University of Tennessee Athletics
Tyndall Holds First @Vol_Hoops Media Day
October 16, 2014 | Men's Basketball
Donnie Tyndall hosted his first Tennessee men's basketball media day Thursday. Complete coverage can be found below.
(Opening Statement)
"Well, first of all, thanks to everyone for being here today. I appreciate your coverage thus far. I've probably dealt with the media my first five months here at Tennessee more than I did in eight years prior to being a head coach. You guys have been fantastic. I want to also say thank you for the warm welcome. So many of you dropped me notes or an e-mail or texts, welcoming my family and I here to Knoxville, and everyone has just been fantastic. We have been embraced in the kindest way and we appreciate that. With all that being said, we can get started, Tom."
(On using numbers and stats in his coaching)
"I've been doing that since I've been a head coach. I have worked for some great head coaches who did similar things in regard to statistics. I don't think you can necessarily overload your team or young guys with a bunch of information but there are three or four categories that we touch on every day. We touch on block outs, we chart every single guy in live scrimmage situations, the number of times they had a chance to block out and the number of times they actually hit somebody to block out. Then that is a direct reflection of how many shots you give up if you aren't getting to about an 80 percent block out percentage. So, the other thing is assists to turnover ratio. As a team, you want to be about one and a half to one, you perimeter players you'd like to be about 1.8 to 2.0, and your big guys need to be about one to one. So, we'll give out their stats for the day and we'll let them know whether they had a positive assists to turnover ratio. And then the other thing we preach on endlessly is what we call bad-contested shots. You know, over the course of eight years of doing this, at the end of the season, bad-contested shots are always about 12-16 percent. You shoot 12-16 percent too many times, you're going to get your tail whipped. We address that early on and try to say, `Hey, these are bad shots. Here's what we shot for the day.' Like yesterday, we were one for 12 from bad shots. Now, if we eliminate those bad shots, we're going to shoot a better percentage and give ourselves a better chance to win. Those are a few examples right there."
(On what he's learned about his team)
"I've been dealing with you from the first day I've been here all summer, Ben, and I'm used to this. But you know, here is the vibe I have from my team. I like my team and I like my team because they are very, very coachable. We've only had one or two guys the entire summer through preseason who have had bad body language or maybe copped an attitude during a practice or two, which in my opinion is a credit to their character, to the returning guys. It's a credit to Coach Martin and the way he probably coached them and prepared them for the way we coach. So the bottom line is, I like my team. With that being said, I don't like that we're the least experienced team in the league. I don't like that we don't have a point guard in our program and I don't like that we're going to play three true freshmen on our front line. But those guys are all busting their tail for us, they're working extremely hard, they're coachable. I love their attention to detail in the film room, when I ask them questions, they answer and then they ask some questions on their own trying to get better. It's good group thus far, it really is."
(On Dominic Woodson)
"No, you guys have talked a lot about Dom Woodson. I haven't talked a lot about Dom Woodson yet. To the question, Dom has been one of those guys, of the two, that has occasionally had a bad day here or there. With that being said, he has immensely improved in regard to being receptive to coaching. He has lost about 20 or 22 pounds now. Yesterday after practice, he was 175. I'm not sure he weighed 175 this morning with the way he eats at dinner but he's losing the weight. He's getting in better condition. The biggest thing with Dom is, when he gets tired he doesn't fight through fatigue. These are things I've talked to him about endlessly and he knows it. Ninety-nine percent of the time, he is receptive to it and he knows he has to get in getting condition because right now, he can probably play about three trips - down and back, down and back, down and back - and we have to get him out because he wouldn't rotate in the zone because he was fatigued. We weren't rotating our press because he was fatigued or he'd miss a block out because he was fatigued. It's not because he doesn't know what to do because he's a smart guy and it's not because he's selfish because he isn't. It's just that playing through fatigued is his Achilles heel right now."
