WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.320 --> 00:00:02.839 All right, roll along on the program today. Time to 2 00:00:02.879 --> 00:00:07.280 talk some Utah men's basketball. The Utes have been able 3 00:00:07.280 --> 00:00:09.880 to grab a couple of wins in Big Twelve play, 4 00:00:09.919 --> 00:00:12.199 three straight wins and a couple of els to Houston 5 00:00:12.199 --> 00:00:14.080 and Baylor. Been a nice home win against a really 6 00:00:14.119 --> 00:00:17.600 good defensive team in Cincinnati. Hitting the road at Okay State. 7 00:00:18.199 --> 00:00:19.960 Our next guest good enough to give us some time. 8 00:00:19.960 --> 00:00:22.719 It's rare for us in the afternoons because they practice. 9 00:00:22.839 --> 00:00:26.480 The head coach of the Utes, Craig Smith, on the program, Craig, 10 00:00:26.519 --> 00:00:27.039 how are you, sir? 11 00:00:28.120 --> 00:00:29.920 I'm doing great, Spence, how are you? 12 00:00:30.160 --> 00:00:31.640 I'm doing well. Appreciate the time. 13 00:00:31.679 --> 00:00:33.640 It's pretty rare for us in the afternoons to get 14 00:00:33.679 --> 00:00:35.159 your time, so we appreciate it. 15 00:00:35.359 --> 00:00:37.280 So let's start just big picture. 16 00:00:37.320 --> 00:00:37.479 Now. 17 00:00:37.560 --> 00:00:41.359 You guys are twenty games in overall, your nine games 18 00:00:41.359 --> 00:00:42.520 in in the Big Twelve. 19 00:00:42.600 --> 00:00:43.079 What do you like? 20 00:00:43.240 --> 00:00:45.759 What are you working on? Your thoughts with your team 21 00:00:45.799 --> 00:00:46.520 through twenty games? 22 00:00:46.520 --> 00:00:49.880 Craig, it's hard to believe we're already at this point. 23 00:00:49.960 --> 00:00:53.079 You know, play Oklahoma State, like you said, at two 24 00:00:53.119 --> 00:00:58.880 o'clock on Saturday, and we'll be halfway through conference play already. 25 00:00:59.000 --> 00:01:02.240 So you know, it's gone really fast. There's been some 26 00:01:02.320 --> 00:01:05.079 really like any season, there's you know, there's been some 27 00:01:05.120 --> 00:01:09.840 really good moments and some hard moments. It's been a 28 00:01:10.079 --> 00:01:13.439 you know, preseason were gonna pick sixteen out of sixteenth. 29 00:01:13.560 --> 00:01:16.239 Obviously you don't want to be picked in last place. 30 00:01:17.120 --> 00:01:19.359 But there's nowhere to go but up, I guess from 31 00:01:19.359 --> 00:01:22.280 that respective. But you know, we had a great summer 32 00:01:22.359 --> 00:01:25.519 this year. It was really unfortunate lost all three of 33 00:01:25.519 --> 00:01:27.640 our centers within eight days of our first game. We 34 00:01:27.680 --> 00:01:30.920 had to really reinvent ourselves and we were playing a 35 00:01:30.959 --> 00:01:34.000 way different brand of basketball than we've been we had been, 36 00:01:34.200 --> 00:01:36.359 and you know, it just it's not really how I 37 00:01:36.480 --> 00:01:39.599 like to play, certainly now being new to the Big 38 00:01:39.640 --> 00:01:41.760 twelve and being into it, it's really hard. I think 39 00:01:41.760 --> 00:01:45.000 there's the same success that way. And we went back 40 00:01:45.040 --> 00:01:47.480 to the way we were playing all summer and most 41 00:01:47.480 --> 00:01:51.840 of the fall. And that's big right. Our teams, no 42 00:01:51.879 --> 00:01:55.439 matter where I've been, whether it's Utah State, South Dakota, 43 00:01:55.760 --> 00:02:00.359 Mayville State, we've always been an elite rebounding team. It's 44 00:02:00.359 --> 00:02:03.319 just what we've done. And now that we've played, you know, 45 00:02:03.480 --> 00:02:06.159 inserted Jake Wallen into the starting lineup. You know, legit 46 00:02:06.280 --> 00:02:11.560 six nine, six ten with Ezra and sur I was 47 00:02:11.599 --> 00:02:15.000 a very powerful foreman and then lost and lovering at 48 00:02:15.039 --> 00:02:17.560 seven to one, you know, and then Keanu Dods is 49 00:02:17.639 --> 00:02:20.759 really impacting our program in a great way six ' 50 00:02:20.840 --> 00:02:24.919 nine and really long. I'm happy with how we're playing, 51 00:02:24.960 --> 00:02:27.400 you know, one four the last six. I had a 52 00:02:27.439 --> 00:02:30.360 tough loss at Houston and had a tough loss at 53 00:02:30.400 --> 00:02:32.199 home to Baylor where we just had a ton of 54 00:02:32.240 --> 00:02:35.199 open shots. We just couldn't make a shot that night, 55 00:02:35.240 --> 00:02:37.840 and that happens in basketball. But I feel like we're 56 00:02:37.919 --> 00:02:40.080 rounding in the forum and we're doing some good things. 