NCAA Men's Championship: Final Four Friday, April 5, 2019 Minneapolis, Minnesota coach and emphasize it. It's just always kind of our Norense Odiase belief of basketball, and it was kind of reinforced by Coach Knight in those years under him.

Jarrett Culver Just getting to know Coach Izzo, but the last couple days have been pretty cool. Last night he was talking about his relationship with Coach Heathcote and the THE MODERATOR: We're ready to go with head defense and things like that. coach of Texas Tech, Chris Beard. Want to give us thoughts as you head into the semifinal. Yeah, people ask me all the time is it challenging? Not really. Good players want to be coached, and good CHRIS BEARD: I told the guys, if it doesn't feel a little players want that trust factor, and I think, once you different today than it did yesterday leading up to explain to the guys, this is why we do the things we do tomorrow, then we're not ready, and everybody assured and this is what defense can lead to, once they kind of me that it did. visualize and they understand how important it is, it becomes everybody's identity. We're just excited about the opportunity. To me, personally, this open practice is sacred. I grew up in But I think Michigan State's one of the best defensive coaching coming to these. It's the one part of the Final teams in , as they are every year. To Four that I've never missed. I'd come to all four me, it's much more than just the rebounding. It's the practices, sit there with my coaching friends and watch positioning and the gaps and the toughness, the the Michigan States, the North Carolinas, the Dukes, mental toughness, the lack of mistakes, the players the Kansases of the world of college basketball and playing roles, their rim protection. It's one of the best dream of being here. shot blocking teams in college basketball, but they do it by committee. It's here, and I tend to have a great time here. In our 50-minute practice today, wile try to get a lot of shots Michigan State, we have a lot of respect for obviously, up and enjoy the moment. but their defense is at the top of the list of reasons why.

Q. Coach, your team plays incredibly intensive on Q. Sadly, my name is not Hondo. Hondo asked defense, which is something that Michigan State partly what I wanted to ask, so I'll take it a step likes to do. Is it fun to be able to -- most teams just further. You've been glowing in your reverence for don't play with the intensity you do on that side of Coach Izzo. I just wanted to touch on a little bit the ball. Is that a fun challenge to play someone more about the respect you have for him. There's a who has the same commitment that you do? lot of great coaches out there, but what is it about CHRIS BEARD: That's a great name, Hondo. Have Coach Izzo that resonates with you so much? you ever heard of Hondo from Luckenbach, Texas? CHRIS BEARD: There's three things. One, talking to people who know Coach and kind of study him and Q. Yes, sir. read the articles and the books like everybody, I'm 100 CHRIS BEARD: I have three daughters, but I always percent sure that this is a coach who hasn't changed said if I had a son, I was going to name him Hondo. from when he was a high school coach to an assistant Actually, the girls didn't know that. coach, graduate assistant, then assistant, now head coach, and then NCAA coach, National Championship Just to be mentioned in the same question or a coach, Naismith Hall of Fame coach. He hasn't statement with our defense and Michigan State is a changed. Everybody around him says he's the same huge compliment for our program. Yes, we try to guard old coach. at a high level. It's been the identity of our teams at all different levels and now currently at Texas Tech. But You kind of feel that. In coaching we're kind of a it's something that we try to recruit to. We certainly fraternity. We spend Aprils together and Julys. You

Rev #1 by #206 at 2019-04-05 18:01:00 GMT page 1 of 5 might run into somebody at the rental car counter. One I went to Lubbock to spend a few days, but the guy that time at Peach Jam, they got one row of chairs on Court really endorsed it was . I met Coach Knight 3, and I just happened to be sitting somewhere, and first, and then I spent several days with Pat. We then you're sitting next to a Coach Izzo. He obviously developed a relationship that turned into a strong will not remember this story, but I do. He's just a guy friendship. that's personable, he's nice. He treats everybody, regardless of what a guy's shirt says, the logo on the Pat was the one, basically in my eyes, that got me the shirt, to me, he kind of goes out of his way. He's a job at Texas Tech. Coach might disagree, but it was coach's coach. He helps coaches. So that's the first definitely Pat, I think, endorsing. I still have a close thing. relationship with Pat today.

