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Home , Anthony Grant, Bill Self, Mick Cronin (basketball), Mike Young (basketball), Sunday Night Baseball, Tom Crean (basketball)

Maui Jim Maui Invitational Sunday, November 24, 2019 Coaches Introduction Mark Pope BYU Cougars well, he really does. So we look forward to seeing that. Dayton Flyers Finally, we'll have a 15-minute roundtable Q&A session with the coaches. You'll have a chance to speak to the coaches one-on-one. They'll be assigned an area. You Bulldogs go find them and they will spend about 15 minutes with you at the conclusion of this. We'll ask that you hold all of your questions until the very end of the session. We plan to be wrapped up here by 9:00, if at all possible. We have got two of our schools, two of our teams, Coach Crean and I believe Coach Grant, both have to be at practice, so we want to try to get that moved along as best we can.

Mick Cronin Now without further adieu, I would like to introduce our UCLA Bruins moderator for this morning's press conference. I call him the hardest working man in sports because he's everywhere and literally all over the globe. His voice Hokies has become synonymous with the memorable moments, both on the court and on the field, since he's Eric Bovaird been with ESPN since 1995. He was the voice of Sunday Night Baseball for many years and now calls Chaminade Silverswords Toronto Blue Jay games in his hometown of Toronto, Canada. In addition, he has called the on : Good morning, everyone. There we go. ESPN Radio for the last nine years. Amazing. He is in All right. We have gotten these coaches up awfully his 25th year calling for ESPN, has early here, so they're all fired up and ready to go. And won awards for his work, both in Canada and in the look forward to hearing all from them in just a moment . We're excited to welcome him back to or two. Maui once again. Ladies and gentlemen, please give a warm and very well-deserved welcome to our friend My name is Dave Odom. I am the chairman of the . Dan. tournament. This is starting my second decade, so it's an exciting time for me and I've seen everything (Applause.) change as we go along. I want to welcome you to the head coaches' press conference and our charity free DAN SHULMAN: Thank you, Coach. Thrilled to be throw contest. We're going to do that in an orderly back here again. And on behalf of everybody at ESPN fashion here. Here's a quick run down of what you can we're so fortunate to do this great tournament year expect this morning. after year and we can't wait to get the games going. I also see that all the coaches, you all have your Maui First, we're going to hear from all of the eight coaches Jims on. You're ready to roll. I'm not allowed to proceed that are going to be participating in our tournament until we all have our Maui Jims on. We want to thank today. We're going to have them sign some surfboards Maui Jim for being the sponsor of this great event. And and take pictures as we go along. We'll have our as Coach Odom said, the coaches have to get to charity free throw contest as we always do and, of practice, so we're going to keep this moving quite a bit. course, we're going to have some of the local Maui Middle School students here to pair up with the Just a couple of treetop things. We have got iconic coaches and we'll see which one can shoot. Coach programs, we have got a couple of Hall of Fame Bovaird usually is the premier shooter for the group. coaches here, we have got a National Player of the We'll -- Bill Self, you got to watch him, the guy shoots Year candidate in , we got one of the

