Q: At this point a year ago you began practice with two guys who were unable to play. What is the physical condition of the team right now?
Tony Bennett: “I think we are a physical team, I know that isn’t in question. We actually had a scare a few days ago with London [Perrantes)]. There was a collision and we worried about his shoulder. He did not practice for a few days, but all the tests say he will be okay. It is just a matter of healing up. That was a concern, but right now there is more depth than there was this point last year from the point guard standpoint. Last year we didn’t have Jontel [Evans] or Teven [Jones] at the time, so we were using other guys that it wasn’t their natural position.This year there are more guys who can handle the ball. It makes it a little easier, although the last few days we have been a little crude and I think a lot of coaches at this stage are dealing with these things. But, there are more options at that spot for ball handlers. Everybody as far as Malcolm [Brogdon], Darion [Atkins], Akil [Mitchell], Joe [Harris] missed some time this summer, but everyone is practicing. The only guy that’s not is London and everyone else is practicing.”
Q: Tony what will we see from Anthony Gill? What will he bring you guys?
TB: He played with Coach [Ritchie] McKay for the Athletes in Action tour and those are different in the summer. Richie and I have talked about him some this summer and there is some rust certainly, but he is one of the more aggressive or physical forwards we have in terms of drawing fouls. Even in practice there are not a lot of fouls called at this stage, we do have officials coming in a few days so that will be interesting, but he has an ability to draw contact and pick up fouls. I think he will get to the free-throw line and he is a very good offensive rebounder, has good moves, so he brings that ruggedness that is a threat when he has the ball whether he is facing or has his back to the basket. He has some catching up to do, everybody does, but the newer guys (we are teaching) just to be continuous offensively and defensively. There are just repetitions that those first-year guys don’t have that the other guys are more adjusted to what we are trying to do at this stage. Then fatigue sets in; we practice hard, its physical and when guys start getting tired, you see things break down. If Anthony learns to be continuous and continues to get used to our system, I think he will be a real threat for us.”
Q: A lot of people think you have one of the deepest benches in the country. As a coach how does that challenge you to keep everyone happy and what will that depth allow you to do defensively and offensively?
TB: “I think it remains to be seen how deep we are. If we are healthy, and I pray for our health all the time because I know how important it is, but there is more than we have had at this stage. I think guys can then play harder for shorter stints; hopefully we don’t have to wear guys down. As the season progresses you are playing guys you feel most comfortable with, whether that is 10, great, or if it’s 11, eight, nine, that is to be determined. That chemistry piece though, we have competitive guys, talented players, there will be a war for playing time, but will they put the team above themselves, the old cliché. You always have to be ready because of the way the game is with foul trouble, injuries and all those things, so If they are willing to be patient and really try to embrace doing something as a group, that will be the key. Will there be frustration from guys not playing enough? Of course, but I think we have a group that wants to be good collectively, which is how we have to do it. We do not have enough individual talents just to line them up and say we are going to dominate people. We have to do it collectively, and with different guys at different times. Sometimes you play teams with four guards on the floor, so you have to match up and figure it out. We talk about that a lot, which is why we try hard to recruit character guys and ones that are genuinely excited about trying to make this program better and better, and if they are and there is character, they will embrace the team and fight for individual goals, but not be above being successful collectively.”
Q: You have got a lot of bodies and a lot of options in the front court, where does Evan Nolte fit in?
TB: “There are probably five legitimate front-court players and we have been playing Evan [Nolte] some on the wing. He is a forward, four or three, where we have been checking him out in that spot. He is a threat certainly from the outside, which is important for us, plus he has gotten stronger and he looks better. He is improved and I think he gives us some flexibility. I told him when we talked, ‘I look at you as a versatile wing forward, maybe the three sometimes, possibly the four. I cannot say you are going to just be in one spot.’ Last year, he was mostly what we call a facing forward, but as he’s improved, hopefully he can handle it defensively. Plus, his ball handling has improved. I think he will get some looks on the perimeter, but again, we are still a ways out to seeing how guys do. The scrimmages will help us with that. When we play some of the opponents, we will get a feel for who can handle what situations.”
Q: Justin Anderson really surged at the end of last season, even throughout the season he seemed to pick up the defensive concepts. What is the next step for him, particularly on the offensive end?