Obviously, on the basketball court, everybody has an Q. Coach, when you look at the guard talent and idea kind of the way the game's played, and the way the wing talent throughout this Final Four, Michigan State plays is exactly how I kind of visualize including Jarrett Culver, how does that speak to the game, defense and toughness. They have an the game evolving in terms of smaller lineups and identity. He coaches his guys hard, but you can tell he a lot of guards throughout this Final Four? loves his guys, and they love him. The relationship CHRIS BEARD: I think obviously guards have been a piece is there. I just have a lot of respect for their big part of basketball forever, and certainly in today's program. game, you can -- I think it's just more versatility on the floor. Like I've never -- we're a small college, even in Q. Basketball-wise, what are the biggest Bob Little Rock, small ball. Maybe you can't go out and get Knight influences on you? those 6'8", 6'9" guys who try to play different positions. CHRIS BEARD: I think preparation. We try to get our Certainly in the NBA, Golden State, kind of transform guys prepared. I think respecting every single this. opponent. The biggest game we play is the next game on the schedule. My girlfriend, Randi, somebody In college basketball, we'd study Villanova's teams asked her the other day how big a game it was when forever, and I thought it was small ball until we went out we were playing Gonzaga, and she said, it feels just there in the last year in Boston. This was like it did opening night against Incarnate Word. not small ball. These guys were 6'9", 6'10", and they could dribble past and shoot, and some people say it's That's exactly right. To us, the next game on the small ball. schedule is the most important game. I learned that from Coach Knight. But you still think it's a place in basketball for the big guy. Michigan State has three or four of them we've The ability to bounce guys back into play pretty quickly. got a lot of respect for. And even on our team, we're If we had some success, he would humble them pretty not here today if it's not for Norense. We're not here quick, let's get back to work. If we came up a little bit today if it's not for Tariq. I think guards get a lot of short, he would bang them up a bit, but we were attention today in college basketball, but it's still you've always ready to play the next game. I never saw one got to have some play around the basket to advance. loss turn into two losses with Coach Knight. Player development, guys getting better, just so many things Q. Both at Little Rock and Texas Tech, you've had a with Coach Knight literally. Pretty much, maybe in lot of success with transfers, junior college most aspects of our program today, he influences in players, guys who you haven't had a lot of time to some way. build into your program. How fundamental is it to just your philosophy of building a team that you go Q. To follow up, how instrumental was Bob in just out and get some of those guys? giving you a break to start at Texas Tech, right from CHRIS BEARD: You mentioned the key word, time. I going from a JuCo there? mean, it's not arrogance. It's just the truth. We're CHRIS BEARD: I was coaching junior college really good at coaching one-year guys. Coach Cal at basketball at Seminole State College in Oklahoma, and Kentucky is pretty good at it too. It just goes back to I had the best job coaching guys every day. We were different backgrounds -- junior college, D-II, low major, coming off a 25-win season, and we had three your roster is always changing. My experience in returning starters, and we were out recruiting. I got professional basketball, the rosters always change. hooked up with Coach. He sat out one year between Guys come in on contract and just leave. I think there's Indiana and Texas Tech, and he was looking at an art to it. different jobs around the country, and I was just fortunate. I don't think you can coach a guy in a one-year setting