Rev #5 by #228 at 2019-11-24 23:07:00 GMT page 1 of 5 great freshman in the country in Anthony Edwards, tournament. There's experience here, there's we've got Obi Toppin, a breakout candidate, who is physicality. We play Dayton. Dayton is not only deep, going, if he's not already, will be a household name physical, but they're so active, and just tremendous very soon. We got a lot of exciting things to look activity and movement. And their offense and their forward to over the next few days here in Maui. defense, the way they support each other. We're in a big-time learning stage with 10 new players. We have We're going to hear from each of the coaches, just a seven scholarship freshmen, two walk-on freshmen, couple of quick comments, and we'll go in order of the and a grad transfer. So we're trying to indoctrinate 10 games as they are going to start tomorrow. So Coach new guys into this. But I think we'll learn a ton about Crean, I think you're my leadoff man here today. Your what we have got to get better at. I'll never forget 25 second year in Athens with Georgia. You've been here years ago we came in, we went 1-2 in the tournament in this tournament before. You were here with at Michigan State, and we learned an awful lot about Marquette, you were here with Indiana. What does it where we had to go. And a week later we turned mean for you to bring a program here to the islands? around and we beat Arkansas who was the defending national champion. So, to me, it's unreal learning that TOM CREAN: Well, it means an awful lot. Actually, 25 you get from coming out of this if you'll apply it the right years ago I came with Tom Izzo for our first games. way. Tom, being the at Michigan State and I was his assistant. And we got indoctrinated into what DAN SHULMAN: Thank you. And good luck out there. Maui was all about back then. So it's a tremendous Georgia will take on Dayton. Anthony Grant is the head honor any time you can bring your team and represent coach at Dayton. And I think one of the coolest things your university, but it's a little more special when you're in college basketball is when a guy goes back and in a place like Maui. coaches at his alma mater and you're doing that, Coach Grant. What's it like to be coaching at Dayton? DAN SHULMAN: Did Izzo shoot free throws 25 years ago? Did they have that contest? ANTHONY GRANT: Well, it's an honor, obviously, for me having played there 30 years ago. The thing that TOM CREAN: Before practice. I don't remember that attracted me as a player was the atmosphere, the part. I was too busy in the film room. But he's got an support, everything that Dayton encompasses in terms advantage over everybody here because he shoots at of both academically and athletically. So to have a least a hundred free throws a day before practice starts chance to come back as the head coach is really one for 25 years. So he's got the 10,000-hour rule working of the honors of my life. in good effect for him. Q. For people who don't know as much as they DAN SHULMAN: Tell us about Anthony Edwards, the should maybe about your program, the passion highest-rated recruit Georgia's ever brought in. around your program is great. 12,000 plus every game. What sense do you get of how well your fans TOM CREAN: Well, he's a very humble and driven have traveled out here for this tournament? young guy who should be a senior in high school and ANTHONY GRANT: I think really well. I think there's a he decided to come out a year early. Works extremely history with the University of Dayton of traveling really hard, wants to learn. He's got a real energy about him well. So I think we got a nice group that's out here and with the way that he plays. He loves to move the ball, should be a great atmosphere there with all the teams. which I think endears him to his teammates. And he's I think everybody's excited to be here. learning a lot. The good news about him is while he's learning, most importantly he knows he has to learn, Q. I mentioned Obi Toppin. Tell us what we need to and I think that's what, that's where the humility comes know about him. in. Because he's very talented, very athletic, but really, ANTHONY GRANT: Well, he's a guy, I think the first really wants to be great and he's learning a lot about thing that you notice about him is that he plays with that. great passion. He really enjoys playing the game. I think he really enjoys competing. 6'9", really athletic, DAN SHULMAN: So you talked about learning. What and has a diverse skill set. So I think he's a guy that is do you hope to learn about your team? A lot of young an engine for us and we're excited to have him. kids a lot of new faces this year. What do you hope to learn in the next few days? DAN SHULMAN: And we're excited to watch him play tomorrow. Good luck in the tournament. Thank you. TOM CREAN: Well, I think the thing that stands out to me so much, and this is why I'm not sure we're ready Our next coach, Mike Young of Virginia Tech, his first for this yet, is the physicality of the teams in this

Rev #5 by #228 at 2019-11-24 23:07:00 GMT page 2 of 5 year in Blacksburg after 17 years as the head coach at TOM IZZO: Good point. But I've been here many times. Wofford, 13 years as an assistant before then, and a But my first one, you know, I'll never forget it, it was tremendous amount of success there. against Chaminade and we blew you guys out by two and and were sitting Coach Young, what's it like for you this early in your right behind me and you talk about pressure. That was tenure at Virginia Tech to be in this kind of a field out pressure. here in Maui? DAN SHULMAN: The expectations around your team MIKE YOUNG: It's incredible, Dan. I wish the are large this year, as they often are. Do you welcome organizing committee would go back and find another that? first round opponent for the Hokies rather than Coach Izzo's team. But a tremendous tournament and a great TOM IZZO: You know, I do. I mean, it's been an opportunity for our program. We're excited to be here. interesting year for us so far, losing what I consider maybe our best two-way player, Josh Langford. And DAN SHULMAN: I'm not giving away any secrets. then with the tragedy that happened to Cassius, we're Michigan State has obviously watched the tape, but kind of trying to figure out where we are, trying to figure you guys made 21 threes last game, you're small -- out when we can practice. But I do have a hell of a point guard. He's different than most. I've never seen MIKE YOUNG: Great coaching, Dan. him touch the rim, never ever seen him dunk, so him and I have something in common, maybe that's why we DAN SHULMAN: Great coaching. You got them great have a good relationship. But he's an interesting player. looks. I've got another guy named , who is just kind of a solid. He's -ish. He just does MIKE YOUNG: You got it. Absolutely. all the dirty work, does a lot of things. So we got a good team but we're still trying to find ourselves, like a DAN SHULMAN: How important is the three ball? And lot of these teams are. you have a small team, so how do you try to compensate for that? DAN SHULMAN: Your team, your players won the cornhole contest last night. MIKE YOUNG: That's just where we are at this point in our development. I would like to be able to throw the TOM IZZO: That's the first shot they made in three thing in the post and get fouled more often. I can't. But weeks. we do have a number of guys that can shoot the basketball and I think we pass the ball pretty well, very DAN SHULMAN: We had ESPN research look into it. good point guard that has been good for us through Nobody's ever won the cornhole and the coach free five games, Wabissa Bede, that, his assist/turnovers 32 throw shooting contest in the same year. And like to 7, something like that. So our turnovers have been Coach Odom said, like Coach Bovaird's a ringer, so are down and our kids are willing to share the ball and we, you up for this? again, we do have a number of guys that can shoot it. TOM IZZO: That's why you guys from ESPN get paid DAN SHULMAN: We wish you the best of luck. all the big bucks, man. You come up with some incredible stats. I mean, incredible. And who won the Our next coach, as Coach Young mentioned, is one of tournament when they won the cornhole? the two Hall of Fame coaches we have here, Tom Izzo. His 25th season at Michigan State. And, Tom, you DAN SHULMAN: We didn't delve that deep into it. played Kentucky in your first game, you're here, you got Would you rather the tournament over the free throw Duke next week. When are you going to start contest? scheduling up a little bit and stop taking it easy in the non-conference play? TOM IZZO: Yes.

