Live from Seattle: UC-Irvine, U of L media day
SEATTLE -- It's technically not a media day. They don't call it that. But UC-Irvine's players and coach Russ Turner will chat with the media Thursday here at KeyArena, and Louisville players and coach Rick Pitino will be here, too.
I'll offer up a few takeaways in this space from Rick Pitino's press conference, which is slated to begin around 4:50 p.m., Eastern time.
First up, at the podium, Montrezl Harrell and Wayne Blackshear ...
I'll head back to the locker room first, then be in for the end of their presser and then Pitino's at 4:50.
* Rick Pitino reiterated what he said on Tuesday that the opening round gives him the most jitters because it takes time to get used to the environment and get the early-tournament butterflies out. "The emotional swing is dramatic," Pitino said.
* Pitino: "What we are concerned about is -- if you're not a great 3-point shooting team, that's OK ... What's important is defending the 3 ... It's imperative that we defend the 3."
* Pitino said Montrezl Harrell's family "100 percent" wanted him to leave for the NBA draft last year, but Harrell wanted to improve in several areas. Terry Rozier said Harrell's biggest progression was his maturity and leadership. Pitino said it was his ball handling, passing and other facets of his game that can make him a more well-rounded player.
* Pitino got back to his hotel room earlier today thinking that Baylor had its game against Georgia State in the bag. The announcers were talking about how RJ Hunter's struggles, but then ... he starts hitting 3s, "the coach falls off his chair" and Pitino says he had no clue what was happening.
A few updates from the UC-Irvine pressers and open practice earlier Thursday afternoon:
* Believe it or not, UC-Irvine's 7-foot-6(!) center Mamadou Ndiaye said early in Thursday's press conference that he originally wanted to play soccer before realizing he liked basketball.
* UC-Irvine forward Will Davis, the Anteaters' leading scorer and rebounder, said when (Ndiaye) "is playing well, it makes our team play well ... He's such a presence in the paint and it's so hard to score over him ... He can carry us further if he plays well."
* Davis vs. U of L forward Montrezl Harrell is the most intriguing matchup in Friday's game, though I know a lot of folks will be following Ndiaye, just because he is so, so big. Still, Davis said he and his teammates have to match Harrell's energy and motor in Friday's game. "He's a beast," Davis said.
* Yes, UC-Irvine's players watched UAB beat Iowa State in one of the early games on Thursday. Their thoughts? "It just kind of proves the point that in March Madness, anyone can win," guard Travis Souza said. As for point guard Alex Young: "It's March. Anything can happen in the tournament. Seeing that score, it kind of gives you that confidence."
* Up next, UC-Irvine coach Russ Turner, who had a rather blunt, to-the-point opening statement ...
* UC-Irvine coach Russ Turner: "(Chris Jones) was one of their most athletic guys ... But they're very, very good in replacing him, too. They miss him clearly, but they're also very good in his absence." Turner said he focused on the games after Jones left the team because it makes the most sense.
* Turner also said he was certain Rick Pitino isn't afraid of coaching against him. "He's better than me," Turner said, before adding, "I'm not intimidated." He is incredibly comfortable here -- quick to joke, calm in his answers. I can see why he's had success in his first head coaching gig.
* "The biggest issue we've faced against (Ndiaye) is flopping," Turner said. He said the worst aggressor this season was conference rival UC-Santa Barbara and, Turner said, the basketball gods punished them in the conference tournament semifinals.
In practice, Turner said he makes his other post players wear MMA headgear to avoid big blows from Ndiaye's big arms and elbows.