Speaker 1: Ball teams you care about, wins, losses and everything in between.
We talk it through on one O three, nine and
ninety eight three ESPN. The band look macnus of marches
right around the corner and the Cougars are in the
metal of it. It's time to talk some college basketball
on Cougar Sports with Ben Crittle.
Speaker 2: Welcome back Cougar Sports one of three, nine ninety eight
point three ESPN The Fan. I'm Ben Britle broadcasting from
our van Derwealth Studios Vanderwilt dot Com. Get on that
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Speaker 3: Nobody does it better than vander.
Speaker 2: Wealth at each time for a little college basketball Cougar Sports.
The only team in the state of Utah that's still
bawling out is the the Lady Coops of Brigham Young University,
led by League Kamard. They're balling out. They're in the
championship game for the WBIT. They're gonna be taken on Columbia.
Columbia is a team that has had a great season
twenty four and eight on the year and BYU on
a tear right now twenty six and eleven. But they
have been winning at a high rate towards the end
of the season, playing their best ball and into tournament play.
We're gonna get to know this team a little bit
better and their foe in this segment gotta be brought
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fifteen percent off your order. All right, let's welcome in
the head coach for the BA women's basketball team with
the most wins in his rookie season all time in
BYU women's basketball history.
Speaker 3: We've got Lee Kamard the bucket getter. What was not? Lee?
Speaker 4: Hey? What's going on up?
Speaker 3: Hey? Man?
Speaker 2: It's still a great season. One more, baby, one more.
How's it feel that it be in the post game scenario,
post season tournament scenario like this? So you gotta have
a lot of gratitude for the squad and what they've
been able to accomplish this year.
Speaker 5: Absolutely, it's been such a special group to be a
part of. And I just you know, for me, obviously
I want to win, but I just want their hard
work and urgency and just desire to get rewarded, you know,
because they've done everything that they're supposed to and they
approach it the right way and excited to go to
go to have a great competition.
Speaker 2: One last time, give us a little scouting report on Colombia.
As I mentioned, they've they've won a lot of ball
games this year, twenty four and eight. Their non conference,
they did some work.
Speaker 3: They beat Saint.
Speaker 2: John's, Northakota State, col Wisconsin or So that's the postseason,
excuse me. In the In the regular season, Butler, Ohio,
they had wins against South Dakota State, Manhattan, Wagner, Seaton Hall.
Is a nice victory for them. What do you see
on film? Give us a little scattering report.
Speaker 5: On Yeah, they you know, you watch these games in
the postseason. It was such an interesting dynamic of being
right on the bubble, which this team was as well,
and then playing in this w B A t And
it's amazing now, but the drop down of emotions that
night when you're watching the selections show something that you
have to overcome. And our team has done a great job,
and they've done a great job, and you see some
other teams that have played in this tournament and you
can just tell, like, hey, they're ready for spring break.
This season will be over. And then with our game
Monday against Kansas and preparing for Columbia, and now you
can just tell watching them on film that they're not
ready to be done either. And you know, there's a
lot of similarities. They play really hard, they're tough, they
share it really well. I feel like watching them, how
connected they are as a team, is as good as
it gets.
Speaker 4: They got a.
Speaker 5: Really good player that scores a lot of points. You know,
twenty points are just over twenty points a game, and
we got to work cut out for us. It's a
high quality team and they got a little bit more
experience in this They got a few older players, and
they've been, you know, a little bit further in postseason play.
Speaker 6: Than we have of late.
Speaker 2: You guys knocked off Kansas in order to get to
the championship game earlier this season February fourth.
Speaker 3: You lost by twenty one to Kansas. What changed? What happened?
What was the difference this go around?
Speaker 5: You know, every team that we've lost to and got
a second crack at this year, we've been successful. I
think that speaks to the character of this group. But
when we played them in early February, and that's not
to knock the outcome of that game, we had about
the flu going through our group, and our energy level
was completely different that night to what it was Monday night.
