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Home , Dan Shulman, Mark Few, Steve Fisher

Maui Jim Maui Invitational Sunday, November 18, 2018 Coaches Introduction Sean Miller Arizona Wildcats

course, we're always delighted when he's included in the tournament itself. Auburn Tigers So I want to turn the microphone over to a person who I used to describe as the hardest working voice in all of Duke Blue Devils sports, because he did baseball, , the on radio, ESPN radio. But he now is focusing pretty much on college . Gonzaga Bulldogs He lives in , Canada, so he gets a lot of air miles in. But he really studies the game of college Brad Underwood basketball. Illinois Fighting Illini We're glad to have him. He knows these coaches personally. I'm going to turn the mic over to him and let Steve Prohm him answer the questions. I think you'll enjoy his Iowa State Cyclones conversation and exchange with the coaches. A nice round of applause and welcome to Dan Shulman. DAN SHULMAN: Thank you, Dave. Believe me, it's my Travis Steele pleasure to be here, much more than it's your pleasure Xavier Musketeers to introduce me to be here. This is the fifth or sixth time I've been lucky enough to be here. You can see DAVE ODOM: Good morning, everyone. Aloha and the field for next year. Every year we're excited, who is welcome to our head coach press conference and our coming next year. Last year when we found out who charity free throw conference, which will take place was coming this year, it was even an more exciting after our coach's interview. event, obviously to see the quality of the programs that are here. We're going to talk to all of the coaches who Excitement reigns everywhere over the islands as well are participating here. as beyond. We're delighted to be the host, KemperLesnik, for the 35th year here on the island. Before we get to the eight coaches who are playing the The tournament just continues to grow and get bigger games here, we want to talk to Eric Bovaird, the host of and more exciting as we go along. the tournament, and obviously I think everybody is familiar with the history, the victory over Virginia in the This morning we're going to hear from all eight early '80s. Really led to this tournament being created, coaches. It will be followed by photo op and a press and Chaminade beat Cal last year in a game here on conference with the media over by the stations over the islands. here. Each coach will find a table, and the media will be available to come and visit with them. This year, the SilverSwords played games against San Diego State and Arizona, had the opportunity to go to But this morning, before we get to that, it's my pleasure the mainland and play a couple of games. to introduce a friend of the tournament, a friend of , a voice that you hear often on all of Eric, I shouldn't say welcome to you. This is your turf the big games that ESPN does. in a sense. Thanks for being here. Tell us a little bit about the two games you played against Arizona and Every year when we get our field released, we start San Diego State. thinking about staff, one of the next things is, are you going to send our guest over to do the games? Of ERIC BOVAIRD: Yeah, it was a remarkable experience.

Rev #2 by #228 at 2018-11-19 18:51:00 GMT page 1 of 5 Typically we play in front of maybe a couple hundred incredibly challenged to go up against Hall of Fame fans. To go into both of those very unique arenas and coaches, guys that I knew when they were assistant play in front of close to 10,000, 12,000, what an AAU coaches or players or assistant coaches along the experience. We walked out, I was a little bit star struck way. myself, when you walk out and see all the names up on Arizona's rafters. The only thing I can say is when I first walked into the meeting of coaches, I said, There's a lot of miles up But it was a really neat experience. We cherish that here, guys, a lot of miles. experience. Hopefully it was good for them, preparation for their season. I know it was really good DAN SHULMAN: A lot of great qualifications for the for us. Thankfully it helped us. We're 3-0 right now. coaches up on the podium today.

