WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.080 --> 00:00:02.480 The Kyle Whittingham Coaches Show comes your way at six 2 00:00:02.560 --> 00:00:05.679 o'clock tonight. Should be an entertaining one this evening after 3 00:00:05.719 --> 00:00:08.599 a tough weekend. So we have one coach at six. 4 00:00:08.640 --> 00:00:10.480 We have one coach right now. We'll do some Utah 5 00:00:10.519 --> 00:00:13.359 women's hoops around the road against Northwestern on Thursday night 6 00:00:13.359 --> 00:00:16.719 at five o'clock start time, and coach Lynn Roberts back 7 00:00:16.719 --> 00:00:17.960 on the drive on a Tuesday. 8 00:00:18.039 --> 00:00:19.399 Coach, Happy Tuesday. How are you. 9 00:00:20.519 --> 00:00:21.879 I'm doing great? How are you? 10 00:00:22.239 --> 00:00:23.480 I'm well, I'm well all right. 11 00:00:23.519 --> 00:00:27.480 So some new faces, some familiar faces, a two and 12 00:00:27.519 --> 00:00:30.039 zero start, neither game has been relatively close. 13 00:00:30.079 --> 00:00:32.079 We'll kind of get to what's next. 14 00:00:32.079 --> 00:00:34.520 I do want to talk about this interesting change of 15 00:00:34.600 --> 00:00:37.240 conference and what it means for your program. But from 16 00:00:37.240 --> 00:00:40.159 a macro standpoint, what should we know about your team 17 00:00:40.240 --> 00:00:40.640 this year? 18 00:00:40.840 --> 00:00:41.119 Again? 19 00:00:41.159 --> 00:00:43.240 A lot of faces coming back and some new faces 20 00:00:43.280 --> 00:00:44.520 added to the puzzle. 21 00:00:45.600 --> 00:00:47.439 Yeah, I think that's well said. You know, we have 22 00:00:47.560 --> 00:00:51.479 our core group back, Gianna Napkins returning All American, has 23 00:00:51.520 --> 00:00:55.600 two years left, Kenny McQueen, the hender for Utah Local, 24 00:00:56.840 --> 00:01:00.439 and Jenna Johnson. Those guys are all seniors in Eshvita 25 00:01:00.640 --> 00:01:03.920 back Matty Wilke back. We've got some good ones and 26 00:01:04.359 --> 00:01:06.840 you know, a lot of preseason lists for point guard 27 00:01:06.840 --> 00:01:09.400 of the Year with a Nash and Jenna's on the 28 00:01:09.439 --> 00:01:11.760 power forward of the year, you know, one of ten, 29 00:01:11.879 --> 00:01:13.480 one of ten, one of ten. So we've got some 30 00:01:13.519 --> 00:01:15.959 good guys back that have been in this program for 31 00:01:16.480 --> 00:01:20.040 you know, three years, four years, and they also you know, 32 00:01:20.319 --> 00:01:23.480 beyond being upper class, and they have a lot of experience. 33 00:01:23.480 --> 00:01:25.280 You know, they've all played every year they've been here, 34 00:01:25.319 --> 00:01:29.120 they've advanced in the NCAA tournament, and they've won Tactal championship. 35 00:01:29.200 --> 00:01:32.439 Like there's just a lot of experience, not just age experience, 36 00:01:32.480 --> 00:01:36.040 but big game experience in winning. So that's a luxury 37 00:01:36.040 --> 00:01:38.159 as a coach. But then we also have three really 38 00:01:38.200 --> 00:01:40.640 good freshmen and a couple of transfers that I really like, 39 00:01:40.760 --> 00:01:43.319 and then some key role players back that are you know, 40 00:01:43.359 --> 00:01:45.760 they've improved. So I like our roster. It's a great 41 00:01:45.799 --> 00:01:49.879 mix of new plus just experienced veterans. So I think 42 00:01:49.959 --> 00:01:53.799 that's a good balance. When you're looking at the season, Well. 43 00:01:53.640 --> 00:01:55.519 When you lose an all time great, it's tough to 44 00:01:55.640 --> 00:01:59.120 make up for the absence, and Unlisia has now moved 45 00:01:59.120 --> 00:02:02.120 on to pro basketball in Minnesota. What have what have 46 00:02:02.200 --> 00:02:04.879 you tried to do so far? I guess you're just 47 00:02:04.920 --> 00:02:06.680 relying on, you know, all the girls that have been 48 00:02:06.680 --> 00:02:09.280 in your program. But again, you don't. You don't just 49 00:02:09.319 --> 00:02:12.360 replace somebody who is historically great. So how are you 50 00:02:12.439 --> 00:02:15.759 going about kind of the big hole that Alyssa leaves behind? 