“We’ve had a couple, I guess about three, good days of practice. Guys were working hard and competing. We spent a lot of time focusing on the rebounding aspect of our game. Offense and defensive rebounding. I really think we’ve done a good job of improving our transition defense, but we work with that every day. (We’ve also worked on) trying to get the ball inside more to our bigs so we can really feed them and get them to be aggressive—at least go in with a level of confidence to Maui. Not that we are lacking confidence, but to at least get them feeling good about getting the ball inside. I think that is important. Also congratulations to Trae Golden for winning SEC Player of the Week. I think it’s a great honor for him. Especially for a guy that plays really unselfish each game and in practice. He passes the ball quite a bit, only takes shots when he has the opportunity to score. But I think he is also playing with a high level of confidence. He’s really pressuring the ball, taking pride in his defensive side. That is one area I thought he was really struggling in at full-court pressure consistently and I think he’s really accepted that challenge in practice and in the game. We kind of backed him off because of scoring, but he wanted to continue to pressure the ball so we just felt comfortable with him and the work he has put in.”
(On if the team’s field-goal percentage vs. UNC Greensboro was a direct result of good shot selection?)
“I think it’s a combination of hitting wide-open shots. When you go back and watch the film, we probably have about five shots when I calculated, that weren’t great shots. But as a player you can feel free to shoot the ball. I’m not going to take guys out for bad shots. But also I thought it was a case of guys penetrating and getting into the lane and pitching. I thought Trae did a tremendous job in transition of finding guys. Because when he’s pushing in transition—he is already a tough guy to defend—but while he’s coming in transition he’s trying to find the shooters on the wings. I thought he did a good job of that.”
(On if the team is struggling to focus on Wednesday’s game vs. ULM as the Maui Invitational looms)
“No, not at all. Every game for me, and I pray that I will say this as long as I am coaching, every game is important to me. But you can’t take it for granted. I was just watching the West Virginia, Kent State game, it’s tough. You can’t walk into any situation and think two or three games ahead. The most important game for us is (Wednesday vs. ULM) and we are going to do everything in our power to win that game.”
(On if he has looked ahead at any of the teams in the Maui field, such as Duke)
“No not at all. Each assistant coach rotates and creates a scouting report, so those guys are watching the games because that’s what they do. But for me, just watching film on (ULM) is the most important thing.”
(On if ULM provides a good test heading into the Maui Invitational)
“I think so. (Our) first three games (including the exhibitions), I think, were good games from the standpoint of what we needed. Seeing Carson-Newman play zone was good for us. The second game (Lincoln Memorial) was really good as far as getting the ball inside, running the floor, attacking and making shots. Then in the (UNC Greensboro) game I thought it was a case of they did a good job of rebounding. We knew that coming into the game. We talked to their opponents in their league about it and (UNC Greensboro is) a really good rebounding team. They did a really good job. I thought we did a poor job of boxing out, but they do have a reputation of being a good rebounding team. I think (ULM) will probably run some good motion-style offense. A lot of pass cuts, slips to the baskets, different types of screens so you really have to be able to jump to the ball to play against (them) because they do a good job of slipping to the basket again and getting easy layups.”
(On if he’s concerned about junior forward Kenny Hall’s point production thus far)
“No I’m not concerned about it. I just think the thing is, (the ball) has to go inside in order for us to be concerned. I think once we pound the ball in there consistently and we get those guys 15-16 shots and then shots don’t start falling, then I think there will be a level of concern. But I don’t think we are getting the ball in there enough. But you are talking about the first game. Shots on the perimeter were falling, so if you are making 15 3-pointers, then keep shooting them. But once again, with the way we run our offense, you can get the ball inside, you can play on the perimeter—it’s a freestyle offense, so to speak. It just depends on where the defense is guarding you, where the ball goes.”
