WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.200 --> 00:00:05.320 One week ago today, Alex Jensen officially introduced as the 2 00:00:05.400 --> 00:00:10.800 seventeenth head coach in Utah men's basketball history, a hire 3 00:00:10.880 --> 00:00:13.640 that seems to be consistently applauded across the board and 4 00:00:13.679 --> 00:00:17.280 whatever ecosystem you exist in, whether you cover the team 5 00:00:17.399 --> 00:00:19.640 like we do here on the station, whether you're with 6 00:00:19.760 --> 00:00:22.359 the administration of the current athletic department, or whether you 7 00:00:22.440 --> 00:00:25.920 played for the team, like our next guest did. One 8 00:00:25.960 --> 00:00:28.640 of the best high school players I've ever seen play 9 00:00:29.000 --> 00:00:30.879 went on to play for Rick Mnjaris at the University 10 00:00:30.920 --> 00:00:34.320 of Utah. You know his little brother, Britton Johnson as 11 00:00:34.359 --> 00:00:36.200 a good friend of the program. Well, Jeff is a 12 00:00:36.200 --> 00:00:38.479 good friend of the program too. Jeff Johnson on a 13 00:00:38.479 --> 00:00:40.079 Monday afternoon, Jeff, how are we doing? 14 00:00:40.119 --> 00:00:43.479 Buddy's good? 15 00:00:43.560 --> 00:00:44.799 I'm good. I appreciate the time. 16 00:00:44.880 --> 00:00:46.880 So I've just got to know, since I haven't been 17 00:00:46.880 --> 00:00:49.600 able to kick the tires with you, what was your 18 00:00:49.759 --> 00:00:52.600 Let's start with your reaction when you heard that Craig 19 00:00:52.679 --> 00:00:54.640 had been let go. What was the kind of the 20 00:00:54.640 --> 00:00:55.759 first thing that came to your mind. 21 00:00:57.679 --> 00:00:59.960 I think I kind of knew it was going to happen, 22 00:01:00.039 --> 00:01:02.280 and I think I was a little surprised if most 23 00:01:02.280 --> 00:01:04.840 people were that it happened when I did, But it 24 00:01:04.920 --> 00:01:08.400 kind of makes sense now, and I kind of knew 25 00:01:08.519 --> 00:01:10.640 going into this season that Craig had to have a 26 00:01:10.640 --> 00:01:13.719 pretty good season or a pretty good rod to probably 27 00:01:13.760 --> 00:01:16.920 come back next year. So ultimately not super surprised. 28 00:01:17.959 --> 00:01:21.400 How quickly did the name Alex Jensen enter your mind? 29 00:01:23.400 --> 00:01:25.480 I mean it was in my mind ever since last 30 00:01:25.480 --> 00:01:27.439 time when they didn't hire him, you know, I mean, 31 00:01:28.439 --> 00:01:32.680 I think hiring a college coach that had some success 32 00:01:32.680 --> 00:01:35.879 in another program makes sense, and that's usually the norm. 33 00:01:37.159 --> 00:01:39.239 But I think just seeing what some of these other 34 00:01:39.280 --> 00:01:44.000 schools have done, getting someone like Alex just made sense 35 00:01:44.040 --> 00:01:46.760 for our university. And we took obviously some steps back 36 00:01:46.840 --> 00:01:49.640 from that, like what four years ago to from that 37 00:01:49.840 --> 00:01:51.599 higher so this time we had to get it right. 38 00:01:51.680 --> 00:01:56.439 And obviously on paper and through the enthusiasm, it looks 39 00:01:56.480 --> 00:01:59.840 like it's a really good hire and hopefully that will 40 00:01:59.840 --> 00:02:03.200 come truition, which I think it will. 41 00:02:03.319 --> 00:02:06.200 You know, it's wild Jeff next year. And you know, 42 00:02:06.200 --> 00:02:08.599 I'm a little bit younger than you are. I'm between 43 00:02:08.599 --> 00:02:11.120 you and Britain, I think thereabouts. But I was in 44 00:02:11.159 --> 00:02:13.520 school when Rick was the coach and you guys were 45 00:02:13.560 --> 00:02:16.479 making the tournaments and you were making long runs. And 46 00:02:16.520 --> 00:02:19.520 so for me to stay into a microphone. Next year 47 00:02:19.560 --> 00:02:23.439 will mark ten years since the last NCAA tournament appearance 48 00:02:23.439 --> 00:02:25.719 for Utah men's basketball blows my mind. 49 00:02:26.199 --> 00:02:29.639 Blows my mind when I say that, well, what's your reaction? 