51 00:02:16.960 --> 00:02:19.159 Yeah, I mean you don't. It's not, as I've said 52 00:02:19.199 --> 00:02:21.719 a lot, like, it's not zero sum where she graduates 53 00:02:21.759 --> 00:02:23.520 and you bring in somebody and you wipe her hands 54 00:02:23.520 --> 00:02:25.960 clean like hey done, Like it's it doesn't work that way. 55 00:02:27.000 --> 00:02:30.439 And but where it's not like she was the entire 56 00:02:30.479 --> 00:02:32.719 program either. I think the system played for her. She 57 00:02:32.800 --> 00:02:36.680 was an incredible generational talent. But we had a lot 58 00:02:36.680 --> 00:02:39.840 of good players around her too, And so those guys 59 00:02:40.120 --> 00:02:41.800 you know, are going to step up, like you mentioned, 60 00:02:41.840 --> 00:02:46.280 and be in some bigger, more uh scoring reliant roles. 61 00:02:47.080 --> 00:02:49.840 But then we've got we've got a transfer, a grad 62 00:02:49.879 --> 00:02:54.000 transfer from she's originally from France, graduated at Rhode Island. 63 00:02:54.639 --> 00:02:56.479 It was all big East out there, and so she 64 00:02:57.560 --> 00:02:59.919 you know, six three sixty four really long athletic shit, 65 00:03:00.000 --> 00:03:03.439 twenty two points in our second game she's good and 66 00:03:03.520 --> 00:03:06.639 she's going to help fill some need there, and then 67 00:03:06.639 --> 00:03:09.240 it's just, you know, it's my job to put our 68 00:03:09.319 --> 00:03:12.840 best scoring, our best players and positions to have the 69 00:03:12.879 --> 00:03:16.120 most impact. But we certainly have the talent to make 70 00:03:16.199 --> 00:03:20.199 up for it. And it's you know, while it's definitely 71 00:03:20.280 --> 00:03:22.560 is a loss, it's not something that stresses me out 72 00:03:23.159 --> 00:03:25.400 in terms of can we still be as effective, if 73 00:03:25.439 --> 00:03:26.159 not better. 74 00:03:26.680 --> 00:03:29.199 Through two games? You're still playing the same type of 75 00:03:29.360 --> 00:03:32.400 flow system. Everybody touches the ball, the ball move. You 76 00:03:32.439 --> 00:03:34.199 still like to shoot a lot of threes. You know, 77 00:03:34.360 --> 00:03:37.120 it does look like your style of play. I wonder 78 00:03:37.120 --> 00:03:40.360 how much of that is based off of and look, 79 00:03:40.400 --> 00:03:42.080 you do have a lot of players who have been 80 00:03:42.080 --> 00:03:45.639 in the program. But do you decide exactly what you 81 00:03:45.680 --> 00:03:48.639 will implement based off of your personnel or you a 82 00:03:48.719 --> 00:03:51.039 coach that says this is how I know to win, 83 00:03:51.719 --> 00:03:54.000 and you're going to play in this system, Like, how 84 00:03:54.039 --> 00:03:56.319 does that process play itself out prior to the start 85 00:03:56.319 --> 00:03:56.719 of the year. 86 00:03:58.319 --> 00:04:00.360 Yeah, I think a little bit of both. I think 87 00:04:00.680 --> 00:04:04.120 our philosophy remains the same in terms of the way 88 00:04:04.159 --> 00:04:07.199 we want to play the game. The nuances of that 89 00:04:07.400 --> 00:04:09.560 it depends on who your players are right now. The 90 00:04:09.639 --> 00:04:12.280 luxury is that we get to recruit players that fit 91 00:04:12.319 --> 00:04:15.599 our system. So if somebody cannot shoot at all, we 92 00:04:15.639 --> 00:04:17.279 probably won't recruit them. That doesn't mean they're not a 93 00:04:17.319 --> 00:04:19.079 good player, but they're just not a good fit for us. 94 00:04:20.279 --> 00:04:23.519 And so you know, we're recruiting now to the system. 