(On the transition between coaching staffs)
"I think probably in regard to style of play with us playing a lot of zone and a lot of pressing, it would be different in that regard. With the success that he's had as a proven head coach, I'm sure he was demanding and held these guys accountable on the practice floor. That makes my job easier when you come into a situation where guys have been through that. Again, that's a credit to him and his staff and these returning guys who, for the most part, are practicing with a high intensity level just maybe not with the full court stuff that we do. But they've been good, they really have."
(On whether he feels they're better defensively or offensively)
"We'll be a better defensive team, for sure. Especially early in the year, defense is always ahead of offense. The teams that are really good offensively early in the year probably have a combination of three things: experience, which we don't have; a true point guard that can make plays late in the shot clock for others, which we don't have; and a true post scoring presence when you have a chance to throw it inside and draw a foul to get an easy bucket, which we don't have. So with all that being said, I would hope our defense is going to be ahead of our offense but we're doing some different things in regard to four guys on the perimeter. With our bigs that aren't really post scorers yet, getting them some different angles of post screening to create some pick-and-roll opportunities and a couple of guys, Armani [Moore] and Derek [Reese] in particular, can pick-and-pop and throw it back to those guys where they can drive it on a cleared side of the floor. We'll get better and better offensively as the season goes along and with that being said, we still have quite a bit of work to do defensively too."
(On what he has seen from Willie Carmichael)
"Willie has been fantastic for a freshman. His competitiveness, his eagerness to try and practice the right way or work out the right way every day has been great. He has attacked the weight room. He's a guy that in 20 or 25 more pounds, he has already added 25 to his frame, then you're going to have a legit, SEC starting power forward in Willie Carmichael. The problem is, ideally, you'd like to play Willie about 8-10 minutes a game and let him find his way until he grows into his role and his strength is what it needs to be. Where it sits right now, with having a very inexperienced team, Willie would start and probably play 22-25 minutes a night right now."
(On working without a true point guard)
"We'll do some dribble hand-off stuff when you run the offense through the four man and Armani Moore with play a lot at the four. He is really more of a perimeter player, as you know. So he'll be able to create some mismatches and soften the defense up. When he catches, you know he can drive a big guy. When the defense softens up, now you don't have to put as much pressure on your point guard and you can run some things through him, which he can certainly handle that. The other thing is, we'll do some two guard front stuff, like the Nets ran years ago with Jason Kidd, and that gives [Kevin] Punter and Josh [Richardson] both an opportunity to handle and it doesn't put the only pressure on just one guy."
(On whether he feels better about his post or point guard situation)
"Our posts. I feel a lot better about our post situation and again, maybe they're not going to be the greatest back to the basket scorers as it sits today, but they'll be able to get some buckets because of their athleticism on pick-and-roll situation, help ups where they can get to the short corner box and lay it in the goal or dunk it behind the defense and draw some fouls. Then, with their athleticism, defensively they may cause some problems. A guy like Tariq [Owens] and Willie [Carmichael] with their length. Jabari McGhee is coming along a little bit and can challenge or change some shots and give us a chance to get out in the open floor."
(On preparing Kevin Punter for point guard duties)
"I told him, `Kev, the ball is going to be in your hands. You may not necessarily want that or like that in regard to playing the point but it's just where we're at.' He is a phenomenal kid. Kevin Punter is a guy that has great maturity beyond his age. He's in the gym early, he stays late, he's diligent in his class work and meeting with tutors, he's working ahead and he just has a pro approach in everything that he does. So when I told him that, I don't think that he necessarily loved the idea of not getting to play the two spot but he's such a good kid and so unselfish, that he has embraced that role and is really trying to do the best he can to help our team. The last few days too, we've tried Josh at the point some. We tried to get Kev off of the ball just a little bit and Josh has embraced it a little bit too. Neither of those guys, as we all know, is a prototypical point guard but Josh's assists to turnover ratio has been like, 11 to three. That's pretty solid so he's going to play some point for us as well."
