Media Day Quotables | Wichita State Head Men's Basketball Coach Paul Mills | Oct. 17, 2024

Paul Press Conference Transcript October 17, 2024
 
Opening Statement...
"Well, I feel like with media here, it's about that time of year. We've seen the prognosticators. Everybody's kind of aware of it. I've watched a little bit of Memphis-North Carolina, the other night, so the juices are flowing and you're ready to play and feel great about the group that we have and we're excited to get this thing started."
 
On the Preseason KenPom rankings and if he's pleased with where they are ranked...
"No, I'd rather be Top 10, prefer to be one. I mean, I think you kind of pay attention to where you're favored, where does the rest of the league stand? And I do think you think through where does the conference stand among everybody else and who do they think is going to be good? I would like to see where we rank out experience-wise, we'll know that after a few games and after everybody plays, but it's a guess right now. I do like the fact that Kenpom bases it on returning players and metrics."
 
On being picked fourth in the AAC Preseason Poll...
"One it's returners. I think when you get five of your top seven returning that obviously helps. I think people are aware of what Quincy Ballard can do. We have two leading scorers returning in Xavier Bell and Harlond Beverly and then Bijan (Cortes) and Ronnie (DeGray III). Obviously, you know Bijan came on there at the end of the season and he made plays and then Ronnie did the very same thing. I think people are aware of his impact and he made strides as the season progressed, but to have those guys around for another year is rare. We only had three transfers, which was tied for the lowest number in the conference. UAB also had three and the league average was a little bit north of eight, but I think a lot of this is just based on who's returning and the core of the guys that we have here."
 
On if any of the returners have stepped in a mentor role for the newcomers...
"Definitely. I mean, that's a big part of it. You convey to your players often that a player coached team is much better than a coach coached team. So, if I'm having to do all the talking, all the motivating, all the holding to the standards because the players don't have them, we're in trouble. I think a lot of what you see is there's a lot of terminology, especially that younger players can be confused by, but even transfer knowing that they're coming in. The guys that are veterans have to explain it to them and when I know that they're hands on in that I feel really good about the people who gather in this locker room every day. The vets have done a tremendous job just educating the transfers, educating the new guys, you know, trying to make sure they understand, don't get frustrated. We all went through this. It's a part of development. You're not going to understand everything that's going on. I think the bigger message that the older guys have been able to get across to the new guys is how hard you have to compete just to give yourself a chance and I feel like they've all done that."
 
On what he was looking for in the transfer portal... 
"We were disappointed in assist-to-turnover ratio and inability to really handle pressure and we needed to be able to address that. So you know having Justin Hill on, not only was he a double-digit scorer but was third in assist rate in the SEC and his assist-turnover ratio was really good. Zion Pipkin, I always thought he was a guy who valued the basketball, and we needed depth there. We knew Bijan and Xavier were coming back, but we needed to add depth there. The second thing is we needed to address shooting, not only from a perimeter standpoint, but also from the free throw line. We needed to make sure the guys that came in when they got fouled, could they convert? So you have a Corey Washington who hasn't necessarily shot a lot of threes, but his foul rate is really high and he can convert free throws there. If you look at it, I think each of the guys that we brought in, Zane (Meeks) obviously was a part of that, of guys who could shoot, but, you know, AJ (McGinnis) is a big part of it too. I was really pleased in our scrimmage on Saturday with Oklahoma State, just our conversion rate (on free throws), we shot 69%. We were at 77 percent on Saturday, so that's quite a jump. Seventy-five percent is okay, but I do feel that we need to be north of 75% to give ourselves a chance. A lot of that was we needed to address our ball security issues and we needed to address some shooting. But around the free throw line, we cannot be as deplorable as we were a year ago."
 
