Oct. 13, 2011
Oregon State head coach Craig Robinson and every player on the 2011-12 roster met the media on Thursday as part of the team's annual Media Day at Gill Coliseum.
Head Coach Craig Robinson
On the excitement for the season...
"Well you know at the beginning of each season everybody's excited. I think for us though, this is a changing of the guard and we've got previous guys who had lost a lot of games that are now graduated. We have a group of guys who are used to winning a lot of games, used to playing hard and used to being focused. They have shown that focus early on here, in the workouts, in their individual workouts in the spring and over the summer they did a terrific job. There is a lot of excitement just based on the focus of this group."
On the changes offensively and defensively this year...
"I don't think I'm telling tales out of school by saying that we've got the ability now with our athleticism, a little bit more length, to play more man-to-man than we did last year. I'm looking forward to coaching that. On the offensive end, we'd like to speed it up a little bit. Again, because of our athleticism, because of our depth we can try some things that we haven't done in the past."
On the team chemistry...
"I think that's really important. In order to win tough games, whether it is in your gym, or on the road, neutral road, or whatever you have to have an A-grade in chemistry. If you get a C in chemistry you're going to lose those close games. It will be interesting to see if we can make this chemistry extrapolate into wins of games we shouldn't lose."
On the difference between previous years...
"The first three years I was here a lot of the games that we lost early were games we should have won or were expected to win. But that's part of the maturation process. I'm hoping this team is mature enough to handle the fact that we need to win the games that we have to win, especially here at Gill."
On the upcoming season...
"A little extra excited. A little extra anxious. I know how this works; his is year four. We should be making some huge steps in this year and in coming years. So I'm excited about that. These guys help you become excited by the way they are working. They are putting the time in, they are putting the effort in and now it will be good to give you guys a really good picture after I've had a couple of practices. Once we get three or four good practices under our belts I will have a better feel."
On his expectations for the season...
"We are setting this program up to be a program that's like everybody else in the country. Our goal is to make the NCAA tournament. That's what we're trying to do. And we know that's putting pressure on us. We know that not having an NBA season, there are more eyes on us. We would like to help the school in other areas. We want to pick up some of the slack for them and that's pressure. But how we're handling it, we're becoming a more focused team."
On building confidence from last year's big wins...
"I think that these guys behind me feel like they can play with anybody now. I don't think we felt that way in the first three years. I think we thought we could, but these guys know they can now. The difference there may sound a little bit subtle but it comes down to execution now rather than everything has to go perfectly. We have to do what we can do and then put ourselves in the position to win the game. And then that's when your chemistry and your hard work and good habits come over and that's when you beat guys you should beat."
Senior forward Kevin McShane
On why Beaver fans should be optimistic this year...
"My take is that this team is unlike any other Beaver team that's been around the last two decades. Yeah, they've had some great success amongst some unsuccessful years but the whole feeling that we have as a team from the players, the coaches, the trainers, people over in the strength room, everything is just different. It's a great feeling and it's a great year to come out and support us."
On getting a scholarship for the season...
"It meant a lot. I've had a lot of summer jobs and saved up a lot of money because I wasn't sure how the scholarship was going to play out. But having the scholarship, being able to pick up the check on the first of the month with my teammates was a great feeling."
On switching to man-to-man defense...
"I grew up playing man-to-man and I take great pride in my defense. I'm very much looking forward to it. I think everyone else in the team is in agreement with me that we're looking forward to playing man-to-man defense."
On what a successful season would be...
"I think like coach said, it's a success if we can make it to the NCAA tournament and see what we can do there. It hasn't been done here for a while and I think for a lot of fans that would be successful. But for the team, from a personal standpoint, we want to keep playing until there's no more playing to be had and to keep going and see how far we can go."
Junior forward/center Angus Brandt
On the team's potential and chemistry going into the season...
"I know coach recruits guys that have the same mentality about the game and goes for the character type. We all get along really well. Since I've been here this is probably one of the best units we've had. I think team chemistry is definitely a big thing when it comes to winning games. So far, preseason and workouts are showing that we are working harder than we have before."
On Robinson feeling that this is the best team that he has had here...
"I definitely think the sky's the limit. We've worked hard during preseason. I didn't know coach thought that, but it's pretty nice. I think we have the potential to do a lot of really good things this year. It's just not about being content with what we've done in preseason. We have to keep our eyes on the long run."
Sophomore guard Roberto Nelson
On how he feels...
"I feel a lot stronger. The new strength and conditioning coach did a great job with preparing all of us mentally and physically for the next season."
On the team having better court vision...
"I feel coach is giving us more of a chance to freelance out there on the court. I think that is going to be good for us because he's showing that he has a lot more confidence in us. That is where I think we struggled a lot last year. Now that we know coach has more confidence in us, we'll have more confidence in ourselves."