50 00:02:31.360 --> 00:02:33.639 It's hard to hear, it really is. I mean, it 51 00:02:33.639 --> 00:02:36.560 blows my mind too. And we now have a generation 52 00:02:36.680 --> 00:02:43.039 of kids who just had never known Utah as a 53 00:02:43.240 --> 00:02:47.919 postseason team, a team that's made a run. I talked 54 00:02:47.919 --> 00:02:50.520 to kids who are in their teams and you know, 55 00:02:50.560 --> 00:02:52.919 they're just like, yeah, I can ever imagine Utah playing 56 00:02:52.960 --> 00:02:54.680 in an nca tournament, and it's hard for them to 57 00:02:54.719 --> 00:02:59.960 fathom that we were regular visitors to that tournament every year, 58 00:03:00.120 --> 00:03:02.840 that we won a lot of games there. So when 59 00:03:02.879 --> 00:03:05.159 you say that, you know, it is hard to hear, 60 00:03:05.719 --> 00:03:08.680 and especially you know, I was talking the Essuay with 61 00:03:08.719 --> 00:03:12.080 my son. We were watching Colorado State and New Mexico play, 62 00:03:12.960 --> 00:03:15.520 and I was telling how those were teams we used 63 00:03:15.520 --> 00:03:18.960 to compete against and pretty much would beat them all 64 00:03:19.000 --> 00:03:21.639 the time. I mean we'd have, you know, every now 65 00:03:21.680 --> 00:03:23.960 and then you'd have like a Wyoming have a good 66 00:03:24.039 --> 00:03:27.319 runner or a UNLB. But I played Tanego State before 67 00:03:27.319 --> 00:03:31.039 they got good with the Kauie teams and all that, 68 00:03:31.080 --> 00:03:34.800 and same with Colorido State and same with New Mexico. 69 00:03:34.800 --> 00:03:37.400 And it's just to see them playing in the tournament 70 00:03:37.479 --> 00:03:39.240 and winning games like we used to do as hard. 71 00:03:41.439 --> 00:03:45.960 Alex won Mister Basketball at Wumont in ninety four, and 72 00:03:46.000 --> 00:03:48.520 then I think you're the only player in Utah. No, 73 00:03:48.639 --> 00:03:51.759 Tyler did it. That's right, Tyler Hawes Loan peak. But 74 00:03:51.879 --> 00:03:53.680 prior to Tyler, you were the only player in the 75 00:03:53.719 --> 00:03:56.560 history of the state to win Mister Basketball in ninety 76 00:03:56.560 --> 00:03:58.960 five ninety six. Did you play against Alex in high school? 77 00:03:58.960 --> 00:03:59.599 I can't remember. 78 00:04:00.960 --> 00:04:03.599 No, I didn't play Alex. I mean I would have 79 00:04:03.599 --> 00:04:05.800 played and had we played their team when I was 80 00:04:05.840 --> 00:04:08.439 a sophomore and he was a senior, but we never 81 00:04:08.520 --> 00:04:12.039 really crossed paths. He was at Umont, I was at Murray. 82 00:04:12.439 --> 00:04:16.720 We just never played them, you know, So, but I 83 00:04:16.800 --> 00:04:18.560 knew of him. I remember watching him when I was 84 00:04:18.600 --> 00:04:21.000 a sophomore and they were in the state championship, and 85 00:04:21.680 --> 00:04:24.360 I remember going up and watching his team and thinking, like, 86 00:04:25.199 --> 00:04:26.720 you know, they got I mean, they had some dudes 87 00:04:26.720 --> 00:04:31.040 back then. I don't know if you were there yet Bountiful, 88 00:04:31.079 --> 00:04:34.360 but they had some guys and they were Alex was 89 00:04:34.480 --> 00:04:37.600 kind of the same type of player he was in 90 00:04:37.879 --> 00:04:40.560 college in high school, Like you just watched him and 91 00:04:40.560 --> 00:04:41.959 you're like, this guy does everything. 92 00:04:43.480 --> 00:04:47.040 No, I was not there yet Bountiful nineteen ninety seven. 93 00:04:47.519 --> 00:04:50.680 Historians claim it's the best high school basketball team in 94 00:04:50.680 --> 00:04:52.600 the history of the state. That's not my claim. I 95 00:04:52.600 --> 00:04:55.399 would never make that claim, but historians claim that. And 96 00:04:55.439 --> 00:04:57.839 I'm proud to say, Jeff, we beat Viewmont both times 97 00:04:57.839 --> 00:04:59.800 we played them because they were our rival back in 98 00:05:00.040 --> 00:05:00.560 ninety seven. 