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D3 Coach Q&A - Jean Bain (Brandeis MBB) · The Student Athlete Sessions

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We are doing the 8th in our series with D3 head coaches across
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the country.
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SPEAKER_01: Tonight, we're joined by Brandeis men's basketball head coach, Gene Bain.
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SPEAKER_01: Coach Bain, thanks for joining the program.
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SPEAKER_02: Thanks for having me, man.
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I've been following your promotion to Division III schools and
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Division III players
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SPEAKER_02: for quite a while,
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SPEAKER_02: and I'm just happy to be here.
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SPEAKER_02: Thanks for having me.
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SPEAKER_01: Of course.
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We always like to start by asking our guests where they're
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calling in from.
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It's the middle of summer recruiting,
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so what's going on for you and Brandeis?
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SPEAKER_02: You know, just been on the road.
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SPEAKER_02: Right now,
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SPEAKER_02: we were,
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SPEAKER_02: this past weekend,
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SPEAKER_02: we're down in Yale Elite Camp,
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SPEAKER_02: which has been a valuable recruiting asset for us.
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SPEAKER_02: Pretty much,
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SPEAKER_02: you know,
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SPEAKER_02: early June,
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it's pretty much all the Ivy League camps that we try to get to
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as many as we can.
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SPEAKER_02: And then obviously coming up here is the prep school showcase weekend,
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SPEAKER_02: this weekend in Worcester Academy,
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SPEAKER_02: and then the following,
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SPEAKER_02: two weeks after that,
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SPEAKER_02: back at Worcester Academy.
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SPEAKER_02: We're all the top prep schools from New England.
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We'll be competing and that's where pretty much we'll be in a
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lot of the high
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SPEAKER_02: academic schools and Division 1 schools,
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SPEAKER_02: Division 2 schools we'll be at because as you know,
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SPEAKER_02: New England Prep School's got a lot of talent for everybody.
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SPEAKER_01: That's the NPSAC, right?
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SPEAKER_02: Yes, sir.
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SPEAKER_02: Yes, sir.
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SPEAKER_02: Okay.
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SPEAKER_01: Yeah, that's great.
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I think maybe we can start with the topic of Ivy League camps
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because that's been
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SPEAKER_01: something that,
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SPEAKER_01: you know,
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SPEAKER_01: every successive class of recruits has to kind of figure out,
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SPEAKER_01: you know,
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SPEAKER_01: they hear about,
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SPEAKER_01: okay,
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SPEAKER_01: Brandeis is hosting a camp.
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SPEAKER_01: That's one way to get in front of coaches like yourself.
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SPEAKER_01: Go to the school specifically.
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SPEAKER_01: But why are Ivy League camps helpful for you in the recruiting process?
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SPEAKER_02: I think for a lot of different reasons.
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SPEAKER_02: You know,
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SPEAKER_02: having coached in the Ivy League,
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SPEAKER_02: I was in the Ivy League for six years at Dartmouth and Columbia.
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I think the biggest thing is you get to get about 200 to 300
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kids under one roof
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and you understand that they all academically have the
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academics to get into one of
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SPEAKER_02: these institutions.
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And obviously you're looking to play basketball at the Division
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I if they're
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SPEAKER_02: capable or the Division III high academic schools.
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SPEAKER_02: So, you know, obviously you know what you're getting when you go there.
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as far as the talent,
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as far as the academics,
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as far as the type of kids.
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So it's kind of like a great way to kind of see so many kids
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and you don't have to
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SPEAKER_02: travel too,
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SPEAKER_02: too far,
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SPEAKER_02: you know,
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SPEAKER_02: at this level for that.
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SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
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SPEAKER_01: And then with your own elite camp, how do you guys handle that?
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SPEAKER_01: Is it invite only?
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SPEAKER_01: Is it what's the structure there?
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We try to get as many,
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same thing,
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we try to get as many kids as possible to our camps.
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SPEAKER_02: You know,
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SPEAKER_02: I try to tell kids all the time,
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SPEAKER_02: you know,
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SPEAKER_02: our camps,
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SPEAKER_02: it's not a moneymaker for us at all.
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SPEAKER_02: It's not a financial thing.
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It's a big time recruiting tool for us because we really get a
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chance to work with
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SPEAKER_02: these kids,
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SPEAKER_02: you know,
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SPEAKER_02: on a one-on-one basis.
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SPEAKER_02: Then we,
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SPEAKER_02: you know,
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SPEAKER_02: we have a team practice kind of segment where I'm actually putting,
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SPEAKER_02: you know,
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SPEAKER_02: a group to a college practice.
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SPEAKER_02: So I get a chance to really get up close and personal with
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SPEAKER_02: D3Direct Newsletter
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SPEAKER_02: to these elite camps because us coaches,
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we're literally on the floor working with them as well as our
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assistant coaches.
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SPEAKER_02: Our players come up and they work it.
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SPEAKER_02: So you get a chance to ask those guys questions about the school,
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SPEAKER_02: about the basketball program,
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SPEAKER_02: about the culture.
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So it's kind of a great way of basically having all the answers
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to the test before
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SPEAKER_02: you realize what schools you're interested in attending.
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SPEAKER_01: It's so true.
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SPEAKER_01: And something I always try to counsel recruits on is like,
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SPEAKER_01: you gotta think yes coaches are evaluating you at these camps but you are
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evaluating the school the team the coach in the same way and
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like you have to want
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to go there so I agree with you it's there's nothing there's no
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substitute for
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being there in person talking to the players thinking like is
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this a place that I
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could fit in and be happy for for four years beyond just
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playing ball like everyone
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you know there are tons of schools out there where you can just
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go play basketball
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SPEAKER_01: but
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SPEAKER_01: Once you get on campus,
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you'll realize there are a lot more things that'll make it a
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good experience than
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SPEAKER_01: just the sport.
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SPEAKER_02: Exactly right.
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SPEAKER_02: And I think I was telling you earlier,
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one of our better players that I've had the pleasure of
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recruiting here was a kid
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SPEAKER_02: we got from a league camp who I had no idea who he was.
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SPEAKER_02: He came to our camp about, you know, four years ago.
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Alex Akheim,
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who from a small school in Jersey,
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you know,
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weighed about 160 pounds.
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SPEAKER_02: He came up.
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SPEAKER_02: was unbelievable.
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SPEAKER_02: You know, his work ethic, his demeanor.
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SPEAKER_02: And we offered him, you know, he took it.
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He went to prep school for a year out of high school and then
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came to us for two.
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SPEAKER_02: And now,
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SPEAKER_02: you know,
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SPEAKER_02: like we talked about earlier,
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SPEAKER_02: he's got a full scholarship to Boston University.
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SPEAKER_02: You know,
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SPEAKER_02: but had he not come to a league camp,
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SPEAKER_02: I probably would have never seen him play because he didn't play AAU.
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SPEAKER_02: He wasn't on any AAU scene at all.
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SPEAKER_02: So,
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SPEAKER_02: you know,
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that's why I think these camps are so valuable at this level
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because us coaches,
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SPEAKER_02: we're really looking...
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SPEAKER_02: to really,
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SPEAKER_02: you know,
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possibly steal somebody from these camps to come to our program
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to come play for
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SPEAKER_02: us.
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SPEAKER_01: Right.
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SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
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SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
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SPEAKER_01: And it's so,
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SPEAKER_01: we were talking a little bit before we went live,
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but in the moment that we are in right now with the portal and
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everything,
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SPEAKER_01: like,
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SPEAKER_01: there's never been,
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SPEAKER_01: in my opinion,
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there's never been a better talent level and a better pool of
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talent at the
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SPEAKER_01: Division III level.
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SPEAKER_01: And I think that's why we're seeing a lot of this
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SPEAKER_01: You know,
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SPEAKER_01: the transferring up,
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SPEAKER_01: guys at your program,
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SPEAKER_01: like Toby Harris,
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SPEAKER_01: who,
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SPEAKER_01: you know,
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SPEAKER_01: started out at Brandeis,
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SPEAKER_01: was all league,
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SPEAKER_01: went to Iona,
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SPEAKER_01: you know,
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SPEAKER_01: continued to get better and better,
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SPEAKER_01: now has a tryout for the Knicks,
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SPEAKER_01: just did.
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SPEAKER_01: Crazy story,
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SPEAKER_01: but I think it just goes to show kind of why those Ivy camps,
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SPEAKER_01: why getting in front of coaches is so important because,
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SPEAKER_01: you know,
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SPEAKER_01: That talent level is out there.