TOM IZZO: Yeah, it's been interesting, but like Tom DAN SHULMAN: Good. That's why he's a Hall of Fame Crean said, you know, it was 25 years. It's hard to coach. Thanks, Tom. believe. That means he's already established himself as a great coach and it means we're getting old, Bill, as Another Hall of Famer, Bill Self, the head coach at we get older here in this whole deal. Kansas. And Bill, like Tom's team, big, big expectations. Tell us what kind of a start you guys are BILL SELF: Speak for yourself. off to this year.

Rev #5 by #228 at 2019-11-24 23:07:00 GMT page 3 of 5 BILL SELF: Well, we played well in New York and had 28 turnovers, so we weren't, we didn't get off to a great ERIC BOVAIRD: My first six guys have a lot of college start. We have been a little better since then. But I like basketball experience, some of them, fourth and fifth- our guys. We have a good blend of experience and year players and have been at Division I schools. But a some young youthful exuberance, so to speak. And we guy I'm really proud of is Tyler Cartaino, that's been in do make mistakes but we usually make mistakes my program for five years now. He was the Male trying. So I do think we have a chance to be a pretty Scholar-Athlete of the Year of our conference. Not only good team in time. We're not close to being a team yet. a great student but a great basketball player. Four But this tournament usually lends itself to allow teams years ago he didn't even see the floor for us, but to become much closer, getting away and having a continued to work really, really hard and now he's a chance to experience threes three games over here, so preseason All-American and first-team All-Conference we're excited to be here. player. So I love to see a guy develop like that.

DAN SHULMAN: You have something that isn't very DAN SHULMAN: Good luck this week. common in college basketball anymore. You've got a 7- foot big man, plays with his back to the basket. How is Next up Mark Pope, first year as the head coach at doing so far? BYU. Was an assistant there for several years. He's now come back as the head coach and, well, we have BILL SELF: Well, he's doing great inside three feet. You got three head coaches in their first year with their new get him to 15-foot, he's not quite as good right now, team. So what's it like, Coach Pope, two weeks into the which would be a free throw. But I love him. I love him. job, once the games have started, to be out here in a He's bouncy, he's in the best shape of his life. He's lost field like this? 40 pounds since the start of the summer, so he's taking this very, very serious. MARK POPE: It's awesome. It's an unbelievable opportunity for us. The legendary Coach Rose left us DAN SHULMAN: We appreciate the time. Good luck with an extraordinary program and unbelievable over the course of the week. tradition and ridiculously difficult schedule. So I'm so grateful for that. Next up is Eric Bovaird, the head coach at Chaminade entering his ninth season with Chaminade. He's guided DAN SHULMAN: Well, two out of three ain't bad. Tell the Silverswords to three NCAA West Regional us about your team, the style of play you like, and then appearances. And Coach Bovaird, you're back in the how it's going so far. main draw on the islands this year. What does it mean for your program to be part of this? MARK POPE: Well, we have a veteran team with some really talented players. Jake Toolson is a special ERIC BOVAIRD: This event is so special to us. It's offensive talent. He can score at all three levels, is an something we talk about, we plan for a long period of unbelievable finisher around the rim. T.J. Haws is a time. It's what we're known worldwide, especially in the proven veteran point guard. We have to play a little bit basketball world. So it's an incredible event. I don't take different. We're pretty small and we're not very deep it for granted. I woke up this morning, looked outside right now, but we have some veteran guys that know and just thankful to be in an incredible place like this. how to play this game and are excited about playing it a different way and trying to figure out how we can win DAN SHULMAN: What do you tell your kids this week that way. or pregame, whether you're playing Kansas as you will tomorrow or whoever else you'll meet over the next few DAN SHULMAN: And without giving away any secrets days, what do you tell them going into these games about the challenge of facing UCLA in game one. about the opportunity they have got? MARK POPE: Yeah, UCLA is pretty good. They're long ERIC BOVAIRD: Yeah, to stay locked in on the court. and big and athletic and they have an unbelievable They hopefully don't have the tendency to pay attention coach. Not the prettiest dude in the world, but he's a to the fans and everything like that. As long as they're big-time coach and we have been friends for a long in tune with what we're trying to do and what defense time. And it was an unbelievable hire, we actually had a we're in, what offense we're in, I think they got a chance to talk about it this morning, what an chance to be successful. unbelievable hire for UCLA to maybe take that program to really, really the most elite level. DAN SHULMAN: Give us something to look for, a player or something about your team that fans should DAN SHULMAN: You know, insulting a guy when he look for. gets a chance to speak after you is generally not the