99 00:05:02.160 --> 00:05:05.720 There you go. Well, you those historians obviously never saw 100 00:05:05.759 --> 00:05:09.160 the ninety sixth Murray's Barton. I'm not I'm not really 101 00:05:09.160 --> 00:05:12.000 sure what you're talking about, but obviously I can't hear it. 102 00:05:12.040 --> 00:05:14.639 But you you played You played with Alex in college, 103 00:05:14.720 --> 00:05:17.360 and so let's let's start there, because you hear a 104 00:05:17.399 --> 00:05:21.759 lot about, you know, the fact that Rick seemed to, uh, 105 00:05:22.560 --> 00:05:24.759 you know, Alex was kind of the exception to the 106 00:05:24.839 --> 00:05:27.399 Rick majaris II are at times Alex and Andrea according 107 00:05:27.439 --> 00:05:29.439 to what I've been told by guys that were there. So, 108 00:05:29.560 --> 00:05:32.120 what was your experience like playing with Alex. What sort 109 00:05:32.160 --> 00:05:34.240 of player was he and what sort of relationship did 110 00:05:34.240 --> 00:05:34.800 he have with Rick? 111 00:05:36.839 --> 00:05:39.120 Well, everything you've heard is true about him and Rick. 112 00:05:39.160 --> 00:05:42.480 I mean, it was an interesting relationship because you just 113 00:05:42.560 --> 00:05:45.800 saw my freshman year. Even these these guys like Keith 114 00:05:45.879 --> 00:05:49.759 van Horne, who coach I mean loved Keith and respected him, 115 00:05:50.279 --> 00:05:53.000 but he didn't like he didn't adore him like he 116 00:05:53.040 --> 00:05:56.319 did Alex, Like Alex was just his guy. It was 117 00:05:56.439 --> 00:05:59.439 it was his type of player, you know. Just Alex 118 00:05:59.519 --> 00:06:02.800 is way more talented than Coach majeris ever was, let's 119 00:06:02.800 --> 00:06:06.160 be honest. But at the same time, Coach mcjarius, if 120 00:06:06.199 --> 00:06:08.720 he had talent, he would want to play the way 121 00:06:08.759 --> 00:06:10.639 Alex did. He's never gonna be able to play like 122 00:06:10.680 --> 00:06:12.279 andre did. He's never gonna be able to play like 123 00:06:12.319 --> 00:06:15.079 Doliak or Britain or any of those guys. And so 124 00:06:15.160 --> 00:06:18.920 he just loved Al. And I played with Al for 125 00:06:19.040 --> 00:06:21.800 one year when he was a senior, and it was 126 00:06:21.839 --> 00:06:24.160 an interesting year because I was coming off my mission 127 00:06:25.079 --> 00:06:27.040 and Coach had hyped me up to all the guy. 128 00:06:27.040 --> 00:06:28.600 That's what coach would do when he's not there. He 129 00:06:28.639 --> 00:06:31.079 hypes you up. When he's there, he kills you, and 130 00:06:31.759 --> 00:06:34.000 he was hyping me up coming off my mission, and 131 00:06:34.040 --> 00:06:36.800 then as soon as I got into the first workouts 132 00:06:36.800 --> 00:06:38.439 and stuff and I was going against Alex, that all 133 00:06:38.480 --> 00:06:41.800 came back down to earth. But watching him talk about 134 00:06:41.879 --> 00:06:44.839 Alex and tell Alex like Alex, he actually had to 135 00:06:44.879 --> 00:06:47.199 get on him about being more selfish that year because 136 00:06:47.199 --> 00:06:48.839 that was the year. That was the first year we 137 00:06:48.879 --> 00:06:52.439 didn't have Andre Doliak any of those guys, so it 138 00:06:52.560 --> 00:06:56.600 was it was kind of Alex Jensen's team, and he 139 00:06:56.639 --> 00:06:59.319 needed Alex to be more selfish, which is hard for 140 00:06:59.360 --> 00:07:01.399 Alex because that didn't play that way. But he needed 141 00:07:01.439 --> 00:07:03.920 him to be more of a scorer. And so it 142 00:07:04.000 --> 00:07:06.079 was fun in practice compete with him because we played 143 00:07:06.079 --> 00:07:09.040 in the same position really and at some point during 144 00:07:09.040 --> 00:07:12.439 the season, coach, which was a good compliment for me, 145 00:07:12.680 --> 00:07:14.480 was he said, I got to keep I got to 146 00:07:14.560 --> 00:07:15.839 keep both of you guys on the court at the 147 00:07:15.839 --> 00:07:18.720 same time. So he started playing Alex at the four, 148 00:07:18.879 --> 00:07:23.439 at the power forward, and to watch Alex be that versatile, 149 00:07:23.519 --> 00:07:26.240 and that's what shows me his mind's ready for coaching, 150 00:07:26.279 --> 00:07:28.839 because when you have to play the four in our system, 151 00:07:28.959 --> 00:07:31.199 you have to know all the stuff the four and 152 00:07:31.240 --> 00:07:33.800 the five do that are interchangeable, but then he was 153 00:07:33.800 --> 00:07:35.720 also playing the three, which means you have to know 154 00:07:35.720 --> 00:07:37.240 all the stuff the two and the three do because 155 00:07:37.240 --> 00:07:39.879 they're interchangeable, and Alex never it just seemed like he 156 00:07:39.920 --> 00:07:42.279 never missed a beat. So it was impressive. 