I think I think that surprise the players on Kansas
a little bit yesterday that it wasn't.
Speaker 4: Just oh, we're not going away.
Speaker 5: You know. It was a very similar game to the
February fourth game, and then we just had we just
had a little bit more plays made, and the game
was it was really close, but we were up nine
with twenty nine seconds up, and it shouldn't have been as.
Speaker 6: Close as it was.
Speaker 5: But we found a way to just hold on at
the end.
Speaker 2: Yeah, those are stressful moments right quarters alls through the roof.
If you haven't been in those situations, it can get
pretty dicey decision making. You're trying to scheme up things
to they create low rist scenarios. But uh, explain kind
of those final, those waning moments in situations like that,
what you're trying to communicate to your team and how
to how to calm them down and and not have
them be so you know tight in those uh, those
tough situations.
Speaker 5: Yeah, you know, it's one of those things where I'm
glad we're still playing and didn't have a duke moment in.
Speaker 4: The nca tournament.
Speaker 5: But but but our group, the group especially that was
on the court at the end, there is so much
that we're going to learn from those five possessions, even
you know, at the very end. And all we had
to do was get it in and get fouled, and
we did it good. A couple of times we had
we had a little apprehension of passing it in and
a little apprehension of hey, is this where I'm supposed
to go? Should I go get it?
Speaker 6: You know?
Speaker 5: And and so we talked a little bit about it,
but I guarantee you the next time we get in
that situation, those five, specifically, they'll be ready to go.
Speaker 3: Lee Kamard, head coach BA women's basketball.
Speaker 2: Here in your Utah ESPN Radio Network, you mentioned something
I think is is really important. When you have a letdown, right,
you're a bubble team and you feel like you got
to you have a chance to get into the NCAA
timber you don't make it, there can be a kind
of an emotional, psychological, you know, physical impact and it's
difficult to recover from that. How would you say this
team like internally reacted to it?
Speaker 3: Who led? How did you guys react as a coaching staff?
Speaker 4: Like?
Speaker 2: What allowed you guys to get over that hump and
get down, you know, get down to the right path
so you could win in the postseason.
Speaker 5: Yeah, I'll tell you exactly what happened. At least in
that moment we're watching the selection show came down to
the last last ten seed game playing game, which was
on a Thursday Saturday or Saturday Monday. So we're like, okay,
this is us, and then it wasn't us, And then
there was still about fifteen minutes. It's before the WB
I T show, and we just brought everybody into the
film room and I just said, all right, let's all
take a minute, and it's his voice or how we're
feeling right now, you know, and they shared their frustration, annoyed, upset,
a few other choice words, you know, but frustration and
was kind of the overall thing, and we just talked
it in reality, like, hey, that's what it is. You know,
we didn't do enough to put ourselves in that tournament.
We left it the chance, and if that's the case,
there's a chance that we're disappointed. And now we have
this opportunity to prove you know, those that made that
decision right.
Speaker 6: I proved them wrong.
Speaker 4: And it was an.
Speaker 5: Interesting few days leading up.
Speaker 6: To that.
Speaker 5: First game of the WB I T against Alabama A
and M. Like the energy and the gym like physically
they were there, psychologically like there was this cloud of
just disappointment and frustration, and as you prepare for a
tournament where you know, hey, we're going to play a game,
that first game is so hard. So it added another
dimension of we got to somehow somebody find a way
to play and win this game. And I think good
things can come from just getting our feet under us
in this tournament, you know, And that's kind of been
the case. And we got Alabama A and M on
our court played great. You could tell they were excited
to take a little bit of frustration out on somebody
other than their teammates. And in each game they've just
prepared properly and approach it.
Speaker 6: The right way.
Speaker 4: And even when we.
Speaker 5: Were down last night, yeah, last night to Kansas, there
was no there was no there's no it hasn't been doubt,
you know, throughout this tournament with our group, and they
played tremendously and you see the chemistry just tightening and
getting better, and you see the confidence building even in
just some of the little things that we do. Some
of the younger players are just it's almost like I
don't know exactly what you want, what we're supposed to
be doing, what my teammates expecting me. It's just a
confidence that is just running through this program right now.