Rev #5 by #228 at 2019-11-24 23:07:00 GMT page 4 of 5 way you're supposed to play this. you coach, whatever, you're always sitting there, this is the tournament that you want to be in. So I'm looking MARK POPE: Watch your back. Let's throw down right forward to four years from now. now, boys. DAN SHULMAN: Well put. Thank you for the time. DAN SHULMAN: Thanks, coach. Good luck this week. Good luck to all the coaches, thank you for joining us. And , first year at UCLA, after a There will be some breakout interviews going on in just tremendous run at . Playing a little bit hurt a few minutes, but good luck to all of you, we look today, got a sore arm shoulder? forward watching you play this week, and I will hand it back over to Coach O. MICK CRONIN: I'll live. DAVE ODOM: Thanks, Dan, we appreciate that. DAN SHULMAN: You'll live. He'll tough it out, just like he'll ask of his player. Talk about what the first few (Applause.) weeks few months have been really like at UCLA. I want to go off script for just 30 seconds. Bill Villa, MICK CRONIN: It's been a very smooth transition, just stand up. Bill Villa is a long-time athletics director at -- Mark took a job, didn't have to get a new house, I Chaminade who does so many things to help the moved across the country. But it's been great. I keep tournament. He's really on island, actually Oahu, all trying to remind myself is that these guys, they didn't year long and there are so many things that we as a play for you. So I go home every night, I think the staff can't do because we're not on island. We call Bill, pressure's on me, not my players. Because when you he gets it done. Bill, I just want to thank you for all that take a job and guys, you're speaking Greek to guys, you do, but also for being a great friend. Let's give him and you're not speaking Greek to yourself, so you have a big hand. to try to invoke what we're all so good at up here which is patience. Coaches, we have a plethora of it, we (Applause.) really display it all the time with officials. But, yeah, that's just the biggest challenge is just trying to have Okay. Next thing and we want to try to stay right on patience and focus on the journey, not the result schedule here as best we can. We are going to usher sometimes and making sure that you're doing the right the coaches right over to the boards and have them, things every day, because that's what you can control. have a, get a picture with the surfboards and what a And really trying to help my players through the great backdrop we have got for pictures. And from transition is my focus. there they will go to the free throw contest, which is going to be held to my immediate left. So lets DAN SHULMAN: You were out here I think it was 2009 everybody join them and we'll keep this thing moving with Cincinnati, took Gonzaga to overtime in the right along. championship game. What do you remember about the experience and what do you hope to learn about your team this week?

MICK CRONIN: You're really putting the pressure on me with that. What I remember about the experience is we got fouled at the buzzer and there was no call (laughing).

Dave Odom and the Kemper guys came in, they were praying that I wouldn't say anything about it in the press conference. I promised them that I would thank you for inviting us, I won't say a word, please invite us back. I held up my end. They did too, they just waited for me to get to UCLA and take that job. No, it's just a great, when you're younger -- and I was a great high school player, my dad held me back. Mark was a great player for our guy, Coach Pitino. When you're back then, everybody watches Maui and everybody's tried to replicate this, but whether it's ESPN or the multitude of tournaments and other tournaments, there's nothing like the Maui Invitational. So when you're a young kid,

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