Rev #1 by #206 at 2019-04-05 18:01:00 GMT page 2 of 5 like you can in a two or three-year setting. The first Q. A little lighter question for you. I read in one of thing I think is you've got to get a relationship quickly. the articles about your trip here that one of the With Matt and Tariq this year, for example, we said, things you gave up this year was beer, which I we've got to develop this relationship quickly. When think is something we can all relate to, both the guys got to Lubbock in late May -- I'm not a golfer. drinking it and the notion of how intimidating it I'm a basketball guy. I've got my three daughters, my would be to give it up. I wonder if you could reflect family, and Randi. So I just told Matt, like we've got to on that as someone who said he drank draft beer at get a lot done. It might be to the point, Tariq, where the Final Four for many years. you get tired of me. CHRIS BEARD: It hasn't been easy. We make sacrifices every year. Team, players, before we start I ate lunch with Matt and Tariq in the summer and official practice, we pick this up. LeBron James would check on them and would be in the gym with eliminates social media in the playoffs. I want to say them at night and just spent time. I think one of the Tom Brady enjoys a beer from time to time too. He things you're fighting with one-year guys is time. This gives it up in an NFL season. It's just the idea of elite coach has a relationship with this player for two, three people making sacrifices and having discipline. years. We've got to get a relationship in two months. There's guys on our team that have given up Netflix I always tell those guys, too, the first game we play of after 9:00 p.m. There's guys on our team that have the season, which this year was against Incarnate given up social media. There's guys that have given up Word, if I'm not mistaken, I want you to feel like you've fried food. You basically have to sacrifice something. already been at Texas Tech for a couple of years. To In our culture, if you say you're going to do it, you'd do that, there's a process to it. We practice a little bit better do it, or you're about to get roasted. different, we spend more time off the court together. What you fight in those situations is time, and we try to So me this year, it's no beer, no desserts, no candy. I compete with time by spending a lot of time together haven't had any ice cream, candy, cake, beer, since and developing relationships quicker than most. first day of practice. A couple things, though. Did you know a Pop-Tart is not a dessert? It's a breakfast. I've Q. Just wondering, I guess, how do you go about eaten a lot of Pop-Tarts, man, since October. establishing expectations and tradition in a program when you come in that maybe doesn't THE MODERATOR: We're going to let our student- have a lot of either? athletes come up to the dais first. CHRIS BEARD: First of all, Texas Tech does have a great tradition. It might not be on the national scene Q. You've played a couple of Big Ten teams this lately, but great basketball tradition. In my lifetime, year. What do you find to be a common difficulty Coach Myers, the old coliseum, , I think when facing a team from that conference? And Coach played for them. We have an old municipal have you watched any game film to prepare for the coliseum that used to sell out. You couldn't get a ticket, one you've got coming up? and there was overflow in the '60s and '70s that people CHRIS BEARD: Yes, we've got great respect for the would buy a ticket to watch things on the simulcast on Big Ten. We try to schedule as many games as we the theater screen. Coach Myers is a championship can in the non-conference. We, off the top of my head, coach in the Southwest Conference when Coach played Northwestern last year, Nebraska this year. Sutton was at Arkansas and the great SMU teams. We Obviously in this tournament, having a chance to had great players, , Bubba Jennings. compete with Michigan. These are iconic players. And then in my lifetime, Coach Dickey, Sweet 16, Darvin Ham, Tony Battie, So when we go into a game like that, we just tell our Cory Carr, they broke the backboard against North guys, this is a Big 12 game. This is a BCS game. Carolina. Coach Knight, we had a great run. Three You'd better and get back and take good NCAA Tournaments in four years. Beat Gonzaga to shots. These guys have NBA players, specifically with make it to the Sweet 16. Coach Smith got the guys the Big Ten. I think the reputation is true with the back in the tournament. physical play around the basket and the rebounding. Obviously, Hall of Fame coaching. We try to keep it It's not like we're starting something that's never been pretty simple. To us, it's a Big 12-level BCS game. there. We're rebuilding it and getting it going again. The biggest thing is to eliminate outside noises and to THE MODERATOR: We're joined by student-athletes set your own expectations. This is what we think we Norense Odiase and Jarrett Culver. can do, here's our plan to get it done, and we're going to be positive until we're there. Q. Coach, much has been made about your journey

Rev #1 by #206 at 2019-04-05 18:01:00 GMT page 3 of 5 to get to the Final Four about your small coaching phone up. We played on the road at Oklahoma, and it roots. I know you have tons of friends at that level. was a good idea to stay focused, locked in, get some Is it kind of pride for you? You're carrying the rest, and we went on a big winning streak. So ever banner, guys like Steve Green, Clif Carroll, those since then, Coach, if we come to -- say we play on guys? Saturday and we come on Wednesday, every night, no CHRIS BEARD: Absolutely. I hope those guys are matter if it's before the game or not, we've been taking having a blast watching our team. I've had a chance to the phone up. see a couple of them. They come by the hotel late at night and stuff. Absolutely. When we first started, we It's helped us. Some of the guys don't like it, but it's starting having success, kind of shied away from that. great to be disciplined and get rest. If our teams and my personal journey can get other coaches get opportunities to advance in that direction THE MODERATOR: Jarrett? because they're really good coaches, if I could play any role in that, I would gladly do so. He mentioned Steve JARRETT CULVER: I feel like it's good for us. I mean, Green, one of the best coaches I know at any level. you don't have nothing to do. You can't be on your So, yeah, I do. phone. You're not on social media you don't have your phone. Can't talk to nobody. So it kind of force you to Q. Chris, and for Norense too, Pat Mahomes is get rest and get the sleep you need. I feel like it helps going to be here tomorrow. Have you gotten to us. Once we went on that run, we just kind of stuck know him? I think you came to your games in KC with it as a tradition. in November. Have you gotten to know him, and just kind of what his season meant to the CHRIS BEARD: You could talk to your roommate. awareness of Texas Tech athletics? NORENSE ODIASE: Definitely. When he was at Tech, Q. Jarrett Culver, if you were guarding Jarrett we were friends. He's a humble guy. He stays true to Culver, how would you try to contain him or stop who he is. He loves his Red Raiders, not just us, but him? other teams on our campus. He's very supportive of JARRETT CULVER: Pray. No, I'd listen to my coach us, of our program, and things Texas Tech wants to do. and do what the coach tells me to do. If I was playing He's just been a great guy, ambassador for us and our for Coach Adams, I'd play side defense and play their school. defense.

