Katz Interview

[SDHornet]

Sacstatesports posted an interview with Katz. Interesting read, here is my commentary:

http://sacstatesports.com/2011/10/1...h-mens-basketball-caoch-brian-katz/#more-1171

Q: What does the departure of Sultan Toles-Bey, Duro Bjegovic and Alpha N’Diaye mean for this team?
A: We only lost three guys. We have nine coming back and that’s what I would like to focus on.

I agree, if the team I coached just lost 44.2% of its points/ game, 44.0% of its reb/game, 55.8% of its assists/game, and 41.7% of its steals/game I’d avoid thinking about that as much as possible too.

Q: What makes this year’s team different from last year?
A: One, experience. We have nine guys back, we’ve never had a team this experienced at Sac State. When you get really good at the mid-major level it’s all about experience. We finally have some three-year guys. Our players are better. Our chemistry and our leadership have improved and last is our schedule.

Eh…Dickson and maybe Jackson have been the only returning players who have shown they belong in the D-1 ranks. Those two plus Carbajal and Hoffman are the only returners with significant playing time.

Q: What about the schedule makes it key?
A: Seven games at home and five on the road in preseason and 15 at home, 13 on the road overall. Sac State has never had more home games than road games. Ever. It takes a lot of work to make that happen.

I like that we have a lot of home games and this should help out in the win column. A couple of them are non-D-1 match-up but I guess you have to take what you can get.

Q: What are the expectations for this team?
A: Everybody won’t like it but our team goals are always the same. Every year I’ve been coaching it goes like this: get better every day and win the next game. Whatever game is in front of you is the most important. There is no game more important than the next.

I like that Katz is sticking to his guns. Time to see some more wins though.

Q: You have the opportunity to host an ESPN Bracketbusters game this year. What does that mean for this school and this program?
A: I think it could be a pretty big deal. They don’t decide which games will be on TV until late, but if we have the kind of year we want to have then maybe our game is on TV and that’s pretty cool.

Hopefully it is on TV. This program needs all the exposure it can get.

Q: In order to have that kind of year that you want to have, what are the things that have to get done on a daily basis?
A: I think it’s taking pride in all the little things. Big things are made of little things. Anything, any detail left unchecked can become a big deal. If your screening starts to slip, then pretty soon guys can’t get open. If your transition defense starts to slip, then pretty soon you’re giving up baskets you shouldn’t be giving up. At this level all the players are good. You must be able to execute and you must be able to counter.

Thinking back over the past few years poor fundamentals have plagued this team. Hopefully these things are cleaned up even further.

Q: What does the conference look like this year?
A: I think there are two teams that are clearly 1-2. If you’re going to be objective, on paper it has to be Montana and Weber State 1 and 2, and then everyone else is fighting for 3-9. I couldn’t even begin to make a prediction on 3-9. But 1 and 2 are clearly better. Now, do they play better? The game’s not played on paper and it’s not a video game.

I haven’t looked at the BSC as a whole but I agree that if this team plays better, it has a chance to finally pull itself out of the basement and into BSC Tournament play. I think quite a few BSC programs lost some key players but I need to confirm this.

Q: Is there anybody on your roster that you would say makes everyone better? The kind of player that everybody wants to play with?
A: We have a few guys like that right now. Jordan Estrada has done that, John Dickson is doing that and Jackson Carbajal. I think those three guys in particular are that kind of player. They’re always working hard.

Dickson is playmaker. Up to this point, he has shown he is the only player on this roster who can be a game changer. With Alpha failing out this offseason, we lose a lot of athleticism which will allow teams to better defend Dickson. This season will truly test Dickson’s playmaking ability. I didn’t see Carbajal play to a level where he made others around him better last season. Hopefully he can elevate his game. No idea on Estrada as we won’t get to see how he plays until the season starts.

No doubt the pressure is on Kats and this being his 4th season, it absolutely should be on. We’ll see and know if this program is headed in the right direction under Katz this season.

 

[StungAlum2]

I really dislike Katz and have stopped attending games since he became coach. It's great that he's an alum and all, but he was the wrong choice. He needs a winning season and it needs to be this season, but that's not going to happen.

At least Jenkins had a more in your face style, Katz' teams are boring to watch and not competitive. Dont get me wrong, Jenkins was a punk, but his coaching style was more effective and entertaining.