Speaker 2: I know you're focused on your squad, your team, your tournament,
but have you guys been able to take in some
of the NCAA Tournament, the Women's NCAA Tournament.
Speaker 3: Any thoughts.
Speaker 2: Look, TCU handed you guys a tough loss, but they
got deep, they went I believe the lad eight, Like,
is there some validation there seeing that, you know, how
you competed into the Big twelve this year and what
you could have maybe done in the NCAA tournament had
you been given that opportunity.
Speaker 5: Yeah, yeah, no doubt. I mean we've all been following it,
both sides of it, man and men. On the women's side,
it's been pretty clear all year. Hey, there's the four
teams and then there's a gap, and then there's a
lot more parody after that. I thought I thought TCU,
depending on the matchups, could have potentially been there.
Speaker 4: I think they just ran into the war.
Speaker 5: I thought if they would have got somebody other than
South Carolina or U c l A, they could have
been there, if they got U c l A or Texas.
But but they those four teams have been the best
teams all year and it hasn't even been close as
far as the metrics and just scores. You know what
they're doing, so should be a great final four. We're
watching that, but you know what, we're just kind of
running our own little race over here and we're making
wherever we are, you know, the big time for us.
Speaker 6: And this tournament's been great.
Speaker 4: They they done a great.
Speaker 5: Job of making the athletes feel important and the welcome
party and some of the other things police escorts.
Speaker 4: And everything like that.
Speaker 5: But it's gonna it's been such a good thing for
this group and it'll be huge for the group going forward.
Speaker 2: In tournament time, is there is there like a standard
protocol of like, you know, your practice time, when you're eating,
when you're sleeping, when you're napping, when you're stretching, Like
what has been the the the protocol since you guys
got out to Wichita and you're away from your home
court or at these big twelve courts that you have
some familiarity with, Yeah, I.
Speaker 5: Mean they the tournament kind of has pre selected times. Hey,
this team who's playing in this game practices or shoot
arounds this time. It's already kind of mapped out. We
got together before.
Speaker 4: And just kind of picked a.
Speaker 5: Based on this shoot around time of this practice slot.
Where do we want to eat, is it the hotel.
Speaker 6: We want to go out? What do we want to
do in our free time?
Speaker 5: How long do we want to practice? What do we
want to practice. You know, we got to the gym
today and it sounded like it sounded like Columbia was
having a knockdown, drag out type practice. And you know,
we got after a pretty good today and had predetermined
that we're going to practice hard in the event that
we won on Monday in preparation for the championship game.
And so all those things, and I've told you this before,
but just those are some of the things.
Speaker 4: That I am really.
Speaker 5: Very thought thoughtful on and what I feel is best
for our group in the moment. Kind of get a
medical report after the game, and do we want to
change anything based on what happened. We kind of had
a small little ankle tweet before yesterday's game and in
our shoot around, and so it's maybe want to tape
or not tape and shoot around them all. So all
those things factor in. But the main thing is this,
the group still got that hunger with them and that
desire to prepare.
Speaker 6: The right way.
Speaker 5: Had a great practice today, get some good fuel in tonight,
and then yeah, get a pre game tomorrow and throw
that thing up and get after it.
Speaker 2: In this tournament, right, these games that you've played in
thus far have you been surprised by anything or did
you kind of know who your team was going to be.
And they've they've become and met that standard of who
they can be in this tournament.
Speaker 5: Yeah, they they've you know, they've kind of showed me.
Speaker 4: Prior to the Big.
Speaker 5: Twelve, we kind of have gotten a rolling, you know,
in the three games leading up to that conference tournament,
had this setback with TCU, and I would say the
first quarter was just too much to overcome. But they
kind of it started to all click down where I mean,
we should approach this game and not really talk about
anything specifically defensively, and they just kind of know what
they're trying to do, what they're looking for, how they
want to.