57 00:02:40.120 --> 00:02:42.719 And now we're going to continue continue at this weekend 58 00:02:42.840 --> 00:02:44.599 because winning on the road in the Big twelve is 59 00:02:44.680 --> 00:02:47.479 very very difficult U and so we're gonna have be 60 00:02:47.560 --> 00:02:48.960 ready to really compete on Saturday. 61 00:02:49.080 --> 00:02:52.560 You mentioned something there that that kind of peaked my interest. 62 00:02:52.639 --> 00:02:54.800 My years perked up, my antennas went off when you said, 63 00:02:55.000 --> 00:02:57.159 you know, we're not necessarily playing the way I want 64 00:02:57.199 --> 00:02:59.879 to play or I want to coach. And I always 65 00:03:00.000 --> 00:03:03.400 find it interesting when I am watching a team that's 66 00:03:03.400 --> 00:03:06.159 coached by a guy who I like and respect, like you, 67 00:03:06.319 --> 00:03:09.479 and I can remember when Quinn Snyder was here coaching 68 00:03:09.479 --> 00:03:13.039 those Jazz teams, when Rudy Gobert kind of evolved into 69 00:03:13.039 --> 00:03:16.159 this defensive stopper and they started him next to Derek Favors, 70 00:03:16.199 --> 00:03:18.719 and they didn't have a great offense, but Dennis Lindsay 71 00:03:18.759 --> 00:03:21.719 used to say, look, if they score seventy were fine 72 00:03:21.719 --> 00:03:22.599 scoring seventy two. 73 00:03:22.680 --> 00:03:24.400 And they took the air out of the basketball. 74 00:03:24.759 --> 00:03:27.159 And I always wondered, like, and I asked Quinn, was like, 75 00:03:27.240 --> 00:03:28.800 is this the way you want to coach? 76 00:03:28.840 --> 00:03:29.840 Is this the way you want to play? 77 00:03:29.879 --> 00:03:31.599 Said, no, it's the way we have to play based 78 00:03:31.599 --> 00:03:36.080 on our personnel, right, and then ultimately, you know, Donovan's drafted, 79 00:03:36.199 --> 00:03:38.560 he takes off, and then you know they acquire a 80 00:03:38.560 --> 00:03:40.919 bunch of good offensive pieces, and Quinn changed the way 81 00:03:41.039 --> 00:03:43.199 they played, and it was the way he wanted to coach, 82 00:03:43.240 --> 00:03:44.719 and it was the way he wanted them to play. 83 00:03:44.759 --> 00:03:47.319 But how much of your approach, Craig, is catered to 84 00:03:47.360 --> 00:03:49.159 the personnel, and how much of it is, Okay, this 85 00:03:49.240 --> 00:03:51.120 is the way I believe basketball should be played. 86 00:03:52.360 --> 00:03:55.280 Well, it's certainly as a head coach, you know, it's 87 00:03:55.360 --> 00:04:00.479 really interesting. You got to be who you are there's 88 00:04:00.520 --> 00:04:03.840 so many ways to win in basketball or football or 89 00:04:03.919 --> 00:04:06.719 volleyball or whatever it might be. But I think as 90 00:04:06.759 --> 00:04:10.439 a head coach, you've got to really have the security 91 00:04:10.759 --> 00:04:12.520 of who you are, what you believe in try to 92 00:04:12.560 --> 00:04:17.439 recruit to that at the same time, you know, it's 93 00:04:17.519 --> 00:04:20.160 like for me, I've always had to be at, you know, 94 00:04:20.279 --> 00:04:23.519 situations when I've gotten hired that maybe weren't the quote 95 00:04:23.560 --> 00:04:26.959 unquote sexiest jobs, or there are harder jobs, or certainly 96 00:04:27.680 --> 00:04:30.000 you know, I've always been hired a place where they've 97 00:04:30.040 --> 00:04:34.079 been struggling. Unfortunately we've been able to flip it around. 98 00:04:34.160 --> 00:04:37.160 So like I've always had to kind of adapt and 99 00:04:37.240 --> 00:04:42.639 adjust based off your personnel, right, based off your best players. 