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SPEAKER_01: That talent level is playing at D3 right now.
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SPEAKER_02: 1,000%.
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SPEAKER_02: Toby's a great example, man.
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SPEAKER_02: He came to us.
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SPEAKER_02: He was 6'8", 165 pounds.
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SPEAKER_02: Skinny bones.
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SPEAKER_02: That's what he was.
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SPEAKER_02: I kid him all the time.
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SPEAKER_02: He had purple hair.
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SPEAKER_02: By the time he was a freshman, I had no idea.
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SPEAKER_02: Was he going to be a player?
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SPEAKER_02: Was he not?
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SPEAKER_02: But once he got the bug, he was in the gym all the time.
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SPEAKER_02: I had to kick him out the gym.
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SPEAKER_02: Same thing with Alex.
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SPEAKER_02: These guys, their work ethic was in a different level.
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SPEAKER_02: Them going the Division 3 route and understanding that,
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SPEAKER_02: especially in all league,
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SPEAKER_02: the UAA,
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SPEAKER_02: the competition level is obviously,
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SPEAKER_02: you know,
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SPEAKER_02: is at a high level.
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SPEAKER_02: They're competing against really good players night in and night out.
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SPEAKER_02: It just gave them an opportunity to really,
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SPEAKER_02: you know,
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SPEAKER_02: come into their bodies,
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SPEAKER_02: come into themselves.
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Now,
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like you mentioned,
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you know,
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Toby,
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you know,
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worked out for the New York Knicks.
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You know,
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he's going to play somewhere and,
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you know,
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Alex is playing at different levels.
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SPEAKER_02: So there's so many success stories,
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SPEAKER_02: not just as Brandeis,
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SPEAKER_02: but other schools in our league as well that has had players,
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SPEAKER_02: you know,
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SPEAKER_02: go above two levels and done really,
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SPEAKER_02: really well.
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SPEAKER_02: So I advise all kids, man, it's not about the level.
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SPEAKER_02: You know,
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SPEAKER_02: as a former Division I player,
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SPEAKER_02: you know,
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SPEAKER_02: now that I've been in it for a long time,
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SPEAKER_02: it's not about the level.
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SPEAKER_02: It's about
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SPEAKER_02: D3Direct The D3Direct Newsletter
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SPEAKER_01: Afterwards, you've coached at some great institutions.
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SPEAKER_01: Started out at the D3 level at WPI.
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SPEAKER_01: You've been at University of New Hampshire.
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SPEAKER_01: You were associate head at Dartmouth.
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SPEAKER_01: And you also coached at Columbia.
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SPEAKER_01: Like,
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SPEAKER_01: when you look back at your career and you think about great players,
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SPEAKER_01: like you talk about Toby catching the bug,
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like what traits of great players stand out to you other than
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just being in the gym
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SPEAKER_01: and working hard?
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Being coachable,
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winning,
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you know,
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guys that the only thing that matters to them is winning.
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SPEAKER_02: The only thing that matters to them is being around great teammates.
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SPEAKER_02: And I think,
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SPEAKER_02: you know,
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SPEAKER_02: I was fortunate enough in my career starting at WPI,
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SPEAKER_02: you know,
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SPEAKER_02: working for Chris Barley,
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SPEAKER_02: who I'm sure you guys know in the Hall of Fame at WPI.
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SPEAKER_02: So
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And he coached me in high school So you know I had those traits
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Ingraded in me
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early So just being around Those type of coaches And the kids
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That understand You
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know The academics in the basketball Come hand in hand But the
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academics come first
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SPEAKER_02: And just have that
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SPEAKER_02: Work Ethic on and off the court.
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I think that's the one thing that I sat back and thought about
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my career is I've
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SPEAKER_02: always coached at,
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SPEAKER_02: you know,
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high-end academic schools and I've learned more from the
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student athletes than I've
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SPEAKER_02: actually learned from anybody else because the amount of,
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SPEAKER_02: as you know,
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SPEAKER_02: you know,
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SPEAKER_02: being a former
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Division 3 player at a high academic institution it's not just
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about the basketball
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you have to bring it every single day in the classroom and that
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takes a lot of work
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SPEAKER_02: mentally,
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physically so I'm just appreciative of having coached some of
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these student
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athletes and having worked at these levels that I'm able to
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learn from these
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student athletes and that's helped me become a better coach as
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well on my end Yeah
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SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I can definitely see that.
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SPEAKER_01: Sure.
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SPEAKER_01: You know,
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SPEAKER_01: all these institutions,
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SPEAKER_01: Columbia,
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SPEAKER_01: Dartmouth,
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SPEAKER_01: like Brandeis,
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SPEAKER_01: WPI,
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SPEAKER_01: those are no joke classroom situations.
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SPEAKER_01: Kids aren't taking online classes and then just rolling into the gym.
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SPEAKER_02: That's right.
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SPEAKER_02: That's right.
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SPEAKER_02: That's true.
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SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
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SPEAKER_01: Well, we got some guests on here.
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I do want to just remind everyone who's on the call so far,
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this is a live Q&A.
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SPEAKER_01: So Coach Bain and I are going to be talking a little bit,
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SPEAKER_01: but you have the chance to ask questions here.
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So feel free to drop them in the chat and we will get to those
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in the order that they come in.
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SPEAKER_01: But Coach,
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SPEAKER_01: I would ask you maybe while we wait for the first question,
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SPEAKER_01: you've been on the recruiting trail lately.
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SPEAKER_01: Since this summer started,
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what are some of the things that have either impressed you and
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maybe led to offers
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for recruits or turned you off from a recruit and maybe caused
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you to cross a kid
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SPEAKER_01: off your list?
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SPEAKER_02: Great point.
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SPEAKER_02: You know,
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SPEAKER_02: there was a young man that I saw last weekend and,
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SPEAKER_02: you know,
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SPEAKER_02: good player,
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SPEAKER_02: caught my eye.
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And then,
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you know,
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as the game got over,
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you know,
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that's one of the things about coaches.
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We get a chance to really get up close and kind of evaluate not
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just the basketball
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SPEAKER_02: piece,
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SPEAKER_02: but the human aspect of some of these young men,
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SPEAKER_02: you know.
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SPEAKER_02: Everybody was drinking water.
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SPEAKER_02: Everybody had their cups on the floor.
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And this particular young man picked up every single cup and
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threw it in the trash.
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SPEAKER_02: So I said to my mom, I said, you know what?
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SPEAKER_02: It's a small thing, right?
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SPEAKER_02: But that's the type of guy that I want.
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SPEAKER_02: You know,
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SPEAKER_02: he's a good player,
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SPEAKER_02: but there's different aspects that he's going to bring to our school,
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SPEAKER_02: to our team,
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SPEAKER_02: to our locker room that I value.
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SPEAKER_02: So
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Right then and there He was a guy I said You know what We gotta
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recruit this kid
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You know Because he's He's got the package He's a total package
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Not just as a
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player But as a human being I think as coaches You know Those
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things We wanna
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evaluate as well Not just how talented you are Not Not just how
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many threes you can
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make But what kind of impact You're gonna have In our community
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In our locker room
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In our program Right Yeah And it's such a simple thing And it's
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something that kids
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SPEAKER_01: forget I think sometimes Is like
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SPEAKER_01: Coaches are going to have to deal with you as people, right?
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SPEAKER_01: They're going to have to get your class schedule from you.
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They're going to have to,
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you know,
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make sure you show up on time for the bus.
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They're going to,
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like,
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all these things where they're going to have to count on you.
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And if you can get that little bit of insight or hint into who
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they are as a
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SPEAKER_01: person,
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SPEAKER_01: a preview before they step on campus,
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SPEAKER_01: I think,
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SPEAKER_01: like you said,
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SPEAKER_01: if they can play,
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SPEAKER_01: that's obviously the first thing.
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But it's just one of those things that goes to,
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yeah,
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kind of make it a done deal instead of a,
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SPEAKER_01: The D3Direct Newsletter
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SPEAKER_02: I'm not just recruiting you here to play basketball.
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SPEAKER_02: I'm also recruiting you to become a better person,
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SPEAKER_02: become a better man,
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SPEAKER_02: hopefully become a husband and father in the future.
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SPEAKER_02: Those are all things aligned.
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As a young player growing up,
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those are all the things that my coaches taught me from early
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on.
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SPEAKER_02: So I've always had that mindset.