Speaker 6: Do it, who's doing what and when.
Speaker 5: And again, like I think that that chemistry is tangible
right now within the group when you're in the in
the in the battle, but also after it's been a great,
great trip for the team as well. Uh and you know,
just leave it at that.
Speaker 2: Lee Kamart, head coach by women's Basketball, talking to his
lady Cooks. Right now as they prepare for the w
i T w B I T Championship game, it's going
to be on UH on Wednesday five pm, I believe
is tip off of am not mistaken. ESPN two is
where you can check it out at. So make sure
you're watching this game, Cougarnation. Make sure you're support this
women's team.
Speaker 3: Uh.
Speaker 2: Any thoughts Lee on the UH on the the most
recent you know, you have media availability right before the
championship game, before the semi finals as well. And uh,
you mentioned how this tournament has been awesome. Uh, They've
really made the ladies feel special and the teams feel special.
What is that the media, uh support been like as well?
Speaker 5: Yeah, it's there's been quite a lot of coverage.
Speaker 6: Uh.
Speaker 5: And when we did our press conference, I think a
lot of the cougarnation has seen kind of some of
those answers that have gone by a Sabbatha and and
you know how we observe it, you know, type of
thing that was packed, you know, and UH it was
a local it was b y U, it was Kansas.
It was also national media. You know, we're on ESPN
two tomorrow. It's a second now, UH, national TV game.
I think on the season we set a and then
probably had something to do with Kansas being so close,
but we set a second a semi final record attendance
for the game yesterday, which I think speaks to a
little bit to our program in Kansas.
Speaker 6: And you know, it's it's been.
Speaker 5: Well well put on. You know, it's it's a it's
an ant a run tournament. It's the equivalent of the
n I T on the men's site. Somebody already owns
the rights to or the name of trademark of w
n I T. So the NCAA came in and made
it the w b I T and they select the teams,
they run the whole thing.
Speaker 6: It's very well done.
Speaker 5: And I've been really impressed coming out to Wichita and
their approach to it and the media coverage for it.
Done more interviews probably than that i'd like to you know,
or that that I've done for any any type of game.
Speaker 4: Uh uh.
Speaker 5: And you know it's funny Coach ros Coach Rose texting
me money, he said, hey, good luck tonight, And I
know you love all those interviews that you have to do,
so but no, it's been good. The host people, people
hosting us at the hotel, the hotel people, everything's been fantastic.
Speaker 3: Well you're doing great work, man.
Speaker 2: Really happy that you've had such a successful first season
and many more to come. Final thing, just because I've
been pinged about it, U B why you find how
do you what role can you play? What role do
you play in the mentorship of your team off the court,
Because I have a lot of b A fans that
they're hoping, praying that a power couple, you know, can
can be created, you know for b y U athletics. Uh,
you know posterity, you know what I mean. So they
got their fingers crossed that somehow, some way, you know,
a power couple can can come from your one of
your one of your players, de lady give and one
that's playing in the n b A. You know, do
you ever consult like hey, like you got to be
looking out for these things.
Speaker 5: You know, I stay I stay out of people's apartments
mostly if they're if I feel there's a need, uh
just give them a charge to to be smart. You're
very visible. Uh. People know who you are and they're
they're watching you. You're you're making an impact on young
lives that are watching you. But but I mean you
talk about delaying specifically, she is, you know, as good
as it gets, as far as her as a person
and a character, and any anybody would be lucky, uh
to you know, to be able to spend some time
with her. She's just fantastic. But you know what, from
top down, I would put our our our fifteen against
anybody in the country as it pertains to to people
and how they carry them.
Speaker 2: Yeah, there are awesome people on and off the court,
There's no doubt about it. Hey, you got yourself a
wonderful you know, you create a power couple. You got
some great prospects coming down the pipeline for BYU and Eve.
I'm gonna be as good as Lee though anyone, and
even going to be as good as the dad in
this situation.
