1- Currently you are on a 4-game winning streak heading into the bulk of conference play, how do you keep your momentum going after this layoff for winter break?
- It's rare during a college basketball season to have the opportunity to give your players a full week off. I thought that with a 13 day break between games and the fact that we are playing better, this was the perfect time to let our guys spend the holidays with their family so they can come back refreshed and ready to attack the league schedule. We will have a great test on 12/30 when Cairn comes to play us in our last non-conference game of the season. I think we have a very mature group of guys who are using the break to recharge mentally and keeping themselves in shape so when we come back to practice after Christmas we can hit the ground running and hopefully continue to improve as a team, which we will need to do if we want to make a run in the Skyline.
2- What are key adjustments you are looking to make going into conference play?
-We are really just focused on the process of getting better. That message has been consistent from our staff the entire season. We said it when we were 0-5 and we talked about it in the locker room at Centenary after our 4th straight win. We're a process-oriented program. There are a number of aspects of the game that we can and will improve on as the year goes on. I don't think I can put my finger on one or two things that we need to adjust to get better, we just have to focus on playing our style of basketball, imposing our will on our opponents and continuing to improve on both ends of the floor to give us a shot in league play.
3- How was your experience playing division 1 Stony Brook? And what lessons did it teach you and your team?
-Playing Stony Brook has been an annual tradition for our program since I took over as the head coach here. One thing I really appreciate about that game is that it allows us to approach a non-counter like an actual game. We get on the bus, travel to an opponent, get the experience of implementing a scouting report and a game plan and play an actual game (instead of another scrimmage). It shows our staff who on our team is prepared to play when the lights are on. It has a much different feel than a scrimmage. I think Geno and his staff do such a great job, I can't really say enough good things about what that game has done for us.
4- What was your team's main flaw in the early half of the season?
-I thought it took us a little while to figure out how to defend and while we are still a work in progress on that side, we've gotten a lot better over the course of the last month. Offensively, it's going to be important for us to do a better job of taking care of the ball. In the games that we have limited our turnovers we have been really tough to play against. I think we have the opportunity to be a great offensive team because we are balanced and shoot it well, but the turnovers have taken away from some of our production early in the year.
5- You currently have 4 players averaging double figure in points, with AJ Esposito averaging a double-double, how have you seen these players grow into leadership roles as the season has progressed?
-I think one of the best parts about our team is that we are so balanced offensively. We have 4 players in the top-17 in scoring, AJ is leading the league in rebounding and we have the top 2 three-point shooters in the league at the moment. As those guys (and the rest of our team) get more comfortable, I would expect their numbers to improve. Our leadership group (AJ Esposito, Chris Lally, Matt Maxwell, and Kenny Rodriguez) has done a great job navigating the first semester and getting guys on the same page. I believe their leadership is a big reason we have been able to turn our season around after a rough start.
6- Lastly, but most importantly, what would be the single best Christmas gift you could receive this year? (Not basketball related)
-Probably a nice watch or a pair of shoes
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