95 00:04:24.560 --> 00:04:27.399 But every year is nuanced. And even if we've got 96 00:04:27.399 --> 00:04:30.720 a bunch of players back and it's you know, a 97 00:04:30.720 --> 00:04:33.279 lot of the same ingredients, it's still a different recipe. 98 00:04:33.319 --> 00:04:36.360 Every year is different and that's the fun part of coaching, 99 00:04:36.639 --> 00:04:40.240 and you've got to keep it new. And so we're 100 00:04:40.240 --> 00:04:43.399 doing some different things than are nuances. But in terms 101 00:04:43.439 --> 00:04:47.519 of the philosophy of pace and tempo and space and 102 00:04:48.399 --> 00:04:50.839 great shot selection, that'll that'll be the same as long 103 00:04:50.879 --> 00:04:51.560 as I'm coaching. 104 00:04:52.079 --> 00:04:57.160 How has your recent success conference championships NCAA tournaments, how 105 00:04:57.199 --> 00:05:00.600 has that affected your ability to recruit on the trail 106 00:05:00.720 --> 00:05:03.199 to get into doors that maybe three four years ago 107 00:05:03.240 --> 00:05:04.360 you were not able to get into. 108 00:05:05.319 --> 00:05:06.000 Yeah, for sure. 109 00:05:06.120 --> 00:05:09.399 I mean six great players want to want to win, 110 00:05:09.800 --> 00:05:13.399 right and they want to be around other great players, 111 00:05:13.439 --> 00:05:15.800 and so you know, we're fortunate to be at a 112 00:05:15.839 --> 00:05:20.319 spot with our program where we're nationally known and respected 113 00:05:20.480 --> 00:05:23.480 and we've kind of earned our earned our keep a 114 00:05:23.519 --> 00:05:28.079 little bit to where we have. You know, we're able, 115 00:05:28.199 --> 00:05:30.360 we have the ability to get in there, and you know, 116 00:05:30.519 --> 00:05:33.680 another huge part of that is our home crowd attendance. 117 00:05:34.240 --> 00:05:38.160 You know, last season we averaged seventy two hundred. When 118 00:05:38.160 --> 00:05:40.399 I got the job ten nine and a half years ago, 119 00:05:40.399 --> 00:05:42.360 we had the year before I got here, they averaged 120 00:05:42.399 --> 00:05:45.959 six hundred and fifty four people, and so we're up 121 00:05:46.000 --> 00:05:48.879 to seventy two hundred, and that's a huge part of 122 00:05:48.920 --> 00:05:51.000 recruiting kids. You know, if you're an elite player, you 123 00:05:51.040 --> 00:05:52.560 want to play in front of a great home crowd, 124 00:05:52.600 --> 00:05:54.560 and we want to keep building that. You know, my 125 00:05:54.639 --> 00:05:56.279 goal is to get to ten thousand and be like 126 00:05:57.519 --> 00:06:01.079 you know Iowa and Yukon, those types of places that 127 00:06:01.120 --> 00:06:04.720 have historically had great crowds, like that's South Carolina like that. 128 00:06:05.040 --> 00:06:08.120 That's the next step. I'm certainly not content with where 129 00:06:08.160 --> 00:06:09.480 we are, and we just want to keep pushing. 130 00:06:10.680 --> 00:06:11.680 Is this your tenth year? 131 00:06:12.800 --> 00:06:13.920 Yes? Can you believe it? 132 00:06:15.000 --> 00:06:16.240 I feel like you just got hired. 133 00:06:17.120 --> 00:06:20.120 I know me too, but the bags under my eyes 134 00:06:20.680 --> 00:06:21.040 tell the. 135 00:06:22.879 --> 00:06:25.480 Well, tenth year is the head coach, but the first 136 00:06:25.519 --> 00:06:27.600 year as the head coach in the Big twelve. And 137 00:06:28.199 --> 00:06:31.639 you know, look, it doesn't necessarily this is just my opinion. 138 00:06:32.360 --> 00:06:35.519 It doesn't necessarily adversely affect you the way that it 139 00:06:35.560 --> 00:06:38.199 does Craig, because the Big twelve conference on the men's 140 00:06:38.199 --> 00:06:42.279 side is ridiculous. But I feel like the PAC twelve 141 00:06:42.800 --> 00:06:47.199 on the women's side may have been a superior conference overall, 142 00:06:47.360 --> 00:06:50.000 or maybe it's pretty close. As of now, looks like 143 00:06:50.079 --> 00:06:52.560 we've got four teams in the top twenty five. Yes, 144 00:06:52.600 --> 00:06:54.639 after two games, l we're going to break down the 145 00:06:54.639 --> 00:06:58.680 top twenty five. IOWA Stayed, Case Day, West, Virginia, Baylor. 146 00:06:59.040 --> 00:07:02.680 But how would you articulate what this Big twelve challenge 147 00:07:02.680 --> 00:07:05.759 means for the women's side of things? Is it better competition? 148 00:07:05.879 --> 00:07:08.680 Is it pretty linear? Give me your thoughts there. 149 00:07:08.879 --> 00:07:12.279 Yeah, And I think I think you're right. I think 150 00:07:12.360 --> 00:07:16.560 the PAC twelve on the women's basketball side was and 151 00:07:16.600 --> 00:07:20.199 this is not an opinion, this is statistically factual and 152 00:07:20.240 --> 00:07:25.639 in terms of tournament, game advancement, statistics, play, you know, 153 00:07:25.720 --> 00:07:29.079 all the things, net ranking, everything packed twelve on's basketball 154 00:07:29.160 --> 00:07:31.639 was the best women's basketball conference. And I think what 155 00:07:31.720 --> 00:07:36.000 made it uniquely elite was that it was from top 156 00:07:36.040 --> 00:07:40.639 to bottom. Everybody was really competitive. You know, there's a 157 00:07:39.639 --> 00:07:42.680 lot of a lot of population in the West and 158 00:07:43.199 --> 00:07:45.759 no other conference that could you know, in the area 159 00:07:45.879 --> 00:07:48.600 Power five now Power four. But so there was a 160 00:07:48.600 --> 00:07:52.160 lot of West Coast talent that we got to stay. 161 00:07:52.360 --> 00:07:54.879 We being packed twelve and it was an elite league 162 00:07:55.000 --> 00:07:57.040 on the women's side, and maybe you know how you 163 00:07:57.120 --> 00:07:59.240 might equate the Big Twelve on the men's side, right 164 00:07:59.360 --> 00:08:03.120 like it was just the best. So you know, everybody 165 00:08:03.160 --> 00:08:07.319 kind of got absorbed into well not everybody rip Oregon 166 00:08:07.360 --> 00:08:11.040 State in Washington State, but they'll make it back. Everyone 167 00:08:11.079 --> 00:08:13.240 kind of got absorbed into other leagues and so we'll 168 00:08:13.279 --> 00:08:15.240 all kind of be spread out, which I think will 169 00:08:15.639 --> 00:08:19.160 you know, elevate those leagues too. But the Big Twelve 170 00:08:19.199 --> 00:08:21.480 is good. You mentioned four teams, but that's not just 171 00:08:21.519 --> 00:08:24.079 the only four that are good. Arizona's always tough. TCU 172 00:08:24.199 --> 00:08:28.120 is good, We're good, Colorado's always good. Like it's a 173 00:08:28.160 --> 00:08:30.759 good league. It's a tough league. And I think for me, 174 00:08:31.680 --> 00:08:34.480 you know, there's a lot of places being a West 175 00:08:34.480 --> 00:08:36.360 Coast kid my whole life, there's a lot of places 176 00:08:36.360 --> 00:08:39.799 I've never you know, competed at new arenas, new travel, 177 00:08:39.840 --> 00:08:43.159 all of that, new opponents. But that part's kind of 178 00:08:43.159 --> 00:08:45.879 fun too. It's a new challenge. Change kind of keeps 179 00:08:45.919 --> 00:08:49.519 you sharp, and so I'm excited. I'm looking forward to it. 180 00:08:49.559 --> 00:08:52.519 I certainly don't think it's gonna be easy for anybody 181 00:08:52.559 --> 00:08:54.559 in the big twelve on Norman side to cruise through. 182 00:08:54.600 --> 00:08:57.080 I think it's gonna be everyone's gonna kind of take 183 00:08:57.080 --> 00:08:59.080 their lumps. No one's going to go undefeated. But I 184 00:08:59.080 --> 00:09:00.519 think it's a really, really good league. 185 00:09:01.080 --> 00:09:02.639 What did you ask because you had a lot of 186 00:09:02.639 --> 00:09:05.399 players coming back from injury, a lot of and unfortunately 187 00:09:05.480 --> 00:09:07.600 that was an issue that plagued you at the end 188 00:09:07.639 --> 00:09:09.480 of last year. So what did you ask during the 189 00:09:09.519 --> 00:09:12.440 off season from some of these young women who played 190 00:09:12.440 --> 00:09:14.000 for you who were hurt to make sure that they 191 00:09:14.000 --> 00:09:16.759 were healthy, stay in shape, and were you satisfied with 192 00:09:16.759 --> 00:09:18.720 the way that your roster came back ready to play. 193 00:09:19.799 --> 00:09:23.679 Yeah, we've got an unbelievable group that we have to 194 00:09:23.720 --> 00:09:25.639 and this is the honesty, goodness truth. We have to 195 00:09:25.840 --> 00:09:28.519 actually lock the gym so they don't get in when 196 00:09:28.559 --> 00:09:30.720 they're supposed to be having an off day. They are 197 00:09:30.759 --> 00:09:34.919 so driven and bought in and motivated to be great 198 00:09:36.279 --> 00:09:39.639 that they work their tails off. So my you know, 199 00:09:39.759 --> 00:09:42.559 my issue as a coach now is that they overtrain 200 00:09:44.000 --> 00:09:46.559 more than having to get them going. And that's a 201 00:09:46.600 --> 00:09:48.559 good problem to have as coach. I'll tell you. 202 00:09:48.480 --> 00:09:51.799 That of the of the young women you have returning 203 00:09:51.840 --> 00:09:54.320 to play for you, who would you point out? I 204 00:09:54.320 --> 00:09:56.399 would imagine Gianna is gonna be on the list as 205 00:09:56.440 --> 00:09:59.840 far as helping the incoming freshmen of the transfers understand 206 00:10:00.000 --> 00:10:01.879 because you can only do so much when as the coach, 207 00:10:01.919 --> 00:10:03.240 and then they're going to go when they're going to 208 00:10:03.240 --> 00:10:05.440 a class and they're going to go hang out. So 209 00:10:05.559 --> 00:10:08.320 who are you kind of leaning on to help you know, 210 00:10:08.440 --> 00:10:10.879 these new players understand what you ask of them as 211 00:10:10.960 --> 00:10:12.039 being part of this program. 212 00:10:13.120 --> 00:10:15.879 Yeah, we've got a handful of players that just breathe 213 00:10:15.919 --> 00:10:18.799 our culture. They live it and that you know John 214 00:10:18.879 --> 00:10:23.600 Eapns is one, Jenna Johnson and Neeshvita Kennedy, McQueen, Matty Wilke, 215 00:10:23.759 --> 00:10:26.200 those guys you know, I mentioned em earlier. They they 216 00:10:26.279 --> 00:10:29.879 are the walking example of what we want and they 217 00:10:30.679 --> 00:10:32.759 you know, they've completely bought in. And so when your 218 00:10:32.759 --> 00:10:36.159 best players are doing that, the new guys fall in line. 219 00:10:36.240 --> 00:10:37.919 I don't have to do a whole lot. It's pretty 220 00:10:38.000 --> 00:10:41.679 player driven and player led at this point, which is awesome. 