100 00:04:42.680 --> 00:04:45.920 Who's got talent. Uh So you've got to be able 101 00:04:45.959 --> 00:04:50.279 to fine tune some things offensively, certainly defensively as well. 102 00:04:51.839 --> 00:04:55.279 And you know, Paul, you know, the great obviously he's 103 00:04:55.279 --> 00:04:58.199 passed away for the legendary football coach Paul bear Bryant. 104 00:04:58.720 --> 00:05:01.720 You know, I I always tell you what a great 105 00:05:01.720 --> 00:05:03.600 player looks like, but I can certainly see it. And 106 00:05:03.639 --> 00:05:05.079 the first thing you got to do is get those 107 00:05:05.079 --> 00:05:10.120 guys in the game. And and so you know, I've 108 00:05:10.120 --> 00:05:12.839 always remembered that quote and thought about it. You just 109 00:05:12.839 --> 00:05:15.600 got to find it. The talented guys that are all 110 00:05:15.639 --> 00:05:18.519 about the team, that create toughness things that you value, 111 00:05:18.600 --> 00:05:21.720 and then you figure it out. And I really value 112 00:05:21.720 --> 00:05:25.800 defending and rebounding, and I just think it's a mentality thing. 113 00:05:25.839 --> 00:05:28.639 It's a toughness thing. It's an edge thing. It's a 114 00:05:28.639 --> 00:05:30.680 way of life. You can't do it somedays and that 115 00:05:30.839 --> 00:05:33.639 other days and showing up, you know, go to work 116 00:05:33.680 --> 00:05:35.879 when you don't feel like it, like you got to 117 00:05:35.920 --> 00:05:37.639 put the time in, you got to work hard. I 118 00:05:37.720 --> 00:05:41.680 just believe in those things. And so you know, we 119 00:05:41.759 --> 00:05:43.680 had had some success or that we were shooting a 120 00:05:43.720 --> 00:05:45.680 ton of threes, too many for my liking. Not that 121 00:05:45.759 --> 00:05:49.399 I don't like making threes, right, but but it's just 122 00:05:49.959 --> 00:05:51.639 you know, the Iowa game, I got a little in 123 00:05:51.759 --> 00:05:55.360 Baylor at Baylor, and it was like, all right, we're 124 00:05:55.399 --> 00:05:57.639 going back to what I believe in, who we were 125 00:05:57.680 --> 00:06:00.360 about what we got to do. And then you know, 126 00:06:00.800 --> 00:06:03.920 being what's easy to forget, like this is our first 127 00:06:04.000 --> 00:06:07.279 year in the Big twelve, and every league is a 128 00:06:07.360 --> 00:06:11.160 little bit different, and so the Big twelve is certainly 129 00:06:11.639 --> 00:06:13.680 different than the Pac twelve. You know, I had two 130 00:06:13.759 --> 00:06:17.800 years in the Big Ten, right, the Big Ten was 131 00:06:17.879 --> 00:06:20.560 more like the Big twelve, you know, back then. And 132 00:06:20.639 --> 00:06:22.279 so you learn what do you got to have? What 133 00:06:22.319 --> 00:06:24.439 are things you need to have? You know, where are 134 00:06:24.519 --> 00:06:27.279 we strong, where we got to get better at? And 135 00:06:27.319 --> 00:06:30.000 then what scheme do you have to have? Because there's 136 00:06:30.040 --> 00:06:32.959 just so much playmaking in this league. But it's awesome. 137 00:06:33.000 --> 00:06:35.240 I'm so glad we're a part of it. So anyway, 138 00:06:35.319 --> 00:06:38.120 going back to your question, you have to adjust to 139 00:06:38.199 --> 00:06:41.199 your personnel. But if it's not necessarily who you are, 140 00:06:41.240 --> 00:06:44.279 that can be a difficult thing. And so every coach 141 00:06:44.279 --> 00:06:46.399 has a little bit different style and what they believe 142 00:06:46.439 --> 00:06:48.480 in it. You got to be confident with it and 143 00:06:48.600 --> 00:06:51.040 roll with it. And I like what we're doing at 144 00:06:51.040 --> 00:06:51.920 this moment in time. 145 00:06:52.480 --> 00:06:54.519 So I want to talk conceptually for a minutes, just 146 00:06:54.519 --> 00:06:57.360 some of the concepts surrounding gab And you know I 147 00:06:57.439 --> 00:07:00.360 talked about this on air last week. I got a 148 00:07:00.360 --> 00:07:03.439 little pushback. I'm not saying that Gabe is Stephan Curry. Okay, 149 00:07:03.439 --> 00:07:05.879 I'm not saying that, But what I'm saying is Steve 150 00:07:06.000 --> 00:07:08.920 Kerr oftentimes talks about, Hey, I want Steph to shoot 151 00:07:08.959 --> 00:07:11.800 five to seven quote unquote bad shots a game, right, Like, 152 00:07:11.879 --> 00:07:16.560 I don't mind him forcing up some shots because every night, 153 00:07:16.720 --> 00:07:20.480 every team, he is the first page on the scouting report, 154 00:07:20.600 --> 00:07:23.279 and Greg, as you know, everybody sells out to make 155 00:07:23.319 --> 00:07:26.560 sure Gabe doesn't have space. And when he is open, 156 00:07:26.800 --> 00:07:29.920 if he misses an open three, I feel like it's 157 00:07:29.959 --> 00:07:32.439 the same feeling when another player misses an open layup, right, 158 00:07:32.439 --> 00:07:34.959 Because you finally get him open and Gabe doesn't knock 159 00:07:35.000 --> 00:07:36.720 it down, He's like, oh man, that was a chance. 160 00:07:37.000 --> 00:07:39.560 But what are you trying to do just to get 161 00:07:39.680 --> 00:07:42.720 him some space? Because the shooting percentages are down? But 162 00:07:42.800 --> 00:07:45.399 if you're not watching, you can look at the numbers 163 00:07:45.439 --> 00:07:46.879 and say, what's wrong with it? Well, what's wrong with 164 00:07:46.959 --> 00:07:49.480 him is everybody's gapping them, everybody's blitzing them. They're running 165 00:07:49.480 --> 00:07:52.720 two and three out of them, right, So just conceptually, 166 00:07:52.720 --> 00:07:54.399 how are you trying to get Gab a little space 167 00:07:54.439 --> 00:07:56.040 so he can you know, knock down the shots, so 168 00:07:56.079 --> 00:07:56.920 you need him knocked down. 169 00:07:58.519 --> 00:08:00.240 How much time do you gut as. 170 00:08:00.240 --> 00:08:01.920 Much time as you have, Craig, there's a four hour 171 00:08:02.040 --> 00:08:04.600 radio show, my friend that is a. 172 00:08:05.480 --> 00:08:09.240 It's a very it's a great question and very insightful 173 00:08:09.360 --> 00:08:14.199 quite frankly, you know, as a coach, right, I've always 174 00:08:14.199 --> 00:08:18.040 been I want our guys on both sides of the ball, 175 00:08:18.480 --> 00:08:23.439 but on offense, really playing aggressive in attack mode. I 176 00:08:23.439 --> 00:08:26.160 don't ever want our guys where they feel paralyzed, where 177 00:08:26.160 --> 00:08:29.360 they're looking over their shoulder constantly, you know what I mean? 178 00:08:29.639 --> 00:08:31.079 Is this a good play? Is it not? Because then 179 00:08:31.120 --> 00:08:34.159 I think, I just think I've just been around guys 180 00:08:34.200 --> 00:08:37.240 like that, and I know what happens, and so I'd 181 00:08:37.360 --> 00:08:39.360 rather have to have rain him back a little bit 182 00:08:39.639 --> 00:08:41.960 than you know, go the other way. And so listen, 183 00:08:41.960 --> 00:08:44.399 I've coached game for three years. This is my fourth year. 184 00:08:44.480 --> 00:08:46.600 I know what he is. I know who he is. 185 00:08:47.679 --> 00:08:53.360 He's certainly the alpha, so to speak, or option one 186 00:08:53.480 --> 00:08:55.840 A whenever the one's getting ready to playoffs. Even now, 187 00:08:55.879 --> 00:08:59.200 whether his numbers are you know what they are, they're 188 00:08:59.200 --> 00:09:02.200 still putting their best depended on him. They're still saying, nope, 189 00:09:02.200 --> 00:09:05.120 we're not letting you get those you know, points or whatever. 190 00:09:06.559 --> 00:09:08.759 So he's had to adjust to that now. He's always 191 00:09:08.799 --> 00:09:11.600 been that guy last wilesho for the most part, he's 192 00:09:11.600 --> 00:09:13.559 been that guy for the last three years on the 193 00:09:14.080 --> 00:09:16.519 on the perimeter. But we've been able to play a 194 00:09:16.519 --> 00:09:20.039 little bit differently in the last few years. So listen, 195 00:09:20.039 --> 00:09:24.399 do I want him firing terrible shots? No, not necessarily. However, 196 00:09:25.159 --> 00:09:27.679 I want him aggressive. So if he's going to take 197 00:09:28.039 --> 00:09:29.480 you know, he's going to take a couple of bad 198 00:09:29.480 --> 00:09:31.600 shots here and there, like, it's just what it is. 199 00:09:31.679 --> 00:09:34.799 I when I first got hired at Utah State, I 200 00:09:34.879 --> 00:09:37.440 used to have to tell Sam merrill Sam, because he 201 00:09:37.559 --> 00:09:39.919 