TB: “Justin has worked hard; all of them have worked hard in the offseason. I told him that he looks like he is a little more efficient this year. That is something that I have told him since day one, real good players have offensive games that are efficient and continuous. I always use those words with him, but I think he has gotten better at that, where he does not just make one effort and then stop. He is learning to be continuous, moving without the ball more and not just standing. He has worked more on his outside shot and his ball handling. He does not have to be a volume shooter, but he can impact the game with his pull-up shot and getting to the offensive glass. At times we put him as a forward last year, so I guess we have six guys that could play that spot. Mostly he has been playing on the perimeter and I think he has shown great strides. At the end of the year, him, Mike [Tobey] and some of the younger guys really stepped up. He always brings the energy, there is no question about that. I see a little more maturity in him and more skill has developed over the offseason, so I would like to see more efficiency and consistency from him.”
Q: The preseason expectations are as high as they have been in a while, is that something that you guys have met head on and discussed?
TB: “Coach Rick Carlisle and Terry Holland came in and spoke at a ring ceremony for the third-years before our first official practice, and it was really helpful that they both addressed that. They said, ‘You are a little older, sounds like you have got a deep team, what do you think about the expectations?’ Carlisle said that managing expectations is about the process. We talk a lot about that, to not get caught up in what people say, especially now. It is about getting better each day and Coach Carlisle made a good analogy, ‘You are designing a play to win a game in the last few seconds, what are you thinking about?’ Justin answered, ‘In my mind as a player I’m thinking, make the shot.’ Carlisle said, “No, you are thinking about coming off the screen correctly, squaring up, balance, holding my follow through. That is what good players do, that is how the thought process goes. Practice is getting better each day you are competing with each other and the end result is all just a by-product.’ I thought this was a great message to our team and certainly something that most coaches talk about. We have had some practices to remind us that we do have a ways to go, but there is certainly some excitement to have more depth and more experience looking forward to the challenges ahead of us.”
Q: Obviously you have some depth and versatility, can you talk about your process of finding a rotation? Does it start now or do you have to have some games under your belt?
TB: “Right now to me its more like boot camp. We’re eight practices in and we have our fall break, so its kind of interesting that we won’t be practicing during that time. So, we haven’t thought about that, which will reveal itself as we get closer to and start scrimmages. But, I think it will be pretty flexible even as the season progresses, and it will be different lineups. We’re able to split the team in practice and compete, and it’s not one team dominating the other. That’s what I like, it makes us better.”
Q: How much did Mike [Tobey] benefit from the summer U19 world team?
TB: “He didn’t play a lot, but he practiced a lot. He’s been more vocal, and I’m able to tell him to take off his gold medal in practice when he’s not giving 100%. He saw a side of talent and competition in daily doses that you normally don’t get to see unless you’re playing at the NBA level. That realization of how hard and how competitive it is to play at that level, with scouts and GM’s everywhere, was a positive for him. He saw the physicality of play and when you see him, he has put on some weight. He gained confidence and learned a lot about himself. I tell him to remind me of what he learned this summer because that reminds himself of the valuable experience that he had.”
Q: When he played before, Malcolm [Brogdon] seemed wise and mature beyond his years with all the youth of point guard. What benefit is it to have a savvy young guy?
TB: “He’s got three years ahead of him. You see rust at times and he can’t help that, but also you see some good things. I forgot how strong he is, he’s powerful. You can call him a power point guard, whatever, he can play. He’s just got to get a feel for the timing and learn when to be aggressive. All our guys, they’re so anxious to play hard and show that they can score. Once they get a feel for it, I think we will be better. I’m so happy to see him out there because I know how hard he worked with his rehab. That was a pretty significant injury. To see him holding up and playing very hard has been encouraging.”
Q: Is Malcolm [Brogdon] an option to be your starting point guard?
TB: “I think definitely, we will find out in the scrimmages. Even when you’re recruiting, it’s more of a defensive question. Offensively, it’s so interchangeable in our system. You have to be able to move without the ball, you’ve got to be Ray Allen and you’ve got to be Chris Paul. Obviously, I like them both, meaning sometimes you’ve got to be a complete offensive player. It comes down to whether or not you can guard those point guards, and that’s something we’re really going to have to replace this season without Jontel because he was a bulldog in that regard. Offensively, Malcolm can do it. Everyone is a little different in the way they play that position.”
Q: Is Devon Hall truly in the mix for playing time at point guard or is he looking towards a redshirt, because I know he’s young?
TB: “It’s too early to say where any of the guys are at. He can pass and he’s a complete guard. A couple of our young guys have had some rough practices and that’s been good because I like to see how they bounce back. Devon knows how to play the game. He is gifted as a passer, but him, Anthony and London are a little behind from a systems standpoint and you can see that its new to them. They are thinking too fast, but when that slows down I think we’ll get a better feel for them. He certainly has a chance to carve out some playing time, but it’s way too early to say for sure. We haven’t discussed the possibility of a redshirt. That is always the players’ decision. I suggest the best option from what I see in them down the road, but I always give the players the final word.”