157 00:07:43.199 --> 00:07:46.160 So you kind of alluded to some of the elements 158 00:07:46.439 --> 00:07:48.720 of potentially your answer to my next question. But I 159 00:07:48.759 --> 00:07:50.600 want you to kind of expand a little bit because 160 00:07:50.639 --> 00:07:53.279 it feels like the guests I've had on the show 161 00:07:53.480 --> 00:07:56.079 or things I've read about Al over the years is 162 00:07:56.199 --> 00:08:00.319 everyone who played with him felt like if he wanted to, 163 00:08:00.519 --> 00:08:02.040 at some point he was going to be a really 164 00:08:02.040 --> 00:08:04.000 really good coach. And he played in the pros for 165 00:08:04.040 --> 00:08:07.439 about seven years and played Overseas and then landed with 166 00:08:07.519 --> 00:08:10.680 Rick and Saint Louis. What about your experience with Al 167 00:08:10.959 --> 00:08:13.319 as his teammate and everything else you know about him 168 00:08:13.319 --> 00:08:15.439 indicated to you that if you wanted to, he's going 169 00:08:15.519 --> 00:08:16.680 to be a really really good coach. 170 00:08:19.120 --> 00:08:21.199 It kind of surprised me at first when Alex became 171 00:08:21.240 --> 00:08:25.600 a coach because when he went overseas and played, I 172 00:08:26.279 --> 00:08:30.480 know Alex, he's kind of like Coach Majeris where it's hard. 173 00:08:30.839 --> 00:08:34.080 It's hard to coach certain type of players and things 174 00:08:34.120 --> 00:08:36.600 that are out of your control because you it's like 175 00:08:36.600 --> 00:08:39.559 that stuff. Josh always talks about how coach ruined. Josh 176 00:08:39.559 --> 00:08:41.039 frant will say how he kind of ruins the game 177 00:08:41.039 --> 00:08:43.799 for you because you're you see it at the purest level. 178 00:08:44.440 --> 00:08:46.279 And I thought Alex might have a hard time with that. 179 00:08:46.399 --> 00:08:49.279 But then in watching him in the NBA, where they 180 00:08:49.279 --> 00:08:51.960 don't play peer fault, they take tons of bad shots 181 00:08:52.039 --> 00:08:55.200 and take knights off and don't always play hard, to 182 00:08:55.200 --> 00:08:58.879 watch him adjust to that and to see what he 183 00:08:59.000 --> 00:09:02.559 did as an assistant, I mean, I kind of thought 184 00:09:02.559 --> 00:09:05.080 Alex was ever going to be a coach. He'd be good, 185 00:09:05.679 --> 00:09:08.559 but I didn't see it right away that he would 186 00:09:08.600 --> 00:09:11.399 do it. And then once he got into it, just 187 00:09:11.519 --> 00:09:14.960 all the stuff you hear about read about player development, 188 00:09:15.000 --> 00:09:18.000 player relationships, it's all been pretty positive that I've heard. 189 00:09:19.200 --> 00:09:22.600 Yeah, and he obviously has had a very interesting journey 190 00:09:22.639 --> 00:09:25.039 that's landed him back home at the University of Utah. Jeff, 191 00:09:25.080 --> 00:09:28.840 you referenced the last time around when I asked you 192 00:09:28.879 --> 00:09:31.200 when Al's name kind of came in your head. He said, well, 193 00:09:31.240 --> 00:09:33.960 the last time around, the last time around of course, 194 00:09:34.240 --> 00:09:36.919 Mark Carlin decided to move on from Larry Kriscoviak and 195 00:09:36.919 --> 00:09:39.759 then landed on Craig Smith. Do you have any insight, 196 00:09:39.799 --> 00:09:43.399 because I've heard rumors and I've got some knowledge of 197 00:09:43.519 --> 00:09:47.240 exactly how that went down and whether or not there 198 00:09:47.279 --> 00:09:51.039 were extensive conversations with AJ the first time around, But 199 00:09:51.080 --> 00:09:54.399 any insight as to, you know, why they didn't go 200 00:09:54.600 --> 00:09:57.120 harder at Alex, or maybe they did and he wasn't 201 00:09:57.879 --> 00:10:00.559 looking to make that jump from the end, you know, 202 00:10:00.639 --> 00:10:01.399 last time around. 