BATON ROUGE — LSU men’s basketball coach John Brady met with the local and state media Thursday at the LSU Athletic Administration Building as part of the men’s and women’s LSU basketball media day activities.
Brady, in his 11th season as the head coach of the Tigers, and his team will practice for the first time Friday night in a closed to the public practice in the auxiliary gymnasium of the Maravich Center. The Tigers first exhibition game is set for Nov. 1 against Belhaven and the season opener is Nov. 12 against Southeastern Louisiana.
Here are some of the comments from the opening statement of Coach Brady to the media followed by comments at the player interview session held in the multi-purpose room of the Maravich Center:
LSU Head Men’s Basketball Coach John Brady —
“I want to tell you about the team and touch on last’s year too. In the 11 times I have been up here to talk with you, I’ve never tired to give you false statements or lead you to believe something that is not true or paint a great picture. I’ve always tried to answer questions you’ve asked and been honest. When you ask me a question I will give you an honest answer, whether you agree or disagree. I’ve made a concerted effort in the past three or four years to be better, be less emotional with things and made some progress in that. Bottom line, I’ve always tried to be honest about our team.
“Since I’ve been here we have done four things: we try to defend well without fouling; we try to rebound on both ends on the floor; we tried to take care of the ball; and, the fourth thing is to get a quality shot. Regardless, of what offense you run or what defense you play. Those four things are sound and those four things remain constant. Whether you slow the ball down or you try to run it in to the floor. Whatever the case maybe those four things are fundamentally sound and we have tried to have these qualities in every team I have coached.
“Last year, obviously I was disappointed in our team and its ability to win close games. With the Final Four team two years ago, our SEC victories were about 6.2 points per game. Our SEC losses were about 6.2 points per game with this past year’s team. So six points is six points in basketball or any sport, it’s critical. So what enabled our team two years ago to almost win every close game and in this past season in the seven SEC games it came down to five minutes and we lost five of those. I think the team chemistry we had a year ago never developed like it did with the team two years ago. Looking back I would have handled the media attention a bit different. I would have scaled it back and protected our team more. I think down the road it hurt us in situations. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a team in the SEC finish as we did, but were able to beat four top-20 teams. It showed you the difference of our team when it was right; we were as good as anyone in the country. Connecticut was ranked at the time. Tennessee was ranked we beat them in the SEC tournament. Texas A&M was No. 6, Florida was ranked No. 3 and we beat those teams. Then not to be able to close a game against Ole Miss on the road, when the game is in your hand or close a game at Georgia those things were the difference in our team being where it was. So the team chemistry and things of that nature are so important in closing a game and it needs to be different with this team.
“Which now brings me to this year’s team. We all anticipated last year that we were going to have a great season. But, we weren’t able to do it because of the things I just mentioned. For this team to reassert last year may not be fair. We all knew coming in to this season out team will have a different look based on the players we lost. This team will be a bit different from the teams you have seen in the past years. We are moving from forward dominating team to a perimeter oriented team based on the players we have returning. The Canada trip was very beneficial for us. We were able to get five practices in. We were extremely positive to run a completely new offense to accommodate the players we have and their style of play. We shot 25 three’s a game on our trip to Canada, which is a little different from what you see in the past. We are perimeter influenced now and not forward dominating. We averaged 95 points a game when we played in Canada. You might ask if the teams were any good. They were all well coached, not great teams, but if you go north Illinois got beat by one of the Canadian teams and Alabama lost by 12.
“Two concerns I have with this team: defending around the goal, because we did have thickness and physical ability from (Jaime) Lloreda to Bass to Glen and Tyrus and we don’t have that now. Another is rebounding the ball. If you look at rebounding stats from our Canada trip we out rebounded our opponents by 14 or 16 but still it’s a concern when we get in to the SEC. We have always been a good defending team and I think our team defending in the perimeter will be good because that’s were the experience is. But, our ability to defend around the goal will be a bit more imaginative. We might have to double team with different guys and mix zones. The positive of this team is the experience perimeter and depth that we have. With, Garrett Temple, Terry Martin and Tasmin Mitchell and Alex Farrer being a better player along with Bo Spencer and the addition with Marcus Thornton we have good depth. Marcus Thornton he had 30, 19 and 29 points in the games in Canada. First half he made 20 points the first time in a purple and gold jersey. Those players are all positive things. I think the experience we have with two players on the SEC Championship team and on the Final Four team. I think those guys will be good for us. The positive things for this team because we were able to play in Canada we scored the ball easier than we have in the past. We are able to shoot the ball better and I think we are going to be a good shooting team. Even our big guys can all shoot from the perimeter. This team ran the floor extremely well and I was surprised how we managed up and down the court.
“We can put pressure on the defense when you have a player like Anthony Radolph who can pull the ball off the glass and take it up the floor himself. We will give him the freedom to do that. I feel good about how we were able to play and share the ball. Those are important characteristics if you going to run and shoot the ball like we have done in the past. We are going to have to use our length and the ability to run the floor and make three’s. Offensively we have been a high powered team, this year we will run more of a motion type combination with screening and cutting. I think it suits the personal that we do have. Defensively we are certainly going to do what I have always done in my career man-to-man and be a rebounding team. When the ball is shot, whether you are 5-10 or 6-10 you need to put your body on someone to get the ball. Also we will be more of a trapping team in the half court, particular on the post maybe on the wing. I think if we allow teams to move the ball around and work the shots they will eventually get in to the block and cause some problems. I think we will also be a zone playing team to use our length and depth.