On what he wants his team's identity to be on the offensive end... 
"The thing that we talk about a lot with our team is we're going to rebound the ball, we're going to take care of the ball and we're going to share the ball. Those are non-negotiables. So a 78 percent that would actually lead the country (defensive rebounding %), we were at 76 percent being able to retrieve defensive rebounds the other day against Oklahoma State. So I felt like that was good. Offensively, we were able to get 36 percent, which was, in my opinion, pretty good for this group simply because we don't have a lot of crashers. We name guys either crashers or get-back guys, so we don't have a lot of crashers, but I thought our crashers did a phenomenal job. Go back into the turnover world, we're going to take care of the ball, that plays into defense in my mind. If you're playing a lot of disadvantaged basketball because you have a lot of live ball turnovers, you're going to be on the wrong end. We need to do a better job sharing the ball. We do have guys who can pass and shoot. Obviously. I think a lot of people saw the Bijan-Quincy Ballard connection a year ago, but there's things that we need to do in order to just move the ball from a shot quality standpoint. I thought there was just too many times maybe where we settled for an ISO situation or there was a better shot somewhere. Offensively, when we go back and look at it, we need to share the ball. Now the assist rates aren't going to be great night in and night out because of what teams do. Some people don't want assisted buckets so they really fan out and allow you to play one-on-one. So it is going to differ every night but I can tell you your better teams do a great job of passing the basketball."
 
On how his team plans to create more live ball turnovers...
"Yeah, I would tell you that in order to be good defensively, you have to have multiple pick and roll coverages and you have to have a team that's good enough to understand that there has to be a change. So, in my mind you have to have three that you can be able to move to after a timeout, after half, whatever the situation may be. I would tell you that we're a lot more aggressive in pick and roll. Primarily we were a drop team last year and just kept Quincy and Kenny Pohto with guys like that around the rim. We're not that this year we're a lot more aggressive, specifically with certain lineups on the floor so that definitely helps. I would also say that we're better at keeping the basketball where it needs to be. Like if it gets into a deep corner, if it gets somewhere on the side, we do a better job of squeezing that. We're a little bit more aggressive there, but I think our rim protection without getting too wonky on you about the inverted triangles, I think our rim guys do a much better job and maybe that's just because they just had so many reps from a year ago to this year."
 
On if he is challenging Quincy Ballard to defend more coverages this season...
"Yeah, absolutely. He needs to be able to do more. I think when you talk to NBA scouts and people who have questions about Quincy Ballard, nobody doubts his ability to finish things. I mean, if you were to ask me, would you trade skill for somebody who can challenge vertically? Yes. I think a lot of people say, well, can't do this, can't do that. I'll trade a guy who is ultra skilled as a big for a guy who can go do that just because you understand the rarity of both. When you ask a number of NBA scouts, they talk about his mobility, and I think you kind of saw that with Zach Edey. His junior year, he was not projected to be drafted, and he got leaner, his mobility increased, and I think Quincy's done a much better job with his mobility and he has the ability to get out there. If you've seen him run, he can get out and run and he can turn it on at any time, but absolutely. Quincy Ballard, we need him to be at different places on the court because his length is really a problem."
 
On if that raises the ceiling of this team defensively...
"I thought we were good defensively. The other day I thought we were solid. Yeah, and again going back to you have to be able to have multiple pick and roll coverages. I mean, if you have an elite shot blocker, they're going to try and get him away from the rim. So this isn't always something that you can always do. We'll see what it generates, but we're not going to be the most offensively skilled team in the country, so we need to generate a lot defensively. First of all, we need to limit you to one shot, and then secondly, we do need to generate some offense through defense simply because we're not the most offensive team. It's not as if we're putting a lineup out there that's going to be able to shoot one through five."
 
On the outside shooting for this team...
"I think guys have really improved. I think Xavier Bell has really improved. I think Justin Hill adds a dimension. I think Harlond Beverly has really improved, Bijan's really improved. I thought Bijan just had a poor year based upon his previous seasons and I would tell you that of those three guys, I'd throw Ronnie in there too, those four have all gotten better shooting the ball. Zion Pipkin is shooting more than 40 percent through our practice sessions in 5-on-5 because we chart it all and then I will tell you that Justin can shoot and at the same time AJ can shoot. So, I feel like we've added pieces. We need to play a few games and then just see where we are. You know, it's one thing in practice, it's a whole different deal when you begin to play games and how people scout. We did not shoot it well the other day against Oklahoma State, but I thought that was more of a downhill team on account of their pressure. We were able to handle the physicality. I feel we'll be a much better shooting team than we are a year ago, but that's not how we're winning basketball games."
 