was so I got to make the right play. I 202 00:09:39.960 --> 00:09:41.519 got to make the right play. In his mind, the 203 00:09:41.559 --> 00:09:45.080 right play was always you know, if I'm boom, And 204 00:09:45.200 --> 00:09:48.159 I was like, Sam, look around. This team needs you 205 00:09:48.200 --> 00:09:52.279 to be super assertive and super aggressive. And so every 206 00:09:52.320 --> 00:09:54.399 now and then a bad shot, what you would deem 207 00:09:54.399 --> 00:09:57.360 a bad shot is probably better than you know, a 208 00:09:57.399 --> 00:10:00.639 cleaner look by somebody else. You know, telling him that 209 00:10:01.320 --> 00:10:04.159 is he was so engrossed in making the right play 210 00:10:04.200 --> 00:10:06.519 all the time, and I just wanted his mentality being 211 00:10:06.559 --> 00:10:11.879 a little more assertive or aggressive. And certainly after that 212 00:10:11.919 --> 00:10:13.919 I didn't have to tell him too many times. Right 213 00:10:14.000 --> 00:10:15.879 in a lot of ways, And look, what's you know 214 00:10:16.080 --> 00:10:18.200 happened that way? So you got to know your guys, 215 00:10:18.200 --> 00:10:20.000 You got to know your team but I want our 216 00:10:20.000 --> 00:10:24.039 guys aggressive, not looking over their shoulder now. At the 217 00:10:24.039 --> 00:10:26.919 same time, with our team, I did have to really 218 00:10:27.000 --> 00:10:30.799 address that specifically after the Texas Tech game at home. 219 00:10:31.360 --> 00:10:34.320 I just felt like we were having too many guys 220 00:10:34.879 --> 00:10:38.240 just shucking up shots, and our shots selection was I 221 00:10:38.279 --> 00:10:41.720 would deem below average, right, and we just had to 222 00:10:41.720 --> 00:10:44.720 pull the reins back because we just were just, you know, 223 00:10:44.759 --> 00:10:47.120 teams didn't have to defend us. It was two and 224 00:10:47.240 --> 00:10:49.279 three guys getting all the shots, and I just felt 225 00:10:49.279 --> 00:10:52.440 like our team wasn't built like that. Into our guys credit, 226 00:10:52.440 --> 00:10:54.360 We've done a way better job with our shots selection, 227 00:10:55.039 --> 00:10:57.960 including Gabe and what he's done. And he's still going 228 00:10:58.000 --> 00:10:59.960 to peel up, which I want. He needs to get shot. 229 00:11:00.279 --> 00:11:02.080 It's just a matter of time before he gets out 230 00:11:02.120 --> 00:11:04.200 of this slump. I just know it. And the other 231 00:11:04.279 --> 00:11:06.440 night he showed some real signs. Went to the free 232 00:11:06.440 --> 00:11:09.759 throw line eight times seventh grade, made a months or 233 00:11:09.799 --> 00:11:11.919 shot with under two minutes ago to put us up 234 00:11:11.960 --> 00:11:15.679 to it's just a matter of time with Gabe. And 235 00:11:15.720 --> 00:11:17.600 then he just looked like, you know, sometimes when you 236 00:11:17.679 --> 00:11:20.720 got a you know, a fifth year senior, they feel 237 00:11:20.759 --> 00:11:22.559 like they got the weight of the world on him. 238 00:11:22.879 --> 00:11:25.279 Like one of Gabe's superpowers is he can just let 239 00:11:25.360 --> 00:11:29.320 things roll right off his shoulders and just go play basketball, 240 00:11:29.480 --> 00:11:32.679 just go hoop, and just we had a really good 241 00:11:32.679 --> 00:11:35.759 talk about that last week and he just looked more 242 00:11:36.039 --> 00:11:38.759 himself where he's just going to play basketball and not 243 00:11:38.799 --> 00:11:40.679 playing with the weight of the world on his shoulders. 244 00:11:40.679 --> 00:11:45.240 So you know, you need scores to be aggressive and 245 00:11:45.279 --> 00:11:48.440 not overthinking, and it's just a matter of time for him. 246 00:11:48.720 --> 00:11:50.559 So on the other side, and you kind of alluded 247 00:11:50.600 --> 00:11:53.759 to my follow up is obviously and we'll just stick 248 00:11:53.759 --> 00:11:56.720 with the Warriors parallel, even though people online are gonna 249 00:11:56.759 --> 00:11:57.519 yell at me saying. 250 00:11:57.320 --> 00:11:59.000 I'm comparing Gabe to Seth Curry. 