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SPEAKER_02: If I ever became a coach,
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I wanted to kind of help instill those qualities in every
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single young player that
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SPEAKER_02: I coach.
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SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
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SPEAKER_01: I mean, I think that's awesome because it is more than a game.
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SPEAKER_01: It's life lessons.
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SPEAKER_01: It's setting you up for,
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SPEAKER_01: you know,
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SPEAKER_01: the ball stops bouncing at some point and it's not everything in life.
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SPEAKER_01: And I think the coaches who
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SPEAKER_01: can help kids see that earlier rather than later.
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SPEAKER_01: The transition out of college,
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SPEAKER_01: the transition out of college sports is just ultimately much smoother.
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SPEAKER_01: Yeah, so I really credit you for that.
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SPEAKER_02: No, it's unbelievable.
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SPEAKER_02: It really is.
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SPEAKER_02: When you have the right
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When you have the right people showing you how things work and
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how to deal with
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SPEAKER_02: things like when the ball stops bouncing to me.
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It's something I see that our game's missing a little bit more
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with the way the
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SPEAKER_02: game's going a little bit as I watch.
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But there's still some really good coaches out there that
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understand those values
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SPEAKER_02: are still really,
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SPEAKER_02: really important.
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SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
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I guess what I'm hearing you say is it's kind of become more
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transactional and more like
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almost like mercenaries a little bit like you come in for a
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year help us we'll pay
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you X you play and there's that side of it the developmental
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side of it the school
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side of it has kind of faded away like how have you guys
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retained that at Brandeis
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SPEAKER_02: Yeah,
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SPEAKER_02: I mean,
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SPEAKER_02: I think it's,
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SPEAKER_02: I think,
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SPEAKER_02: like I said to you earlier,
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SPEAKER_02: you know,
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SPEAKER_02: I'm very transparent with the kids that I recruit.
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I mean,
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you know,
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we try to recruit,
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again,
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the best talent,
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the best person.
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SPEAKER_02: And if there's a young man that,
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SPEAKER_02: you know,
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SPEAKER_02: there's a lot of kids now that,
14:24
SPEAKER_02: you know,
14:24
SPEAKER_02: obviously that have dreams to go play at a higher level.
14:29
And sometimes those kids,
14:30
the longer they wait,
14:32
the better chance we have to get them.
14:34
SPEAKER_02: And if we do get them, I'm very transparent.
14:36
SPEAKER_02: I tell them, listen, if you want to come to Brandeis,
14:38
First thing I talk about is,
14:40
you know,
14:40
talk about work ethic,
14:41
talk about getting better.
14:43
And once you do those things,
14:44
obviously you're taking care of academics and you want to move
14:47
on.
14:48
SPEAKER_02: If you're good enough, they will find you and I will help you.
14:52
SPEAKER_02: Again, you have to adjust with the times.
14:55
SPEAKER_02: You know, I'm not going to hold you back.
14:56
And if you talk to our players,
14:59
that's something I talk about all the time.
15:00
But the one thing that as a coach,
15:02
you always ask is transparency,
15:04
like honesty.
15:06
SPEAKER_02: So I think, you know, those things are very important as well.
15:08
SPEAKER_02: So,
15:10
SPEAKER_02: yeah,
15:10
SPEAKER_02: but,
15:10
SPEAKER_02: you know,
15:11
SPEAKER_02: for me,
15:12
SPEAKER_02: you know,
15:12
SPEAKER_02: coaching is about building relationships and having impact.
15:16
And I see that's kind of like you mentioned,
15:17
it's kind of going away from the typical
15:21
Recruiting Process Of Building That Relationship With The Young
15:25
Man With The Family
15:26
And Just Having All Those Things Align Now It's A Little Bit
15:31
More Transaction But
15:32
SPEAKER_02: We Try To Keep It As
15:36
As much as,
15:36
you know,
15:37
in reality as we can at Brandeis with the kids and their
15:40
families.
15:41
SPEAKER_02: But, you know, it's kind of going that way a little bit.
15:45
SPEAKER_02: It makes, you know, it makes it tougher.
15:47
SPEAKER_02: It makes it tougher because,
15:49
SPEAKER_02: like I said,
15:49
the relationship piece is very important to me and very
15:51
important to our staff.
15:54
SPEAKER_02: And,
15:54
SPEAKER_02: you know,
15:54
SPEAKER_02: we just hope that,
15:55
SPEAKER_02: you know,
15:55
SPEAKER_02: we continue to do those for the kids that want that,
15:57
SPEAKER_02: you know.
15:58
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
15:59
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
16:00
SPEAKER_01: And I think, yeah, it sorts out.
16:02
SPEAKER_01: People see,
16:03
SPEAKER_01: you know,
16:03
I'm sure when they step on campus for the elite camp and that
16:05
type of thing,
16:05
SPEAKER_01: like,
16:06
SPEAKER_01: they see the program you're running,
16:07
SPEAKER_01: they see the quality of people.
16:10
SPEAKER_01: So, I think that ends up coming out.
16:13
SPEAKER_01: But, yeah, it is just a different moment.
16:16
And I think your point about transparency,
16:19
being open about your goals is important,
16:21
right?
16:21
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
16:22
SPEAKER_01: I think at the end of the day,
16:24
SPEAKER_01: yeah,
16:24
don't try to hide anything from a coach you're trying to play
16:26
for because if they
16:28
SPEAKER_01: don't know what your goals are,
16:29
SPEAKER_01: they can't support you.
16:30
SPEAKER_01: Whether it's trying to go pro,
16:31
SPEAKER_01: whether it's maybe trying to go Division I,
16:34
SPEAKER_01: you know,
16:35
SPEAKER_01: all of those things are possible,
16:38
SPEAKER_01: but,
16:38
SPEAKER_01: you know,
16:38
it's better to have your college coach on the same page and
16:42
able to support you in
16:43
SPEAKER_01: that endeavor.
16:43
Because,
16:44
for example,
16:45
yourself,
16:45
you know,
16:46
you're not just the coach at Brandeis.
16:47
SPEAKER_01: You have this wealth of connections and
16:50
SPEAKER_01: You know, network across college sports and college basketball.
16:53
SPEAKER_01: So if that door needed to be opened,
16:56
SPEAKER_01: you could be the guy to help the player instead of,
16:59
SPEAKER_01: you know,
16:59
SPEAKER_01: being surprised by this desire to go transfer or something.
17:04
SPEAKER_02: Exactly right.
17:05
SPEAKER_02: 1000%.
17:06
And,
17:07
you know,
17:07
hopefully,
17:08
you know,
17:08
the NIL thing will calm down a little bit.
17:12
I don't see it coming down right now,
17:13
but hopefully it will subdu it a little bit.
17:17
SPEAKER_02: But it's stringing out to all levels.
17:18
SPEAKER_02: And as coaches, I think
17:20
We all have to adapt to it and try to help these young people
17:23
be as successful as they can be.
17:25
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, for sure.
17:26
SPEAKER_01: Alright, we got our first question here.
17:29
SPEAKER_01: Gabriel Pozo asks,
17:32
SPEAKER_01: outside of athletic standards,
17:34
SPEAKER_01: what are the academic requirements to play for Brandeis?
17:37
SPEAKER_01: And is there any leeway?
17:41
SPEAKER_02: There's no leeway, right?
17:42
SPEAKER_02: There's never any leeway.
17:43
SPEAKER_02: I think the biggest thing is making sure that,
17:46
SPEAKER_02: you know,
17:46
SPEAKER_02: one,
17:47
SPEAKER_02: your GPA is up to par,
17:48
SPEAKER_02: you know,
17:49
SPEAKER_02: anything from a 3,
17:50
SPEAKER_02: 6 and above.
17:52
SPEAKER_02: The better SAT or ACT scores you have, the better that will help you get.
17:56
You know,
17:57
we do have merit scholarships that will help you be in line for
18:01
it.
18:01
SPEAKER_02: It doesn't guarantee it.
18:03
SPEAKER_02: So I think, you know, like I always say, you know,
18:07
SPEAKER_02: So academically,
18:08
we've never really had issues recruiting kids because we know
18:11
right off the bat
18:12
SPEAKER_02: what kids can and can't do to work at Brandeis.
18:15
SPEAKER_02: The kids that are motivated,
18:16
SPEAKER_02: the kids that their first year of high school,
18:19
SPEAKER_02: they treated their first year just as important as their second year,
18:23
SPEAKER_02: just as important as their third year.
18:24
SPEAKER_02: It's not a kid that started slow.