(On sophomore point guard Trae Golden’s weight loss)
“I think it was more of him making a commitment and trying to be a great player more than anything. Those are some of the things required; I’d like to think that Tobias(Harris) had something to do with it because those guys are friends. Just from the standpoint that Tobias had to transform his body to get ready to play in the NBA. So now you see how the things he had to do—you know, change his diet. With those guys being great friends and roommates, Tobias kind of helped him with it. But I just think that when you want to be a great player, those are things you have to do, those are the sacrifices you have to make in order to get where you are trying to go. I think he’s made that commitment.”
(On if Golden’s current weight of 196 pounds is what Martin wants it to be)
“For me, it isn’t necessarily a weight he has to be at, it’s more or less how he eats, taking care of his body, conditioning his body so he can play extended minutes. We try and condition our guys to play 40 minutes whether they play 40 minutes or five minutes. I think that is the biggest key. But it’s not necessarily the exact weight he needs to be at, because I think every year he will get bigger and stronger. It’s just about maintaining and playing at that weight.”
(On whether or not, philosophically, he wants his point guard to be the team’s leading scorer)
“I just want him to be a great player. If he shoots 15 shots, then he shoots 15. I don’t have a gauge on anybody as far as how many shots they take in a game. But if he is rolling, then let them fly. As long as he is aggressive, he is attacking the basket, that’s fine. Because if he is attacking, then he will find guys. I think he will get assists; he will get three or four assists just because of how the defense is playing him in the game. Because he can make the shot from the 3-point line. When you are able to stretch the defense like that, then you are able to put the ball on the floor. It’s just tough to defend.”
(On if he is surprised by Golden’s play or if Golden displayed this potential in preseason practice)
“I saw him when he was a high school guy. When he was a sophomore he was rated as like one of the top-10 players in America. Then he kind of fell off from there. But you kind of saw his ability to score the basketball. You know, 30 points a game, especially in the area that he played, against really good high school talent—that’s a lot of shots, a lot of points. Then we played him last year (when I was at Missouri State). You knew he had the ability to score, but I don’t know if he was really a true point guard coming out of high school because he scored so much. That was the next phase for his game. Really developing the ability to naturally play the point at this level. (Regardless of) scoring the ball, but just having the ability to run a team. I think he has done a good job with that.”
(On how the team reduced its turnovers from the exhibitions to the season-opener)
“In exhibition games you play a lot of guys. The players are trying to get a feel for playing with each other. We change our lineups every day in practice. It’s somewhat wild and physical in practice. There is a lot of fouling going on. So then you have to make the adjustments when teams are going to foul you like that in the game situations. But also (we focused on) just really taking care of the ball. It’s stuff that we preach all the time: not jump stopping, being under control, not out of control, penetrating to the basket, having two guys on (you), just hit the first man that is open, don’t try and split the defense. Just simple things like that. I think it really simplifies things for our guys—make the simple play, and I’m okay with that. Two guys on you and somebody’s open… pass the ball.”
(Once you settle on a starting five that you’re comfortable with, will you stop rotating the lineups in practice?)
“No, we’ve never done that. We didn’t do it when I was at Purdue; we didn’t do it at Missouri State. Because what happens is, rarely after games start—maybe the first five minutes and then the first five minutes of the second half—do you have the same five (players out there together). It changes throughout the course of a game. Our guys have to play. I think our biggest key is to have two guys at each position more than anything—five perimeter guys and four interior. We change it up every day except for gameday.”
(On whether he’s identified the five perimeter and four interior players who will make up the main rotation)
“They’re a good motion-offense team. Like I said, a lot of passing and cutting through. Getting into the line, they slice all the time, when they throw the ball inside they like to slice to get their big guy easy layups. I think they made 9-of-19 or 8-of-19 from 3-point range against Indiana State (Monday). So they have the ability to make perimeter shots. They are more of a perimeter team. They really like to (push it in) transition as well.”