“We are working hard at recruiting. We could possibly have one of the best classes coming in. Our staff is very important to us. Butch Pierre who is back is and is outstanding. John Treloar is back. Chad Dollar we hired from the state of Georgia and Jeff Clapacs is here as well. I like our staff and I like the attitude of our team and I’m excited about coaching them.”
Player Quotes
On the expectation level for last year …
“The expectation levels for last year were high. I don’t know if we were mature enough to handle those expectations. We had some injuries and some stuff going on with the team and certain players. I don’t think that contributed to it positively. We had a rough year last year but we are ready to bounce back.”
On the new faces …
“We have five or six new faces. That’s good. We’ve changed up what we are going to do a little bit. We’ve got some young talent. Those guys are eager and very ready to play. It was good that we had the chance to go to Canada and see what everyone was about. I think we are going to be a very exciting team to watch.”
On Anthony Randolph …
“He’s a 6-10 guy. He’s real long, and he loves to run the floor. There are a lot of guys who can run the floor, but they might not like to. He plays real hard. That’s the main thing. He’s very competitive. If you tell him he can’t do something, he’s going to try it. That’s the kind of guys we need.”
On Marcus Thornton …
“There’s not much to say if you saw the stats from Canada. He averaged about 27 points a game in Junior College. He’s from Baton Rouge, so I’ve grown up playing with him. He’s just a scorer. A lot of people on our team compare him to Darrel Mitchell, except he’s three and a half inches taller. He’s going to be a real big spark for us.”
On his favorite position …
“I like the one and the two. I feel like I’m more important at the one, but I’m good at the two also. It doesn’t really matter. I just want to be on the court.”
On what he wants to improve on this year …
“Consistency. I want to come out every game and play hard. I want to play better defense. I want to be more active on the defensive end.”
On Marcus Thornton‘s shooting ability …
“Marcus Thornton does not miss. He does not miss. When he and I are on the court, it’s going to be real tough to stop us both on the wings. He doesn’t miss, and my jumper has gotten a little better.”
On the offense …
“It’s going to be an up and down offense. It’s not going to be like the last couple of years. We are a guard oriented team. With the guards on the court, we are going to get up and down the court quicker because we are faster and smaller.”
On his defense …
“I’ve been working on my defense this off-season. I’ve been guarding smaller people to try and get my footwork better. I just can’t rely on my size. I have to be more active on the defensive end so we can win some games. Last year, we lost some games by two or three points. The year before, we won some by two or three, so my defense is going to count a lot.”
On the trip to Canada …
“It was a great experience getting to know our new teammates, as far as freshman and Junior College players. We built a camaraderie. We got better as a team.”
On this year’s expectations …
“The expectations for this team are high for me. I really don’t think a lot of people know what we have on this team. I think we are going to surprise a lot of people.”
On being the lone “big man” with experience …
“I don’t look at things like that. I’m just another piece of the puzzle. If the guys want to give me the ball and consider me a “go-to guy”, then that’s their decision. I’m just out there to play.”
On the new players …
“We have a lot of talent. There are a ton of athletes here. We are going to run the ball more. It’s going to be a more up and down offense instead of just executing. We are going to be something special this year.”
On finally arriving at LSU …
“I’m happy to be here. It’s close to home. My parents and my family are close. They are close enough to come see me. All my friends from Glen Oaks and Southern Lab and everyone else I know can come see me. I’m just ready to get it started. “It really hasn’t hit me yet. It probably won’t until the first game. I always used to come to games here when I was young, and I wanted to come and play here. We have a lot of home town guys, so we should have a lot of chemistry. Me, Garrett (Temple), Tasmin (Mitchell) and Marcus (Thornton) are all from down here. Everyone likes to play. We pick up well and have good chemistry. It’s going to be good for us.”
On growing up playing against current LSU players …
“I’m the youngest one. I’m younger than Tasmin and Garrett. They always played on the older teams growing up. As far as pick up games go, we all seem to gel fine. We all know each other’s style. We played against each other in high school, so we know what we can do.”
On his thoughts about this team compared to the last two years …
“I don’t like to think back to the Final Four. That’s in the past. Last year is the past. This year is new. We’ve just got to work hard and compete. Final four ? past; last year’s team ? past. If we want to be a final four team we’re just going to have to work hard.”
On his role as a leader on the team…
“Garrett Temple and I are really trying to step up and be leaders and I think we’ve done a great job. I feel like I’m a leader myself and Garrett, he’s a leader too. It’s up to us to become leaders, take care of this team and lead it in the right direction.”
On his focus during the season and dealing with expectations…
“I always worry only about what I can do for my team. I’m always very worried about what I can do to help the team and playing within my abilities.”
On his defensive role during the upcoming season…
“Defending the post won’t be a problem with me. I’m not going to guard anybody that’s 6’10 or 7′. I’m 6’7 so it’s not going to be like that. Chris Johnson can take care of the bigger guys. He’s been working hard in the weight room and will be ok this season. He’s going to be ok.”
On his thoughts about the new players…
“They all just fit in. Most of them are from Baton Rouge. We all are like a family already ? before the season has even started. Most people find themselves in the beginning of the season during the first couple of games but we found ourselves together before the season during camp.”
On how Marcus Thornton, Anthony Randolph, and Quentin Thornton have been playing…
“Marcus Thornton has looked terrific. Obviously if you look at his numbers you know how well he’s played. Anthony Randolph showed us a lot too. He’s been great as a freshman and especially when we went down to camp he was wonderful. And, as a freshman, he has a lot more impressing to do during the season. Quentin Thornton has been great, too. He’s very good. He’s a great basketball player.”