18:27
SPEAKER_02: Got better than retract.
18:29
SPEAKER_02: It's consistency all across the board.
18:30
So I would say just being a consistent student all four years
18:35
of your high school
18:35
SPEAKER_02: career,
18:37
SPEAKER_02: you'll have a great chance of getting to our school.
18:40
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
18:41
SPEAKER_01: What SAT numbers typically or ACT numbers typically look like?
18:46
SPEAKER_02: After COVID, we've kind of gone away with test optional.
18:50
SPEAKER_02: You know,
18:51
SPEAKER_02: we try to tell students if you do do really,
18:53
SPEAKER_02: really well,
18:54
SPEAKER_02: like if you,
18:55
SPEAKER_02: you know,
18:55
SPEAKER_02: let's say you get a 1580,
18:58
SPEAKER_02: which is really well,
18:59
SPEAKER_02: and you have like a 3.9,
19:00
SPEAKER_02: 4.0,
19:01
SPEAKER_02: that will put you in the top,
19:03
SPEAKER_02: you know,
19:03
SPEAKER_02: obviously a top tier academically,
19:05
SPEAKER_02: but it also will align you to get some merit scholarship money,
19:09
SPEAKER_02: as well as obviously what do you qualify for financial aid wise.
19:13
SPEAKER_01: Right.
19:14
SPEAKER_01: How about on the financial aid side?
19:16
SPEAKER_01: Because every D3 school has something different, some unique angle.
19:21
What are some ways that guys on the squad have tried to get
19:28
more manageable tuition?
19:29
SPEAKER_01: Any merit or any things that have worked for guys on the team?
19:33
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I think the biggest thing is it's all need-based.
19:36
It's all whatever your family,
19:37
your mom and dad,
19:39
or if you're a single parent,
19:40
whatever.
19:42
Income Is And Then It's All About Like You Mentioned Putting
19:45
Yourself In A Position
19:46
To Do Qualify For These Merit Scholarships Because There Is A
19:51
Certain Amount Of
19:51
Money You Can Get Towards Whatever Aid You Get That Will Help
19:55
You Alleviate Some Of
19:56
The Financial Stress So I Would Say That Focus On Really On
19:59
That With The Students
20:01
Athletes That Have Ambitions To Play At A Brandeis Or Another
20:06
UAA School Or NESCAC
20:07
SPEAKER_02: School Is Make Sure That
20:08
One of first of all is you take care of that side so you put
20:11
yourself in a position
20:12
to maybe qualify for one of these merit scholarships for the
20:16
schools that do
20:16
SPEAKER_02: obviously give those out.
20:20
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
20:20
And then do you guys do mostly FAFSA for financial aid or is it
20:24
CSS Profile or both?
20:25
SPEAKER_01: Both.
20:26
SPEAKER_02: Both.
20:26
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
20:27
SPEAKER_01: Okay.
20:28
SPEAKER_01: So when,
20:29
SPEAKER_01: yeah,
20:29
SPEAKER_01: I mean,
20:29
SPEAKER_01: I think this goes without saying,
20:31
SPEAKER_01: this is for any school,
20:32
SPEAKER_01: not just Brandeis,
20:32
SPEAKER_01: but to all recruits that will hear this,
20:35
definitely make sure to get both of those in or at least FAFSA
20:40
and check if schools
20:41
SPEAKER_01: on your list require CSS because they're slightly different.
20:45
SPEAKER_01: Some schools use one, some schools use both.
20:47
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
20:48
SPEAKER_02: We use both.
20:49
SPEAKER_02: I think you have to obviously file it faster.
20:51
SPEAKER_02: Then you got to create your CSS profile and start the whole process.
20:57
SPEAKER_02: But we do have what's called a net calculator online.
20:59
Usually I typically tell families maybe go on there and punch
21:03
the numbers and kind
21:05
SPEAKER_02: of see where you would fall in.
21:07
Usually those numbers are not that far off as to what you're
21:10
going to have to pay
21:11
SPEAKER_02: to go to our school.
21:12
SPEAKER_02: So I highly recommend that if you are thinking about
21:16
SPEAKER_02: going to a place like Brandeis that you do do that.
21:18
SPEAKER_02: So you know exactly whether you can or can't afford it.
21:21
I think sometimes that's the biggest kind of mistakes people
21:27
make is they think
21:28
SPEAKER_02: they're going to be able to do it.
21:29
They didn't do their homework as far as what it's going to cost
21:33
and they end up wasting time.
21:34
SPEAKER_02: So we try to make sure we don't waste your time.
21:36
SPEAKER_02: We don't waste our time.
21:38
We try to make sure you get those numbers as far as in the
21:40
ballpark to figure out
21:42
SPEAKER_02: whether you can afford it or not.
21:43
SPEAKER_01: Right, right.
21:45
SPEAKER_01: Alright, we got another question coming in here from AJ Cole.
21:49
SPEAKER_01: AJ says,
21:50
SPEAKER_01: Coach,
21:51
what academic support does Brandeis have for student-athletes
21:54
and what does gym
21:55
SPEAKER_01: access look like for your players to get extra work in?
22:00
SPEAKER_02: That's a great question.
22:01
So all our student-athletes have advisors from day one when
22:05
they arrive on campus.
22:06
You're assigned to a particular advisor to help you make sure
22:10
that you're taking
22:10
SPEAKER_02: the right classes to graduate,
22:13
SPEAKER_02: one,
22:13
SPEAKER_02: but also if you have declared a major,
22:16
SPEAKER_02: Are you taking the right class towards your major?
22:19
SPEAKER_02: Our athletic department also pays for tutors anytime you need them.
22:25
SPEAKER_02: If you're struggling in the class, you can get a tutor at any time.
22:30
SPEAKER_02: You come see me,
22:31
SPEAKER_02: I send an email out,
22:32
SPEAKER_02: next thing you know,
22:33
SPEAKER_02: you got somebody helping you with your work as far as,
22:36
SPEAKER_02: you know,
22:37
SPEAKER_02: if you're struggling.
22:38
SPEAKER_02: As far as gym access, man, we have nice facilities.
22:42
SPEAKER_02: You know,
22:43
SPEAKER_02: as far as,
22:43
SPEAKER_02: you know,
22:43
SPEAKER_02: we have three courts upstairs,
22:45
SPEAKER_02: which is our practice gym,
22:46
SPEAKER_02: and then we have our main gym downstairs.
22:48
SPEAKER_02: So in all, we have four courts.
22:50
SPEAKER_02: So you're able to always get in the gym.
22:52
That's one of the things our guys really value is they never
22:55
have an issue getting
22:56
SPEAKER_02: in the gym,
22:56
SPEAKER_02: getting shots up.
22:58
SPEAKER_02: working with a coach and trying to get better.
23:00
I think that's one of the reasons that our player development
23:03
have been really,
23:03
SPEAKER_02: really good the last few years is because,
23:05
SPEAKER_02: you know,
23:06
SPEAKER_02: we're allowed to,
23:07
SPEAKER_02: you know,
23:07
SPEAKER_02: we can get in the gym.
23:08
SPEAKER_02: You know,
23:09
SPEAKER_02: we're not,
23:09
SPEAKER_02: you know,
23:10
SPEAKER_02: butting heads with volleyball,
23:11
SPEAKER_02: soccer,
23:12
SPEAKER_02: because if it rains out,
23:14
SPEAKER_02: they got a court,
23:16
SPEAKER_02: we got a court.
23:16
SPEAKER_02: So that's the great thing about Brandeis.
23:19
SPEAKER_02: You're always going to have access to the gym.
23:21
Yeah I remember I went to back in the day when it was still
23:24
Hoop Mountain I went to
23:25
a camp at Brandeis and that was my first time up in Boston and
23:30
I just remember how
23:31
expansive that facility was like there were so many games going
23:36
on and yeah so I
23:37
SPEAKER_01: can only imagine if you're an athlete
23:39
SPEAKER_01: Be a little different than where I was at Swarthmore.
23:43
We did have to compete with women's basketball and volleyball
23:45
for quite a while.
23:46
Yeah,
23:47
at this level,
23:47
that's hard when you only have a couple of gyms to use.
23:51
SPEAKER_02: It's very hard.
23:52
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, so good question, AJ.
23:55
SPEAKER_01: All right, we got another one here in from Gary Bright.
24:00
Gary asks,
24:00
hey,
24:01
coach,
24:01
which recruiting tournaments will you be at later this summer?
