Marquette University Athletics
Q & A With Basketball Coach Tom Crean
8/19/2000 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Q: You have had quite a busy summer, especially during the month of July when you and your staff were out on the road recruiting.
A: I think that our summer has been very productive. When you look at the fact that we are now in our second go-around in the summer circuit and we get a chance to be even more of a factor in the young men that we are recruiting. The players that we are recruiting have had a chance to see us for the most part over the year and it makes it that much easier. It's fun to represent Marquette and compete for some very good players.
Q: Did you or you staff ever get a chance to figure out how many miles you traveled during the recruiting period?
A: The interesting thing about summer recruiting is that you can be recruiting players from Wisconsin, Illinois or Michigan, but you usually have to go to Los Angeles, Las Vegas, New Jersey or Indianapolis to see them. So you do add up the miles in that sense, but the smartest thing I did was to buy an I-PASS for my car so I could go through the tolls easy through Illinois. That certainly cut time off with all the time we spent up there.
Q: How much different is it for you one year later as the head coach at Marquette in knowing the people you need to know and having many of the various coaches and players get a chance to know you better?
A: What happened this past year is that we were able to gain some respect. As a program and a coaching staff, people had a chance to see how we were going to play. They saw that our team competed and got better and, at the same time, I don't think that we are even scratching the surface yet on where we would like the program to be when it comes to the style of play that we want to achieve -- the way we fast break, to the we play up tempo. I believe that those days are ahead of us. But the relationships that we are building and the relationships that we have been able to build over time are certainly enhanced by the fact the people think Marquette is a program that is up-and-coming and has a chance to succeed over the next few years.
Q: With you and staff gone the amount of time that you are during the summer, were you able to stay in touch with current players?
A: There is no doubt about that. Unfortunately, we can't watch our current players in any pick-up games, but we are constantly staying in touch. I wanted the phone numbers of all our players on our coaches' speed dial on their phones so that they would be easy to get in touch with. Some of the wisest things we did this summer was to come back to watch our four incoming freshmen play since we were allowed to watch them in different sequences. I felt excited about that because I really feel that all four of them are making contributions to being better and to come in here and be productive.
Q: Next year, the summer recruiting calendar is cut down to 14 days. What are your thoughts about that?
A: I believe that for a school like Marquette that it makes it that much more difficult because we are a school whose best way to recruit is to be aggressive, to develop relationships and to let the kids see us. Fourteen days really condenses that, but if everyone else is at that level, then that is what we have to do. We just have to do the best job with it. We are not at the point where we are a household name or on the tip of every kid's tongue yet. I don't think that's a situation that is going to materialize for a little while. We still have to continue to show the kids in Wisconsin what Marquette is about. To be frank, for the last few years that went by the wayside a little bit. I think that players fell out of touch with what Marquette is all about and part of our job is to make sure that people are learning and understanding that. However, anytime you are doing that, it does take time and you need time to develop that and that's where it hurts somewhat in not being able to go out and see kids as much. But, we'll do the best we can and continue to hope to get kids on campus as much as we can.
Q: You will have a new face on the staff this year with the hiring of Tod Kowalczyk as assistant coach.
A: I think that Tod is going to be outstanding. Anytime you get someone who has the experience that he possesses and who has been where he has been, it's a huge plus. Tod has been considered one of the finest assistants, especially on the east coast, over a period of time and was associate head coach at Rutgers. For him to give that up and become a part of our staff at Marquette speaks volumes about him as a person and about what he feels about the direction that the Marquette program is headed. He has had a chance to grow up and know about the tradition of Marquette from living in Green Bay. His father, Rod, was an outstanding high school coach for many years so he is totally comfortable with the surroundings and where the program is heading. We are excited to have Tod.
Q: It's less than 60 days to the start of practice. Are you getting pumped up about that?