DAN SHULMAN: Next year you'll be back in the games You had a pro day today, you have terrific guards, a lot here. It's an alternating situation. I looked at that of interest in them. Tell us a little bit about the guards banner when I went into practice yesterday, saw and how instrumental they are to the success of your Kansas, UCLA, Michigan State. I'm sure the kids you team this year. have next year are already excited about that. BRUCE PEARL: I think sometimes coaches get too ERIC BOVAIRD: Yeah, without a doubt. I know Coach much credit when kids develop. I've got a terrific Odom is probably going to put us up against Kansas backcourt in Jared Harper and Bryce Brown. They again. A few years ago, that was one of the worst were not highly recruited kids. Think just worked so losses we've ever received. Hopefully we can give hard. They just put the time in the gym. Their dads them a better game. are in the gym with them, not always the assistant coaches. DAN SHULMAN: Let's get to the games. We're going to go in order of the games as they will be played They probably didn't get highly recruited because tomorrow. they're a little bit on the smaller side of things. But they got a big heart, they're tough. I think they play the The first game we'll see tomorrow will be Auburn game the right way. against Xavier. If you know anything about Bruce Pearl, you know he doesn't need to manufacture the So we've got some good quickness on the perimeter, energy. It comes naturally. He's got an energetic and we have a little bit of size now on the inside with team, one of three top-10 programs that are in this Austin Wiley coming back. tournament. You hope that you can be a tough matchup, yet at the Coach Pearl, tell us a little bit about the group you same time I look at the things that these coaches do, brought to Hawaii this year. how in the world are we going to guard that, you know. But it makes you better. BRUCE PEARL: John, I'm just blessed to be able to be here, bring our Auburn basketball team to Maui. When DAN SHULMAN: Your first challenge is Xavier. Let's I talked to Dave Odom several years ago about trying go to Travis Steele now, the first-year head coach at to get Auburn in the field, he was honest with me. He Xavier, after being on the staff the last 10 years, an said, Coach, the program just isn't up to snuff. I don't assistant coach for the last nine years. know that you're going to travel and be competitive. I was so glad that we were able to travel and we are First of all, congratulations. To be at a program for 10 competitive, able to represent Auburn here and the years, then to take over as the head coach, Xavier has SEC. always been a program of continuity and culture and tradition. What does it mean to you to be in charge of I really like my team. Kids have really worked hard. I that program right now? think they're trusting each other, trusting the system. We know that this weekend we're going to get TRAVIS STEELE: It's an honor. Obviously I always say exposed. I mean, three nights in a row. But it's going thanks. Sean Miller was the guy who brought me to to help us get better because once we get through this Xavier 10 years ago. Then I was lucky enough to work tournament, we will have seen just about everything under the last nine years. So very grateful, that there is to see. honored for everything that Xavier stands for both on and off the court. So our kids are excited about playing against the quality of the players, and I personally am excited and Obviously we've had a lot of success on the court, but

Rev #2 by #228 at 2018-11-19 18:51:00 GMT page 2 of 5 we're even more proud of our graduation streak. We've of weeks ago, it was kind of like the college basketball graduated 109 seniors straight in a row, dating all the season got shot out of a cannon in that game. Your way back to 1986. We try to do things right both on program always deals with a lot of attention, probably and off the court. even more so now with what's happened so far now. We've seen the players, tell us a little bit about the kids So very honored to be here. Obviously this is the themselves, the people that you're coaching right now. tournament that growing up you watch every year. Almost the kickoff of college basketball in a lot of ways. MIKE KRZYZEWSKI: We've been lucky that we get a Been a lot of great players to come through this lot of attention. It's extreme, one way or the other. It tournament, a lot of great coaches. Really honored to goes the other way, too, just the other way. So that's be here. part of the game.

DAN SHULMAN: Tell us a little bit about your team so If you're playing in our program, you have to keep far this year. balanced. We have a lot of good, young players. But our upperclassmen have really been the key for us in TRAVIS STEELE: We got a lot of new faces, got guys developing an atmosphere where the younger guys in new roles. We lost a lot off of last year's team. But I can be themselves. think we have a good crew of guys returning with Quentin Gooden, Naji Marshall, Paul Scruggs, Tyrique I think our upper class is very secure. Our freshmen Jones, guys who played big roles on our team last are secure. So that creates a good environment to get year, on a very successful team, a team that was a 1 better. Hopefully when we get on the plane on seed in the NCAA tournament. Thursday, we'll be secure, too.