24:06
SPEAKER_01: Under Armour Puma, Babson, Real Hoops, etc.
24:08
SPEAKER_01: ?
24:08
What's the best way to get in contact with you to start the
24:11
evaluation process?
24:27
SPEAKER_02: Send an email that you sent to 400 other coaches.
24:31
SPEAKER_02: Send me a personal email with the correct name, correct school.
24:34
SPEAKER_02: I've had guys email me saying,
24:36
SPEAKER_02: hey,
24:36
SPEAKER_02: coach,
24:37
SPEAKER_02: you know,
24:37
I'm interested in your program at Northeastern because I played
24:40
at Northeastern.
24:41
SPEAKER_02: I don't know if they mixed them together.
24:42
Just make sure you double-check that first and foremost so I
24:45
know who you are and
24:46
SPEAKER_02: the school you play at.
24:48
Send me maybe a highlight tape so I get a chance to kind of lay
24:52
eyes on you and get
24:55
SPEAKER_02: an idea of what type of player you are.
24:57
SPEAKER_02: As far as events we're going to be at,
24:58
SPEAKER_02: we're going to be in the Knapsack Tournaments the next couple of weeks.
25:01
SPEAKER_02: We're probably going to go to...
25:04
Either Under Armour or Puma Not sure yet It all depends a lot
25:08
on how many recruits
25:09
SPEAKER_02: we got at either or You know,
25:12
SPEAKER_02: I'm not going to go to Puma to see two kids,
25:14
SPEAKER_02: you know,
25:14
from a financial standpoint But if there's 10 kids we're
25:17
recruiting at Puma,
25:18
SPEAKER_02: we're going to go there And then we'll be at Babson,
25:20
of course And then we'll be at some of the Ivy League camps And
25:26
the whole group
25:26
tournaments in Lake City coming up here at the end of July or
25:30
middle of July
25:32
SPEAKER_01: Nice.
25:32
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, very comprehensive list.
25:34
SPEAKER_01: You're lucky you're up in Boston.
25:36
SPEAKER_01: You got a good mix of things right around you.
25:42
SPEAKER_02: I know.
25:42
SPEAKER_02: I say it's good and bad because you're competing,
25:44
SPEAKER_02: as you know,
25:46
you're competing in so many great institutions around here for
25:49
this level that
25:50
SPEAKER_02: sometimes you're like,
25:51
SPEAKER_02: oh my God.
25:52
SPEAKER_02: When you walk in the gym,
25:52
SPEAKER_02: you're like,
25:53
SPEAKER_02: I thought I was going to be your only one here,
25:54
SPEAKER_02: but unfortunately you never are.
25:57
SPEAKER_01: Same faces every time, yeah.
25:58
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
26:00
on the topic of the email this is a common question from
26:05
recruits and you know you
26:07
hit on one of the things which is definitely make sure to make
26:09
it personal get the
26:11
name and the school right because that's like the easiest way
26:14
to get sent to the
26:15
trash is you know be sending an email to Brandeis and say hey
26:20
Coach Zimmerman I'm
26:21
really excited to play for Brandeis that's happened that's
26:25
happened trust me
26:27
SPEAKER_01: They just went down the list of alphabetical order of UAA schools.
26:31
SPEAKER_01: Exactly.
26:32
SPEAKER_01: And forgot to change.
26:33
SPEAKER_02: Exactly right.
26:35
SPEAKER_02: Exactly right.
26:36
SPEAKER_02: As coaches,
26:36
SPEAKER_02: you're like,
26:36
SPEAKER_02: man,
26:37
SPEAKER_02: I thought you wanted to play for me,
26:38
SPEAKER_02: but you're reaching out to all these other schools,
26:40
SPEAKER_02: you know?
26:41
SPEAKER_01: Right, right.
26:43
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
26:43
But like,
26:44
what is an example of a personal one that has caught your
26:47
attention?
26:48
SPEAKER_01: Or like, what gets someone out of the inbox and your attention?
26:52
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
26:54
SPEAKER_02: Recently,
26:54
SPEAKER_02: I had a young man reach out to me,
26:57
SPEAKER_02: was just really,
26:58
SPEAKER_02: really insightful about what he does well,
27:02
SPEAKER_02: what he doesn't do well.
27:04
SPEAKER_02: He wasn't like, coach, I want to come play for you.
27:06
He's like,
27:06
coach,
27:07
I'm 6'7",
27:08
I rebound the hell out the ball and I can defend.
27:11
SPEAKER_02: Offensively, I'm limited and I need to get better in those things.
27:15
SPEAKER_02: So I said, you know what?
27:16
We got to go see this guy because I just think there's not a
27:18
lot of kids that are,
27:19
SPEAKER_02: you know,
27:19
SPEAKER_02: honest about where they are and who they are as far as their skill level.
27:23
SPEAKER_02: So I said, you know, this is a guy that understands where he's at
27:26
Our job as coaches is to try to make sure that we improve the
27:30
deficiencies he has
27:32
SPEAKER_02: and try to get him better.
27:33
So that caught my attention right away because that guy knew
27:36
exactly who he is.
27:37
SPEAKER_02: I think that's really important as a basketball player.
27:40
SPEAKER_02: Also as a human being, you know who you are, right?
27:43
SPEAKER_02: You're comfortable in your own skin.
27:44
So I thought right then and there,
27:45
I was like,
27:46
wow,
27:46
I've never seen one of these emails before.
27:49
SPEAKER_02: We got to follow up on this young man.
27:51
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I like that.
27:52
I like that angle because I feel like typically we'll do
27:55
recruiting spaces on
27:56
SPEAKER_01: Twitter and just try to give people a platform and kids.
27:59
And a lot of them will come on there and say,
28:00
you know,
28:00
Coach,
28:01
I can score at all three levels.
28:02
SPEAKER_01: I'm a dog.
28:03
SPEAKER_01: I can do this.
28:06
SPEAKER_01: There's no downside.
28:07
SPEAKER_01: So I think very,
28:08
SPEAKER_01: yeah,
28:09
SPEAKER_01: unique take to say,
28:10
SPEAKER_01: you know,
28:11
SPEAKER_01: here's where I'm good,
28:12
SPEAKER_01: but here's where I would love for you to work with me or whatever it is.
28:16
SPEAKER_01: I think that's...
28:17
SPEAKER_01: That's a good thing to take away.
28:19
SPEAKER_02: And we're going to see this young man this weekend in Worcester.
28:25
SPEAKER_02: I was like, wow.
28:26
SPEAKER_02: I told my assistant, I've never seen one of these emails before.
28:29
SPEAKER_02: I said, we definitely got to go see this young man.
28:33
SPEAKER_01: How about when a highlight link hits the inbox, what is the ideal format?
28:41
SPEAKER_01: What do you want to see?
28:41
SPEAKER_01: What are you actually going to watch?
28:43
SPEAKER_01: And what is just way too much or not enough?
28:46
SPEAKER_02: Oh man, that's a great question.
28:49
SPEAKER_02: I don't want to see you hit seven threes in a row because there's,
28:52
SPEAKER_02: you know,
28:53
SPEAKER_02: I want to see your misses too.
28:56
You know,
28:56
I think that's extremely important not just to show the good
28:59
stuff.
29:00
SPEAKER_02: I think you got to show the bad stuff because nobody's perfect,
29:03
SPEAKER_02: you know,
29:04
SPEAKER_02: as far as a player or anybody.
29:06
SPEAKER_02: So I think a combination of both.
29:09
SPEAKER_02: You know,
29:09
SPEAKER_02: I've had kids send me the same thing,
29:11
SPEAKER_02: like,
29:11
SPEAKER_02: okay,
29:11
SPEAKER_02: he makes two threes,
29:13
SPEAKER_02: but then he misses one,
29:14
SPEAKER_02: but then he hustles back on defense,
29:16
SPEAKER_02: doesn't hang his head,
29:17
SPEAKER_02: and gets back and gets a steal.
29:19
So that tells me right then and then that guy plays the entire
29:22
possession.
29:22
SPEAKER_02: He's not focused on whether he makes a shot or misses a shot.
29:25
SPEAKER_02: You know, he's playing the entire possession.
29:27
I think trying to be consistent with your film work and the
29:30
aspect will catch a
29:32
coach's eye and not just focus on all your makes and all your
29:35
layups and all your
29:36
SPEAKER_02: dunks as well.
29:38
SPEAKER_01: Right.
29:38
SPEAKER_01: It's kind of the same thing.
