CKS said he had some guys on the team that gave some great effort, and a shame they lost. Disappointing to lose close games, and to not win close games when you had the chance to win them. Said the team has not answered the questions in regards to defensive rebounding. Joe brings up that injuries have effected the team's abilities to do the things they need to do to win. CKS said without Kornet, Vanderbilt would have had no chance to win the game in Arkansas. Said Damien is much better when Luke is in the game. Didn't find out that he was going to play until 3 p.m. of game day.
The process of determining when a guy is ready to come back and play following injury is strictly up to Shannon (trainer) and the injured player. Shannon said he was ready to play physically, but didn't think Luke was ready to play mentally. However, Luke changed his mind, and Shannon said he would play. CKS said he never gets involved in when a player is ready to return from injury. CKS said Luke told him there was very little soreness after the game on Tuesday, and very little soreness on Wednesday or today, so that is all good. CKS said they would have won a couple of more games this season had Luke been able to play. Said Luke is an energy giver.
CKS said the feeling and vibe he gets is that there is a lot more worry and concern with the losses this year as compared to last year. Said a lot of that has to do with expectations of this season. Said he believes the team has lost confidence. Said the team is not playing defense the way they played it in Maui. Said now the team is playing defense with the idea of "we hope the other team misses the shot." Said it is up to him to get it right. Said the team played terrible against LSU, played a bit better against Arkansas.
Caller: Wondered if the team has ever considered practicing in light head gear in order to try and prevent concussions. CKS said he had never heard that brought up as a suggestion before, but that didn't seem so far-fetched. Caller also said he had a gut feeling the team would be o.k. CKS agreed, though he doesn't know what will exactly look like. Said he believed the team would begin winning games regularly soon. CKS said he has to find a way to get some of the guys who aren't playing well to begin playing well. CKS said he believes he is letting the players and his family down, and that the team is letting the fans down. However, he said they would get it right soon, and having Kornet back makes him believe that even more. Caller also brought up the possibility of the games going from 8 p.m. starts to 7:30 p.m. starts next season. Joe said it is being discussed, and CKS said he would be all for it, as he hates 8 p.m. games.
CKS stated that the total of South Carolina's team is greater than its individual parts. Said he has seniors playing their best basketball in their career, no egos on the team. Said Frank Martin must be having the time of his life.
Studio member asks how Baptiste is doing in practice. CKS said there would be a time this season when he would second-guess his decision on red-shirting him. Said that time is basically now. Said he still has a long way to go, but the game is definitely slowing down for him. Said what he is seeing from Baptiste now, he did not see in Festus until later. Said he is approximately 1 year ahead of where Festus was. Said he didn't know if the latter years would be as good, but he certainly feels good about him right now.
Both tennis teams are ranked: men #25, women #1. CKS said Jeff (tennis coach) is a special coach and an even better person.
Caller asked about attendance issues. CKS said the 8 p.m. start times are a factor, but that television is having a much bigger impact on attendance.
Joe asked about Carter Josephs. CKS said CJ is the ultimate guy who is going to do every little thing right. Said his talent isn't great, but he has maximized his understanding of basketball, and understands it better than any player on the team. Said he stabilized the team and helped give the team a chance to win Tuesday night. Said he is one of the most respected guys on the team by his teammates.
Joe said he noticed that CKS has gone with a very positive outlook following the game in Fayetteville. CKS said he tries to give the team what they need, rather than what he may have felt at the time. Said he used to do the latter, but he has tried to change that. Said his job is to help a player play better, not worse. He wants to be positive with the players; said the players need hope, and the coaches need to give the players hope. CKS said you need to treat every player fairly, but you don't treat each player in the same way; said the era of treating every player exactly the same way went out with short basketball shorts and long white socks. Said coaching is somewhat like parenting. Said coaches need to teach the kids life-lessons. Said they have to tell the players things that they don't want to hear, but you have to try and be honest with them and do the best you can for them. Said he often has former players contact him and say "you were right, I wish I had listened to you more."
