The beginning of the 2016-17 Texas hoops season is just a few days away. Earlier today, Shaka Smart met with the media to cover an array of topics before hit team takes the hardwood at home in this Friday's season-opener against Incarnate Word (7:00 p.m. on LHN). Some notes and takeaways from today's media session:
--- Smart updated the status of senior forward Mo Isom after he underwent surgery (scope) last week to deal with a bacterial infection in his ankle.
"Mo Isom is recovering. Same as strep throat except it was in his ankle… he has what’s called a PICC Line, which is a permanent IV where three times a day he has to get intravenous medication to help fight that infection. I guess the work on the ankle is to keep it from getting stiff and work some of the swelling out of it. It looks a lot better than it did several days ago. His attitude’s been terrific."
Smart didn't offer any other timetable after last week saying a "couple of weeks" for Isom.
Also, sophomores Kerwin Roach and Tevin Mack won't play in the season-opener. The duo missed the closed scrimmage against SMU, the exhibition last week against Angelo State, and won't play this week because of a team rules violation that happened this summer. However, both Roach and Mack will return to action in Texas' second game a week from today against Louisiana Monroe.
The Texas head coach spent a good chunk of today's session answering questions about the team's leadership, and was asked about this affecting Roach's status in that area. Obviously, most point guards tend to be leaders of their respective teams.
"Well, it’s hurt in that he hasn’t been on the court for a few of our competitions. He’s practiced, and he’s been very, very good in practice. Kerwin is a guy that is you’re starting to see in practice, we’re starting to see examples of him showing leadership whether it’s as a point guard or just as a teammate. He’s much more comfortable using his voice to either encouraged teammates or hold guys accountable," Smart said. "It takes time. It’s a process. But he’s so much further along than he was last year.
"But to answer your question, the ideal [situation is] you have a point guard that runs the team, calls the shots, tells guys what to do... But if you have a big guy that’s a great leader, you’ll take that too because something about big guys when they open their mouth and speak up in front of the team it tends to carry more weight. I guess because they’re big and strong and scary sometimes like Shaq. I think guys could be afraid of what Shaq could do to them."
For the second straight week, Smart has given the impression that whatever caused the rules violation wasn't serious in nature, the two players responded to it well, and they've put in in the past. But missing the first game makes them accountable, which is a big theme in Smart's program.
--- While we're on the subject of leadership and Shaquille Cleare, Smart said he's still learning from his players the voices on the team that carry weight among the entire roster. That's probably an aspect that truly won't sort itself out until the games pile up, and the team is forced to respond to actual results and adversity. However, the Texas head coach has noticed that when Cleare speaks, people tend to listen.
"I think leadership is something that it can’t be artificial. I’ve never been big on, ‘Okay we’re going to announce our captains.’ That stuff needs to organically come about. And one of the things that’s interesting that I’m still learning about our guys is who do you respect on this team? Whose voice do you really listen to? What carries the most weight? Shaq is a guy, from my perspective, his voice does carry a lot of weight," Smart said when discussing leadership. "He’s older. Guys joke about how much older he is. He’s a guy that’s been around. He’s played college basketball in multiple big-time conferences. He’s seen a lot of things, and I think he and Kendal (Yancy) have both earned a reputation of being unselfish and being about the team. Our young guys would really do well to take from that example and try to learn from those guys."
Again, once the games start happening, the voice or voices that resonate the most in the locker room will start to emerge.
"In terms of who carries the most weight that’s still something that we’re figuring out. I think as of right now, I think it’s somewhat spread out amongst the team. I think those guys really respect Shaq and Kendal as seniors and then from there it’s somewhat spread out," said Smart.
I asked Smart if the leadership dynamic of a team matters more when that team is filled with young, inexperienced players. His response wasn't surprising.
"The leadership matters a great deal. It’s among the two, three, four most important factors on your team. If we have a group of guys that at one point or another figure out they’re going to set the tone for how our season is going to go, then we’re going to have a lot better chance to be successful than if we have a bunch of guys that just kind of go through the motions of what we ask them to do. They show up on time, they practice, they do what you ask them to do. But that’s not what it’s about," said Smart. "It’s about can you get a group of guys that have a common purpose and want to do something together. And so leadership obviously plays a big role in that."
Smart didn't hesitate to point out the power of player leadership in relation to what he's able to say and do as a coach.
"The best leader I ever coached was a guard at VCU he was unbelievable at… he would take the whole team when coaches weren’t around and say this is what we’re doing or this is what we’re not doing and everyone just did what he said. And that was really way more powerful than anything I could do as a coach. Those guys don’t come around a lot, but that’s… our job is to try to work towards cultivating that, developing that. I think we have some young guys on our team that could become that."
He does have some young guys that could become that. I also think that's why he's recruited Matt Coleman so hard for so long, and what he'd bring to Texas.
(Note: Smart was speaking about guard Darius Theus at VCU)
--- Sophomore Eric Davis Jr. has, fairly, been mentioned as a potential leader for this year's team, and a possible go-to-scorer. The Michigan native is coming off of an impressive freshman campaign, doesn't lack confidence, and is a vocal player.
