Conference call transcript: Rick Barnes
June 17, 2009
On how this incoming class of perimeter players (Avery Bradley, Jordan Hamilton, Jai Lucas and Shawn Williams) ranks among past classes: Well, (Kevin) Durant and (D.J.) Augustin were pretty good now, but we will wait and see. Jai has been here and we have been impressed with him. I think he really understands taking care of the basketball, and he understands the role of a point guard and what needs to happen. We have never recruited a guy who has improved as much as Avery Bradley from the time he committed to us. Jordan obviously we have recruited for a long time. We are excited about all of them. But in terms of comparing them to another class off the top of my head, I don’t think I really can. On his biggest concerns going into next year: Looking at it right now, we have always had high expectations. We are not afraid of that. I wouldn’t say that I have any concerns right now, but we will obviously think about guys playing roles and accepting roles. That’s our job to put guys in those situations and make sure they accept it. But today, I don’t have any concerns. You know what I love is the fact that we are going to have great competition. I think our players will realize that if they are going to get on the floor, they are going to have to earn their way there. They are going to have to produce and be productive. I like the fact that we have more depth now than we have had in a long, long time. On the team’s point guard situation: I think that Jai and Dogus are both natural point guards. You mentioned Avery could probably do a little bit of it, and I think Justin Mason has proven he can do a little bit of it. Jai, once he got here and started figuring out what we were trying to do, was terrific at the end of the year when we were working all of our special situations and those type things. He really understands the game, and he does the one thing that I think all coaches love about a point guard. He doesn’t turn the ball over, and neither does Dogus for that matter. So I think we will be really solid there. We need everyone to buy into their role and do what they have to do, and then we will figure out what we have to do to try to win some games.
On Dexter Pittman’s improvement and momentum from last season: Dexter continues to work hard. Again, the key will be how long he can play at a very high level. How long can he stay out there at that level. He’s a load for anybody to deal with. He’s a guy that people have a hard time with obviously. What we’d like to do is continue to play at a quicker pace but still find Dexter. As he continues to get his conditioning where it needs to be, that’ll help us more than anything. We’re hoping that’s what he can do. On what kind of player Jai Lucas is: Jai really understands the position he plays. He quickly came in here and became a great teammate to everyone. He is just a guy that loves being in the gym, and I’m sure his brother (John) was the same way. They didn’t evolve too far away from how their dad was as a player. Jai has been a really nice addition. The one thing I really like about him is that he just simply doesn’t turn the ball over, and you want that from a guy who plays that position. On what he thinks about the NBA’s one-and-done policy and age restrictions: I don’t have a problem with somebody going right out of high school straight to the NBA, if the NBA thinks they’re good enough and the kids get the right advice. If you look at two of the great players in the NBA Finals in Kobe (Bryant) and Dwight Howard, it was right for them and they’re headed to a Hall of Fame career. You can’t say that’s not a good thing. Some people argue they should have to come to school for two years, because after one semester they don’t go to class anymore. I would blame me for that. People talk about the academic side of it. With our program, we told every kid we’ve ever recruited with those types of aspirations that all we ask you to do is to be loyal to our program. You can’t leave us hanging by not taking your academics seriously. But that’s up to us, too. If a person told me that they weren’t interested in doing that, we wouldn’t recruit them. On being adaptable as a coach from season-to-season and what the team’s style might be this year: I want it to always start on the defensive end. I think that we can be an outstanding defensive team, because we’ve got some guys that can play the ball one on one and stay in front of the ball. Offensively, we want to be aggressive and we want to run. We want Dexter to be a part of what we do. I think we’ll have great balance which is what any coach likes. There are certain things we have to do every night. We’re going to play defense. We’re going to rebound the ball, and we’re going to take care of the ball. If you do those three things, then you’re going to give yourself a chance to be in most games. I don’t think there will be a drastic change in the way we play. I just hope we’re a whole lot better on both ends of the court. On Dogus’ shooting ability: Now he’s with his team back home (in Turkey) playing. He had a really good spring, but he knows what he has to do to improve and play the minutes that he wants to play. If not, that’s where Jai is going to have a great impact on our team with his ability to make shots. So the competition is going to be good. On the conference strength being similar to the 2002-03 season: I don’t think there’s any question that our league is better than it’s ever been. You have outstanding coaches in the league, coaches who understand the schools they’re at and what they have to do to compete at this level. We’ve had a good league though. The perception of this league I don’t think has probably been what it should have been, because this league’s been good for a long time. But if you go back and look, we’ve fared well over the last 10-12 years. Our league is as good as any league in the country. I think it goes back to the way the coaches in this league work at it and the players we’re able to attract. I do think it’s going to be one of the great years in our league. |
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