CHATTANOOGA MOCS BASKETBALL MEDIA DAY
QUOTES - OCTOBER 13, 2011
Head Coach John Shulman
Thoughts on the start of practice:
"It gets you going...it gets you excited. If you can't get ready for the first day or practice, there's probably something really wrong with you. You get the butterflies and you get a little anxious and you know this goes on until hopefully the middle of March. We have experience and we have talent. We're going to make sure we start just how we want to finish."
On new looks on old faces:
"They have changed a bit. Keegan (Bell) looks like the Keegan of old, thank goodness. He's cut that mop off of his head. He looks like a basketball player. His body looks phenomenal. Ricky Taylor had a great summer. Chris Early continues to wow me with his maturity. Omar Wattad has lost 22 lbs., and is as healthy as he has been in a long time."
On Drazen Zlovaric, transfer from Georgia:
"I guess you start with Drazen (Zlovaric). He's beefed up. You know what you are probably going to get from Keegan, Ricky, Omar and Chris...I guess Drazen has a little bit of pressure on him. He's going to have to bring it. We lost two fives so he's a pretty important guy for us."
On sophomore Z. Mason, football transfer from Ole Miss:
"I think he can be a really good player here. It's like he is a freshman, but he didn't play as a junior or senior in high school. That's a little difficult. He's done a really good job of playing catch up. He has transformed himself in the first two months of school to look like he is supposed to look. I think he is just excited he's not out there with pads on getting crushed and having to block. His attitude is unbelievable."
How is this year's team is different than last year:
"I think we are going to defend a little bit. Last year we did not. When we made shots we were good...we were really good when we made shots. We didn't, we were not very good. Our identity was 'boy they shoot a lot of 3's'. I don't think that is the identity of a championship team. We need to defend...we need to rebound...we need to get to the free throw line. We have to find an inside presence. It has to go inside-out offensively."
Does that mean abandoning the three:
"Do I want Keegan and Omar to shoot the ball. That's no doubt...can they shoot it, no doubt. But they are going to get much better shots later in the shot clock than the ones we were taking. You shoot it quick, you have to defend longer. We got worn out defending. Time of possession is not a stat in basketball, it should be. Throwing the ball inside in basketball is the equivalent to running the football. We never ran the ball last year. We have to establish our running game which is throwing the ball inside."
Senior Keegan Bell
On his new look (shaggy to clean cut):
"Drazen actually does my haircuts. He came down to visit my family and go through workouts at my house when he got back to town before school started. He makes me look like a little Drazen. He's the big guy and I'm the mini-me."
On his new diet:
"I've been eating healthier, all organic. No sugar, no processed foods. It's a lot easier at home with my parents buying the food."
On the upcoming season:
"I'm proud of our old guys. I really like the new guys, but I'm really proud of the dedication from the vets. We've had the talent, we've said it every year. We've got to buy in and commit. Our senior quote is 'it's not crowded along the extra mile'. This year can be exciting if we commit."
Senior Omar Wattad:
On being trimmer and healthier this year:
"I started eating better, running more and not eating late at night. I've lost about 20 pounds but added muscle with less body fat. I'm feeling healthy in general and ready to go."
Does it feel like you are already mid-season based on experience and knowing what needs work:
"The team and individual workouts, with how we're moving, our pace and our enthusiasm, it does have a midseason feel. Knowing what we have to work on is key. We'll be ready, we're really excited to get started."
On the four new freshmen:
"All are very, very good basketball players. The enthusiasm is great. It's good to have a group of freshmen come in like this, excited and it's just fun to see them start this road."
