that indicate to you that the promises 266 00:14:18.639 --> 00:14:21.200 that were made are you know, in place as far 267 00:14:21.240 --> 00:14:23.919 as the economic viability of where this program. 268 00:14:23.559 --> 00:14:28.279 Is, well, I would think so. I would think he 269 00:14:28.320 --> 00:14:31.679 wouldn't go into a job where he thought that it's 270 00:14:31.720 --> 00:14:34.840 going to be really an uphill climb for him and 271 00:14:34.879 --> 00:14:37.279 that he's going to have a hard time, you know, 272 00:14:37.440 --> 00:14:41.279 getting to any kind of a level of success. So 273 00:14:41.440 --> 00:14:43.879 that would that would seem to be you know, part 274 00:14:43.879 --> 00:14:47.240 and parcel with with the decision to take the offer 275 00:14:47.639 --> 00:14:50.559 that the University of Utage gave him. I do think 276 00:14:50.639 --> 00:14:53.840 that that, you know, the rich history of the of 277 00:14:53.879 --> 00:14:56.039 the program, you know, he's going to have to have 278 00:14:56.159 --> 00:15:00.360 people who have some kind of a profile around them 279 00:15:00.440 --> 00:15:05.000 or present that to prospective recruits in a way that 280 00:15:05.080 --> 00:15:08.559 they feel like that's enticing and that's exciting for them. 281 00:15:08.559 --> 00:15:11.360 And I would not be surprised if he was leaning 282 00:15:11.399 --> 00:15:14.799 on the Rick mcgerryus years in some way, whether that's 283 00:15:15.320 --> 00:15:20.159 bringing back players, former players, who are in the business 284 00:15:20.200 --> 00:15:23.519 you mentioned and Andre Miller, guys who can get you know, 285 00:15:23.960 --> 00:15:26.639 high school kids to at least look at the program 286 00:15:26.759 --> 00:15:29.080 and sit down and talk to them or that kind 287 00:15:29.159 --> 00:15:33.600 of thing. But also setting up a program where kids 288 00:15:33.600 --> 00:15:36.600 feel like again, you know, whether you know Utah fans 289 00:15:36.639 --> 00:15:40.480 want to admit it or not, BYU has gotten ahead 290 00:15:40.480 --> 00:15:43.559 of the curve on setting up what they have and 291 00:15:43.600 --> 00:15:47.360 so they've attracted and look, there's kids who are going 292 00:15:47.440 --> 00:15:49.759 to look at that program and say, hey, they can 293 00:15:50.159 --> 00:15:54.320 help me a lot by by how they've got it 294 00:15:54.399 --> 00:15:57.679 set up and how they're approaching their program and their 295 00:15:58.039 --> 00:16:01.960 skill development work and all those kinds of things. But 296 00:16:02.039 --> 00:16:04.759 you also have to play into the factor that these 297 00:16:04.840 --> 00:16:07.399 kids are also designed to go to a school. You know, 298 00:16:07.480 --> 00:16:10.879 that's a church related school that's in a small town. 299 00:16:11.320 --> 00:16:15.279 It's a college town in Provo. And you know, sometimes 300 00:16:15.279 --> 00:16:19.159 that works for you and sometimes that works against you. Now, 301 00:16:19.200 --> 00:16:23.440 the University of Utah is in a bigger city. It's 302 00:16:23.480 --> 00:16:27.080 a public school, it's got fifteen thousand seats, it's got 303 00:16:27.120 --> 00:16:30.919 a historic venue that they play in. They've got a 304 00:16:31.000 --> 00:16:33.960 rich tradition. You know, alex Is I would think is 305 00:16:34.039 --> 00:16:36.720 going to look to lean on all of those kinds 306 00:16:36.720 --> 00:16:39.480 of things that he can sell to recruits and the 307 00:16:39.519 --> 00:16:42.519 fact that they're right down the street literally from an 308 00:16:42.639 --> 00:16:46.039 NBA team, and that recruits, you know, should be looking 309 00:16:46.080 --> 00:16:48.960 at that it's an opportunity to come play in a 310 00:16:49.039 --> 00:16:52.519 setting where they can get not only the personal and 311 00:16:52.639 --> 00:16:55.960 career development that they might be looking for, but also 312 00:16:56.080 --> 00:16:59.559 be able to make connections and do the things that 313 00:16:59.600 --> 00:17:02.600 you do within a program to try and help you 314 00:17:03.000 --> 00:17:05.960 as an individual for when you're playing days are over. 315 00:17:06.319 --> 00:17:08.559 And so I would think that those are some of 316 00:17:08.559 --> 00:17:11.279 the main things that he'll be leaning on to try 317 00:17:11.319 --> 00:17:13.559 and sell as he tries to figure out how to 318 00:17:13.640 --> 00:17:15.960 go about the recruiting. 319 00:17:15.480 --> 00:17:20.559 Game on the BYU side of things, and I agree, 320 00:17:20.680 --> 00:17:23.319 you can get salty that maybe BYU was ahead of 321 00:17:23.359 --> 00:17:26.519 the curve on this stuff, but it doesn't look it 322 00:17:26.559 --> 00:17:27.640 doesn't matter what level. 323 00:17:27.680 --> 00:17:27.960 I mean. 324 00:17:28.079 --> 00:17:30.880 For years and years and years, I've heard front offices 325 00:17:31.200 --> 00:17:36.240 openly talk about copycat formulas to try to figure out 326 00:17:36.240 --> 00:17:38.200 what one team is doing really well, how can we 327 00:17:38.200 --> 00:17:41.480 get some of that. So complain about BYU figuring it out 328 00:17:41.440 --> 00:17:42.960 all you want, but they seem to be ahead of 329 00:17:43.000 --> 00:17:45.200 the curve with a couple of different things, and as 330 00:17:45.240 --> 00:17:49.319 you articulated earlier, very well, it's been a good run 331 00:17:49.400 --> 00:17:52.000 for them and doesn't look like it's ending anytime soon now. 332 00:17:52.400 --> 00:17:55.039 I know some BYU fans were upset with the sixth seed, 333 00:17:55.119 --> 00:17:58.640 because if you know, if it's a day that ends 334 00:17:58.680 --> 00:18:01.440 with why BYU fans are upset about something. 335 00:18:01.079 --> 00:18:03.400 Whether it's the CFP rankings or their sixth seed. 336 00:18:03.920 --> 00:18:08.440 I think you embrace the seed personally because of the 337 00:18:08.519 --> 00:18:11.119 location as opposed to being a five seed out. 338 00:18:10.960 --> 00:18:13.680 East or something. They're in Denver, but they. 339 00:18:13.559 --> 00:18:16.000 Get a VCU team, smitty coach by Ryan Odom, that 340 00:18:16.039 --> 00:18:20.200 has veteran guys. They have four seniors in their starting lineup. 341 00:18:20.599 --> 00:18:22.640 Three of those seniors or fifth year guys. One of 342 00:18:22.680 --> 00:18:25.240 them is a seventh year guy. They have two players 343 00:18:25.720 --> 00:18:28.920 two transfers on their roster that have experienced Elite eights. 344 00:18:29.400 --> 00:18:30.880 They have the A ten Player of the Year. They 345 00:18:30.960 --> 00:18:33.240 played a Utah State who's a good guard. They've got 346 00:18:33.279 --> 00:18:36.680 good guard play three players six' ten in the. Rotation 347 00:18:37.440 --> 00:18:40.000 LIKE byu is a three point five point, favorite, right 348 00:18:40.039 --> 00:18:42.200 and so this is not an easy, matchup but at 349 00:18:42.279 --> 00:18:43.400 least It's denver. 350 00:18:43.119 --> 00:18:44.279 And the LOCATION i think is. 351 00:18:44.319 --> 00:18:47.559 Good even maybe the seed not you know WHAT byu 352 00:18:47.599 --> 00:18:49.839 fans were hoping. For but what do you make of 353 00:18:49.839 --> 00:18:52.880 this matchup That kevin's up against first round and IS 354 00:18:52.960 --> 00:18:56.799 byu built maybe advance you, know for the first time 355 00:18:57.039 --> 00:18:59.519 since The jimmer fordet, years, RIGHT i mean that's the 356 00:18:59.599 --> 00:19:01.319 last time they advanced out in a round of thirty. 