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00:00 >> Go ahead.
00:01 >> Thomas goes first.
00:04 >> Jimmy J mentioned in the game that some of you guys have had this
00:09 Bellarmine game circle since the loss.
00:13 Why that particular game and not some of the others?
00:16 >> I mean, it's an important game.
00:21 It's another team in the city, kind of like a pregnant race game.
00:25 It's a game we wanna win, so yeah.
00:29 I think it's important for us to come out here and
00:35 show that we're a better team than that first game we played last year.
00:38 So we kinda put some emphasis on it.
00:42 [BLANK_AUDIO]
00:46 >> Mike, what do you remember about that game?
00:48 Their playing style's a little different, all the passing, the back cutting,
00:51 stuff like that.
00:52 What stands out about that game?
00:54 I don't know why.
00:56 >> They move the ball really well.
00:58 They don't take a lot of dribbles.
00:59 They like to use most of the shot clock.
01:02 Just waiting for somebody to make a mistake and
01:04 stuff to see how long they can move the ball around before somebody misses a switch
01:08 or communication and stuff.
01:10 So they're a very good passing team, very good cutting team.
01:13 So you gotta be locked in the whole 30 seconds of possession.
01:15 [BLANK_AUDIO]
01:19 >> Tyler, has it slowed down for you?
01:21 It seemed like early on, and I know KP had mentioned it,
01:24 that it takes a little time to adjust.
01:25 Do you feel like you've adjusted to the speed and
01:28 how everything now is coming a little bit easier to you?
01:31 [BLANK_AUDIO]
01:35 >> I wanna say I definitely think I'm starting to get there.
01:39 It's definitely starting to slow down.
01:42 I improve every game.
01:44 And yeah, I feel like I'm catching up.
01:49 >> Just as a follow up, where do you still feel like you need to improve on?
01:53 >> I would say my defense.
01:57 Sometimes I gamble and put my teammates in a bad position.
02:01 We talked about being disciplined and also personal goal about being disciplined.
02:09 >> Mike Kennedy has talked often about how much you mean to the team with all
02:14 the things you do, your toughness, your inside play, your leadership,
02:17 all those things.
02:17 But the bottom line is you're having a little bit of a hard time getting the ball
02:20 in the basket here lately.
02:21 Does that play on your mind?
02:23 I know you wanna improve it, but
02:24 how do you do that without thinking about it too much?
02:26 >> I think just going to the game, thinking about how can I fake the game other than
02:33 scoring, so whether it be rebounding, playing good defense,
02:37 then just letting the game come to me.
02:39 I know eventually things start to turn around, but
02:42 definitely going through a rough patch.
02:44 But gotta figure out ways definitely to affect the game.
02:47 And then once I start doing that, start playing hard, get the motor going,
02:51 I think things will start coming offensively then.
02:55 My whole game will change around.
02:56 >> Follow up on that, are you putting more time in trying to get out of the slump and
03:03 then practice, shoot more shots or anything?
03:07 >> I'm just sticking to my routine I've always been doing,
03:09 putting in extra work in the morning, extra work after practice.
03:15 Knowing that I'm in a slump and every player goes through a slump.
03:17 So just keeping my head on straight, keeping a positive attitude about things,
03:23 knowing things will turn around for me.
03:25 And again, just trying to affect the game in other ways than scoring, and
03:29 knowing that my scoring will turn around eventually.
03:31 >> Yeah, six games in, you're 3-3.
03:35 What do you like?
03:36 What excites you about this team so far?
03:38 And what do you think is the number one thing you guys have to improve upon?
03:44 >> I think our willingness to fight, staying in games, not giving up on games.
03:49 Our unity, that excites me a lot.
03:53 I think we're starting to gel.
03:55 Other guys are coming along, again, big games from everyone, everywhere.
04:00 So a lot of guys are contributing.
04:02 Everybody's starting to really gel off of the band.
04:06 We still got some stuff to clean up on the defense in there.
04:08 But one thing I like to see us do is just get out to a better start,
04:12 the games and stuff.
04:14 Not always having to play from behind and stuff or being in close games,
04:17 just try to jump out and do at least next couple games.
04:20 >> Have you watched the film of this game last year between Bellarmine or
04:26 has the emphasis in scouting been just looking at how they've
04:31 been playing more recently these games this season?
04:35 >> Yeah, we've seen both games.
04:37 >> One question.
04:39 >> We've seen both games.
04:40 >> Well, we've seen last year's game and we've been watching games this year.
04:44 >> What was your biggest takeaway from watching that game last year?
04:47 >> I mean, we lost the game and we gotta win this game for real.
04:54 Be better defensively, guard their actions better, put more pressure on the ball,
04:59 being more locked in on every single possession.
05:02 That's what it takes to be a team like that, that moves the ball so well and
05:05 takes their time and is so patient with each and every possession.
05:10 >> Yeah, and then I have one more question for Ty.
05:12 I heard you last night tell Paul that you played a quarterback in high school.
05:16 How does- >> High school.
05:18 >> Okay, not high school, just growing up.
05:19 How does that translate the vision to make passes on the football field?
05:27 How do you see that helping you now when you're playing basketball with your
05:30 core vision?
05:31 >> Well, as everybody know here, quarterbacks have to read defenses.
05:38 And I feel like when I get in the lane, I have to make a read.
05:42 Everything you do in basketball, you have to make a read.
05:46 And I feel like that helped me out on the basketball court.
05:51 >> Coach Payne has talked a lot about you being the shortest player on the floor
05:54 most of the time.
05:56 Has that throughout your career been a hindrance of any kind,
06:00 or how do you deal with that?
06:05 >> I've always been a small player, so it doesn't really bother me.
06:07 >> [LAUGH] >> I've always been the smallest in
06:10 everything.
06:11 My jersey used to be touching the ground, big.
06:14 I've been through it all, I've heard it all.
06:17 I just like playing.
06:18 >> Tyler, your style of play brings a big spark to the team.
06:24 And sometimes that's maybe even better coming off the bench to add that element.
06:29 Do you have a preference?
06:31 Would you like to start, or does it matter to you at all?
06:34 >> It really doesn't matter to me.
06:37 I just wanna help my team win.
06:38 >> You were here last year.
06:42 What have your teammates or the coaches told you about Bellarmine and
06:47 what that loss last year, how that affected them?
06:50 >> From my knowledge, from hearing them talk about it, a game they played,
06:58 they shouldn't have lost.
07:00 And the team is bragging around the state now, think they're better than us.
07:05 And we just gotta prove to them that they're not better than us.
07:10 >> Anything else for these guys?
07:11 >> No.
07:12 >> All right, thank you.