203 00:10:01.399 --> 00:10:04.960 Any inside there, Yeah, I. 204 00:10:04.919 --> 00:10:08.440 Mean there's some stuff that I've privy too that I 205 00:10:08.759 --> 00:10:11.600 you know, I've heard Alex tell me that, you know, 206 00:10:11.639 --> 00:10:13.679 I probably you know, wouldn't share all of it, but 207 00:10:13.720 --> 00:10:16.440 I think what I would share that he I think 208 00:10:16.639 --> 00:10:20.799 he was clear on was the the interest was mutual. 209 00:10:20.919 --> 00:10:23.200 But I don't think he was wowed by what they 210 00:10:23.919 --> 00:10:26.759 they came and did. I don't think Mark Harland was 211 00:10:26.840 --> 00:10:29.240 sold on Alex yet, and so I don't think the 212 00:10:29.240 --> 00:10:32.759 presentation was like super impressive. And I mean some of 213 00:10:32.759 --> 00:10:35.240 that's just speculation, Some of that stuff I've heard from 214 00:10:35.279 --> 00:10:37.519 other people, but it just kind of seemed like they 215 00:10:37.799 --> 00:10:41.320 did their due diligence talking to Alex, but they didn't 216 00:10:41.360 --> 00:10:43.799 come to Alex with the red carpet, probably like they 217 00:10:43.799 --> 00:10:47.480 did this second time around. And timing wise, I think 218 00:10:47.639 --> 00:10:49.639 you look at all the stuff going on with the 219 00:10:49.720 --> 00:10:54.240 Dallas Mavericks right now, it probably just set up better 220 00:10:54.279 --> 00:10:55.440 for Alex to make the move. 221 00:10:55.480 --> 00:10:59.600 Now, See Porter, I told you Jeff is the Johnson 222 00:10:59.759 --> 00:11:00.679 wins the filter. 223 00:11:01.120 --> 00:11:02.879 You know, there's more that Jeff knows. 224 00:11:03.320 --> 00:11:05.279 But if we had Britain on the show and Britain 225 00:11:05.279 --> 00:11:07.480 had the knowledge, we'd have all of it. Because Jeff 226 00:11:07.519 --> 00:11:08.799 has the filter that Britain does not. 227 00:11:09.159 --> 00:11:11.039 It's a it's a perfect balance. Yeah, there we go. 228 00:11:11.120 --> 00:11:12.720 What what happened to your little brother? 229 00:11:12.759 --> 00:11:16.279 How did he avoid this intelligent approach to you have Jeff? 230 00:11:17.600 --> 00:11:19.600 You know, Spence, I mean every time he was on 231 00:11:19.720 --> 00:11:23.879 with you, I just would hear every HR violation being 232 00:11:23.879 --> 00:11:27.960 committed and journalism one on one just thrown out the door. 233 00:11:28.320 --> 00:11:31.200 And I felt bad to you for you knew what 234 00:11:31.240 --> 00:11:32.720 it was like for me being his older brother and 235 00:11:32.720 --> 00:11:35.600 having the kind of babysit them all the time. But 236 00:11:36.320 --> 00:11:39.000 I'll even tell you on air, Spence, I'll tell you 237 00:11:39.039 --> 00:11:40.639 off the air more, but I can't tell you on 238 00:11:40.679 --> 00:11:40.840 the air. 239 00:11:40.879 --> 00:11:43.080 There you go, yeah, fair enough, No, yeah, no, fair enough. 240 00:11:43.120 --> 00:11:45.279 I don't want you to divulge any secrets that your 241 00:11:45.279 --> 00:11:47.679 guys tell you. I want you to maintain those relationships. 242 00:11:47.759 --> 00:11:50.080 But while we're in the space, you referenced, you know, 243 00:11:50.159 --> 00:11:52.559 Josh Grant coming on the show the day Craig was fired, 244 00:11:52.559 --> 00:11:54.720 and he said, this job needs to go to Alex Jensen. 245 00:11:55.240 --> 00:11:58.240 And there's been a lot of conversation about how this 246 00:11:58.360 --> 00:12:01.000 staff will fill out, and before or I get to 247 00:12:01.039 --> 00:12:03.320 the hire that Al has made so far that a 248 00:12:03.360 --> 00:12:06.799 lot of people are excited about, to the extent that 249 00:12:06.840 --> 00:12:10.120 you're comfortable, Jeff, share with us any inside information you 250 00:12:10.159 --> 00:12:13.360 have on the potential of an Andre Miller joining Al 251 00:12:13.440 --> 00:12:16.000 on the bench. And you know, from my vantage point 252 00:12:16.000 --> 00:12:18.159 as a proud Jet X or a Utah basketball fan 253 00:12:18.159 --> 00:12:20.080 from the nineties, if you walk into a gym with 254 00:12:20.120 --> 00:12:22.279 Andre Miller, you've got instant credibility. 