We have a lot of new faces as well, three grad transfer DAN SHULMAN: Good luck this week, this season. guys that are really impacting our team on both the Duke taking on San Diego State in the second game offensive, defensive end. Think we got a talented tomorrow. group. Still trying to figure ourselves out, but it's obviously early on in the year. Brian Dutcher is the head coach of the Aztecs, a program that was here four years ago in 2014. You DAN SHULMAN: Good luck. First game tomorrow is were the associate head coach then to . Xavier and Auburn. Tell us a little bit about what your team is like, what you're hoping to get out of this week here in Maui. The second game, the noon game, is Duke and San Diego State. BRIAN DUTCHER: Well, I was going to complain we're young with three sophomores in the lineup, but we're Coach K is obviously no stranger to coming here to playing a team with four freshmen in the lineup, so that Maui. The Blue Devils have come five times and are won't work. undefeated out here, 15-0 in Maui, won the championship all five times. But I like my team. It starts with my two senior guards, Devin Watson and Jeremy Hemsley, if you're going to Coach K, maybe before we talk about this year's team, be old at the guard position. I think this is my fifth trip what has this tournament meant to you and your to Maui. I came in 1988 with the program, the kids, the fans, everybody over the years? as an assistant with Steve Fisher. Worked with Coach Fisher for close to 30 years. I feel blessed to take over MIKE KRZYZEWSKI: I think it's a tournament that a San Diego State program with a really good gives every program amazing visibility. People watch foundation and a really good young team. this tournament. They watch every game. They get a read on many of the top teams in the country. So just DAN SHULMAN: Jalen McDaniels is a guy that I think from a visibility standpoint, I think it helps. It helps our a lot of people are excited to see. For people who sport to have this level of tournament at this time of the haven't seen that much of him, what are we going to year. learn about him in the next few days?

As far as coming here, it's been an honor to come BRIAN DUTCHER: Jalen plays with a high motor, here. We're fortunate to win some very close games which just means he plays hard all the time. He's a here, and hopefully we'll be fortunate to win a few close little bit thin, but he makes up for it with energy and games here this time. effort. He rebounds the ball at a really high level. He has improved three-point shooting. Will just be fun to DAN SHULMAN: The game against Kentucky a couple watch. Excited to get him on a national stage where he

Rev #2 by #228 at 2018-11-19 18:51:00 GMT page 3 of 5 can continue to grow his reputation. Steve Prohm is the head coach of Iowa State. Steve and Brad Underwood and I, we're the guys that are DAN SHULMAN: Maybe just one quick thought, if you benefitting the most from a weather perspective being could, about the challenge of playing the No. 1 team in out here in Maui right now. It's the Iowa, the Illinois the country in your first game out here. and the Canadian guys who are happiest.

BRIAN DUTCHER: I said before we came, we didn't Tell us a little bit about your team, coach, what you're want to come all the way out here and not play Duke. I looking for out here in Maui. would have preferred it be in the championship game, but part of what we sell our team on is that we're going STEVE PROHM: I told our guys it's a great privilege to play a national schedule. To have an opportunity to and honor to be here. We have a lot of new guys in play a Duke on national TV is just a great honor for us our roster over the last two years. We're here because and our team. I think we'll be up for the task. of the past success. Fred did an amazing job in his time here. We've had a great run of guys like Monte DAN SHULMAN: Coach, thank you. Good luck. Morris, Abdel Nader, Deonte Burton, Naz Long, the guys that put this program on the map, kind of back on The third game tomorrow features Arizona taking on the map, to get this program here. Iowa State. The Arizona head coach is Sean Miller. Now it's our job to go honor those guys the right way Welcome to Maui. You were here, we were talking and play the right way. I like our group. We have a yesterday, in 2014, won the championship, beat the couple starters right now injured with Lindell Aztecs in the championship game. You've been Wiggington and Solomon Young are out, a couple of through this before. What does this tournament mean out due to suspensions. But we have eight guys, we'll to you because of that experience? play a lot of young guys, some freshmen.