251 00:11:59.320 --> 00:12:02.600 But all ultimately, you know, it's not just about a 252 00:12:02.639 --> 00:12:06.960 shooter like Gabe and the attention that he mandates. It's 253 00:12:07.000 --> 00:12:09.639 also the space that that allows your other players because 254 00:12:09.639 --> 00:12:10.360 of that gravity. 255 00:12:10.440 --> 00:12:12.279 So how do you take advantage of that? 256 00:12:12.320 --> 00:12:14.879 Because you referenced that times maybe the shots selection has 257 00:12:14.919 --> 00:12:17.600 been great. You know, Hunter in the BYU game took 258 00:12:17.600 --> 00:12:20.200 advantage of some space to knock down some big time shots. 259 00:12:20.559 --> 00:12:23.879 So when Gabe is mandating all this attention and there's 260 00:12:23.919 --> 00:12:26.159 all this space due to that gravity. How does that 261 00:12:26.200 --> 00:12:28.039 benefit your team and how do you take advantage of it? 262 00:12:28.840 --> 00:12:31.879 Oh, it's huge. I mean, obviously he is the respect 263 00:12:31.919 --> 00:12:34.799 of all of our opponents, and they're going to put 264 00:12:34.840 --> 00:12:38.639 their best defender on him every game. Best perimeter defender 265 00:12:38.720 --> 00:12:41.600 is on him every game when he comes off a 266 00:12:41.679 --> 00:12:45.200 ball screen, they're almost always blitzing them or trapping him. 267 00:12:45.559 --> 00:12:48.559 And so now that creates the scene because on offense, 268 00:12:48.600 --> 00:12:51.080 when you can get two guys to the ball, you're 269 00:12:51.080 --> 00:12:53.960 creating an advantage. It's all about advantage disadvantage, and you're 270 00:12:53.960 --> 00:12:58.919 creating an advantage for your team. And so now you 271 00:12:59.039 --> 00:13:02.120 got two guys to him, you're playing four against three. 272 00:13:04.000 --> 00:13:06.320 Once he delivers that ball, whether he pitches the head 273 00:13:07.000 --> 00:13:09.039 to the next perimeter player or whether he hits the 274 00:13:09.080 --> 00:13:12.480 short role. Right with the short role is the guy 275 00:13:12.519 --> 00:13:15.639 that right sets the ball screen and Lovering is an 276 00:13:15.679 --> 00:13:18.320 elite passer. So when we can get him the ball 277 00:13:18.360 --> 00:13:21.600 in the short role, that creates a real advantage for 278 00:13:21.679 --> 00:13:23.399 our offense. Or he throws it back and now we 279 00:13:23.440 --> 00:13:26.279 can look inside or skip opposite and play. So it 280 00:13:26.480 --> 00:13:29.799 just creates a real advantage for our team on offense. 281 00:13:29.840 --> 00:13:31.320 Now he's got to tighten up with the ball. But 282 00:13:31.360 --> 00:13:36.360 he's become a much better playmaker slash decision maker. Even 283 00:13:36.759 --> 00:13:39.600 specifically the first half the other night, Oh my gosh, 284 00:13:39.679 --> 00:13:41.480 every time he touched it, they were sending two guys 285 00:13:41.480 --> 00:13:43.759 to him, essentially, and he was able to make a 286 00:13:43.799 --> 00:13:46.600 lot of the right plays that led to a lot 287 00:13:46.600 --> 00:13:49.039 of easy dunks and wide open threes for us. So, 288 00:13:50.159 --> 00:13:52.240 just the threat for him, and it creates spacing right, 289 00:13:53.480 --> 00:13:57.879 spacing his offensive spacing and spacing his offense. And if 290 00:13:57.879 --> 00:14:02.200 you don't have good spacing on the floor, or if 291 00:14:02.240 --> 00:14:05.600 you can pick a guy or two out there that 292 00:14:05.639 --> 00:14:08.720 maybe can't stretch the floor, now you don't really have 293 00:14:08.759 --> 00:14:11.519 to card that guy, and you can really plug up 294 00:14:11.559 --> 00:14:15.960 the paint. And so he creates advantages just by simply 295 00:14:16.000 --> 00:14:18.080 being out on the floor. And the last thing I'll 296 00:14:18.080 --> 00:14:22.080 say about Gabe, he's such a selfless guy. Two things. 