255 00:12:22.799 --> 00:12:24.080 It's hard to find anywhere else. 256 00:12:24.120 --> 00:12:26.840 So any insight as to whether or not Andre could 257 00:12:26.840 --> 00:12:29.039 be on the way and any other names out there 258 00:12:29.080 --> 00:12:31.039 you're hearing that might join our staff. 259 00:12:32.519 --> 00:12:34.519 That's such a good question because I know everybody wants 260 00:12:34.559 --> 00:12:38.519 to know. And I talked with Alex after his press 261 00:12:38.519 --> 00:12:41.960 conference introductions with you the other day night, and we 262 00:12:42.080 --> 00:12:46.159 ain't get really far into it because as you can imagine, 263 00:12:46.159 --> 00:12:49.399 he was pretty much bombarded by everybody. And I think 264 00:12:49.399 --> 00:12:54.519 at some point, I'm sure we'll discuss if Andre's an 265 00:12:54.519 --> 00:12:56.759 option for him or not. I think right now he's 266 00:12:56.840 --> 00:12:59.639 doing his due diligence and trying to get guys that 267 00:12:59.679 --> 00:13:02.200 can hit the pavement right now, recruiting and doing all 268 00:13:02.240 --> 00:13:04.559 the general manager work. And I mean that that first 269 00:13:04.639 --> 00:13:08.120 hire he made, the guy that's been at Washington, looks 270 00:13:08.159 --> 00:13:13.799 like that's kind of fits that that process. Andre obviously 271 00:13:13.960 --> 00:13:18.480 sounds like a really good fit, but it doesn't mean 272 00:13:18.519 --> 00:13:20.360 it's a great fit for Alex. And I don't know 273 00:13:20.399 --> 00:13:23.440 that it is or not. I'm not really I haven't 274 00:13:23.440 --> 00:13:25.679 had that conversation with him yet. But I think a 275 00:13:25.679 --> 00:13:31.440 lot of times we as fans want nostalgic reasons. We want, oh, 276 00:13:31.480 --> 00:13:33.519 Andre's a perfect fit, or this guy's a perfect fit. 277 00:13:33.559 --> 00:13:37.840 But but Alex has developed his own coaching style, his 278 00:13:37.879 --> 00:13:42.200 own his own connection connections in the NBA and in 279 00:13:42.240 --> 00:13:44.759 the G League that he may have five or six 280 00:13:44.799 --> 00:13:46.919 guys already on his mind that are not even on 281 00:13:46.960 --> 00:13:50.240 our radar, like this first hire. I don't know that 282 00:13:50.279 --> 00:13:52.720 he was on at least, you know, any of our 283 00:13:52.799 --> 00:13:56.320 radar like former players, none of us, you know, that 284 00:13:56.360 --> 00:13:57.919 wouldn't have been a guy that we were like thrown 285 00:13:57.960 --> 00:14:00.279 out there. But it sounds like a good one. So 286 00:14:00.600 --> 00:14:02.679 I don't really know about Andre yet. 287 00:14:03.879 --> 00:14:05.000 Yeah, that's a really. 288 00:14:04.879 --> 00:14:07.240 Good point, Jeff, because I've been talking about this quite 289 00:14:07.240 --> 00:14:10.879 a bit, and as you outlined, and I've talked about 290 00:14:10.960 --> 00:14:12.759 a little bit throughout the course of the past couple 291 00:14:12.799 --> 00:14:16.320 of weeks after the news became official, there is this 292 00:14:16.480 --> 00:14:20.279 thought among some in the community that you just need 293 00:14:20.320 --> 00:14:22.360 former utes on the bench start to finish. But let 294 00:14:22.399 --> 00:14:24.879 me let me ask you this, as there are very 295 00:14:24.919 --> 00:14:27.960 few players like you and your brother, you know, really 296 00:14:28.000 --> 00:14:31.679 elite in state players that went on to play at 297 00:14:31.679 --> 00:14:34.159 the University of Utah that have the insight as to 298 00:14:34.200 --> 00:14:35.799 what it's like to be a local kid. 299 00:14:36.360 --> 00:14:37.440 And you know, some of. 300 00:14:37.440 --> 00:14:40.639 Britain's recruiting stories are wild, and I always tease them like, 301 00:14:40.679 --> 00:14:43.360 you needed me in your life when you were deciding 302 00:14:43.360 --> 00:14:45.840 where you wanted to play basketball because Britain, you know, 303 00:14:46.080 --> 00:14:49.360 Jim Beheim Syracuse and but ultimately you guys are both 304 00:14:49.399 --> 00:14:51.440 local players that played for the local team. Do you 305 00:14:51.519 --> 00:14:55.519 think you need a flavor on the staff for assistant 306 00:14:55.600 --> 00:14:59.000 coaches or staffers that do understand the local landscape and 307 00:14:59.039 --> 00:15:01.159 what it's like to recruit kids like you and your brother. 