Speaker 5: You know, a couple of wm probably could if they
had a little more dog in them. You know, we'll
wait to see. We'll wait to see if they have that.
You know, the dad had that. He didn't have much else,
but he did have a little fiery dog in him.
Speaker 6: So we'll see.
Speaker 3: Okay.
Speaker 2: So your philosophy on this, because I've had many debates,
is the dog developed or is it innate?
Speaker 5: In your opinion, Well, I'm gonna turn that back on
you before. What do you think Ben? You played the
game at a high level.
Speaker 2: What do you think, man, I think most of it's innate,
and then you have these unique catalysts that brings out
more of a dog, right, the adversities, the refining fire.
But it has to be a part of your genome already.
Like I remember, like losing a boys and girls club
basketball game in the championship game when I was like,
I was like ten, right, maybe it was the nine
year old or something, they forced me left. I hadn't
developed the left yet. I was really a good athlete,
could dribble with the ride and all that stuffy They
scouted me bro and they got me forced left.
Speaker 3: I turned the ball over a few times.
Speaker 2: And to that to this day, I mean I went
home immediately after that game and I dribbled with my
left hand, probably before fifteen hours straight. I don't even
know if I slept worked on left handed layups never again.
Speaker 3: So like that brought out that failure.
Speaker 2: Yeah, I wanted to fight, so I remember I got
I fouled out that game.
Speaker 3: I kicked the ball.
Speaker 2: I tried to kick the ball at the ref and
so like, I think there has to be catalysts though
to really bring out the dog.
Speaker 3: If everything is kind of soft throughout.
Speaker 2: Even if you have a little bit of dog and
things go easy, it doesn't bring out the dog. And
so I think I think it's mostly genetic biochemistry, but
then there has to be catalysts along the way to
maximize the dog, you know, I know.
Speaker 3: That's my thought.
Speaker 5: Yeah, I only have sons, Okay, I'll speak from from
my boys. I think that until they really get some
testatos room flowing through, you know, you can't really tell.
They show signs of it when they're younger, sure, but
but until until they you know, start to mature. Even
if they don't have it prior to that, I think,
you know, as they start to mature physically, that dog
can get them there. Uh but but if, in my opinion,
if you if you're you know, started to mature and
you're kind of just a little passive and a little
you know, just got a little puppy in you, you know,
it's gonna be hard to really bring that dog out.
You know, that competitive spirit of hey, when my back's
against the wall, ready to go, you know, in a
in a competitive showing right, you know that type of thing.
So and yeah, so I'll be that No.
Speaker 2: I think It's it's great insight because I have those
conversations a lot because with dads, right, and like, hey,
how can I get my son to be more competian?
Like there's a little bit of both, right, there's a
little bit of nature and nurture with it. Having three
sons though, you know, I mean, I'm sure they get
in some little fisticuffs, little little battles there that brings
out some good competitive fire, competitive spirit within reasons.
Speaker 3: So Lee, good luck in the championship game. Will be
rooting me on.
Speaker 2: We'll be watching, hopefully the the lady coops you're coaching up.
Can can you know have a little bit of dog
in this championship game just like you did back in
the day.
Speaker 5: I think they got more than I ever had. This
is a tough group looking forward to tomorrow.
Speaker 6: Thanks for having me, Ben, they go.
Speaker 2: That's Lee Kamart, head coach by women's basketball, getting his
team prep getting ready for that Columbia game, the w
b i T championship game tomorrow five okay on ESPN two.
Make sure you watch that game and support them coogs
as Lady cooks they're at out at Wichita, Kansas and
Charles Cocharina, so check it out twenty six and eleven
on the year the most wins in a rookie season
for any DYU women's head coach. Shout out to Lee
Kamard taking on Columbia twenty four and eight on the
season that has some bucket getters themselves. We'll go to
break guys, Please don't go anywhere more to get you
on a beautiful Tuesday, March thirty, first edition of Cougar Sports.
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