297 00:14:22.080 --> 00:14:25.159 He's such a selfless guy. All the dude cares about 298 00:14:25.200 --> 00:14:27.440 his winning. He just wants to win, doesn't care of 299 00:14:27.799 --> 00:14:30.159 you know, he could. He had a lot of opportunities 300 00:14:30.639 --> 00:14:34.000 to go other places for more money over the summer, 301 00:14:34.519 --> 00:14:36.360 and he's like, coach, I am a running you. This 302 00:14:36.399 --> 00:14:39.080 is where I want to be right this. He's changed 303 00:14:39.080 --> 00:14:41.360 my life. I love being here, I love living here, 304 00:14:41.399 --> 00:14:44.080 I love playing in this program, I love playing for you, 305 00:14:44.200 --> 00:14:46.480 on and on and on, and I think it says 306 00:14:46.480 --> 00:14:48.960 a lot about the guy. All the guys on our 307 00:14:48.960 --> 00:14:52.679 team respect him. It's such detail, but he in facts 308 00:14:52.679 --> 00:14:55.200 winning just by being out on the floor. And he's 309 00:14:55.240 --> 00:14:58.919 such a good mover without the ball, constantly moving, which 310 00:14:58.960 --> 00:15:00.759 frees up everybody else on the floor. 311 00:15:01.200 --> 00:15:04.399 So I referenced the BYU game. I was there with 312 00:15:04.480 --> 00:15:06.200 some family. It was just man. 313 00:15:06.840 --> 00:15:08.960 You know, I was a student at the U, and 314 00:15:09.000 --> 00:15:10.799 I told you, Craig, the first time I interviewed you 315 00:15:10.879 --> 00:15:12.200 after you took the job, I was not going to 316 00:15:12.200 --> 00:15:14.080 bring up Rick Majerius every time you came on the show. 317 00:15:14.120 --> 00:15:15.039 So I'm not going to do that. 318 00:15:15.360 --> 00:15:17.080 You did tell me that, but you can't get I'm 319 00:15:17.120 --> 00:15:17.559 used to it. 320 00:15:18.000 --> 00:15:18.799 But I'll just say this. 321 00:15:18.879 --> 00:15:21.000 I mean, when I was a student in the late nineties, 322 00:15:21.039 --> 00:15:24.039 we planned our weeks around basketball games, and the BYU 323 00:15:24.120 --> 00:15:27.440 crowd for the first time, in my opinion, felt like 324 00:15:27.519 --> 00:15:29.679 I was back in school, you know, twenty twenty five 325 00:15:29.759 --> 00:15:33.080 years ago. And you said after the game, fans impact winning, 326 00:15:33.480 --> 00:15:35.000 and you are absolutely correct. 327 00:15:35.320 --> 00:15:36.639 So give me your. 328 00:15:36.559 --> 00:15:39.000 Thoughts on what it was like that night in the 329 00:15:39.000 --> 00:15:40.879 building to feel it like that and what it would 330 00:15:40.919 --> 00:15:43.159 mean your program if we could get that going more 331 00:15:43.200 --> 00:15:43.720 often than not. 332 00:15:45.759 --> 00:15:48.799 Well, I mean time and listen, we all have responsibility. 333 00:15:48.919 --> 00:15:51.759 I have a responsibility as head coach. Like I think 334 00:15:51.799 --> 00:15:54.440 we have a very exciting brand of basketball to watch. 335 00:15:55.480 --> 00:15:57.639 I think we have a lot of just great people 336 00:15:57.720 --> 00:16:02.759 in our program, but also no want like sustained success 337 00:16:02.879 --> 00:16:06.000 and to win. And you know that night and there's 338 00:16:06.080 --> 00:16:07.720 and there's been some of those nights. I mean, of 339 00:16:07.720 --> 00:16:09.559 course last year with YU as well, and they were 340 00:16:09.600 --> 00:16:12.679 ranked when we played I forget top ten, top fifteen, 341 00:16:13.360 --> 00:16:16.000 when we beat Arizona, Arizona's ranked number four in the 342 00:16:16.000 --> 00:16:18.759 country a couple of years ago. That was a really 343 00:16:18.840 --> 00:16:21.960 good crowd. And that was I think the night before 344 00:16:22.080 --> 00:16:25.360 our football team played in the Bowl Championship in Las Vegas. 345 00:16:25.360 --> 00:16:28.120 But fans impact winning. I don't care what anyone says, 346 00:16:28.519 --> 00:16:31.279 Like players got to go make the plays, Coaches got 347 00:16:31.279 --> 00:16:34.799 to put guys in the right position, recruit you know, 348 00:16:34.960 --> 00:16:38.759 championship level players. Right, there's a lot of facets that 349 00:16:38.799 --> 00:16:42.480 go into everybody impacts winning, and so but when you 350 00:16:42.559 --> 00:16:44.720 come into an arena, and I remember I was an 351 00:16:44.720 --> 00:16:47.759 assistant in the Big Ten, the Big Ten. I'll never 352 00:16:47.799 --> 00:16:50.799 forget this stat. The Big Ten at that time. I 