On the depth of this team...
"We definitely have a lot more depth. We're two deep at every single spot. Practices have been great. I kind of talk to the guys often about the proverb of iron sharpens iron, and so the better we can get guys to be challenged day in and day out. I've always been impressed with the better wide receivers in football in the country from the high school ranks always going to Alabama because they felt that they were going to be challenged every day by the cornerbacks at Alabama. And I would tell you the cornerbacks probably got better because of the wide receivers and vice versa and I feel like our depth every day, every single practice has been competitive. We're putting guys out there the other day referencing the scrimmage on Saturday. We were literally platooning guys and just bringing in a whole new five and they were fresh and they were able to add value. The depth helps a lot simply because we're going to get better the more these players are challenged in practice."
 
On turnovers...
Yeah, you definitely don't want empty possessions. Where you're going to get hurt from a defensive standpoint is in disadvantaged basketball, that's what live ball turnovers create and so that alone just making sure we get quality shots each time to be able to limit the turnovers. I mentioned the three things that we talked to the team. We're going to rebound the ball and we need to take care of the ball. I don't know that every single night we'll be able to share the ball, but we are going to rebound the ball, We are going to take care of the ball. And I go back to something Stan Van Gundy told me a long time ago. He says if you if you want a team that doesn't turn the ball over, play guys that don't turn the ball over, so let let's not make this harder than it needs to be. We have guys who have done a good job with ball security."
 
On if there is an update on Matej Bosnjak and how he fits with Quincy Ballard...
"No update there. I mean, he's able to practice and so the things that we do practice wise and, you know, on Saturday versus Oklahoma State was considered a practice, but they're still deciphering everything that occurred there. He's kind of in a big situation with a number of other players across the country. The NCAA is looking at this on a case-by-case basis, but for the most part, no update there. If he becomes available and obviously, we anticipate that at some point we'd be disappointed if he doesn't, I think you're going to see a different dimension of big man. He and Quincy Ballard to some degree are opposites. The things that Quincy can do well, Matej doesn't necessarily do well and vice versa. I think what that allows you to do is play a number of different ways, and you can throw out different ways to play based upon how a game or what may be a weakness of another team, but they're definitely two different players."

On Zion Pipkin getting minutes as a freshman...
"I would tell you the thing that I loved about Zion, and it immediately stood out when we were recruiting him is how competitive he is. That dude loves to compete. There are some players who are in a situation where they're going to level up as players the more you encourage them, but there are other players who really level up, the more you challenge them. He is a challenge guy and I can tell you there's a lot of times when players get challenged, they kind of shrink from it and it takes a little while. Some of it's just their personality. They're aware now of things that they necessarily can't do. He finds out something or he gets beat in something. I promise you that next day, or maybe not even that long, maybe that next play, he's going to figure it out. He's just a guy who really, really believes in himself and he's kind of unaware of what he's gotten himself into from a competitive side because you've never played a game. You don't know necessarily how good the opposition is, but that is a dude who is not going to shrink and that's the best thing he has going for him our players hear me say this a lot, skill is king, but intangibles are supreme. You have to have a certain skill in order to do well, but if you have the intangibles, it's going to override skill, and he has his intangibles at a really high level and that's what's allowed him to do that is now him being able to shoot better than 40 percent from three is a skill that's keeping him on the court, but trust me, his intangibles and his competitiveness is what's going to allow him to be on the court.
 
On if Zion will play alongside the other point guards in games...
"Absolutely. I've always believed you need multiple ball handlers out there. Luka (Doncic) and Kyrie (Irving) are the two that stand out, but you just can't take Luka away because now you have Kyrie and just can't take Kyrie away because you have Luka to worry about. I think some of our turnover issues a year ago as people knew If you only have one playmaker on the floor, you trap that guy and make the other four non playmakers make plays. We've had two guards on there. It's kind of how constructed teams in the past and Zion helps and so he can be out there with whoever."
 
On how many bids he thinks the American can get in March...
"Yeah, I honestly don't know, simply because I haven't seen the teams. I don't think anybody would be surprised if it's three, maybe even four. I think when you go back into the conversation a year ago and there were two in UAB and Florida Atlantic, but South Florida was in the conversation, Memphis was in the conversation. I do think you have to schedule in order to give yourself a chance along those lines and I feel like we've done that, but at the end of the day, you have to win games. This is a program that expects to play in March and I can tell you from a player perspective, I think every single player minus Bijan of the five returners have all played there. We have guys who have come here to play in March. Corey Washington came here to play in March. We are here to play in March. One of the first graphics I put on the on the screen here in August is this is what a game for March looks like. We go through the five things that you have to have a game for March, but we start that process when we first show up. This is about building a game for March that make sure that you can advance in March, but you've heard me say this, we're just trying to go 1-0 each game, but I do feel like every program's goal is to get to March, but this is one where it's more of an expectation."
 
On what he means by a "Game for March"...
"Yeah, there's some things that you have to do. I mean, first thing we talk about a game from March, you can tell the better teams have a great shot selection. We go through it and we go through it pretty heavily about what good shot selection looks like. We show them here's UConn, here's Purdue. I thought we went through the 30-win teams, and you go through what their shot profiles look like. We even look at it from an NBA side. I bet everybody on our roster can tell you the value of taking certain shots, obviously the best ones are layups and dunks, and you get through that. You make sure guys understand that. And again, once a week they're given their shot profile for all the practices up to this point but shot selection and the shots you can force the other team to take and the shots you take have a lot to do with having a game built for March."
 
On the impact Director of Recruiting Ognjen "OG" Stranjina has made in recruiting...
"Terrific. Simply because he lives, eats and breathes recruiting. I mean, there's not a day that goes by where he says, "Have we checked on so and so?" "Have we checked on so and so?" He brings up a lot of names. I could go two months without mentioning a guy, and I could ask him about that guy today and he can rattle off what has happened with a recruit. He handed me a sheet the other day of 30 high-major players he believes right now are in Europe and we've gathered film and we've done due diligence, but we may find someone we were never aware of. He'll tell me, hey, X, Y, Z, recruit had a fall league game on Monday. He scored 18 points and had seven rebounds, so it's easy for me because then I text the recruit, Hey, congrats on your 18 points and seven. You want people who crush their jobs or whatever responsibility they're given and he's one of those guys."
 
On how the situation went down with Harlond Beverly offering his scholarship... 
"Yeah, our players are aware of the scholarship limits and everybody in the locker room is aware that we were one over after signing Matej and one day around the middle of July we were finishing up weights and I just said, Harlond, you know, you're aware that we signed Matej and he said, Yeah, and I've been meaning to ask you about this. And he said, "Oh, where do we get the scholarship from? How about if I volunteer mine?" And I said, "Well, it eliminates some hard discussions that we're planning on having with some other people" And he said, "how would this work financially?" and I explained it to him, and it was less than 2 minutes. He's a graduate student. Harlond Beverly is, so his bill was not as extensive as an undergrad and he just said, "you know what, I want to do it. I'm in a situation financially to where I can help. If this means that the team is going to win and we can add more depth in order to allow us to compete, then I'll do it." Harlond has experienced a Final Four and it was a sacrifice that honest to goodness he volunteered to do. I think it speaks to Rebecca, his mom and Clayton, his dad, that they've raised a wonderful young man and it's so rare a lot of times everybody's aware of the sacrifices that a mom and a dad makes on behalf of their kids, but very few times do you see young people making sacrifices on behalf of the greater good of everybody. We expect older people who've been around the block to do it. To be a good team, everybody has to make sacrifices. Usually, though, those guys, they're not pocketbook sacrifices. His willingness to do that is a testament to who he is and a tribute to his parents."