CHRIS BEARD: We're trying to get him on the fireside Q. Hi, I've got to follow up on this no cell phone chat. That's the only problem I have with Pat is we question. You make it sound so easy. But were haven't gotten that done yet. Other than that, he's there withdrawals of any kind when you give up been unbelievable for our university, our city, our team, those cell phones, and at the end of the day, you our town. He's just a real ambassador. He's one of just crave it? Or how did you get through that? those guys that hasn't forgotten where he came from. THE MODERATOR: Norense, you want to continue with your thoughts on the cell phone? Q. Hey, Coach, we're asking some of the guys about "Old Town Road." Just wanted to know what NORENSE ODIASE: Some of the younger guys aren't makes it so attractive to you as a song and your the biggest fans of it, but senior leadership, we really rallying cry? And I heard you also aren't a big fan harp on it. I said it. Jarrett backed me up. And along of the remix. with the other guys. Basically, they just have to. It's no CHRIS BEARD: Yeah, Billy Ray Cyrus, is that right? choice, but they see us winning, they see how much My daughter told me that morning. I love Billy Ray. sleep they get and how better it makes them feel in the "Some Gave All," it's one of my top 25 songs. "Old morning, they kind of hold on to it. Town Road" is the diversity we're looking for in our program. I like country. The guys like hip-hop, rap, THE MODERATOR: For Norense, when you look at and it's both. The first time we heard it, I think we just Michigan State's front line, they've got three big guys. ran with it. Have you run into a front line like that, and how do you plan to combat their physicalness? Q. This is for both players. Is it true that you voluntarily give up your cell phones regularly NORENSE ODIASE: In the Big 12, we have a lot of during the season? And if so, how do you live great teams. Every team is different from another without them? team. We pose another different and unique NORENSE ODIASE: Somebody just asked me this challenge. They have three bigs that are active question. Obviously, it was my rule to take the you rebounders, tough guys. We've just got to match that

Rev #1 by #206 at 2019-04-05 18:01:00 GMT page 4 of 5 intensity, not only me, but our front line and our other THE MODERATOR: Coach, your secret is safe with us. guys since we switch so much. We'd like to thank Coach Beard and thank the student- athletes, Jarrett and Norense, for joining us here in the We'll be ready for that challenge. They're a tough interview room. team, just like us, and we'll be ready come Saturday.

Q. This one's for Jarrett. You came in kind of as an underrated recruit with , who's now getting playing time with the 76ers in the NBA. Have you stayed in touch with him at all through this run. Has he been talking to you guys? JARRETT CULVER: We talk almost every day. That's my brother. We came in together. He's doing great things. He's working hard every day. We talk. We're pretty close. He's close with my family, and I'm close with his family. So we just talk every day.

Q. Coach, could you talk about your first coaching job, how much you got paid, what all you had to do, whether it was driving vans, sweeping floors. CHRIS BEARD: I didn't get paid until my fourth job.

Q. How about that one? CHRIS BEARD: Get paid? There's a lot of guys in this Final Four coaching that aren't getting paid. You know, you scrap. We did private lessons on the side, rebound for guys, and used to cut cardboard boxes behind this grocery store, and then they'd pay -- because you could work at any time as long as the boxes were cut by the next morning, and just all sorts of stuff like that.

I don't think coaching is any different, though. I've got friends in other professions. You sacrifice. When you find something you love, you sacrifice. None of us do this -- Jarrett Culver doesn't play -- he plays for the love of the game and not what the game does for him, and the same thing for Norense.

Don't tell , my AD, this, but I would do this job for free. Do I have y'all's word that you won't put that out there? Just anything you can think of to get in the business.

A lot of guys, they're going to be at this open practice here in a few minutes that are doing those same things right now. Norense and Jarrett, they both played for great high school coaches that make sacrifices and great grassroots AAU guys and have trainers and things like that.

It's just a great game. That's why the Final Four is so special. All of us are here for one common thing, and that's the love of the game and basketball. My journey is not much different than anybody else's, but there was a lot of sacrifice.

Rev #1 by #206 at 2019-04-05 18:01:00 GMT page 5 of 5 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship: Final Four Thursday, April 4, 2019 Minneapolis, Minnesota Chris Beard Texas Tech Red Raiders in the country, and helped us get to the Elite Eight. So I think college basketball associates with those guys. THE MODERATOR: We'll ask Coach Beard to open it And then there's the iconic coaches in our game, like up with a few thoughts, and then we'll take questions. Coach Izzo, that kind of transcend any players.