308 00:15:03.000 --> 00:15:06.039 Yeah, for sure. I mean you look at every staff. 309 00:15:06.080 --> 00:15:09.919 I mean they have guys that understand the local players. 310 00:15:10.200 --> 00:15:14.200 And you even can throw in like the religion side 311 00:15:14.200 --> 00:15:16.360 of it with LDS players, because you're still going to 312 00:15:16.399 --> 00:15:20.120 recruit kids from Utah that are LDS and they have 313 00:15:20.159 --> 00:15:23.480 two kids on missions right now that are scholarship guys, 314 00:15:24.039 --> 00:15:27.440 and so you need a Jeff Judkins type you need. 315 00:15:28.120 --> 00:15:30.879 You need somebody that can go into people's houses here. 316 00:15:31.200 --> 00:15:33.519 And Alex can do it too, because Alex is both 317 00:15:33.519 --> 00:15:37.240 of those. But I think you still need an assistant 318 00:15:37.799 --> 00:15:41.679 who can can fit that mold of like I know 319 00:15:41.840 --> 00:15:44.480 the talent here and I know this kid wants to 320 00:15:44.480 --> 00:15:47.080 go on a mission potentially, how's that going to work 321 00:15:47.120 --> 00:15:50.960 with our scholarships? How's that going to work? With nil? 322 00:15:51.320 --> 00:15:53.720 You have to look ahead two years, three years, you know, 323 00:15:53.759 --> 00:15:57.000 it's something to do. I use Dell with forever and Utah 324 00:15:57.120 --> 00:16:00.519 is pretty good during the Majeris days because of us, 325 00:16:00.519 --> 00:16:02.200 he was able to kind of figure that out. So 326 00:16:02.720 --> 00:16:04.399 I do think that's that's important. 327 00:16:05.240 --> 00:16:07.519 You know, it's interesting, and I know that some youth 328 00:16:07.600 --> 00:16:11.440 fans don't love this, but look, if something works, it 329 00:16:11.480 --> 00:16:14.519 doesn't matter what level or what sport, You're going to 330 00:16:14.600 --> 00:16:18.159 look at that model and say, what can we learn 331 00:16:18.320 --> 00:16:21.360 from what they're doing at a place that's similar to ours, 332 00:16:21.440 --> 00:16:25.679 even though the BYU Utah dichotomy and juxtaposition is different 333 00:16:25.720 --> 00:16:27.039 in a lot of ways. But you look at the 334 00:16:27.039 --> 00:16:29.200 way Kevin Young has filled out his staff. He's got 335 00:16:29.200 --> 00:16:32.120 Will Voight, who is a G League guy, Brandon Dunson 336 00:16:32.440 --> 00:16:35.600 Burge obviously has experienced down at Brigham Young as he 337 00:16:35.639 --> 00:16:38.960 does at Utah, but really the only other BYU guy 338 00:16:39.159 --> 00:16:41.840 that they have on their entire staff is Charles Abuo. 339 00:16:42.080 --> 00:16:45.080 I mean these are x NBA players, These are x 340 00:16:45.240 --> 00:16:47.440 NBA staffers all the way down to his strength and 341 00:16:47.480 --> 00:16:50.919 conditioning coach and his nutritionists. So do you think as 342 00:16:51.000 --> 00:16:54.159 we move forward, Alex will kind of do the same 343 00:16:54.200 --> 00:16:57.600 thing Kevin has done based off of als basically two 344 00:16:57.679 --> 00:17:01.639 decades of experience in pro coaching to tap into his 345 00:17:02.080 --> 00:17:04.880 community and his network to kind of fill this staff 346 00:17:04.880 --> 00:17:07.480 with NBA type minded pro type minded people. 