(On his most-inexperienced team)
"Well, you know, when I inherited my team at Southern Miss, we had four returning players and only six years of Division I experience so, we were actually tied for the least experienced team in all of Division I that year. As amazing as it is, this is actually a little bit more experience than that team. I think we've got Ian [Chiles] with what, two years. Then Derek with two so that's four. Josh with three, that's seven, and Armani with two, so that's nine. Am I missing anybody there? Oh, Robert [Hubbs III] with one. So 10, we've got 10 years and I would say we'll be at least one of the 20 least experienced teams in America."
(On what Josh Richardson needs to do offensively)
"We desperately need him to do that. I think the biggest thing with Josh is I've tried to challenge him to be more of a vocal leader, to be a guy that's putting in more time in the gym. He gives you everything he has when you have him on the floor but I'd love to see him in the gym getting shots up on his own like a Kevin Punter or even more frequently. He does it some but I'd love to see him do it more. What I've talked to Josh about and what he needs to understand and I think he does is, he's going from the fourth option and a guy who maybe was guarded by a secondary defender to our number one option where he typically will be guarded by an opponent's best defender every night. They're going to rotate fresh guys onto him, try to limit his catches, his touches and limit his scoring opportunities. So, he's built his body up a little bit to handle that stress and that physicality that he's going to face which is good. His endurance is pretty solid. Now the mental side of it and just being ready for it every night will be huge."
(On players embracing the full-court, zone defense)
"We don't talk a whole lot about that, they just kind of know that is what we are going to do, try not to compare and contrast from a year ago. I'll say this, I don't think they bought into the 6 AM conditioning sessions this fall but now that they have had six, seven, eight practices under their belt they understand had they not went through that in the preseason, there is no way they would have been able to get through these practices. So they have been great. Derek Reese is a guy that has improved the last two or three weeks. Robert Hubbs had a couple nice practices last week which was really good to see. So all those guys have bought in, they are doing the right things off the floor in the classroom as well. So they have been great."
(On if Josh Richardson has a scorer's mentality)
"I think that Josh is getting the mentality we want. I call it an attacking mentality, every single possession. Last year, I didn't watch a ton of tape from the team a year ago but I know that they were primarily a motion offense team and didn't set a lot of ball screens. In our offense, we set a ton of ball screens. So early on this summer and even in the first couple practices this year, Josh and Robert weren't playing off ball screens, what we call dragging the big out, trying to drag the corner as soon as they hit that hedge by the big they were wanting to give it up, get it out of their hands. You have to that attacking mentality to turn the corner, get a piece of the paint, make people help up or help over so you can make a teammate better and if they don't help up or help over then you give yourself a chance to get fouled or score. So Josh and Robert both are getting better with that, Josh in particular is really turning the corner off ball screens and getting to the paint which is important."
(On scrimmaging a lot in practice)
"My first or second year of a head coach, I wanted to stop scrimmages about every third pass, our screening angle was bad, we didn't pivot on the right foot, we wanted to go high to low in the post didn't `U' or hook our terminology so I blow the whistle. As I guess I have evolved as a head coach I think it is better in my humble opinion to let guys get up and down, play through fatigue, play through some mistakes because that is game like. Then we do a lot of correcting and teaching after the possession or three or four possessions, whenever we stop it, in the huddle. Then we do even more teaching in the film room the next day. So I have had a guy that has been in the business for a long time, a year or so ago who watched our practice, say you coach like a football coach, you teach in the film room. In a way, football coaches, I think you would hear them say a lot, I don't want my guys thinking because then they don't play fast. That is how it is, in my opinion, in basketball, I don't want these guys overthinking. I want them in attack mode, I want them aggressive, I want them playing fast and then we can teach in the huddles and then we can teach in the film room the next day."
(On the strength and conditioning program)
"I have a fantastic strength and conditioning coach in Todd Moyer. He was with us our last year at Southern Miss and does a fantastic job. He has my approach and my mentality in the weight room, they are businesslike, there is no messing around or horse play. They go in there, they punch the clock, they work, if he says do 10 reps it isn't nine. If he says eight it is not six. You are going to do what he tells you to do. Again, to these guys credit, no one has baulked at him or challenged him, they have been receptive because we have guys who want to get better and that want to improve. So Todd Moyer has done fantastic job, he has done a great job with guys who need to gain weight and still a work in process. He has done a great job, in particular, with Dom [Dominic] Woodson and getting some weight off of him. Now if he could just help get some weight off me he would probably get a raise."
(On SEC Basketball)
"I have always thought, I was in the league for four years as an assistant coach, always looking from afar in the league and just being a fan of the SEC, I think it is a great basketball league. I know last season some people said they only got three teams in and the league is down and things of that nature. But two of those three played in the Final Four and the other played in the Sweet Sixteen. So I think that speaks to the credit of the league and how good the league is. It is going to be one of those leagues that probably every third or fourth year it could be arguably the best league in the country. The other four power leagues are always strong as well but there has been many times SEC has been a great basketball league. There is great coaches and great players. I think we did a stat a couple nights ago for a recruit, since 2006, if I am not mistaken, the SEC has had six teams in the Final Four and the ACC has had three. We have had 39 draft picks, the ACC has had 38. So a pretty good record and pretty good players in this league and great coaches."
(On Josh Richardson's emphasis on defense)
"I think so. Again, Josh, one of his biggest strengths is leading by example. I am continuing to try to get him to be more of a vocal leader. As hard as he plays, the effort he gives on both ends, the young guys in particular see that and feed off of that. He is a guy that does a great job too of taking guys to the side and making it a teach point that a coach has already said and maybe a point that a coach misses. So he has been great. Our guys certainly look up to him and even a guy like Dom even though he doesn't play Josh's position, looks up to him. You can tell the way he looks at Josh when he speaks, he is attentive. He has been great, he really has."
(On Braxton Bonds)
"We filed the appeal waiver, Braxton signed at Liberty and went to school there this summer and went there for three or four days, less than a week, and just was homesick. Really is close with his family and wanted to get closer to home. Has a lot friends here at UT. I had never heard of Braxton Bonds to be honest with you and Drew Maddox who I have known for years, a great high school coach in the Nashville area called and said would you have an interest. Told me about him as a student and as a person, that he is a tough scrappy guy. I think at the time we had just lost Brandon Lopez with the knee so I said `yeah, absolutely, we will give him a chance.' I am telling you, Ben, if he is eligible, which I don't know if he will be, he is going to play on our team, he is. I am hoping we will have an answer in the next two to four weeks. But he is a tough, hard-nosed kid, he has a great feel for the game, he is competitive, it doesn't matter if it is Kevin Punter or Josh Richardson, if they are guarding him or he is guarding them, he goes right at them. In due time, with strength, like most of our young guys, he will play some in our program, he will."
(On the length he would like to play his zone defense)
"I think we have the length at probably the five spot with [Tariq] Owens. The four spot, if [Willie] Carmichael was a four but right now he is playing a five. I think our wing player, guys like [Robert] Hubbs, [Devon] Baulkman and [Josh] Richardson, their length is fine for their position. So a little more front line length is really important in this recruiting class. Then point guard play. Ideally we would like a 6'1" to 6'4" type point guard although we have won a ton of games with a heck of a 5'10" kid the last couple years. The wing length in Tariq Owens, in particular, is fine, we just have to add some depth on that front line and get a point guard."
(On what he told the veteran players when he got here)
"I just said, `look guys, I am a straight shooter,' I don't sugar-coat things. I don't think you can have real relationships with people whether it is a spouse, a girlfriend, a daughter, your boss, your players, your coaches, if you are not real with them. If you don't look them in the eye and tell them the truth. A lot of times when you tell young people the truth it can hurt their feelings. I am not worried about hurting guys feelings. I tell them that we are going to be friends 50 years when you are done, I am not trying to be your friend right now. I am trying to help you be the best student-athlete that you can be. So I am just honest with them and I think our businesslike approach, they appreciate and they respect. Although, like I said, they may not always like what they hear, they know they need to hear it. Off the floor, they see that I am a down to earth guy, we joke around and talk trash and have a good job and cut up. It is a different mode or a different side of me at that time. But when it is basketball, on the floor, on the film room, and talking about academics, I am very, very straightforward and direct and I think they have been good, at least they seem to be good to this point accepting that."
(On Tariq Owens)
"He is a little thin, he has gained about 14 to 15 pounds and he has gotten strong in the weight room. He is a guy that works at it. He is, unfortunately, one of those guys that, he eats and eats and eats and it is hard for him to put on weight. But he is getting there, he has gotten progressively better the past three or four weeks. He is a guy that leads our team in blocked shots. I told you we stat everything in live action, I think in seven practices now, he has 20 or 22 blocks which is about three a day. So he changes shots, he challenges shots. Offensively right now, when he catches the ball in the post, his lack of strength he gets forced away from the rim. So he can settle for some tough shots, he gets knocked off balance and turns it over. But he is another great kid now, he is a coachable, hang on every word, he is a sponge type of guy. He is going to be a good player, I hope it is this year, but at some point in time he is going to be really good."
(On the team's best defender right now)
"On the perimeter it would be Josh, no question about that. If we had to guard a post, which we press a lot back to a matchup zone, but if we were playing man-to-man believe it or not Armani Moore would be our best post defender even thought he is 6'4" or 6'5" just because of his grit and toughness and physicality. He would work the front, he would be tough enough and strong enough to force guys away from the paint a little bit. So those guys right now."
(On Robert Hubbs III)
"I think Robert has taken a while to knock the rust off if you will. I have said this repeatedly, he is unbelievably coachable, he never, not one time in all the times I have coached him has he had bad body language, he has never rolled his eyes, he doesn't talk back. I really don't have to get on him much because he is so coachable. But he is a guy that I really believe time is going to be good in our system. Again, he has to continue to play lower to the floor and turn the corner off of ball screens and attack the rim. He is not rebounding as high a clip as I think he could for his talent level. But his last week he has had two or three good practices and seems to be showing some real life. I am encouraged by Robert. The thing that I think is important with Robert is, we had individual meetings, like I have about every two weeks with the players and a couple weeks ago, he seemed just a little bit different. He had a sprained wrist and missed a practice or two. He just didn't seem like himself. So I talked to him, I said, `Robert, to me, it seems like you are carrying to weight of the world on your shoulders. You can't worry about what other people think you should be, you can't worry about what others hope you will be or what they expect you to be. You just need to be the best Robert Hubbs you can be.' I think the last few days after that meeting, he has had a different approach, not that is approach was feeling sorry for himself or bad but he just seems a little more uplifted. I told him I am not going to worry about the fans, to these crazy media people or whatever what they write, and you can't worry about the fans or the crazy people back home that think you should average 38 points a night. You just have to be the best Robert Hubbs you can be."
(On hosting a Big Orange Madness event Oct. 24)
"It is going to be a great event. We are going to open the doors at 6 PM and do some things for the fans which will be fun. Then we will get it started. We have coupled up with the women's program. We are going to do probably a dunk contest, a three-point contest between the ladies and ourselves. Each team with scrimmage for about 10, 12, 15 minutes at the most and then we will sign some autographs and take some pictures afterwards. It will be a great opportunity for our fans to get out and meet our newcomers with basically a new team."
NOTE: Big Orange Madness is a free, one-hour event at Thompson-Boling Arena. Parking will be free in garages G-3, G-4, G-5 and G-10. Additional details will be forthcoming on UTsports.com in the coming days.
