October 31, 2002
Head Coach Melvin Watkins, along with guards Bernard King and Bradley Jackson, were in Dallas Thursday for the Big 12 Conference's annual Men's Basketball Media Day. Here are selected quotes, along with audio, of A&M's press conference.
The Aggies play exhibition games on Nov. 11 and Nov. 19 before opening the regular season at home on Sunday, Nov. 24 at 7 p.m. when they host Texas Southern at Reed Arena.
SENIOR GUARD BRADLEY JACKSON
Talk about the advancements this team has made through the off-season, and how much more optimistic are you guys entering the year?
"I think the returning players worked on their offense lot more in the off-season this year. They've been in the weight room a whole lot and are getting stronger. Those are some of little things the returnees have done that make us more optimistic this year."
Can you address the team's chemistry?
"There's camaraderie this year. All of the guys are having fun together. It just seems like we're more together this year than last year. It just kind of fell apart (last year). The camaraderie is definitely there. The guys like each other and like playing with each other."
How important will that be for this group?
"It's definitely very important. With offense and defense, you've got to be together and on the same page. I feel this year we are on the same page."
SENIOR GUARD BERNARD KING
Talk about the advancements this team has made through the off-season, and how much more optimistic are you guys entering the year?
"I have to agree with what Bradley said. We all have worked hard in the off-season. We come into this season really focused and prepared to win. There's nothing else we want to do but win, and that's what we expect to do this year."
Are you carrying a different mental approach into this season?
"No, the only thing I feel is we just have to stay healthy. I'm coming in with mental approach that I'm ready to win. I'm really fired up and ready to win. We've got to."
Talk about apologizing to the fans at your tip-off breakfast about your past behavior on the court...
"Basically, that's something I felt that I needed to do. I felt that's something I needed to get to the fans. There have been times that people haven't understood (my actions). I have showed my emotions too much on the floor. I wanted to let them know I wasn't (being) negative, it was just the fact that I wanted to win. Those were just times I was frustrated, and I had to let them know that."
There are rumors out there that you're actually going to run some point. Are those true? And how irritating is it that people think you never pass the ball?
"I thought I led the team in assists my three years, I don't know. Now we have players that are more offensive threats. Yes, its not a rumor, I will be playing point a little more than what I have in the past. It's not that hard of a transition for me to move to the point, I've been distributing the ball. I don't care about scoring, that's one thing about me. I only score if I have to. I feel I don't have to now, the scoring load is not on my shoulders. That opens up my game more because of the threats I have around me on the perimeter."
How's Antoine Wright doing?
"Great. (He's good at) everything. (He's a) good player. Antoine can shoot, can drive, can open up for teammates, he's pretty much a do-it-all guy."
Everyone is asking about Antoine, but what have you seen from Kevin Turner?
"That's going to be the sleeper. I don't think too many people know about Kevin. Kevin's a great player, he can flat out shoot."
HEAD COACH MELVIN WATKINS
Teams like Iowa State a few years back all of sudden just popped up on the map. Is that something A&M can do?
"That's our challenge. Surely, if early practices are any indication, the potential of this team is there. We've just got to go out and do it. I'm excited about the potential of both us and you all seeing a different Aggie basketball team."
What do expect from Bernard at the point, and is that a tough transition?
"He played some there last season. We actually recruited him out of high school as a point guard, but that never materialized since he's been here because of what some of our other needs were. This year is the first situation where we can move him to the point and not have a drop off in his ability to put points on the board. That may just be by him passing the ball and making plays, which he can do. We will see him play more minutes there, and I think that's going to make us a better basketball team. Last year at times he'd dominate the basketball, and if you were an opposing coach you knew where the shot was coming from. I don't think that's the case this season."
What about Luis Clemente?
"He's not going to be eligible to play the first year. He's going to have to sit the first year because of the language barrier and all that. He won't be able to help us except in practice. We've got an indication he's going to be a pretty good player, but he won't be able to show that this season."
What is the status of Andy Slocum?
"Andy was over here (in Dallas) yesterday and he had surgery on his back. That's not a good thing. When he got back (to College Station) yesterday the word is six to eight weeks of rehab. If everything goes as planned, he'll maybe be back in time for conference play. We originally thought (the injury) may have been season ending, but now it's six to eight weeks, and that's a positive. We know Andy has struggled with injuries and has been bitten by that bug, but we hope to get him back before the season's over with."
Do you feel you have enough talent, even with the injury?
"That's different. Our practices have not dropped off, except for the fact that we might not have a big body in there, one that can rebound. We have been able to go on with practice. To this point, we haven't seemed to miss a beat because we do have options and enough bodies to do different things. We can play different ways this year. We can play either a little big or play a little small. It just depends what needs the game situation may be. I know as a coach that will be fun, I can coach different things and not just sit there and let it happen."
Last year you said a team may be able to improve but it wouldn't show in the standings. Do you think your team may have done that?
"I think we got little bit better, take away some of the injuries and problems that we had. We played some people and won some games on road that we hadn't won in the past. From that standpoint, we got a little better, but once again the league was so good we just couldn't sustain anything. This year I know we're going to be a better basketball team, but once again the question is because of the league, and how good it is, can you make that jump? I want to tell you that we are and we can make that jump, but time will tell."