CHRIS BEARD: First, I just want to, on behalf of But I've always seen the value in the one-and-done too. everybody in our program, like our staff and our players I think college basketball is better because of Zhaire and our coaches, just to recognize what a run Smith playing at Texas Tech. I think in this tournament, tournament this is. It's everything I thought of as a I would agree with that, there's some identities with young coach coming up, what will the Final Four be these four teams. I think that's what these four teams like? are, teams.

Everything is first class. The NCAA has nailed this for I've had a chance to watch Auburn and Virginia a lot, the student-athlete experience, just what a great city just by being a fan, and I've certainly watched every too. We're just enjoying everything about our time game that Michigan State has played to this point. I here. So I just wanted to recognize that. think one thing these four teams have in common is I think they are teams. The identity of each team, I We're looking forward to playing on this stage. In our think, is the balance of different players, not just one opinion, Michigan State is one of the best teams in star player. college basketball. They have great players and a Hall of Fame coach. We have nothing but respect for their So I think this Final Four is great for college basketball program the things they stand for. We're in our third and has a chance to be one of the best in terms of the year building the program at Tech, and we're striving to three games played. be in the conversation with the Michigan States of the world. Q. Can you just take me through the first time, do you remember the first time you met Mark Adams Simply stated, we feel like we'll have to play our best and why you kind of targeted him on your staff with game of the year to have some success on Saturday Little Rock? night, but I don't think that's much difference than CHRIS BEARD: Mark Adams isn't a national name, but anybody else in this tournament. That's our objective. those of us in Texas and especially in small college, We're looking forward to the opportunity to play well on junior college, Division II circles, recognize Coach as Saturday. one of the best guys that ever did it in our part of the country. Q. No one-and-done players here at the tournament, obviously. Duke and Kentucky are My personal relationship started with Coach Adams out, but there's a lot of talented college players and when I was an assistant at Texas Tech, and he was future pros, guys like Jarrett and De'Andre Hunter. living in Lubbock, coaching at Howard Junior College in What have you seen in Jarrett's development from Big Spring. We just developed a friendship. We'd talk freshman to sophomore year, and does the fact basketball a lot. He'd come to the Tech practices. I'd that there are no one and dones here say anything go to his practices and recruit players for Howard. larger about that way of recruiting? CHRIS BEARD: We might have a couple of one-and- And we were big movie guys. I spent my whole career done graduate assistants. We had a couple of issues going to the late movie. I'm that guy at the 10:30 movie with our breakfast this morning, so... where I'm the only person there, and I actually ran into Coach Adams a number of times. It wasn't really about No, I think there's so many just beautiful things about the movie. It was about the release of turning your college basketball, and certainly like we've had some phone off and sit there for two hours. Coach and I great four-year players. I thought was shared that. the best player in the Big 12 last year, one of the best