29:40
SPEAKER_01: It sounds like what you're looking for is authenticity, right?
29:42
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
29:45
SPEAKER_01: In the kid's response to the email and in the showing the whole play,
29:48
SPEAKER_01: not just like the cherry-picked,
29:51
SPEAKER_01: nice,
29:51
SPEAKER_01: perfect plays,
29:53
SPEAKER_01: you show the raw.
29:54
You make a mistake and the quality of who you are as a player
29:58
shows because you
29:59
SPEAKER_01: hustle,
30:00
SPEAKER_01: you help your teammate,
30:01
SPEAKER_01: you don't make it about yourself.
30:03
SPEAKER_01: That's what I'm hearing at least Is that coming right?
30:05
SPEAKER_02: 1,000% 1,000% I think
30:08
SPEAKER_02: You have to be that way.
30:11
SPEAKER_02: You come out of a game, show me that.
30:14
SPEAKER_02: If a coach takes you out, are you high-fiving the bench?
30:17
SPEAKER_02: Are you sitting down and listening to the coach?
30:19
SPEAKER_02: To me,
30:20
that's one of my pet peeves when I go to AAU games and a kid
30:24
comes out of the game
30:25
SPEAKER_02: and just goes to sit at the end of the bench.
30:27
SPEAKER_02: As good as a player you are, that will not work for us or our program.
30:32
SPEAKER_02: I think body language is extremely important.
30:34
SPEAKER_02: I think
30:36
Kids Don't Really Notice It In The Right Live But You Gotta Be
30:41
Very Conscious Of It
30:41
Cause People I Mean People Always Watching Even As A Coach I
30:45
Know Somebody Is
30:46
Always Watching Me In Terms Of How I'm Acting Or How I'm
30:50
Reacting When I'm Coaching
30:52
So As A Player You Gotta Be Very Mindful Of That As Well Yeah
30:57
So True It Is It
30:58
SPEAKER_01: It is,
30:59
SPEAKER_01: you know,
31:00
SPEAKER_01: you don't get to pick and choose the moments that eyes are on you,
31:02
SPEAKER_01: especially at an exposure camp.
31:04
SPEAKER_01: The reason you're going to any of these is for people to be watching you.
31:07
So it just goes to show it's like you got to kind of be on at
31:12
all times during those events.
31:14
SPEAKER_02: You have to be.
31:15
SPEAKER_02: That's 1,000%.
31:17
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
31:19
SPEAKER_01: Quick plug.
31:20
SPEAKER_01: Any more questions?
31:21
SPEAKER_01: If we got them in the chat, feel free to ask those.
31:23
SPEAKER_01: We're probably going to go for another 15 minutes or so just to be
31:27
SPEAKER_01: D3Direct Newsletter
31:42
Talking about what you try to build in practice and the
31:47
environment you try to
31:48
SPEAKER_01: build,
31:49
SPEAKER_01: making it positive,
31:51
SPEAKER_01: having practice be fun and kind of an enjoyable thing,
31:54
SPEAKER_01: not something that kids are dreading.
31:56
How did that come about and maybe how has it adapted or changed
32:00
since that article
32:01
SPEAKER_01: was published seven years ago?
32:04
SPEAKER_02: I just think as a coach, you know,
32:06
SPEAKER_02: Especially as assistant coach, right?
32:08
SPEAKER_02: I've worked for so many great coaches in my career.
32:12
SPEAKER_02: But you learn, like, what to do and also what not to do as well.
32:16
SPEAKER_02: Like, what fits your personality?
32:18
You know,
32:19
I don't think I can wake up and be,
32:21
you know,
32:21
Bobby Knight or be my...
32:22
SPEAKER_02: I just think I got to be Gene Bane.
32:24
SPEAKER_02: So I try to make sure whatever fits me, I'm, you know...
32:30
SPEAKER_02: The D3Direct Newsletter
32:45
SPEAKER_02: These young people,
32:46
SPEAKER_02: it's not just what they got going on the court,
32:48
SPEAKER_02: it's what they got going off the court,
32:50
SPEAKER_02: in the classroom,
32:51
SPEAKER_02: at home,
32:53
SPEAKER_02: socially.
32:54
SPEAKER_02: Things are just different from back when I played.
32:57
SPEAKER_02: I think back when I played, it was just like basketball in school.
33:02
SPEAKER_02: Socially,
33:03
SPEAKER_02: we didn't have Instagram,
33:04
SPEAKER_02: we didn't have Twitter,
33:04
SPEAKER_02: we didn't have the internet like that.
33:06
So I just think our kids are just being pulled to so many
33:09
different levels that you
33:11
have to make sure that you keep things in perspective and you
33:13
keep a balance of
33:15
SPEAKER_02: When to push, when not to push, right?
33:18
SPEAKER_02: I think that's the one thing that I've grown to do.
33:21
I think when I first started,
33:22
I was full throttle,
33:24
foot on the gas,
33:25
let's go,
33:26
let's get it.
33:27
SPEAKER_02: But I think as times change, as you evolve as a coach,
33:30
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, yeah.
34:00
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I think that's good.
34:01
SPEAKER_01: It's, again, more than a sport.
34:04
SPEAKER_01: Your life is going to be more than those four years,
34:06
SPEAKER_01: but it is going to be a formative time and you want to take it seriously.
34:09
SPEAKER_01: And like you said earlier in the chat, you want to win.
34:13
SPEAKER_01: At the end of the day,
34:14
SPEAKER_01: you're doing this together,
34:15
this shared endeavor to win basketball games and to compete at
34:19
a high level.
34:20
SPEAKER_01: So it's good to keep that balance,
34:23
SPEAKER_01: but also be sharp,
34:25
be dialed in when you're in the gym and keep the focus where it
34:27
needs to be.
34:29
SPEAKER_02: Exactly,
34:30
SPEAKER_01: exactly We got another question here AJ asks Coach,
34:35
SPEAKER_01: what are your expectations of an incoming true freshman?
34:38
SPEAKER_01: When they get on campus, what do you expect from them?
34:41
SPEAKER_02: Great question Work ethic, right?
34:44
SPEAKER_02: My biggest thing as a freshman is
34:46
SPEAKER_02: Are you a gym rat?
34:47
SPEAKER_02: Are you in the gym?
34:48
SPEAKER_02: Are you coachable?
34:50
SPEAKER_02: Are you getting in with coaches extra?
34:54
I think those are the things as a freshman you know right away
34:57
is that guy's going
34:58
to be a good player down the line or he's not in terms of how
35:01
much he invests in
35:02
SPEAKER_02: the game.
35:03
Like this season we had three freshmen and I had to kick those
35:06
guys out the gym
35:07
SPEAKER_02: sometimes because I was like yo man are you guys studying?
35:12
SPEAKER_02: But you know
35:13
All that was was part of our culture because our older guys
35:16
were doing the same thing.
35:17
SPEAKER_02: So they just kind of followed suit.
35:18
SPEAKER_02: I never had to tell them to, hey man, you gotta come in the gym.
35:21
SPEAKER_02: If I have to tell you that, then it's probably not gonna work out.
35:25
SPEAKER_02: But if you're a guy that's constantly coming in and
35:28
SPEAKER_02: on your own and grabbing coaches whether it's,
35:30
SPEAKER_02: you know,
35:31
SPEAKER_02: film,
35:31
SPEAKER_02: extra film,
35:33
SPEAKER_02: getting extra shots up,
35:34
SPEAKER_02: extra ball handling stuff,
35:36
you're going to have a long career because I always talk about
35:39
how the game is more
35:40
SPEAKER_02: than just about the practices that you go to in the shoot-arounds.
35:45
SPEAKER_02: It's really about the extra stuff, the extra time that you put in.
35:48
SPEAKER_02: To me, that's how you improve.
35:49
SPEAKER_02: That's how you get better.
35:50
And I had the opportunity to learn at a young age with the
35:53
coaches that I had growing up.
35:55
SPEAKER_02: So I've always had that mindset of the extra work that you put in,
35:59
SPEAKER_02: that will be your reward as far as you improving as a player.
36:03
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
36:04
SPEAKER_01: I mean, I think that's so true.
