WATCH: Kyle Sturdivant and Tyzhaun Claude Talk Opening Night Win Over Georgia Southern
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00:00 >> On everybody's left, we have Tyjon Claude, on everybody's right,
00:03 we have Kyle Sturtevant, we'll open it right up for questions.
00:06 >> Kelly.
00:07 >> Was it a little bit difficult to play a team where there's not a lot of film?
00:14 They're in the same situation you guys are with a new coach.
00:17 And so it seemed like maybe it took you guys a little bit of time to get going and
00:21 maybe had to adjust in the locker room.
00:22 Was that fair to maybe say that there were some adjustments that needed to be made?
00:26 >> Yeah, it was adjustments that needed to be made.
00:28 But I feel like our coaches did have us very well prepared to go out there and
00:33 play.
00:34 After the first media timeout, they had some film for us to come back and
00:38 look at, and we made the adjustment.
00:39 And I think from there, we figured it out.
00:41 >> Thanks, Rob.
00:43 [BLANK_AUDIO]
00:47 >> Tyjon, coach after the exhibition game talked about the need for
00:51 better rebounding.
00:52 Was that something they talked to you about before the game started?
00:56 >> Yes, this is what I kinda hang my head on.
00:59 No matter what I do, offensively if I'm making shots or
01:04 missing shots, I know I can impact the game by rebounding.
01:06 So every game, every practice is what I'm gonna do for my team.
01:12 Make sure we get extra possessions to help us win.
01:16 >> Ty's a humble young man, he's a monster.
01:18 >> [LAUGH] >> Jackson.
01:21 >> After starting off a little slow in the first half,
01:25 what kinda got you guys in a rhythm?
01:27 And y'all were able to shoot a lot better in the second half.
01:30 Was there something that y'all made adjustments to?
01:33 >> Yeah, I think we created our offense.
01:35 We're best when we create our offense through our defense.
01:38 When we get stops and run in transition,
01:40 that doesn't put so much pressure on having to execute as much.
01:43 And I feel like we're one of the best teams when we convert, get stops,
01:46 rebound, and run.
01:47 [BLANK_AUDIO]
01:52 >> Kyle, you've been coming off the bench.
01:54 Is that something you feel comfortable with?
01:56 And does that give you a chance to take a look at what's going on on the floor?
02:00 I think you finished with a six to one assist to turnover ratio tonight.
02:04 >> Yeah, whatever my team needs is definitely a bonus.
02:08 Seeing what defense they're in, seeing what coverage they're doing.
02:12 So it's not like I'm getting hit with it on the first time,
02:15 on the first time I'm playing against it.
02:17 But whatever my team needs, that's what I'm willing to do.
02:19 I'm glad we came out with a victory, and
02:21 I'm super proud of my teammates, the way they responded to adversity.
02:23 >> Kyle.
02:25 >> Two things, Kyle.
02:28 One, it was fun to have the three amigos sort of going there in the second half.
02:33 And then also seeing Deebo dunk like that, is that a new thing?
02:37 >> I've never seen him dunk off one foot like that.
02:39 >> [LAUGH] >> Yeah,
02:41 obviously we've been playing together for a couple years.
02:45 And that's why we have some built in chemistry.
02:47 But I think everyone on this team has chemistry.
02:50 We all work together.
02:50 We all like each other truly on and off the court.
02:53 And I'm excited to just grow with this group one day at a time.
02:56 >> Patrick.
02:59 >> Kyle, you look very comfortable out there in the three pointers.
03:05 There was three that you took, two that you made.
03:07 And I know that's not the primary focus of your game.
03:10 But is that something you're always willing to do when a situation allows for
03:14 it or calls for it?
03:15 >> Yeah, that was one of the major offseason additions that I wanted to come
03:20 back with that I can consistently knock down the long ball.
03:23 But I credit my teammates also for finding me and
03:25 putting me in great positions to execute the shots.
03:29 But whatever my team, like I continuously say, if we play together and
03:32 play the right way, we all gonna be open shots and we're all gonna eat.
03:34 >> Chad.
03:36 >> So Coach Davis, personally, what have you guys done for the game?
03:41 Did you do anything for the president going forward?
03:44 >> Yeah, we sprayed him with water.
03:46 >> We hit that man up.
