11.28: Chronicle Conversation -- USF's Rex Walters

Byproduct of conversations subject to head coach of the Dunn's Rex Walters back to. United States of America mainland captain flying out in Alaska I was at Thanksgiving -- It was okay will -- looks good -- very dark for the majority of the days that books. It made us a better team you know and we got better we will. Where else we're still learning still trying to get better still trying to grind away and and -- takes one on the defensive end of the floor. I was over there like twenty years ago for the great Alaska shootout the sun comes up at like 10 o'clock in the morning goes down at three in the afternoon but here you're -- your guys were locked in the gym I know. The whole time so you won the first games and wound up losing the next -- when he got five wins on the year right now a little bit sloppy with the basketball to start the year. We're not taking care of the ball I think some guys -- early present you know a different role even though you turn off five starters we are missing some. Some of their support when you lose and stuff DR mark Pritchard Vick in some guys trying to you know get in those rules and then some guys -- Plan more about war -- much expectations as -- is playing the game. And and we gotta get back to that. We we have not put together a great forty minutes yet and it's early but let's. We've got a long ways to go with this team. Each team has a different identity different dynamics when -- -- a guy like. -- O'Connor and we didn't have a backup point guard last year now we do. I think sometimes could look social movement too much and Mikey now marked man Mike you -- like you're a man and everyone knows you know no one knew about much everyone knows about this year center was a shot as he's played pretty good. What we're just trying to find ourselves in -- -- even though you return all five starters it's a different dynamic to different team. -- we also need to understand. The defensive side of the ball is the most important thing would we don't have a great sense of urgency right now on that area. Mike -- Williams to me he's your barometer when he's playing well. Your team's playing well he's he's been kind of up and down to start this year because he's a marked man from his success -- -- In -- just remember being a player in the Big Ten at northwestern in the first half of the season nobody knew who I was as a sophomore in the second half everybody knew and everything became so much more difficult. All of the easy looks go way. When -- start to press and and he's gone through that right now is not get a lot of easy looks and sometimes you take looks that. That's. You know -- right -- for the team. He's he's just trying to find himself it's it's a different deal it's a different dynamic team when you're more of a marked man. You've got to learn how to relief Mickey teammates better and that'll come back to. Big picture when you took over this program that was in disarray it was not in good shape again at eleven wins the first year twelve wins the second here slow steady climb and then. Nineteen wins last year so I told you would win 28 this year to go 111920 coach would you take it right now. I thought -- get greedy you know. When he wasn't nice it would be nice but but some. We got to get in the process that we really do we got to get in the process each and every day. How we're gonna get better -- what we learn from film what we learn from practice what we learn from the games. To give ourselves we want to try to compete for championships you know I mean we talked for our guys all the time about. Being great off the court being great in the class from being great on the court can Allen and given yourself and you know four goals playing in the post season having a winning record. Give yourself a chance to wanted to -- CC champs should get a chance to finance -- -- those are role. Big picture but the bottom line is each day we got to get better and we're not so or not. Getting there right now it's not where I want to be we're learning them but we're not put on the court. And your conference is tough to WCC Lester get to ten wins the most when you have there's insert Dan bell while many -- was coach and actually Pete very right after go -- -- in the in the early eighties but your conference has always been tough with the Randy Bennett in -- and Kerry Keating is doing. Obviously in -- -- what they're doing at the Spokane that the -- bring the -- like you who can and this conference coaches that make it that much more difficult to play them twice. I think they're playing the best that there's they're not the -- without the point guard they got a point guard this -- that's out the first semester -- -- really start to play their best basketball. As safe as they get gone but not at this conference a great basketball confidence when you talk about. Gonzaga talk about Saint Mary's you talk but adding BYU. -- I got a lot of respect for the going down their Santa Clara. There's they're not going to be easy nights in our in our conference they're just isn't every team's race in the -- even look at what we're doing in the nonconference quality wins. Santa -- beat Villanova the other night. Gonzaga takes on just about anybody and the non conference Saint Mary's as well so. That's why we have to get in the process that's what we have to understand how important each day is him and practice and understanding how important -- the ball rebound the -- we'll take care of the ball which you've already talked about. You do those things and that gives a chance to win. Here for studies CC game will be in Malibu December that's when and that's when you play it. Pepperdine. About four nights earlier on Christmas night the NBA should -- come back and actually a triple -- But you wanna get your thoughts on the NBA lockout you played seven years. In the NBA the last time the NBA had a shortened season you -- player. With Pat Riley in Miami that that 1998 which we didn't have purchased a 98. 98 portion of the 9798. -- season how tough will be that will will this be for the players to try to throw fifteen together training camp and then go play some nights back to back to back three nights in a row. It is difficult verve and out on many different levels the GMs. You know you try to bring in different talent. Are you gonna try to stay status quo and bring back your core group. Is that core group good enough my goal instead they're trying to figure is our core group of maybe some guys it would bring back is that good enough to get us to a level wanna get to Miami. That's the coach -- did he brought back his core group we had great success were number one seed it benefitted us -- some ways because we had a familiarity with each other. Saying all that lose in the first round the idea of the playoffs you know remain so to the next trip to the next so and Mark Jackson -- our checks and Martha Jackson. I don't know mark was on that -- America he might have men -- but. -- anyways it's just it's weird it's it's a weird to you playing three games in three nights a plan five games in six nights you don't get the reps in practice. That all coaches I'm talking as a coach I'm not a player as a player I felt like that we're just playing games all the time but had as a coach you don't get the reps that you want to really -- things it. You feel you need to be successful. On the travels crazy. It's just it's a different year it's been here so what it'll be nice to see what happens and no we root for the war and I do root for Mario -- of I'll watch as much as I can't really watch who were playing and how we're playing. But so no question wants to the words do well. Have Mark Jackson how do you think -- goes from being a broadcaster and obviously isn't starting a league for so many years to it to coaching in the league will there be a tough out. Adjustment especially since he didn't have the use. Off season. You know it's the first your coach is always good doesn't matter I'm -- -- Chicago's okay I thought I had all the answers you know as as an assistant coach to sit twelve inches away from the head -- and feel what you got all the answers -- -- -- really get put on the hot -- saying all that. -- you know there's of that there's value to all the years he put in the league running team and he always ran his team and and doesn't look like I was yeah I was a coach on the floor and the problem is in this is no no. No. Negative against Boston wars. As a point guard he was as Smart as they came and any you know is good is Stefan and -- -- they're not gonna have the mind that Mark Jackson had as a player. And that will be a little bit of maybe even just for him but. He's gonna do great things that there will be an adjustment period and the bottom line is is hopefully his GM. It was a pretty good one to carry the NL will will continue to bring in talented players -- the other -- that that the league is about players -- -- -- mean -- and -- coaches put the players in positions to be successful. Larry Riley about Myers and -- Jerry West over the Warriors be doing before they tip off we think the day after Christmas will -- Coach Walters thank you -- -- -- -- India and this year hey if you say don't take it I would think he wants to get ready to have a person I got to get Grady will -- -- -- to -- the very best of --