36:05
SPEAKER_01: I would just say for my own career, it was always, you know,
36:10
SPEAKER_01: Good shooting games,
36:11
I was a shooter Good shooting games don't happen out of nowhere
36:14
The games when I
36:15
would Or the practices where I would stay after for 10-15
36:18
minutes and shoot with an
36:19
assistant coach And kind of get dialed in Or show up a little
36:22
bit earlier on game
36:22
SPEAKER_01: day and get some shots up Those small add-ons,
36:28
those small adjustments Carry over so much more than just
36:32
Everyone goes to practice
36:33
SPEAKER_01: And it's like,
36:34
SPEAKER_01: you gotta find an edge somewhere So,
36:38
SPEAKER_01: I think that's good
36:40
SPEAKER_02: 1,000%.
36:42
SPEAKER_01: What about recovery?
36:43
SPEAKER_01: How do you guys think about that?
36:45
SPEAKER_01: Because obviously it's great to be in the gym,
36:47
SPEAKER_01: but I think your body,
36:49
SPEAKER_01: as you mentioned,
36:49
SPEAKER_01: the season is a grind.
36:50
SPEAKER_01: It's a long season for D3.
36:53
You kind of are getting on the court right when you step on
36:56
campus in August.
36:57
SPEAKER_01: And then if you're playing well,
36:58
SPEAKER_01: you're not going to leave until March or this year,
37:00
SPEAKER_01: early April.
37:01
So how do you guys think about recovery for your athletes and
37:05
then balancing that
37:06
SPEAKER_01: with wanting them to be in the gym?
37:08
Yeah,
37:09
one of the great things about our league is it's good and bad,
37:13
right?
37:14
SPEAKER_02: You play two games in three days.
37:15
SPEAKER_02: You play Friday and Sunday.
37:17
SPEAKER_02: So once our UIA season starts,
37:20
SPEAKER_02: we adjust things a little bit more because I think non-league,
37:23
SPEAKER_02: you're playing one or two games a week.
37:26
It's a little bit easier to manage injuries and keeping guys
37:30
healthy and staying that way.
37:33
SPEAKER_02: You know,
37:33
SPEAKER_02: our recovery thing really starts right before UAA play where,
37:37
SPEAKER_02: you know,
37:38
we're doing yoga once a week and we're also jumping in the pool
37:42
on Mondays if guys
37:43
SPEAKER_02: want to after games.
37:46
SPEAKER_02: I think,
37:46
SPEAKER_02: you know,
37:47
balancing the mind and making sure that the mind stays just as
37:50
sharp is extremely
37:51
SPEAKER_02: important as well.
37:52
And our kids have taken it very serious as well because they
37:56
understand that,
37:57
SPEAKER_02: you know,
37:58
SPEAKER_02: the most important,
37:59
SPEAKER_02: you know,
38:00
Reason for them to be able to go out there and compete is
38:02
making sure they take
38:03
SPEAKER_02: care of the body.
38:04
So you see our guys doing a lot of preventive injury stuff in
38:07
the weight room just
38:08
SPEAKER_02: to prevent injuries.
38:10
Come in season and also the pool and the yoga sessions that
38:14
they do with one of our
38:15
SPEAKER_02: trainers at Brand Night.
38:16
SPEAKER_02: So that stuff has really helped us the last few years.
38:19
SPEAKER_02: And, you know, we've been able to stay fresh and stay healthy.
38:22
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
38:23
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
38:24
SPEAKER_01: It is a tough league.
38:25
I think let's talk about the UAA a little bit because I think,
38:27
you know,
38:27
that's one of the,
38:29
SPEAKER_01: Great things about playing at Brandeis is D3 has high talent level,
38:33
SPEAKER_01: but the UAA has consistently been one of the best leagues in the country.
38:38
SPEAKER_01: Emory made it to the national title game this year,
38:40
SPEAKER_01: but then you have teams like Chicago,
38:43
SPEAKER_01: Case,
38:44
SPEAKER_01: who have been competitive in the past few years.
38:47
SPEAKER_01: What is that game day experience like?
38:49
Either having people come in for the weekend to Brandeis or
38:55
flying to Chicago or
38:57
SPEAKER_01: St.
38:58
SPEAKER_01: Louis or New York,
39:00
SPEAKER_01: whatever it is.
39:01
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I think that's the beauty of our league, right?
39:04
It's like we talk about going through life,
39:06
never getting too high,
39:07
never getting too low.
39:08
SPEAKER_02: Well, the UA is exactly that, right?
39:11
SPEAKER_02: Because if you play Friday, you win a big game.
39:13
SPEAKER_02: Well,
39:14
you can't go out and celebrate and not get ready because then
39:17
Saturday morning,
39:18
SPEAKER_02: you got to get up.
39:19
SPEAKER_02: You got to watch the film from the night before.
39:20
SPEAKER_02: You got to watch the film for the next opponent.
39:23
SPEAKER_02: You got to get a walkthrough in of the scouting.
39:26
SPEAKER_02: And then you got to go out on Sunday and you got to try to win that game.
39:28
SPEAKER_02: Vice versa.
39:29
SPEAKER_02: If you lose Friday...
39:31
SPEAKER_02: You can't hang your head.
39:32
SPEAKER_02: You can't get down on yourself.
39:34
You got to,
39:34
you know,
39:34
stick to your routine and to prepare for the next game.
39:37
I think that's the hard part about our league is not just the
39:39
physical aspect,
39:40
but the mental.
39:41
SPEAKER_02: Where's your mind at?
39:42
Are you a guy,
39:42
you know,
39:43
are you going to let Friday night carry over to Sunday?
39:45
SPEAKER_02: Well, you're tipping off at 12 o'clock on Sunday.
39:48
SPEAKER_02: So if you do,
39:49
SPEAKER_02: you're going to get beat by a lot because,
39:51
SPEAKER_02: you know,
39:51
SPEAKER_02: the teams in our league,
39:53
SPEAKER_02: man,
39:53
SPEAKER_02: one through eight.
39:55
SPEAKER_02: I've never been in a league, obviously, that's as competitive as the UAA.
39:59
SPEAKER_02: Top to bottom, there's
40:01
You know,
40:02
not that you could ever walk into a gym and take anybody
40:04
lightly.
40:05
SPEAKER_02: I'm not saying that,
40:06
SPEAKER_02: but man,
40:07
SPEAKER_02: in our league,
40:07
SPEAKER_02: it's like,
40:08
SPEAKER_02: you know,
40:10
SPEAKER_02: every game you're jockeying for position.
40:12
SPEAKER_02: There's no conference tournament.
40:14
SPEAKER_02: That's the other reason.
40:15
SPEAKER_02: These games are extremely important.
40:16
You got to make sure you try to put yourself in the best
40:19
position at the end of the year.
40:21
SPEAKER_02: Can you be in that top four,
40:23
SPEAKER_02: you know,
40:24
SPEAKER_02: once,
40:24
SPEAKER_02: you know,
40:24
SPEAKER_02: the season ends so you have a chance to get in the NCAA tournament?
40:28
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, and that has been a pretty fair marker.
40:30
I feel like it's been four or five teams every season coming in
40:34
for the UAA,
40:34
SPEAKER_01: even when we switched over to MPI as the rating metric.
40:39
SPEAKER_01: But yeah, it's a great conference.
40:41
SPEAKER_01: Definitely a privilege to play.
40:42
SPEAKER_01: I know even more than just the games too,
40:45
I remember talking to a former Brandeis basketball player a
40:49
couple years back.
40:51
SPEAKER_01: And one of the things,
40:52
SPEAKER_01: it was actually a call with a Brandeis athlete,
40:54
SPEAKER_01: an Emory athlete,
40:55
SPEAKER_01: NYU all-in-one.
40:57
And one of the things they all cited about the UA that they
41:00
loved was the dinners
41:02
SPEAKER_01: that you'd go get with the other team.
41:03
SPEAKER_01: Like,
41:04
SPEAKER_01: you'd go battle it on the court,
41:05
SPEAKER_01: but then afterwards,
41:07
you'd have these team dinners with your opponent and kind of
41:11
get to know them as
41:12
SPEAKER_01: people,
41:14
SPEAKER_01: as humans beyond just them being your rival or your conference opponent.
41:20
SPEAKER_01: What are those setups like, and how do you guys keep that going?
41:24
It's funny like we haven't done that since COVID hit because
41:27
everybody kind of like
41:29
it's a bit optional I should say there's still a couple schools
41:31
that do it but
41:34
prior to COVID when I first got in the league nobody you know
41:38
prior to my nobody
41:39
had told me that this is the way it's going to be so I want to
41:42
say I don't know I
41:42
think we might have lost our first game I can't remember our
41:45
second game and now
41:46
SPEAKER_02: they're telling me that I gotta go eat with the other team I'm like
41:49
SPEAKER_02: You know how it is.