Rev #1 by #206 at 2019-04-04 19:22:00 GMT page 1 of 5 We'd literally go to the movies two or three times a coaching sojourn. week together. I got screwed every time. I'm sure he'll CHRIS BEARD: I tell the guys to never forget where tell some of you all different, but I had to pay for the they come from and be you, and certainly a part of my tickets and concessions. He would always tell me he journey that's being documented now, and I'm proud of forgot his wallet in the car and that kind of deal. it. I wouldn't trade my coaching path for anything. Whether it be the junior college or ABA or small But Coach Adams has had success at every level. college, very, very blessed to be here and feel like I He's been a head Division I coach, he's in several Hall represent a lot of people on this stage that have of Fames in small college. He's got a great defensive coached at schools that are really good coaches that mind. He thinks outside the box. He doesn't let what have coached great players and never had the chance happens in the game currently impact his thinking. under these lights. I hope coaches around there find some satisfaction in this. There's only a few guys in our game like that that can think of things that aren't already going on. Most For that young coach out there like me that sat in the people in college basketball, I think, things from open practices for 22 years and dreamed about being the NBA. Coach Adams comes up with his own mind. there, don't give up. Keep at it. This game's bigger than any of us. This game isn't about your There's a lot of people that have the information in their predecessors. It's basketball, man. If you keep doing mind, but what makes Coach Adams special is now he it, it will give you a chance at some point. Don't give can communicate it to others, whether it be the staff or up. the players. He's the most disciplined guy I've ever known, but he's also a players' coach. He's one of the Just a few years ago, I was in the ABA or D-II, and best coaches in college basketball, and I'm proud to that's the special part about this. I don't take that stand on this stage and sit on this stage and talk about lightly. I even talked to my team about it. In terms of him. People ask about Texas Tech defense and what's the difference of hotels, it's not just about those years, going on in Lubbock, Coach Mark Adams has a big it's about when I was an assistant and you come to the part in what's going on. Final Four and you don't have a room, and you just beg one of your buddies that's in Division I to crash on their Q. (Off microphone)? floor. I've been in a lot of rooms where it's two guys in CHRIS BEARD: So we normally go to the movies, and each bed without the comforters because you got to there might be three or four people there. We sit next more people on the floor with the comforters, and then to each other because we talk basketball. We got one maybe in the bathroom bathtub with the pillows. there one night, and we were going to go to the 10:35 We put eight deep before in a Marriott Courtyard, I show at the Cinemark 16. It really didn't matter what promise you. movie it was, but the only movie left was "Sex and the City." I remember kind of looking at him like, man, I The problem is in the mornings with the towel situation don't know about this, Coach. He looked around. because I'm not really a big believer -- I guess I'll share There's only three cars in the parking lot. That's Bill a bar of soap if you wash it really good, but I'm not who runs the place, and I think that car's been there for sharing a towel with any other man, you know. But we two weeks. All right, let's go see "Sex and the City." used to come to the Final Fours and bring our own towels, true story. So this was the only time that we didn't sit right next to each other at the 10:35 movie. So we thought we were Q. Along those lines, you have the message up in good, but then right before the lights went down, about the locker room, smell the roses, for the guys. It's four or five other people walked in the movie theater. clear I think you're doing that, but how do you let Me and Coach, we felt a little insecure. But I'm actually them do that, and then after this, get out there and not against "Sex and the City." I thought it was a great shut that off since you're doing it a couple of days show. Is it HBO? My oldest daughter watched it, in a row? Carrie and Big. My oldest daughter goes to Columbia CHRIS BEARD: This is what we've done all year. This University now, which is in the city, so we see some of is who we are. We have a process we believe in that the things. So I'm not against "Sex and the City." I'm includes a lot of things -- culture, academic piece, just against going to the 10:35 movie with another basketball, weight room, individuals, shooting, nutrition, friend of mine and watching "Sex and the City." fuel the body, study the game in the film room, embrace team practice, get extra shots up, faith, family, Q. You mentioned the Final Four and the amenities balance. and all that, and I'm wondering if you could reflect on how far that is from Myrtle Beach and what you This is our process, and one of our processes has remember from your time there sort of in that

Rev #1 by #206 at 2019-04-04 19:22:00 GMT page 2 of 5 always been balance, enjoying life, like we never want for another opportunity. to be the team that just doesn't enjoy a victory. So we have a 12-hour rule. We don't ever want to be the So I think each story is completely different. I don't team that doesn't enjoy the great cities we get to go to. think you can say too many guys are transferring, this This year we played Duke in Madison Square Garden. and that. Each situation is different. For Tariq, I'll tell We enjoyed New York City. We went and played you this, he showed a lot of loyalty. Al Pinkins had pickup at Rucker Park. We ate ridiculously priced food. coached Tariq at Tennessee, and Al was our We walked around the skulls of the Garden and see all connection to get Tariq once he declared he wanted to the great performers that played there. We're going to be a grad transfer. After Tariq had made his decision enjoy life. We're going to enjoy the ride. It's who we to come to Tech or in the process, Al went to the are. University of Florida. We hated to lose Al, but we understood the move for his own reasons. But when it's time to play, it's time to play, and when it's time to practice, it's time to practice. So we just got a So the first time I talked to Tariq, I said, Tariq, this is a two-part mission here. Smell the roses but also be us, relationship-based business. I understand if you want and be us is just four letters and two words to mean to follow Al, if you want to open it back up, and Tariq let's ride the bus that got us here. Let's try to be said, no, I made a commitment to the program, and I'm disciplined and repaired. Let's practice really hard going to come to Texas Tech. So that's one example of today. Let's get some shots up at night at some local many of Tariq's commitment. high school gym. Q. Coach, being around the Texas basketball I think you can do both. As a young coach, I worked circles, you probably have known or seen Matt for some great guys, but I remember a couple times McQuaid. I don't know how much you saw him winning the big game, you get back on the bus, and it's coming up through the ranks. But can you kind of like a morgue. You know, like why don't we celebrate assess what you saw from him. Also, with him and what we just did? Aaron Henry on the wing, as a defensive minded coach, what do you guys see as a challenge? It takes a certain maturity to play for us because, as a CHRIS BEARD: McQuaid is special. He's gotten better player, we want to be able to have a relationship with over his college career, which is a direct relationship you and enjoy life, but we want you to understand that with the Michigan State program, and their players we're here to win too, period, every game. And this develop. If they get a 5 star, he's a 5 1/2 star six group has embraced that more than anything. These months later, and if Coach gets a 4 star, they're in the seniors, I've had more fun with this team than any team NBA two years later. Michigan State players get better. ever, but also when it's time to go to war, we've done The player development, although I haven't had the well. opportunity or pleasure to go watch what they do on a day-to-day basis, you don't have to. Guys are getting Q. Coach, Tariq Owens began his career at better. He's a great example of that. Being a Texas Tennessee, coaching change, he goes to St. kid, I'm happy for him. I pull for all guys in our state. John's, likes that a lot, graduates, comes to your His father is someone I know and respect. place. You certainly -- it's well documented you've moved around a lot. People seem to have an image He's turned himself into a great defensive player. I that college basketball should be a freshman think earlier in his year what might have been signs, plays four years, graduates, goes on with his perceived as a weakness is now a strength. He's very, life. Do you think that that's not a realistic very competitive. He's got good foot speed, in my assumption and not a realistic way to look at opinion. He can contest shots. He takes charges. college basketball? He's one of the best defenders I think I've seen all year CHRIS BEARD: I don't think that's the world we live in on film. either. Who of you have been at your current situation for year after year? I mean, opportunity comes in I would echo that with their other perimeter players. different forms. As coaches, we don't make the rules. When you prepare for games, you get to know this You've just got to learn how to succeed with them. So team. I feel like I know Michigan State more than the transfer rules, the grad transfer rule, that's really not anybody from the notes, the articles. To me it starts up to me. That's way over my head. I just simply try to with the Blue Ribbon magazine, and I get to games, learn the rules and go compete in the world we're in. A then I make phone calls, and the journey continues, lot of times it's misleading. Tariq was totally committed and I've still got two more days in the journey. to Tennessee. He had a coaching change. And then at St. John's he'd earned his degree and was looking I would tell you that Cassius is a great defender too.