221 00:10:42.360 --> 00:10:44.320 Well, before I said you, Louise, you should know that 222 00:10:44.360 --> 00:10:47.480 the latest bracketology has you in Region four in Spokane. 223 00:10:47.559 --> 00:10:49.440 Is an eight seed play in South Dakota State. 224 00:10:50.480 --> 00:10:53.720 Yeah, well, oh that's where we were last year. That 225 00:10:53.799 --> 00:10:56.720 was a great experience, wasn't it. And uh we played 226 00:10:56.720 --> 00:10:59.399 South Sacosta State. So I don't anticipate staying as an 227 00:10:59.399 --> 00:11:01.679 eight seed. The goal is to be a top four 228 00:11:01.759 --> 00:11:05.919 and host, so I think that's very It's challenging, but 229 00:11:05.960 --> 00:11:09.360 it's doable. But just like top twenty five poles, I 230 00:11:09.399 --> 00:11:12.600 don't pay much attention to the bracketology. We just kind 231 00:11:12.600 --> 00:11:14.200 of stay in our lane and keep our nose down 232 00:11:14.240 --> 00:11:15.320 and chop wood. 233 00:11:15.360 --> 00:11:17.639 Man, I wouldn't imagine, So I was surprised that there 234 00:11:17.679 --> 00:11:20.159 was actually a bracketology available for me to look at. 235 00:11:20.200 --> 00:11:21.559 After two non con games. 236 00:11:21.840 --> 00:11:24.240 Before I set you loose, tell me about Northwestern your 237 00:11:24.279 --> 00:11:25.720 next opponent coming up on Thursday. 238 00:11:26.559 --> 00:11:29.519 Yeah, you know, I've never in my in my career 239 00:11:29.559 --> 00:11:32.840 played Northwestern home or away or anywhere, so this is 240 00:11:32.840 --> 00:11:35.960 a first. I actually don't know if Utah has played Northwestern, 241 00:11:36.000 --> 00:11:40.120 that'd be a good trivia ever in its history. But yeah, 242 00:11:40.200 --> 00:11:42.840 I mean big ten team. They've had a they've they've 243 00:11:42.879 --> 00:11:47.279 lost a couple of close games against really two really 244 00:11:47.279 --> 00:11:49.559 good teams, so they're going to be hungry to win. 245 00:11:50.200 --> 00:11:52.039 And it's a you know, our first road game, and 246 00:11:52.120 --> 00:11:53.919 it'll be a tough challenge. But I think they're well 247 00:11:53.960 --> 00:11:57.600 coached and they've got, you know, a Big ten roster, 248 00:11:57.879 --> 00:12:00.240 so we have our hands full. We you know, we're 249 00:12:00.240 --> 00:12:02.159 the underdog going on the road in the big tenth. 250 00:12:02.720 --> 00:12:04.320 All right, Lynn, thanks for the time. Great to have 251 00:12:04.399 --> 00:12:06.679 college hoops back. Safe travels and we'll chat again. 252 00:12:06.720 --> 00:12:08.879 Okay, okay, thanks for having me. 253 00:12:08.840 --> 00:12:10.039 On all right, Lynn Roberts. 254 00:12:10.080 --> 00:12:12.840 She's on social media at youte coach at UT's coach 255 00:12:12.919 --> 00:12:15.000 rob is where you find her. And as she referenced, 256 00:12:15.039 --> 00:12:16.879 you know, one of the things that's allowed her to 257 00:12:17.000 --> 00:12:20.159 really build this program in the right direction is the 258 00:12:20.159 --> 00:12:23.320 home attendance being what it is now. On the women's side, 259 00:12:23.360 --> 00:12:25.759 they'll be home next on the eighteenth against McNeice. 260 00:12:26.279 --> 00:12:27.279 Looks like they'll get rolling. 261 00:12:27.320 --> 00:12:30.000 They've got Notre Dame coming into town on the thirtieth 262 00:12:30.480 --> 00:12:32.600 of November. That's the top six team in the country. 263 00:12:32.600 --> 00:12:35.559 Then they'll launch into Big twelve play a little bit 264 00:12:35.600 --> 00:12:37.240 later on, so appreciate Lynn's time.