(On if he’s talked to Kenny Hall about avoiding foul trouble)
“The thing about Kenny is he comes in to watch film, he does a good job with that and he listens in practice. But I just try not to put a lot of weight on him, because once again it is early in the season and I just want to let him play. Unfortunately, guys read a lot. They read the blogs every week. So now I don’t want that to be the big conversation. Because he hasn’t gotten a lot of touches due to foul trouble, and the ball is not really going inside. But you are talking about one game, where you had 15 3-point shots made. So probably not a lot of balls were going inside. But (if we get) 10 or 11 games in and he’s not getting the ball, then he’s not productive and that’s the issue. But I wouldn’t say he’s not productive right now; I just think he’s gotten in foul trouble. (We need him to) just move his feet and keep your hands to yourself, so to speak.”
(On whether or not Tennessee is a better shooting team than he initially thought)
“I’d like to think so. I mean, 15 3-pointers, regardless of the opponent, it means the shots are going in. It’s the same 3-point line; it’s the same length as any other university in the country. The shots are falling for those guys. But they were good shots, they were shots in rhythm. Sometimes you’ll take tough shots. I think Trae took a couple of tough ones that he didn’t make. As long as his feet are square and his shoulders are square, then let it go.”
(On the different challenges of coaching in the Maui Invitational as a head coach instead of as an assistant coach, which he was at Purdue in 2006)
“For me as an assistant coach (there was truly very little going on other than) going to the gym whether it was practice, game time, going back and watching film. You eat dinner and watch film and the next day is the same thing. Maybe the first day there, I think the players might have gone out, but for us and the staff, we were watching film. If you are not planning for the next opponent, then you might be watching game film so you know what those guys are like playing live and then it’s on to the next day, really. For me I don’t necessarily consider it a vacation. For us it’s all business, for the first couple days we’ll try and get our guys out there and we’ll do something. But after that it’s work.”
(On if the players are carrying themselves differently after starting the season with a solid win)
“I think so, but like I told the guys, unfortunately they read a lot of it and they see a lot of it. How do you know we are a last place team? it’s only because you read it. You still have to go and play the game. You have to go and compete. I do think we have guys who have a passion to be successful. They just need to learn how to compete at a high level, how to fight through situations. Learn how to play with each other and understand that on any given night, somebody can step up to the plate offensively. But everybody has to be clicking on all cylinders on the defensive side of the ball and rebounding the basketball. But as a staff we have never thought anything less. We’ve never presented anything less. We think we can be successful as a program, I think that’s the bottom line. We haven’t wavered in that regard to where you see us picking up our guys. I’ll say it again. How do you know we are an 11th place team? You’ve only read that. We haven’t even played the games.”
(On whether the team’s results in Maui will be a good measuring stick of where the program stands)
“I think regardless of what happens in Maui, our guys are going to compete. Now the outcome? Who knows. I think the bigger gauge for our guys is when you play against opponents not necessarily with a bigger name, because their approach is different. You can go to Maui with a sense of nervousness, hesitant, somewhat scared, so to speak. That is how I always was (as a player), regardless of who we played. I was always nervous because I wanted to be prepared. I wasn’t necessarily (intimidated by) who the opponent was. I think our guys will be ready to play from that standpoint. The last thing you want to think as a player is that you are going to get blown out of a game. So you focus in on a lot of areas to be successful. But I think for our guys it’s the opponent that doesn’t have big-name players or big-name programs... those are the ones you really have to be ready for. Now it’s getting them up ready to play and understanding that you can get beat by this team.”
(On what he thinks of Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski and his accomplishments in coaching)
“ I think he’s a great coach. He’s one of the best to ever coach the game. I think I would put him up in the top five if not No. 1 or 2. That passion has been 20-plus years. He just does a great job going about his business on a consistent basis. But I think it’s a tough thing to do to have talent and be successful every year. It’s just as difficult as not getting guys to go to the paint hard. I think it’s a discredit to him and other coaches to have high levels of success but they don’t get national coach of the year because they have talent and everybody expects them to win. It’s tough to coach that talent and be successful on a consistent basis.”