353 00:16:50.840 --> 00:16:53.320 don't know where this is, like ten years ago. For 354 00:16:54.440 --> 00:16:57.720 I think it was twenty six straight years led the 355 00:16:57.759 --> 00:17:03.120 country in attendance. And guess what they also, for like 356 00:17:03.159 --> 00:17:07.119 twenty five of those twenty six years had the best 357 00:17:07.160 --> 00:17:12.000 home winning percentage within league play, within league play in 358 00:17:12.039 --> 00:17:16.480 the country. So like, what's Big ten country? Well, it's cold, 359 00:17:16.599 --> 00:17:18.839 it's born in the north, right, there's not a lot 360 00:17:18.839 --> 00:17:21.000 of crazy, you know, things to do because people want 361 00:17:21.039 --> 00:17:22.720 to be inside. So what they do they go to 362 00:17:22.720 --> 00:17:29.279 sporting events, so they do. And so this those road 363 00:17:29.359 --> 00:17:33.000 environments and now being in the Big twelve, and it's 364 00:17:33.039 --> 00:17:35.799 early for us. But we started at Baylor, right, and 365 00:17:35.839 --> 00:17:38.079 they did a promotion they give up five thousand free 366 00:17:38.079 --> 00:17:41.279 tickets and it was packed because their football team was 367 00:17:41.279 --> 00:17:45.279 playing their bowl game that day December thirty. First. Then 368 00:17:45.359 --> 00:17:48.559 we played at Iowa State. Oh my gosh, that place 369 00:17:48.640 --> 00:17:52.119 is electric, right, And then it was that TCU not 370 00:17:52.240 --> 00:17:54.640 quite you know, but it was still a good home 371 00:17:54.680 --> 00:17:58.000 court and we played well that night and one at 372 00:17:58.079 --> 00:18:04.200 Houston Electric. Right, So we've played some very tough conference 373 00:18:04.279 --> 00:18:07.279 road games and that night specifically when we played when 374 00:18:07.319 --> 00:18:10.680 we be BYU, oh my gosh, Like those are our 375 00:18:10.720 --> 00:18:12.279 guys who remember that the rest of the life. That 376 00:18:12.359 --> 00:18:14.960 was the sixth biggest crowd in the history of the 377 00:18:15.039 --> 00:18:19.559 Huntsman Center, and so it was awesome. Your players feel it. 378 00:18:19.720 --> 00:18:23.519 They feel the energy, they feel the passion, they feel 379 00:18:23.559 --> 00:18:26.319 the caring, like there's a lot that goes into it. 380 00:18:26.359 --> 00:18:29.119 And so you know, we got to do our part. 381 00:18:29.200 --> 00:18:32.640 It helps to win, there's no doubt about that. But 382 00:18:32.680 --> 00:18:36.799 we do have an excellent brand of basketball. You know, 383 00:18:36.839 --> 00:18:39.480 we're top for most of the season, we've been one 384 00:18:39.559 --> 00:18:41.559 or two and assists. We really share the ball, I 385 00:18:41.559 --> 00:18:44.559 think now number six or number seven in the country. 386 00:18:44.920 --> 00:18:47.880 So we have players that are willing to sacrifice and 387 00:18:47.920 --> 00:18:51.519 play shared basketball and connected basketball. And we all know 388 00:18:51.599 --> 00:18:55.000 this state is an amazing basketball state. The fans are 389 00:18:55.119 --> 00:18:59.119 passionate and you can look up and down, whether it's 390 00:18:59.119 --> 00:19:01.799 you know Utah, stay at Utah, BYU go all the way, 391 00:19:02.160 --> 00:19:04.720 like it's like people love basketball in this state. And 392 00:19:04.799 --> 00:19:08.119 so but they impact winning in a great way. It 393 00:19:08.200 --> 00:19:11.440 becomes a huge home court advantage and it can be daunting. 394 00:19:12.119 --> 00:19:15.759 It can be very daunting when you're an opponent coming 395 00:19:15.799 --> 00:19:18.359 in because they see the games, whether they're watching them 396 00:19:18.359 --> 00:19:22.000 lit or through the coaches clips that they show, it 397 00:19:22.000 --> 00:19:27.079 can be a very daunting experience and it really tests 398 00:19:27.119 --> 00:19:31.720 your metal, you're discipline, your toughness, and so you know, 399 00:19:31.920 --> 00:19:33.799 that's what we envision, that's what we'd like to do. 400 00:19:34.000 --> 00:19:36.480 There's a lot of things that go into it, but 401 00:19:36.599 --> 00:19:38.640