Rev #1 by #206 at 2019-04-04 19:22:00 GMT page 3 of 5 He picks and chooses possessions. He's smart. He relationship quickly. That's where I retreat in just our plays all those minutes and stays out of foul trouble, but individual meetings and our culture and things play into I think he's a very, very good defender and well at his this. position. We make no bones about it. We do coach our guys We have a lot of respect for all of their defensive hard, but I've never coached a good player that didn't players. Their team defense speaks for itself. We're want to be coached hard ever. I think about that all the going to have to play great offensively to score a time. I can't name one guy that I've ever coached basket. who's an All-Conference player, a pro at any level I've coached that didn't want us to bring it. Q. I'm curious, have you gotten a chance to communicate with Wes Flanigan and just kind of I don't promise our guys a lot in the recruiting process, what it's like for both of you to be at a Final Four but one thing I promise is, I look them right in the face, together? I will bring it every single day as a coach, and our staff CHRIS BEARD: Yeah, it's special. Wes was our will too. If there's one day where you don't think we're associate head coach on our Little Rock team. I would bringing it, you tell me, and the problem will be not be here today if it wasn't for Wes Flanigan. We've corrected. I asked this team just the other night, did we exchanged some texts, but we haven't seen each keep our word? And they said, yes, you did. other, which is not surprising. This facility is bigger than 25 Super Walmarts put together. I hope I get a I love coaching this game, and I love coaching it hard. chance to see Wes and give him a hug and tell him In terms of Michigan State, he's the pinnacle of that. how much he's meant to me. So happy for Auburn's Coach Izzo, to me, is everything I've always wanted to ride. be. He's a players' coach. You see the hugs and he gets you emotional. These guys like Magic come back. I did get a chance to talk to Coach Pearl a little bit He's a players' coach. I don't know Coach Izzo, but when Wes was in the job interview process or there's no doubt about it. But he coaches his players negotiations, and that was not a hard phone call. I just hard. He's on them. He holds them accountable. How told Coach Pearl he's the best, one of the best I've ever do these things happen? It's trust. It's all about worked with, and I'm glad it's worked out for both those relationships. I would think that's what we're building at guys. To see Wes coaching on this stage where he Texas Tech as well. belongs is special. I have a lot of respect for Wes Flanigan. Q. Coach, last year we were sitting here with Villanova talking about how you have to make Q. Chris, your players talk about you coach them threes to win big in college basketball. This year hard and they like to be coached hard. I'm just three -- at least three of the teams here are big on curious sort of how do you find that line of how defense. I just wanted to know why did you hard to coach them in an era where not all players choose that defense to be kind of the personality of want to be coached that way? And maybe some your team? Was it a personality thing, or was it might take that the wrong way. just the easiest way to win or both? CHRIS BEARD: That line is really easy to find. That CHRIS BEARD: It's just me. Like I grew up in Irving, line is called trust. I've always said great players want Texas, and we played two places, Northwest Park and a coach they can trust. And basically what trust is is Conflans Park. You get there Saturday morning and 25 you keep your word. You're very clear about what's people, and I was never the guy who would get picked. going to happen and what your expectations are and My chance to play, it's my game, and I wait. Then what you're going to do and what they're going to do when it's my turn, I try to pick the best four players -- and what you're going to do together, and you keep actually the best team, the guys that could help us win, your word. because if I lose, I'm done. So to win on that park, you got to play defense. You can't win on a foul either. So Coaches are no different. They want players we can we foul a lot at the last possession. Doesn't work at trust. Who's going to out late in the game? this level. Who's going to go to class on Tuesday morning when you're tired? Who's going to walk away when there's a Then myself as a player, I was a guy who understood I bad call? It's all about trust. So with us, we feel like had to play defense. My high school coach, Mike we have trust between our players. How do you Kunstadt, who's a Texas legend, he's enjoyed the Final develop trust? It's relationships. The challenge in our Four experience. Someone interviewed him the other teams, you know, is we're fighting time. With Tariq and day, and he was on the news, and my daughter Matt, they're one-year players. You've got to get that showed me. I don't watch a lot of stuff this time of year,

