Had a Zoom with Fran this morning. Summary of his comments and not a transcript.
Q: What do you see from UVA?
Virginia is pretty much the same in terms of style of play. Execute on D. Defend really well. Not a high mistake team. Do everything really well. They execute really well on offense and they are a physical team.
Q: Asked about the UVA D and how they have improved recently?
No question they have improved the last four games. Teams averaging under 50, so they are locking up the last four games. That's typical for UVA. Houston and Navy played extremely well and shot it well from three. They do a great job of limiting you to one shot and stay in front of you on defense.
Asked about Franklin that played at IU and Gardner who is a transfer from E. Carolina?
Know Franklin really well. He is a really good player that can score. Rally talented player who plays both ends. Said Gardner is tough player and really smooth in the paint. Good feel for the game and can battle on the glass.
Q: What do you have to do against their defense?
Have to be patient and have to have good activity, whether it be cuts or screens and have to end up with a good shot instead of a rushed shot in the game. You have to have really good ball movement and intelligent passing. The ball has to move side to side and in and out. You can't make poor decisions in transition or in the half court.
Q: You said earlier this year that you wanted to see this team build a bit in the early portion of the schedule. Did you see what you wanted to see with this group?
I think we saw what we wanted to see, but as we step up against a team like Virginia on the road we will find out more. I think we expected that. This is a deep and talented team that plays together and we will see how we play on the road against a team of that caliber.
Q: In front of a hostile crowd?
It will be a challenge. It's always that way. Less of a factor with veteran team. Have about eight guys who haven't played in front of a hostile crowd. even the guys who played a lot last year haven't played in front of anyone. I think we are all excited about this opportunity. This is what we sign up for and we will see how we perform.
Q: Playing the pack line and UVA and how they do it?
They do it better than anyone. They are really connected on defense and that's why they have been so successful. We have seen it multiple times this year. A lot of teams try to copy their style for good reason. Their rotations are consistent and that's what is challenging against them.
Q: On Keegan Murray?
Encourage him to go and encourage him to play freely. He's a good decision maker and he plays both ends. Not a lot of guys with his size and length that make decisions like he does that's what separates him from others. He has a complete skill set. Doesn't force anything.
Q: Shorter rotation coming into this game?
Pretty confident in the top ten or eleven guys. Feel good about playing all of them. May end up shortening that as the game goes along into the second half. Did that earlier this year in one game where we went with one group in the second half for a longer period of time.
Q: What do you see from UVA?
Virginia is pretty much the same in terms of style of play. Execute on D. Defend really well. Not a high mistake team. Do everything really well. They execute really well on offense and they are a physical team.
Q: Asked about the UVA D and how they have improved recently?
No question they have improved the last four games. Teams averaging under 50, so they are locking up the last four games. That's typical for UVA. Houston and Navy played extremely well and shot it well from three. They do a great job of limiting you to one shot and stay in front of you on defense.
Asked about Franklin that played at IU and Gardner who is a transfer from E. Carolina?
Know Franklin really well. He is a really good player that can score. Rally talented player who plays both ends. Said Gardner is tough player and really smooth in the paint. Good feel for the game and can battle on the glass.
Q: What do you have to do against their defense?
Have to be patient and have to have good activity, whether it be cuts or screens and have to end up with a good shot instead of a rushed shot in the game. You have to have really good ball movement and intelligent passing. The ball has to move side to side and in and out. You can't make poor decisions in transition or in the half court.
Q: You said earlier this year that you wanted to see this team build a bit in the early portion of the schedule. Did you see what you wanted to see with this group?
I think we saw what we wanted to see, but as we step up against a team like Virginia on the road we will find out more. I think we expected that. This is a deep and talented team that plays together and we will see how we play on the road against a team of that caliber.
Q: In front of a hostile crowd?
It will be a challenge. It's always that way. Less of a factor with veteran team. Have about eight guys who haven't played in front of a hostile crowd. even the guys who played a lot last year haven't played in front of anyone. I think we are all excited about this opportunity. This is what we sign up for and we will see how we perform.
Q: Playing the pack line and UVA and how they do it?
They do it better than anyone. They are really connected on defense and that's why they have been so successful. We have seen it multiple times this year. A lot of teams try to copy their style for good reason. Their rotations are consistent and that's what is challenging against them.
Q: On Keegan Murray?
Encourage him to go and encourage him to play freely. He's a good decision maker and he plays both ends. Not a lot of guys with his size and length that make decisions like he does that's what separates him from others. He has a complete skill set. Doesn't force anything.
Q: Shorter rotation coming into this game?
Pretty confident in the top ten or eleven guys. Feel good about playing all of them. May end up shortening that as the game goes along into the second half. Did that earlier this year in one game where we went with one group in the second half for a longer period of time.