On whether or not it feels like a new era now that all the players are Robinson recruits...
"It does. You can tell by our chemistry. We're more like a family now. Everybody is holding each other accountable. We're making sure each and every one of us is going hard; we don't want that one person not working hard. We're just making sure that we hold each other accountable, working hard and getting better each day."
On doing things together off the court...
"We hang out a lot more. We have a lot of characters on the team, so it's always fun to hang out with these guys."
On whether or not he would put their group of guards up against anyone in the Pac-12...
"Definitely. I think each and every one of these guards on the team would say that. I think we're athletic now, confident, and we have players that can do a lot of things now.
Junior guard Jared Cunningham
On Coach Robinson's decision to primarily shift to a man-to-man defense this season...
"That's a good focus for us this year. For me, I'm really excited to get to guard a man full court and really show what I can do. This will put more pressure on the ball handlers, forcing them to get the ball out of their hands and it will get our guys guarding full court. We need to cause turnovers and score on the offensive end."
On individual work during the offseason...
"I worked on my jump shot. I put in long hard days of pulling up off the dribble, spotting up and just consistently making jump shots. I feel that it is going well. I'm mostly about defense though; the offense is going to come for me but I focused on my defense also."
On excitement for the season...
"I'm really excited. We have all our guys on the same page. We have all been working hard putting in one day at a time and we are going to be ready for the season."
On the team chemistry...
"The chemistry is good. We are around each other about 17 hours out of the day, practicing together on and off the court. We are in study hall together. So everybody is getting along with each other, we love each other, and we are just one team right now. Everybody on this team is a wonderful individual and we listen to each other, taking in what others have to say. That should help us on the court."
On expectations for the season...
"Expectations for the preseason are to do well and go into the Pac-12 and make some noise. We are very capable of doing it, but we just need to let our game speak for itself. We just want to go out every game, play hard and take it one day at a time. We have to get some wins on the road this year. Last year we really couldn't pick up a win on the road but if we can do that, split a couple games on the road, we can do good."
On taking on a leadership role going into his junior year...
"Me and Kevin McShane, we talk all the time, communicate with each other, and look up to each other. I look up to him as much as he looks up to me so I can show leadership and he can show leadership too so that we will all be good."
On freshman guard Challe Barton...
"He is a great player. Coming from Sweden, it is going to be a different change of pace in the game for him but he should fit in real well. He has been doing real well in practice and weights and he really looks like a Pac-12 player."
On ball distribution amongst the guards this year...
"Nothing should fall off when I come out of the game or when Ahmad (Starks) comes out of the game and Roberto (Nelson) comes in. Everybody is good right now and if we can stay healthy as the guards, we will do what we do."
Freshman forward Eric Moreland
On team anticipation for the season...
"I can't wait. It's been a long time and I feel like it's been years. Coming from UTEP and then getting hurt last year, I just want to help the team and I'm ready to get back out there."
On the team's new talent...
"Charles (Challe Barton) has come in and is learning really fast. He is knocking down his shots and he will be coming up with a lot this year. I can't wait for Daniel Gomis to get back out there because he's a defensive, high-energy player that can block shots and rebound. Rhys Murphy, he knocks down open shots in the corner and he is a high-energy guy as well. We have some good pieces to add to the team."
On his role as a redshirt freshman getting a chance to finally play...
"My role is to be a defensive anchor. I need to block shots, rebound, run the floor, dunk, knock down open shots, just to keep the team going and play hard at all times."
Junior forward Joe Burton
On anticipation for the season to begin...
"I'm excited. Practice starts tomorrow so we are just going to get after it, work hard and we will see how the season unfolds."
On the short offseason...
"Right after we lost to Arizona (in the Pac-10 tournament last year), we came back, took about four days off and came right back into spring training to get ready for next year. We just kept working hard, kept going all the way until fall and in the winter. It was just a big cycle."
On offseason preparation for the year ahead...
"We are taking it really seriously. Everybody is in the gym and is working hard during our off time. Team chemistry has gone really well too. Everybody knows each other and we know our style of play so everything is coming together. We are working hard and basketball will come with it."
On breakout talent predictions...
"I would say `Berto (Roberto Nelson), honestly. He was upset last year how his season was. He was out a year, a year-and-a-half, so I understand where he was coming from. I have known `Bert' for three years so when something is not right, he is going to get up and go to the gym at 1 a.m. or whenever. I think, honestly, him, Jared (Cunningham) and Ahmad (Starks) will have breakout seasons."
On season hopes and expectations...
"We want to finish in the top-three of the Pac-12, go on and win the Pac-12 Tournament and then advance to the NCAA Tournament. That's what we all want so we will see what happens and see how the cards fold."
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