Rev #1 by #206 at 2019-04-04 19:22:00 GMT page 4 of 5 but my I do watch what my daughters put in front of my place to ask about the trophy. So I bit my tongue me. Coach Kunstadt is on the live news in Dallas, and for ten more years. Then I made my basketball run for they're about to talk about my career. I know you guys five more years. Years later when he I got the Texas don't know much about my playing career. So I'm like, Tech job, I asked Coach Myers where my trophy ask. man, this is the chance. Coach is going to say something about that 25-point game or this or that. He Finally when they announced as head coach, I shook a said, Chris was a good player. One time against South few hands and went to right to Coach and explained Grand Prairie he took five charges in a game. That the story and said, I'm not pissed off. I'm kind of upset. was my claim to fame in Coach's eyes. 30-something years I still hadn't gotten my trophy. We all laughed about it. Story over? No. Coach comes to Certainly, with Danny Kaspar, my first job, and Tom my office, and he has my 1980 hot shot trophy from the Penders, a defensive coach in terms of traps and Basketball Camp. Gerald Myers -- truth speeding you up. And Coach Knight, one of the best teller, real guy, and will admit when he made a mistake defensive coaches in the history of our game, it's just and didn't give me my trophy and paid me back years been my upbringing in basketball as a player and later. That's Gerald Myers. coach. It's just who you are. It's in our DNA. It's our identity. And we'll never change. We've always been a team that tries to guard.

Q. Just you saw us talking to Gerald Myers out there. Have you seen him enjoy this ride, and what does it mean to you? CHRIS BEARD: It means everything, and, yes, I have seen it, and I'm smelling the roses on that one too. Coach Myers is a legend in Lubbock, Texas. He was a great player at Texas Tech. He was a championship coach. He was an athletic director that got Texas Tech into the Big 12 and all the benefits of today. And then he's been just a great friend.

They always say the retired coach, is he going to get in your huddle, or is he going to try to make -- Coach is perfect. He's the perfect balance. He comes to practice, but I've never felt one inch of him making anybody feel uncomfortable. It's been a special friendship. It's one of the top things that's happened to me in my time back at Lubbock is my relationship with Coach Myers. I'm so appreciative of him, everything he did before he even knew me, and everything he continues to do.

As a kid growing up in Dallas, I only had a chance to go to one basketball camp because the rules in Texas at the time is you couldn't go to camp after you played varsity basketball. I was in eighth or ninth grade, and I had one chance to go to camp. The camp I chose was Texas Tech. I had never been to Lubbock before, but they ran an ad in the Irving Daily News, and I saw it. Saved my money and got on a Southwest Airlines flight and went to Lubbock. That was the first time I got a chance to meet Coach Myers. I won the hot shot camp, and they ran out of trophies. I was so pissed off, I wrote letters. There was no Internet, and long distance phone calls were about 60 cents a minute. I wrote a bunch of letters to the Texas Tech office saying where's my hot shot trophy, and I never got it.

Years later, I get the job with Coach Knight. It wasn't

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