41:50
SPEAKER_02: They're like, what?
41:51
SPEAKER_02: I'm like, we just lost the game.
41:52
SPEAKER_02: I don't want to look at these dudes.
41:54
SPEAKER_02: But you start to realize and understand why they do it, right?
41:59
SPEAKER_02: Because all our players have a lot in common.
42:03
From the academic perspective,
42:05
they're all obviously trying to go on and do great things.
42:08
SPEAKER_02: And they generally like each other off the court from what I've seen.
42:13
SPEAKER_02: So I think it gave our kids a great chance to connect.
42:16
SPEAKER_02: and talk about each other and getting to know each other.
42:19
SPEAKER_02: So that was very unique.
42:21
SPEAKER_02: And like I said, prior to COVID, you know, everybody was doing it.
42:25
SPEAKER_02: But after COVID, not as many teams have done it.
42:29
But a lot of our kids find ways,
42:32
obviously,
42:32
through,
42:33
you know,
42:34
Instagram and Twitter.
42:35
SPEAKER_02: They all,
42:36
SPEAKER_02: you know,
42:36
SPEAKER_02: you go into the game,
42:37
SPEAKER_02: they're like,
42:37
SPEAKER_02: oh,
42:37
SPEAKER_02: I talked to so-and-so on the other team.
42:39
SPEAKER_02: I'm like, huh?
42:40
SPEAKER_02: You know, that's the great thing about the UAE.
42:42
These guys really connect and get a chance to know each other
42:45
and form a pretty
42:45
SPEAKER_02: good bond at the end of the day.
42:48
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
42:48
SPEAKER_01: And they're all, you know, similar kids, high academic, hard work.
42:51
SPEAKER_01: So it makes sense.
42:53
SPEAKER_01: I mean, I think it, yeah, it's unfortunate when you kind of view
42:57
maybe someone else only through the prism of basketball and
43:00
that they're an
43:00
opponent I think one of the great D3 examples is like Claremont
43:04
and Pomona are on
43:05
the same campus and they play each other but like during the
43:07
week those guys are
43:08
taking classes or those ladies are taking classes together it's
43:13
pretty wild I think
43:14
just you know it's a special level and it's cool that you know
43:19
at some angle
43:20
they're able to enjoy those relationships and kind of grow it
43:23
whether it's on
43:24
SPEAKER_01: social media or
43:25
SPEAKER_01: or through school stuff.
43:27
SPEAKER_02: Absolutely.
43:29
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
43:31
SPEAKER_01: I'll say to the floor here, any final questions, get them in.
43:34
SPEAKER_01: We're going to start wrapping up here.
43:36
SPEAKER_01: Coach Bain,
43:37
I want to give you the floor just to talk about what you're
43:40
trying to build both
43:42
SPEAKER_01: next season and in the future at Brandeis and kind of the vision.
43:46
SPEAKER_01: If you were to share that with recruits, what does that look like?
43:49
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, the thing that we've been trying to build here is consistency.
43:51
SPEAKER_02: I think if you look at us right now,
43:53
we've been very consistent the last few years in terms of where
43:56
we are in the UAE.
43:56
SPEAKER_02: But our goal every single year is to compete for the league championship,
44:01
SPEAKER_02: which Brandeis has never won the league championship.
44:04
SPEAKER_02: So that would be a first.
44:05
SPEAKER_02: So every single year, that's our goal.
44:08
SPEAKER_02: That's our dream.
44:09
And once we establish that,
44:11
our other goal is to get in the NCAA tournament.
44:14
And Make A Deep Run And Win A National Championship I Think As
44:18
An Athlete As A
44:19
Coach You Play This Thing For One Reason Only To Me That's To
44:23
Win As Much As You
44:24
Can When You Step On The Floor So That's Our Ultimate Goal And
44:28
Also To Make Sure
44:29
SPEAKER_02: That We Get These Young People Build Them Up And
44:33
SPEAKER_02: You know,
44:34
get ready to jump into a society and be successful in terms of
44:38
whatever they choose
44:38
SPEAKER_02: to do.
44:40
SPEAKER_02: You know, to me, that's the beauty of coaching.
44:41
SPEAKER_02: So we want to do both.
44:44
We want to win a national championship and we want you to go
44:46
work for a Fortune 500
44:47
SPEAKER_02: company and make lots of money and have a family and be very happy.
44:51
SPEAKER_02: That's the ultimate dream.
44:52
SPEAKER_02: That's the ultimate goal.
44:54
SPEAKER_01: Right.
44:54
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, that's a coach's dream.
44:56
You know,
44:57
happy and successful alumni that then come back and hang out
45:01
with the program
45:02
SPEAKER_01: I mean,
45:02
SPEAKER_01: I think that's To me,
45:05
that's the mark of a great coach People that want to come back
45:07
And see you visit
45:09
SPEAKER_01: And bring them back into the gym And watch some Brandeis Hoops Yeah,
45:13
SPEAKER_02: no,
45:13
SPEAKER_02: it's the best thing We actually Corey Sherman,
45:18
who was one of my first players When I came here When I first
45:22
took the job He's
45:23
actually the top video guy for the Knicks And every time they
45:27
come into town When
45:28
SPEAKER_02: the Knicks play the Celtics
45:30
You know,
45:31
I'm going into the office,
45:32
I get a phone call,
45:32
hey coach,
45:33
you around,
45:33
I'm coming in.
45:34
To me,
45:35
that right there just says it all about,
45:38
you know,
45:39
about what we do as coaches.
45:41
SPEAKER_02: So, you know, that's the beauty of it, man.
45:43
SPEAKER_02: Like getting these guys back on campus and,
45:46
SPEAKER_02: you know,
45:46
SPEAKER_02: connecting with them off the court and talk about life and,
45:50
SPEAKER_02: you know,
45:50
SPEAKER_02: how they're doing,
45:51
SPEAKER_02: how their families are doing,
45:52
SPEAKER_02: what are they up to.
45:54
To me,
45:54
that's the ultimate beauty as far as the whole process of
45:57
coaching goes.
46:00
Any final thoughts,
46:01
any final words,
46:02
things you want to share with the audience?
46:05
SPEAKER_02: Um, just, man, first of all, thank you again for having me on here.
46:08
SPEAKER_02: I really appreciate it.
46:09
SPEAKER_02: I'm very grateful and very blessed to be here.
46:12
SPEAKER_02: Um,
46:12
SPEAKER_02: you know,
46:13
SPEAKER_02: um,
46:13
SPEAKER_02: the only final thought I have is,
46:15
SPEAKER_02: you know,
46:16
SPEAKER_02: my wife and I just had a son six months ago.
46:18
SPEAKER_02: So,
46:19
SPEAKER_02: um,
46:19
SPEAKER_02: I'm right now,
46:20
SPEAKER_02: I'm just,
46:21
it's hard for me not to smile every single day and grin when I
46:24
see this little guy.
46:25
SPEAKER_02: So, um,
46:27
SPEAKER_02: For the parents out there,
46:28
SPEAKER_02: I do understand that,
46:29
SPEAKER_02: hey,
46:29
SPEAKER_02: when they try to protect their guys as they get older,
46:32
SPEAKER_02: I get it.
46:33
SPEAKER_02: I understand it, and I really do.
46:56
SPEAKER_00: Coach Bain, you still there?
47:00
SPEAKER_00: Well,
47:01
SPEAKER_00: seems like we lost him,
47:02
but congrats to Coach Bain and his wife and thank you again for
47:06
taking the time to
47:07
SPEAKER_01: join tonight.
47:08
SPEAKER_01: Thanks to everyone who asked questions here in the chat.
47:11
SPEAKER_01: If you didn't get a chance to ask one or
47:14
something comes up afterwards and you'd like to ask Coach Bain
47:18
or maybe you want to
47:19
ask it privately feel free to message us reach out and we can
47:22
get that to him
47:25
Gabriel thanks for the question thanks for joining and we will
47:28
see you all next
47:29
time if you have a coach you want to talk to on this series let
47:33
us know a lot of
47:34
our coaches that come on here come directly from suggestions
47:38
from listeners from
47:38
SPEAKER_01: readers so
47:40
SPEAKER_01: Get those in,
47:41
SPEAKER_01: message us on X,
47:42
SPEAKER_01: on Substack,
47:43
SPEAKER_01: wherever it is and we'll try to make that happen Thanks for joining,
47:46
SPEAKER_00: we'll see you next time