Q: How much did Joe Harris learn from carrying a lot of the pressure late last year, and how much different do you think he will be with a full compliment of teammates?
TB: “We will have a few more weapons and he won’t be quite as much of a focal point, though he will because he didn’t get to play a lot this summer or go to the USA tryouts with his foot injury. We had to shut him down and rest him, which I think will prove beneficial as the season goes on. He’s working out some kinks, but now that it is his last year and he’s been through so much, he wants it to go so well and has gotten stronger every year. I tell our team we need to be a blue-collar team. It might not be the prettiest team, but you’re going to have to be physical and rugged. I think the strength factor and different options can help in the areas that are important.”
Q: Have you been more demanding in practice given the team’s experience and depth?
TB: “Probably, because it’s early and you have to set the tone. It also depends which day you catch me on. I think at times, I push the guys who have experience to see how they respond and sometimes I get angry. You do want to demand them and make them uncomfortable. There have been times where I haven’t been pleased where I’ve pushed them more in some of the crude practices. That’s all part of it at this stage. We’re trying to generate some leadership and see how they will rally together. I want to see if they are mature enough to speak up and take charge. I tell them I have a right to get after them when they are sloppy with the ball or other non-negotiables like losing concentration. I have to make my point early and often.”
Q: With a team of this depth, walk-ons don’t figure much, but how did you make the decision to bring Jeff Jones, a legacy here at UVa, on to the team?
TB: “We have three guys in practice [that are walk-ons]. I do not know yet how we will decide who suits up or who travels, but we have Jeff [Jones], who’s father was a heck of a coach, Malik [Frazier] , who is great and we tried to get him in games and had him on the roster last year, and Rob [Vozenilek] who was with us two years ago. Those three are practicing and Jeff gives us some depth as a forward. These guys are very valuable to have and they have an unbelievable attitude. They will step out of drills for others to get more reps. They will jump in wherever we need them and I’m happy to have them.”
Q: Your schedule last year was used against you in the NCAA selection process. Are you sure your schedule this year will meet the NCAA test?
TB: “This year’s schedule I think is strong on paper, we are away from home more, but you do not know until the season how good teams are going to be. We have tried to be purposeful in who we choose to play and where we play them by challenging ourselves to get ready for our conference, which the new additions take it to another level. We will have to play for every game and that is a little daunting. I think it’s important to find out where you are early to prepare you for the rigors of ACC play.”
Q: Obviously you lost Jontel Evans your point guard. With the depth you have, is there a plan on your part to pick up the pace offensively?
TB: “We will see, but I just want to play good basketball. We want to get good shots, crash the glass and take care of the ball. We want to try to be efficient just like I want our players to be individually, but if we have guys who want to make some plays then absolutely. The pace of play is obviously dictated by our defense, and our depth remains to be seen. I think the way for us to improve the pace; we need to find ways to get different kinds of points. If we can do better at offensive rebounds and getting to the line, those are the points that we need to improve our play.”
Q: How did you get Rob [Vozenilek] back and how did that come about?
TB: “He has been great, last year he wanted to be a part of the team, but we had more numbers. He’s been very persistent and says he will do anything to be a part of it. He stays in better shape and is very respectful about the opportunities he is presented with. It’s good to have him and he earned the spot for sure.”
Q: What does it say about college basketball with the number of transfers around the league? Do you think it happens so often because people are not willing to stick it out and earn a spot at the top?
TB: “Sometimes it is about playing time, but everyone has their own reasons. Every time someone transfers, we try to learn from it. People leave for different reasons and the depth thing is important for us, because you do not know when certain things happen. It is a trend [in basketball], but I wish it will not happen and we have got to be proactive and plan on adjusting if people leave. Hopefully, you make the best situation for the players, which is why I think UVa does a very good job at this with its academics and social aspects.”
Q: What are your expectations for the student section this year?
TB: “We love the student section. They have been great since we have been here and it has grown each year. It always impresses me how they can bounce up and down for the whole game, so maybe they can work on their vertical a little more this year (laughs). Keep coming and keep supporting. I always encourage our players to interact with the student body who support them and I think our players enjoy doing that. We appreciate what they have done so far and hopefully, we’ll put a product on the floor that keeps them jumping and bouncing.”
Share
Contributors
