Sean Miller Bruce Pearl Mike Krzyzewski Mark Few Brad
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Maui Jim Maui Invitational Sunday, November 18, 2018 Coaches Introduction Sean Miller Arizona Wildcats course, we're always delighted when he's included in Bruce Pearl the tournament itself. Auburn Tigers So I want to turn the microphone over to a person who Mike Krzyzewski I used to describe as the hardest working voice in all of Duke Blue Devils sports, because he did baseball, Sunday night baseball, the World Series on radio, ESPN radio. But Mark Few he now is focusing pretty much on college basketball. Gonzaga Bulldogs He lives in Toronto, 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 Brian Dutcher Shulman. San Diego State Aztecs 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 college basketball, 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 Chris Mack 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.