SEAN MILLER: Well, you're right. I think the biggest But I like our leadership. I think the biggest thing we're thing about us being here is it's quite an honor. We're doing a better job this year of being selfless, playing one of the lucky programs that I believe from day one together, really sharing the ball. That starts with our of this tournament, Arizona has been a fixture every point guard, Weiler-Babb, then a senior transfer from four years. Obviously Coach Olson brought some Virginia, Marial Shayok. great teams to this tournament, had a lot of success. DAN SHULMAN: When you saw your draw, what was This is actually our third time. Last time we were here your reaction to what you were going to experience this we won the championship. I think more than anything week? you learn a lot about your team. It's a great experience, win or lose. If you win a championship, STEVE PROHM: Regardless of your first draw, great. But when you leave here, you know a lot more everybody is good. Like Coach Pearl mentioned, you about the group that you have. I think you're a lot more have Hall of Fame coaches, coaches that have won at prepared to move on and improve. a high levels, been to Final Fours. Every game Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday is going to be a great DAN SHULMAN: A lot of new faces for you this year. draw. Tell people a little bit about the players you have this season. The great thing for us is we have an amazing fan base that is going to travel out here extremely well. The SEAN MILLER: We're really a blend of like three environment for all of our games will be terrific. different groups. We have a group of transfers, a lot of Hopefully we'll play well. guys that you haven't seen coming from other programs. We have a group of guys that are kind of DAN SHULMAN: A little Hilton magic out here in Maui? throwbacks, guys that were here last year as freshmen, didn't have as big of a role, but they've all worked very STEVE PROHM: Hopefully it will be Hilton far west. hard to return as sophomores, much improved. Then we have an incoming freshman, Brandon Williams, who DAN SHULMAN: The fourth game is Gonzaga and I think is a very exciting player, off to a very good start. Illinois. Put it all together, that's our team. Let's welcome in Mark Few, the head coach of the DAN SHULMAN: I'm sure you're looking forward to see Zags. 19 years as head coach, 19 trips to the NCAA how it all blends together. tournament. You were saying yesterday that people in and around your program say, When are you going to

Rev #2 by #228 at 2018-11-19 18:51:00 GMT page 4 of 5 Maui next? This is like a constant major thing within We like to play up-tempo and fast. I think we're a team your program. that can be a very good shooting team.

MARK FEW: Yeah, I mean, I think this is a big thing in Again, we've got a nice blend of four or five guys back all our programs. I think it's one tournament that really in the program who were parts of what we did last year, moves the needle with your own players, obviously with who are leading. Then we have six freshmen who are your fans, at least ours are always asking what year all getting minutes. They're finding their way. Two of are we going back to Maui. I think even in recruiting. I those guys are in the starting lineup, Ayo Dosunmu think if you mention Maui in recruiting, even at the and Giorgi Bezhanishvili, I'll have everybody have fun highest level, the kids are very excited about getting pronouncing his last name. Those two guys are very over here because they know the type of games they're good basketball players. We know we have our hands going to be in, the type of attention, like Coach K full with a great Gonzaga team, but we're excited for referred to. It's the one tournament you want to be the opportunity. involved with. DAN SHULMAN: Brad, with the style you play, DAN SHULMAN: Tell people a little bit about your obviously the kids have to be in great shape, with the team, maybe for folks who haven't seen much of Rui pressure you put on other teams. Are they excited Hachimura as they should have, what they're going to about three games in three days, really finding out see with him in the next three days. about how deep they can dig here in this tournament?

MARK FEW: We have a great blend of some guys that BRAD UNDERWOOD: Yeah, this is a unique have been in some big moments, in some big games, opportunity. Really the only time that you get to do this dating all the way back to the national championship again is in the post-season, in your conference game. We got a starting point guard, , tournament. We've talked about that a little bit in that started that game. Obviously we're leaning on conditioning, taking care of your body, recovery, so on him. and so forth.

Both Rui and is not going to be playing this But we go, we practice hard, and we get after it. We tournament. Very important part of our team. When look at it as an advantage for us. Hopefully it will be. they opted to come back this year, we knew we were at least primed for a pretty special year. Then to throw in DAN SHULMAN: Coach, good luck. Zach Norvell, who started pretty much all year for us last year, kind of a blend of experience and some youth Good luck to all the coaches. Going to be a great three that hopefully we can put it all together. days, 12 great games at the Civic Center. We wish you all the best of luck this week and this season. We look DAN SHULMAN: Mark, good luck. forward to seeing you out at the gym.

Coach Few knows he'll be up against the pressure that Illinois is going to provide with the style that Coach Underwood plays.

Brad Underwood evidently will only take a job if he gets to Maui shortly after getting the job. Took a job at Oklahoma State a few years ago, now here in his second year with the Illini. Welcome back to Maui, coach. Tell us a little bit about the team that you're bringing here.

BRAD UNDERWOOD: First of all, it's very, very exciting to be back. This is the elite event. As Mark said, this moves the needle. We feel honored. Illinois is a special place. It's a program that is very rich in tradition. We're excited to be back in this event, especially in this field with all these teams and great coaches.

But we're young. We've got two freshmen in the starting lineup. We're a heavy guard-oriented team.

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