347 00:17:08.960 --> 00:17:11.359 Yeah, that's such a good question, because that's kind of 348 00:17:11.359 --> 00:17:13.359 what I keep getting asked by everybody, and I think 349 00:17:13.400 --> 00:17:15.480 that's on the mind of everyone, and I think you 350 00:17:15.559 --> 00:17:17.920 hit the nail on the head. He's going to have 351 00:17:18.039 --> 00:17:22.640 to go get guys that can help him restore the 352 00:17:22.720 --> 00:17:25.160 program and win right away. And it doesn't matter if 353 00:17:25.160 --> 00:17:28.400 it's former Utah guys, and it just matters that it's 354 00:17:28.400 --> 00:17:31.480 the right guys, and that could include a mixture of both. 355 00:17:32.039 --> 00:17:36.599 I think that would help fans with attendance. But ultimately 356 00:17:36.640 --> 00:17:39.039 Alex can't really worry about that. He's got to really 357 00:17:39.039 --> 00:17:42.519 follow what Kevin Young did and get an NBA guy, 358 00:17:42.880 --> 00:17:45.880 a G League guy or two of them, and then 359 00:17:46.039 --> 00:17:49.079 get a local college guy or just another former assistant 360 00:17:49.119 --> 00:17:52.480 on a staff somewhere that knows the college game. And 361 00:17:53.559 --> 00:17:57.119 you know, everybody wants the former youths to come in 362 00:17:57.359 --> 00:18:00.000 to bring the band back, and if it works, great, 363 00:18:00.119 --> 00:18:04.160 but if they're not the right guys, Alex, Alex is 364 00:18:04.200 --> 00:18:06.680 smart enough to know, like it's his butt on the line, 365 00:18:06.759 --> 00:18:09.559 he's got to make it work. And if it's if 366 00:18:09.599 --> 00:18:14.480 it's just him hiring guys that Stansville, you know, nostalgic 367 00:18:14.519 --> 00:18:16.160 for them. Then that's not the right way to go 368 00:18:16.200 --> 00:18:18.559 about it. And so I think Alex is smart enough. 369 00:18:18.599 --> 00:18:20.440 He's already doing that. I know that. 370 00:18:21.039 --> 00:18:24.319 So I wanted to go back to something you referenced earlier, 371 00:18:24.400 --> 00:18:27.839 and al talked about this. I've heard Britt say this too, 372 00:18:27.880 --> 00:18:30.119 and of course Josh Grant on the radio show. When 373 00:18:30.519 --> 00:18:34.559 you hear former Rick Majeri's players say he ruined the 374 00:18:34.599 --> 00:18:37.240 game for us and Jeff, I don't mean the mean 375 00:18:37.319 --> 00:18:39.599 things he said to people. Okay, we could get into that, 376 00:18:40.000 --> 00:18:43.319 but from a basketball x's and other standpoint, what does 377 00:18:43.359 --> 00:18:45.480 that mean? How did plan for it change the way 378 00:18:45.519 --> 00:18:50.119 that you view, watch and in your own experience coach basketball? 379 00:18:52.000 --> 00:18:54.160 Yeah, I mean he didn't ruin it for me as 380 00:18:54.240 --> 00:18:55.960 much as he ruined it for Josh. As you can 381 00:18:55.960 --> 00:18:58.960 tell on the radio. I feel like I have to 382 00:18:58.960 --> 00:19:01.519 come up and clean up after Josh and Britt on 383 00:19:01.559 --> 00:19:05.400 the show. Josh is a good friend and he's right 384 00:19:05.799 --> 00:19:08.720 in a lot of ways. Be seeing about when you 385 00:19:08.720 --> 00:19:11.799 played for coach. Everyone knows how hard he was on 386 00:19:11.839 --> 00:19:17.799 his players. At the purest level. You you learned basketball 387 00:19:17.880 --> 00:19:22.240 from him because he knew that he wasn't recruiting players 388 00:19:22.680 --> 00:19:26.119 that he's not recruiting the players the blue bloods are recruiting. 389 00:19:26.160 --> 00:19:31.480 Even let's beyond a Sandre Miller, right, wasn't recruited like that, Boget. 390 00:19:31.559 --> 00:19:35.279 You know, those kind of guys weren't necessarily all recruited 391 00:19:35.359 --> 00:19:38.079 that way. So they had to come in, they had 392 00:19:38.119 --> 00:19:39.920 to learn how to play the right way, buy in. 393 00:19:40.000 --> 00:19:44.319 And then if you got the right team that was 394 00:19:44.440 --> 00:19:46.759 talented of you had you had the right coach who 395 00:19:46.759 --> 00:19:51.680 could prepare you the purest way, the most detailed way. 396 00:19:51.799 --> 00:19:54.200 So when you see I think what Josh likes to 397 00:19:54.240 --> 00:19:58.079 talk about is when you see basketball and you see 398 00:19:58.680 --> 00:20:03.559 some fundamentally fun knows lacking in teams, the way they're 399 00:20:03.559 --> 00:20:06.079 coming off screens or the way they don't rotate on defense, 400 00:20:07.039 --> 00:20:09.440 it seems that you could have never got away with 401 00:20:09.440 --> 00:20:11.640