(On why he thinks Krzyzewski has been so successful over the years)
“I think he built a brand. I think that’s the biggest key. He stuck with his game plan; he’s able to get players. I think that is the most important thing. You need a great coach, but you also have to have very talented players.”
(On how he plans to continue building the Tennessee basketball brand)
“One day at a time. It doesn’t happen overnight. I think you look at (Mike Krzyzewski’s) three-year record (when he first started out)—I read his book—I think he was maybe around 28-37 after his third year. But he stuck to his guns, and look at where he is now. He is very successful. You are who you are, and you stick to your brand and keep pushing forward.”
“If they continue to work, I’d like to have nine strong (in the regular rotation). I really would. But once again, this is early in the season that can go to eight, hopefully it doesn’t get to seven. We can make it to where it is only eight guys. We had success last year at Missouri State where really six, six and a half guys were out there on a consistent basis. You go with the guys that help you win a ball game. I think that is the bottom line.”
(On if he feels comfortable playing anyone other than freshman Wes Washpun as the backup point guard)
“Really with our offense, you can run the offense with a combo guard. It doesn’t necessarily have to be a point guard. Obviously Trae is our best point right now. But when he’s on the bench you can go with Josh, Jordan McCrae. I don’t ever want to go with Skylar (McBee) and have him at point, because I think he is playing really well just focusing on catching, shooting, and defending. I don’t want to complicate things for him.”
(On similarities between this Tennessee team and his first team at Missouri State, which was picked to finish 10th in its conference in the preseason)
“Good question. We were so thin at Missouri State my first year. I think a lot of times as a coach—we often don’t want to admit this—but it was my first year as head coach, so there were a lot of things that I was learning in the process. I didn’t know if I was going to stick to the same style as I played at Purdue or if I want to change some things/ I always had in my mind, ‘I want to try this.’ So you have all those things going in your mind as head coach, and at the same time you are trying to run a program. From a personnel standpoint, I didn’t think we had enough at Missouri State my first year. There were also things as a coach I was trying to teach not only my players, but teach my staff. I think we have enough here. Because we practice at a high level. At Missouri State we practiced seven or eight guys. You talk about walk-ons (filling in) at practice and it’s hard to practice at a level like that. Here, you have 16, 17 guys practice. And now you can compete in practice and you can learn. I think it is different here because you can do the things you need to do in practice to be successful in the game.”
(On the importance of Tennessee continuing to be viewed as a top-level program)
“Well I like to think that Tennessee is viewed alongside any other top program in the country. I really, sincerely think that. I think the key is that Tennessee just has a new coach and a new team. We can stack up against anybody in America and play and compete. We aren’t just going to Maui to vacation, we are going to compete and win ball games.”
(On if he has a maximum number of minutes he’ll let one player play during a game)
“I really don’t have a gauge. If we go 40 (minutes), we go 40 strong. We make adjustments during the game. We would rarely have a guy go 40 minutes. But what we do in a case like that (where the point guard is forced to play a lot of minutes) is we take him off the ball. So now instead of having him defend the ball, we have him play the full length of the court. We take him back and make him what we call a safety. So now when the (opponent’s) shot goes up, we are back to protect. That’s a tough thing. (Trae) has done a great job of pressuring the ball the full court. So we can take him off the ball and put somebody else on the ball. So now he doesn’t have to exert so much energy defending the ball coming up.”
(On if he focuses more on what the opponent does or more on what Tennessee does)
“This time of year the focus is always Tennessee. It’s always our program; it’s still new. Next year with all of these guys returning, we have to be more representative of Tennessee basketball. We also have to go over other teams’ game plans on their strengths and weaknesses so we can capitalize on offense and defense. (ULM is) really good at motion offense; they are really good at cutting to the basket. So we have to consistently do a better job of jumping to the ball, which we teach the first day of practice. We have to jump to the ball so are guys are ready to meet them.”
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