Game on Saturday is a 2 p.m. central time start. CKS said South Carolina is old, rugged, experienced, plays hard, has a great coach who sometimes looks like a maniac on the floor, but is really a good guy who cares a great deal about his players and is a good friend. Said they will go and give it their best shot on Saturday.
The process of determining when a guy is ready to come back and play following injury is strictly up to Shannon (trainer) and the injured player. Shannon said he was ready to play physically, but didn't think Luke was ready to play mentally. However, Luke changed his mind, and Shannon said he would play. CKS said he never gets involved in when a player is ready to return from injury. CKS said Luke told him there was very little soreness after the game on Tuesday, and very little soreness on Wednesday or today, so that is all good. CKS said they would have won a couple of more games this season had Luke been able to play. Said Luke is an energy giver.
CKS said the feeling and vibe he gets is that there is a lot more worry and concern with the losses this year as compared to last year. Said a lot of that has to do with expectations of this season. Said he believes the team has lost confidence. Said the team is not playing defense the way they played it in Maui. Said now the team is playing defense with the idea of "we hope the other team misses the shot." Said it is up to him to get it right. Said the team played terrible against LSU, played a bit better against Arkansas.
Caller: Wondered if the team has ever considered practicing in light head gear in order to try and prevent concussions. CKS said he had never heard that brought up as a suggestion before, but that didn't seem so far-fetched. Caller also said he had a gut feeling the team would be o.k. CKS agreed, though he doesn't know what will exactly look like. Said he believed the team would begin winning games regularly soon. CKS said he has to find a way to get some of the guys who aren't playing well to begin playing well. CKS said he believes he is letting the players and his family down, and that the team is letting the fans down. However, he said they would get it right soon, and having Kornet back makes him believe that even more. Caller also brought up the possibility of the games going from 8 p.m. starts to 7:30 p.m. starts next season. Joe said it is being discussed, and CKS said he would be all for it, as he hates 8 p.m. games.
CKS stated that the total of South Carolina's team is greater than its individual parts. Said he has seniors playing their best basketball in their career, no egos on the team. Said Frank Martin must be having the time of his life.
Studio member asks how Baptiste is doing in practice. CKS said there would be a time this season when he would second-guess his decision on red-shirting him. Said that time is basically now. Said he still has a long way to go, but the game is definitely slowing down for him. Said what he is seeing from Baptiste now, he did not see in Festus until later. Said he is approximately 1 year ahead of where Festus was. Said he didn't know if the latter years would be as good, but he certainly feels good about him right now.
Both tennis teams are ranked: men #25, women #1. CKS said Jeff (tennis coach) is a special coach and an even better person.
Caller asked about attendance issues. CKS said the 8 p.m. start times are a factor, but that television is having a much bigger impact on attendance.
Joe asked about Carter Josephs. CKS said CJ is the ultimate guy who is going to do every little thing right. Said his talent isn't great, but he has maximized his understanding of basketball, and understands it better than any player on the team. Said he stabilized the team and helped give the team a chance to win Tuesday night. Said he is one of the most respected guys on the team by his teammates.
Joe said he noticed that CKS has gone with a very positive outlook following the game in Fayetteville. CKS said he tries to give the team what they need, rather than what he may have felt at the time. Said he used to do the latter, but he has tried to change that. Said his job is to help a player play better, not worse. He wants to be positive with the players; said the players need hope, and the coaches need to give the players hope. CKS said you need to treat every player fairly, but you don't treat each player in the same way; said the era of treating every player exactly the same way went out with short basketball shorts and long white socks. Said coaching is somewhat like parenting. Said coaches need to teach the kids life-lessons. Said they have to tell the players things that they don't want to hear, but you have to try and be honest with them and do the best you can for them. Said he often has former players contact him and say "you were right, I wish I had listened to you more."
Game on Saturday is a 2 p.m. central time start. CKS said South Carolina is old, rugged, experienced, plays hard, has a great coach who sometimes looks like a maniac on the floor, but is really a good guy who cares a great deal about his players and is a good friend. Said they will go and give it their best shot on Saturday.
