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00:00 to where we think we've made it.
00:03 But the thing that we know that we're really good, but
00:06 we also have to play on both ends of the floor, put everything together.
00:10 I'm playing the team, I'm making sure we're a very good passing team.
00:12 And then making sure that we're trusting each other.
00:15 So we don't wanna get too big of heads, but
00:21 we also wanna recognize how good we are and how good we can be.
00:26 >> Is he less tolerant of mistakes or lack of effort or anything like that?
00:31 >> No, he's the same with everything.
00:33 If you mess up the play after you do it up, he's gonna call you out on it.
00:39 He's very serious about our work, about making sure that we're putting the right
00:44 stuff in our bodies, making sure that if we're not practicing,
00:48 making sure we're getting taken care of by our trainer, by Devante.
00:53 So there's no lenient, he's not lenient on anything when it comes to our
00:58 discipline or being accountable to the A&B.
01:01 He's still the same old coach.
01:06 >> Thanks, Brandon, appreciate it.
01:07 Hey, Brandon, finally got it.
01:08 So coming off of last season and entering in the off season,
01:13 what were some of the personal goals for
01:15 yourself given how the nature of your season was kind of up and down at times?
01:21 >> I think I wanted to get to, first, I wanna get to a healthy playing weight.
01:27 A weight that can keep me powerful and keep me quick on my feet.
01:30 Allow me to be a good defender, but also generate power,
01:38 play with power when I need to whenever I'm guarding bigger opponents.
01:42 I wanted to just make sure I'm in the best shape of my life so
01:48 I can perform at a high level.
01:49 And I wanna make sure when I'm training,
01:52 focusing on the shots that I'm gonna shoot in the game.
01:54 So when those shots do come to me, it'll be like clockwork.
01:58 >> How much different physically do you feel compared to last season?
02:00 >> I feel stronger.
02:03 I feel more of like when I'm on the pro, I feel like I bring more of a presence.
02:08 I think with how I changed my diet after last season and
02:13 just carried over from the summer into preseason.
02:17 Making sure I'm putting 110% in every workout.
02:21 I think I feel like different on the inside and on the outside.
02:27 So I'm just excited to start game one and just see how I feel.
02:36 >> Kenny has mentioned a few times that he wants this team to be a lot more physical,
02:40 a lot more aggressive.
02:41 And then after the Simmons game, kinda comment in saying he was a little
02:46 disappointed with how you and JJ kind of came out effort wise.
02:49 When you hear that, how does that kind of motivate you to kind of
02:53 heading into the season and kind of improve on physicality and a mindset standpoint?
02:59 >> It motivates me a lot.
03:00 You never want your head coach to feel like he's disappointed in how you guys
03:04 played or in your performance.
03:07 And then I did look at the film, there were times I was sluggish or
03:12 not playing hard.
03:13 And I can't have that, have lapses in my game if I wanna go to the place I wanna go
03:18 to and if I wanna help our team get to where we wanna go.
03:23 So we just gotta take it on the chin, know that it's not the end of the world.
03:28 But we also have to keep playing with energy at all times and not be casual.
03:36 >> Where do you think some of those lapses come from?
03:38 >> I think maybe just allowing the day before the game to impact us,
03:45 saying all my legs hurt or they're pretty sore in practice or whatever.
03:50 And just allowing our mind to just win, first and foremost.
03:57 So really just try to find a way to just push through.
04:00 And not be too worried about how you feel, but just try to find a way to perform.
04:06 >> How do you use last season as kind of motivation and fuel?
04:09 Cuz Kenny has mentioned multiple times that he doesn't want this team,
04:12 whether you're a newcomer or a returner, to forget last season at all.
04:15 And he wants you guys to remember it and remember where you guys came from.
04:18 >> I think we wanna try to remember as best as we can as possible,
04:24 just to know what occurred and
04:29 what we can't allow to happen this year.
04:34 There's a lot of toxic behavior, a lot of things that shouldn't have been happening
04:39 on a D1 college basketball team.
04:41 And we knew that those things happened with the way that our season.
04:46 I mean, last year, if we see glimpses of it,
04:49 we have to cut it out right then and there because we wanna have a different season.
04:52 We all wanna make our dreams come true and
04:56 change the trajectory of having people see us.
04:59 >> And kind of on that note, several people have mentioned how much better
05:03 the chemistry is, whether it be a coach or a player.
05:06 Being on the court, what do you see as the game kind of plays out?
05:10 How much different this team is from a chemistry standpoint?
05:14 >> I think it's pretty much all in all different,
05:19 to the point where these guys enjoy working out,
05:25 enjoy playing pick up with each other.
05:28 We enjoy the competition.
05:32 And this really just brought us all closer together,
05:34 whether that's on the court playing pick up or having a tough day at practice,
05:38 making sure we're coming together, just being there for each other.
05:40 We're just going out to dinner sometimes,
05:45 just being like regular humans with each other.
05:48 And that's what guys really wanted to do.
05:52 So I feel like it was all genuine, it wasn't forced.
05:55 >> How has your game evolved since the offseason started?
05:58 Was there a specific thing that you kind of honed in on and
06:00 wanted to improve, did you add some sort of element to your game?
06:03 How has Brandon Huntley had feel on the court different from when the season ended?
06:08 >> I think I feel lighter on my feet.
06:14 I feel like the weight that I carry, I'm carrying it pretty well.
06:17 I think this offseason I really just honed in on
06:23 finishing a lot better.
06:26 It was up from day one until probably a couple weeks ago
06:32 where I was finishing pretty well over length through traffic.
06:36 Finishing above the rim most of the time.
06:39 It wasn't until a couple weeks ago where I was struggling a little bit,
06:43 where I couldn't finish here and there.
06:45 I think it's really just making sure I'm shooting the ball better,
06:50 I'm shooting the ball with confidence each time.
06:54 So really just feeling a lot more confidence and
06:58 making sure that I'm shooting shots that I worked on.
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