Has Antoine brought a lot of excitement to the basketball program?
"When he said wanted to come to Texas A&M, there were quite a few people around the country that were a little surprised Antoine wanted to play at A&M. From that standpoint, he has made an impact on program. Anytime you can get a player that's considered one of the better players in the country, I think speaks volumes of our program and my staff and their ability to get that done. Then too, it also helped in perception, that it's okay now to come to A&M and play basketball. He's done a lot of things off the court, and is yet to do them on the court because we haven't started. Just his presence, and the way fans and people are talking about him...I don't want to put too much pressure on that young man but surely he has made an impact on our program, not having shot a basket yet."
How do you think he'll fit in?
"He's going to be on the floor some kind of way. We'll move some guys around and do different things. It's hard to keep him off the floor because he's such an excellent player. There are things he has to work on and get better at, but he can put the ball in the basket and make plays. It's going to be hard to keep him off the floor."
Antoine didn't really play against the highest level of competition in high school, are you concerned about the level he's stepping up to?
"That's true. No matter if he'd played in the highest level of comp, still stepping up and coming into the Big 12 there is an adjustment period. If a player can make that adjustment, like a T.J. Ford...I thought he did excellent job making that transition...I think Antoine Wright has that type of potential to do just that. There will be adjustments to the physical play and other things he just couldn't have been exposed to where he played."
What are your concerns with this team, especially with Andy Slocum out?
"We've got to rebound the basketball. Losing Andy Slocum, we thought he was good for close to double-figure rebounds each night, we've got to be a little by committee there. I hope defensively in the paint we can hold our own down there. In saying that I still tell you we're excited about our team and the potential of what this team can do, even knowing we need to get better in some areas. We're working on those in practice."
Talk about Leandro Garcia-Morales...
"That's another young man, a junior college transfer that's going to play. He has a great understanding of the game. He is a point guard, by the way. If you leave him open he can hit the shot. He won't necessarily manufacture a shot on his own, but he can keep you honest. You wil see him on the floor as well, and having that depth will help us out. He can play both spots. Bernard will log minutes at that spot, but you will see both him and Bernard King on the floor at the same time. He can move over if needed."
Is there a chance we'd see those two with Antoine on the floor at the same time?
"That can happen. That's why, as a coach, I can get exited about this team because I can see different options. We have the ability to play different ways and with different combinations. We just haven't had that. I've gone into games in past and scratched my head, knowing we were going to play one way and that's it. Now, with those options, we have the ability to do things. Maybe I can become a little bit better of a coach because I can make adjustments even while the game is going on. That's something we haven't had."
With the current atmosphere at A&M and the search for a new Athletics Director, does the enthusiasm you see in the program overshadow any concerns about the future?
"The only concern that I've got is I'm tired of getting my butt beat. I do know what good basketball is and I do know when I see it, and unfortunately we haven't been able to put that product on the floor. That's why I'm excited, because I see it in practice and I think we now have a chance to put on the floor a product that I think represents what basketball is. That's my focus this year."
With the increase in talent, how much of taking the next step is mental and how important is success early on?
"I definitely think that's part of it, and that part is uncharted waters for this group, because we haven't experienced success. Also, when we start to have it how do we handle it? Do we take it as a springboard to help us into conference play? All those things we'll constantly revisit daily and weekly, talking about making sure we're not preparing ourselves with false confidence. As a coaching staff that's some of our concerns. I know we have talent but this group has not won yet. Sometimes, mentally, things can trip you up if you're not careful. We've got to be on the lookout for some of those things."
Talk about Bernard's attitude and his public apology at the tip-off breakfast...
"I think that was great on his part. I've had the advantage of seeing that young man grow. Any coach will tell you that we all have players that, for whatever reason, are kids. They need to grow and mature. This has been great. I've had many conversations with Bernard about those things. The fortunate part is I know he's a good kid. Sometimes his reactions for a particular play on the court were misrepresented or interpreted the wrong way, and people think certain things, but that's part of the business and he needs to understand that. If there's anytime he can do it, this is the year. He understands that now. He's looking forward to showing that this the true Bernard King, that the team comes first and it's not all about Bernard King. If he does that it will make us a much, much better basketball team, because he will assume the leadership role we need him to assume."
Does your schedule set you up for a good start?
"We think so, but there are challenging games on there. We go to Miami, play LSU (in Houston) and have Tennessee coming to our place, as well as some other opponents. We'll get challenged but we get the indication that if we have success early on it will show us how we shape up when we get into the rigors of the Big 12. The schedule is balanced early on but one where we can have some success. We'll surely be tested by some of those teams and we'll get an indication on how we sit going into Big 12 play."
How is Jesse King doing?
"He had knee surgery in the off season, and he's been slowed just a little with that. Right now' he's about 85 to 90 percent back. The most important thing, and it's been well documented about Jesse and some of the problems and things that have been on his plate, is that this will be the first season we'll have him for the whole year. He's looking forward to it. If you look at the end of last season you saw he was a contributor. I expect Jesse to really be a big contributor this year."