03:47 >> Yeah, super proud of him.
03:50 He's been very adamant about what we need to do and
03:53 he's been detail-oriented since he got here.
03:56 And we're really honored to have him as a coach and as a mentor.
04:02 >> They're great coach.
04:02 [BLANK_AUDIO]
04:05 >> Bro?
04:05 >> The one thing you especially notice in the second half was how you shared the ball
04:12 and how you kept that ball moving and
04:13 that really made it difficult for them to play defense.
04:16 And I guess that led to those three pointers.
04:19 I've seen you do that in practice.
04:21 Is that something you really concentrate on?
04:23 >> Yeah, for sure.
04:24 I think we have a lot of playmakers on this team and
04:29 Todd did a great job out of the pick and roll hitting the open guys.
04:33 And he may not get the assists, but he'll get the hockey assists.
04:36 So I wanna credit him and we made shots in the second half, but
04:41 they were all open shots and we work on those.
04:43 >> Whatever, Coach.
04:44 [BLANK_AUDIO]
04:46 >> This is for both of you guys.
04:48 With so many new players and a new coach,
04:51 how much time is it gonna take for you guys to really gel?
04:54 I didn't even understand what the coach wants you to do and
04:57 what your teammates are capable of doing.
05:00 >> I feel like we gel more each and every day.
05:04 We have meetings as a team, just off the court stuff, watching film together.
05:10 And we put the work in to speed this process up.
05:14 I'm very pleased with what we did tonight.
05:15 Of course, we got things we could work on, but I have great teammates.
05:20 So it just makes the job easier.
05:22 We give each other confidence.
05:24 So the gelling piece, tonight might have started off rough, but we picked it up.
05:29 But I think as we keep on playing, this will be a great team.
05:33 So excited to see what we have going forward.
05:37 >> Yeah, I couldn't agree more.
05:38 I think we're growing each and every day.
05:40 And I think towards the end of the season,
05:44 we're gonna be a dangerous team to be playing against.
05:50 >> Do you feel like you guys started a little tight?
05:52 It seemed like the shots were a little stiff.
05:55 You're hitting the front of the rim.
05:56 >> Yeah, for me, I had those pregame nerves, just wanted to do everything right.
06:04 But that goes to coach Damien.
06:06 He's not a rah-rah coach.
06:09 He gives you confidence.
06:10 So he coaches us hard and he prepares us doing practice.
06:13 But when the game starts, he just gives you full confidence.
06:15 So once I saw he had confidence in me, it made it easy.
06:19 And I feel like that's what happened with our team too.
06:22 The more we kept playing, we decided the more we settled into the game.
06:26 And we just blew it open after a while.
06:29 >> Can't feel our episode.
06:31 >> Players.
06:31 >> I have a question for both of you.
06:34 Kyle, I'm curious, I think it was maybe the under 12 or
06:37 under eight time in the second half.
06:38 Coach Santaroc called you over and had some,
06:40 it seemed like he was asking you something, I'm curious what he said or
06:43 was wanting to know from you.
06:44 And then, Tydon, you said something interesting, that he gives you confidence.
06:47 I noticed that he's not a terribly demonstrative coach on the sidelines, but
06:51 what is it he's doing that's giving you confidence?
06:54 >> Yeah, it's like he was an elite hooper.
06:58 So I feel like he looks at the game from that way.
07:02 You have some coaches that they didn't play as high as level as him, so
07:06 they don't really understand.
07:08 But I feel like he understands as well.
07:09 So when we do mess up, he just comes, let us know what's wrong, and
07:13 we can fix it.
07:15 And for me, that just helps me out a lot.
07:19 Mentally, I'm not afraid to mess up.
07:22 I can go out there and play hard for him.
07:23 So I mean, I'll run through a wall for him just because he just gives me
07:27 the confidence.
07:28 He believes in me, so it's very easy.
07:30 >> I don't remember exactly what he said at that time out, but
07:35 I think it was something of, get us organized,
07:39 make sure we're in the right spots.
07:41 On defense, it starts with me.
07:42 So that's the biggest thing.
07:43 If I'm attentive and I'm on my man and I'm making sure he's not living in our pain,
07:47 I feel like we have a good chance.
07:49 >> Okay, we're gonna bring in Coach Stoutmire, sir.