A: Well, I know that we are getting closer. I'm looking forward to the guys being back for the first week of school so we can start individual instruction and start weight training as a group again. As I said at the start of the summer, it is going to be crucial to see how determined our players were to improve. If they were determined to get stronger, if they were determined to get in great shape and if they were determined to become better basketball players, then it will show up in those first few weeks. Obviously, it won't truly show up and make a difference until we get into the season, but I am anxious to see who is better. We have a few things planned to test that. We do some different testing as far as conditioning to see where they are at compared to when they left.
Q: In focusing on this year's team, what are your initial impressions on what this year's squad is going to offer?
A: I think that we are going to be better -- I really believe that. Only time will tell if the won-lost record is going to indicate that. As people are going to see here very soon, we definitely upgraded our schedule and, when you look at the Conference USA part of it, I think that the league, even as high as it was ranked last year, could even be higher. I hope that we will be a part of that. But it is going to be a difficult road because of the teams that we are playing and because of the level of play that we are going to see. But that is how you build a program. We said at the beginning that we weren't going to run and hide from anyone and I think that this schedule is another step in proving that's the case. It's a situation where we are trying to upgrade it and play as good of teams as possible. I think that we are heading there and hopefully the nationally televised games we are getting will help us in our stature, in our recruiting and help people around the country feel good about Marquette.
Q: If you could pinpoint three things you think vital in order for Marquette to have success in 2000-01, what would those be?
A: The first thing in my mind would be that we go from being a team that plays hard to one that competes to win every night. Not necessarily do we win, but are we playing with the mindset that we can win the games. I think that there were times last year that, as hard as we played, in the back of our minds we really didn't know if we could win the game. I think that has to change. One thing we have to do is to be able to get to the free throw line more. We were last in the league in free throw attempts and we have to establish more of an inside presence to go along with that. We do have two of the better free throw shooters in the nation in Cordell Henry and Brian Wardle and we have to find a way to get them fouled more. I think that is going to be crucial. Another question will be if were are going to be able to get more easy baskets and transition baskets and can we get those off our defense. Can our defense be that much more aggressive - can we cause more turnovers? That's going to be important for us. And another aspect that I'm concerned about, outside of scoring inside, is can we continue to have people pick up the slack if Brian and Cordell aren't making shots some night? That is where missing John Cliff is going to be crucial because he was an excellent shooter, he averaged 21 points over the last eight games of the year, and he was always a threat to make a shot. Someone has to step up and be that person. Hopefully, it's more than one.
Q: One of your objectives has been to try to assimilate in practice what you will see in game. Do you think that this year's team will be able accomplish that more on a consistent basis?
A: I think that we will be better, but I still think we are a ways from that. I really hope that I don't have to practice Dwayne Stephens and Darrin Horn (MU assistant coaches) everyday like I did last year. In Dwayne's case, it seemed like he was the only guy who was able to score down low in practice sometimes. But it is important that we continue to compete, continue to have more spirit-filled practices and continue to have players get better. I do feel that all four freshmen can come in and help the veterans in a great way. Even if it isn't in the game night in and night out, they definitely can make the practices better. If we do that, then we have a chance to get getter as the season goes on. That's what this season is going to be all about - can we keep making improvements and can we be as good as we hope we can be and still have the record reflect it.
Q: What did you take away or what were your feelings following your first year as a head coach?
A: I think that if you are going to be good at something, you have to constantly self-examine yourself. I think that I do that during the season and I think that I do it during the off season. You do that in all areas - you do it as a parent, you do it as a husband and you certainly do it as a basketball coach. I think that we should keep learning from our mistakes and, for me, I have to learn to be more patient. Be patient with the learning process and not be as gung-ho on everything being done immediately and giving it some time to develop and grow. As far as comfort level as the head coach, I feel pretty good about that and I'm sure that I will continue to gain more confidence day in and day out as a coach and, again, anytime you work hard at it like I think we do, and I know I have a staff that works that way, you have a chance to succeed. We just have to keep getting that across to our players. But it will be fun to get to know these players one more year. It takes time to get the know your players and for them to get to know you but I think that we are getting on an even playing field with each other knowing what to expect.