357 00:19:01.319 --> 00:19:05.119 Two, well this is a tough MATCH i. THINK i 358 00:19:05.160 --> 00:19:07.079 think this is one of the tougher matchups in the 359 00:19:07.119 --> 00:19:12.839 whole first round of THE ncaa. Tournament and then AND byu, 360 00:19:12.920 --> 00:19:18.160 fans fans in the state Of utah general don't FOLLOW 361 00:19:18.279 --> 00:19:21.759 bcu very, much and that's to be. Expected but let 362 00:19:21.799 --> 00:19:24.680 me tell you they are a very good. Team anybody 363 00:19:24.680 --> 00:19:27.200 who was paying attention to When Ryan odam was up 364 00:19:27.240 --> 00:19:30.079 At Utah state and the teams that they had there 365 00:19:30.119 --> 00:19:32.960 the couple of years he was. There they're very well, 366 00:19:33.000 --> 00:19:36.519 Coached they're very. Disciplined he's got a veteran. Group they 367 00:19:36.519 --> 00:19:40.000 are very good. Team and you, know for, me the 368 00:19:40.039 --> 00:19:42.599 whole game is going to hinge like it, did like 369 00:19:42.640 --> 00:19:44.839 we saw in The big twelve tournament last week FOR. 370 00:19:44.960 --> 00:19:48.319 Byu they had one night where they hit eighteen threes 371 00:19:48.880 --> 00:19:51.759 and they looked really, good and then the next night 372 00:19:51.799 --> 00:19:54.680 they were into a buzz saw defensively in one of 373 00:19:54.720 --> 00:19:57.440 the best teams in the country in my, opinion In, 374 00:19:57.559 --> 00:20:00.440 houston and they couldn't get those same look and they 375 00:20:00.480 --> 00:20:03.720 couldn't get the same, rhythm they couldn't get the same, 376 00:20:03.799 --> 00:20:08.200 feel and you saw what happened to. Them and so that, 377 00:20:08.279 --> 00:20:10.480 game to, me is Going thursday is going to boil 378 00:20:10.559 --> 00:20:13.920 down to WHETHER byu can't create the looks that they 379 00:20:13.960 --> 00:20:16.759 want and then have them in some kind of a 380 00:20:16.839 --> 00:20:19.680 rhythm where they feel comfortable taking. Them and they're going 381 00:20:19.759 --> 00:20:24.160 to have to make you, know twelve, thirteen fourteen threes 382 00:20:25.160 --> 00:20:28.079 to be able to win that, game because if they, 383 00:20:28.160 --> 00:20:32.200 don't they're going to struggle BECAUSE vcu is really good 384 00:20:32.559 --> 00:20:35.400 AND vcu is going to come after. Them and IF 385 00:20:35.480 --> 00:20:39.119 byu thinks that just the seating, thing you, know should 386 00:20:39.160 --> 00:20:42.880 get them by into a next round or, something they're fooling. 387 00:20:42.880 --> 00:20:46.119 Themselves they're going to have to come ready to go 388 00:20:46.480 --> 00:20:48.680 and really really have to grind. Out in The houston 389 00:20:48.759 --> 00:20:51.119 game may be a help to, them they may look 390 00:20:51.160 --> 00:20:53.319 at that and you, know be coming back with their 391 00:20:53.319 --> 00:20:56.400 tail between their legs, saying, well they really showed us 392 00:20:56.880 --> 00:20:59.680 you know what we need to do to get better 393 00:20:59.759 --> 00:21:02.480 and better At, Hurry otherwise it's going to be a 394 00:21:02.559 --> 00:21:05.480 very short appearance in THE ncaa. Term so that's going 395 00:21:05.559 --> 00:21:07.960 to be for me one of the more interesting, games 396 00:21:08.000 --> 00:21:10.160 not just BECAUSE i have, a you, know a rooting 397 00:21:10.200 --> 00:21:13.720 interest for the local, team but it's going to be 398 00:21:13.759 --> 00:21:17.960 a very good contest between two very well coached. Teams 399 00:21:18.200 --> 00:21:18.759 AND i want. 400 00:21:18.599 --> 00:21:21.160 To be, Clear i'm not SAYING vcu Is, houston not 401 00:21:21.200 --> 00:21:23.720