However, Smart hasn't anointed Davis immediately as a star sophomore that everyone else follows even though the conversation and assumption is out there. Today, the Texas head coach was asked about Davis wanting to be that "big moment guy" that Isaiah Taylor was last season late in games, and late in the shot clock on offense. Smart and Davis have a uniquely strong relationship because of Davis' high confidence and personality, and it seems like the Texas head coach is trying to drive home a point or press a button or two to get the most out of his sophomore.
"I don’t think anyone is going to be exactly like Isaiah was but that doesn’t mean you can’t be a big moment guy. Eric can be as good as he wants to be, but Eric needs to understand there are a set of things that go into being the best you can be, and he also needs to know to whom much is given, much is expected. If you want all these things, and this is as a player, coach, whatever, you have to be willing to do what goes into that. That’s not just in the game. That’s in practice, preparation, the way you treat your body; I think Eric needs to continue to get in better shape. That’s something that he and I have talked about. To do all the things he wants to do the fitness level that’s requited is very, very high because it can be fatiguing. He definitely has it in him."
Interestingly, Smart said similar things about Taylor last season. In particular, I recall Smart telling reporters that the way Taylor has a great season is by elevating his teammates and putting them first; it wasn't a knock on Taylor at all but rather a message about what Smart was trying to get his point guard to understand and implement most.
"I think that sometimes what happens with guys is when you have a very good freshmen year there’s sometimes an assumption that I’m going to take this huge jump. But it doesn't just happen on its own. Now, he’s had a good offseason. He put a lot of work in, put a lot of time in. But now it’s a matter of continuing to try to align himself with our plan and with his teammates. Because as much as anyone he needs his teammates."
The smart bet is on Davis emerging as one of Texas' best, most productive scorers and a vocal voice among his peers. However, Smart seems like he's trying to unlock the next level of progression and production for his sophomore guard in the same kind of way he did with Taylor last season.
--- Is this Texas team going to be a balanced scoring group, or is it going to be one that depends on a small group of players to consistently provide scoring punch each night? We'll eventually find out. And Smart continues to hammer home the point he's driving to hammer home with his guards - guards that handle the ball need to try to help elevate their teammates.
"That’s a good question. I think we have a variety of guys that can score if they’re put in the right positions by their teammates and by the coaching staff. That’s what we’re trying to create. We need our guards to understand part of your job when you’re playing point guard is to get guys shots and to put guys in position where they can score. Isaiah was pretty good at that. We have to get better at that."
It was just an exhibition contest, but Texas, particularly its guards, looked very comfortable in the open floor as an attacking offense in transition. The Longhorns have a lot of guards with size and rebounding ability that can lead the break, and a lot of athleticism. Even bigs like Jarrett Allen and James Banks can really get up-and-down well for their size, especially Allen.
"I think when we look at scoring it starts with trying to get the ball inside and trying to play fast in transition," Texas' head coach stated. "If we can create some baskets in transition with athleticism and quickness that’s a good thing. If we can get the ball inside and play through those guys, I think that can be a good thing for us. And then from there I think we can have pretty balanced scoring if we’re willing to do those two things. So we’ve really been pounding that into our guys’ heads."
--- What could take Texas the longest to understand or implement? It's not a specific basketball area but rather an approach that affects all the basketball areas.
"I think the biggest thing, and this isn’t really a basketball X’s and O’s thing, but it goes into all that stuff is these guys figuring out how much as a team as players they need each other. It’s universal, really. Look at other teams in other sports. But when you have a group of young guys - especially for our freshmen guys that were the center of everything in their high school world, our sophomore group that they came in here last year as freshmen and had some good experience but now they’re in such a different role - those guys just learning how much they need each other. They’ve taken a lot of steps in that area.
"In practice the interesting and exciting thing for me to watch is going to be when we get into real games. Now you have all the things that you want to do individually, and all the things the people around you want you to do from scoring to the way you’re perceived to shots, playing time, all those things. Can you make what goes into winning and the guys around you more important than all those things? I know it sounds simple, but that’s the biggest challenge for these guys at 18, 19, 20-years-old."
--- Texas' Fro Bros (Jarrett Allen and James Banks) earned some praise from Smart today. While those two freshmen still have a long way to go, the Texas head coach has been very pleased at the way they've handled whatever feedback the coaching staff has to offer.
"Those two have been a lot of fun to coach. Just really, really appreciative of the opportunity to work with James and Jarrett. We’ve talked about how different they are from each other, but the fact is they really get along well. I see those guys making major strides. As freshmen, they’re’ going to have ups and downs. They are really going through the adjustment of what it means to come to work every single day and have to go through a hard practice and then the feedback from that practice whether it’s statistically or video and then getting ready to do it again. But I’ve been really pleased with those guys’ attitudes, approach," said Smart. "They’re great to coach. They don’t give you any types of issues about providing feedback for them.
"The reality is, there are a lot of players right now in [this] day and age they mistake accountability for negativity. I’m fortunate that those two guys do not. You’re able to hold those guys accountable for a certain standard at which they want to play and they know that you still believe in them. Now, I try sometimes to be a little over-the-top with how positive I am with how they’re doing in the areas they are doing really well. But at the same time, it’s my job to provide accountability because if they want to become the best they can become, they’re going to need to be pulled to that standard. But I’m excited about the progress they’re making."
Don't be shocked if both players emerge later this year as respected voices that carry weight with their teammates.
Last edited:
