Steve Lavin interview

Thanks gonzalo.

Nothing new here but I can't help but think back to last year when Lavin spoke about the schedule then being a lot tougher than it would be this year with all the incoming freshmen.

Looking at the upcoming schedule he seems to have changed his tune about that. This might indicate that this class is a lot better than what even he could practically expect it to be at the time.

The interview seems to indicate that he wants to see just how good this team can be earlier on.

Thanks gonzalo.

Nothing new here but I can't help but think back to last year when Lavin spoke about the schedule then being a lot tougher than it would be this year with all the incoming freshmen.

Looking at the upcoming schedule he seems to have changed his tune about that. This might indicate that this class is a lot better than what even he could practically expect it to be at the time.

The interview seems to indicate that he wants to see just how good this team can be earlier on.

He saw how much SOS kept us in the conversation last year on top of the BE schedule and how this year it could do wonders for us squeaking into the tournament if we play halfway decent ball.

Quote from: qcredman on July 14, 2011, 01:53:51 PM

Thanks gonzalo.

Nothing new here but I can't help but think back to last year when Lavin spoke about the schedule then being a lot tougher than it would be this year with all the incoming freshmen.

Looking at the upcoming schedule he seems to have changed his tune about that. This might indicate that this class is a lot better than what even he could practically expect it to be at the time.

The interview seems to indicate that he wants to see just how good this team can be earlier on.

He saw how much SOS kept us in the conversation last year on top of the BE schedule and how this year it could do wonders for us squeaking into the tournament if we play halfway decent ball.

True story.  SOS saved our arse last year...specifically the quality non-conference games away from home. 

Quote from: Moose on July 14, 2011, 02:35:55 PM

Quote from: qcredman on July 14, 2011, 01:53:51 PM

Thanks gonzalo.

Nothing new here but I can't help but think back to last year when Lavin spoke about the schedule then being a lot tougher than it would be this year with all the incoming freshmen.

Looking at the upcoming schedule he seems to have changed his tune about that. This might indicate that this class is a lot better than what even he could practically expect it to be at the time.

The interview seems to indicate that he wants to see just how good this team can be earlier on.

He saw how much SOS kept us in the conversation last year on top of the BE schedule and how this year it could do wonders for us squeaking into the tournament if we play halfway decent ball.

True story.  SOS saved our arse last year...specifically the quality non-conference games away from home.

Agree wholeheartedly.  Our SOS is amazingly important  It's almost impossible to deny a team that has a top 5 SOS entry into the tourney coming out out of the Big East, even if the record is fair.  It shows that the team challenged themselves all the way through.  Records don't matter quite as much any more, but rather it is who you played, how you played and who you beat.

Quote from: qcredman on July 14, 2011, 01:53:51 PM

Thanks gonzalo.

Nothing new here but I can't help but think back to last year when Lavin spoke about the schedule then being a lot tougher than it would be this year with all the incoming freshmen.

Looking at the upcoming schedule he seems to have changed his tune about that. This might indicate that this class is a lot better than what even he could practically expect it to be at the time.

The interview seems to indicate that he wants to see just how good this team can be earlier on.

He saw how much SOS kept us in the conversation last year on top of the BE schedule and how this year it could do wonders for us squeaking into the tournament if we play halfway decent ball.

Don't think Steve was in any way surprised at the impact of the SOS - take a look at his record.  In 8 years as a head coach he's probably  in the top 5-10 coaches in terms of average SOS played.   Pretty impressive considering during most of his UCLA run 2/3s of the Pac 10 was pretty much crap in the RPI rankings....

Steve has always played a challenging schedule.  Much to his detriment with UCLA fans.   Early season losses (even blowouts) while he tinkered with the roster and lineups (much as we saw here early last season) that might have been avoided with a few more cupcakes - but then, if you're tinkering to see what works best, what insight is actually gleaned if your WALKONS could have beaten the opponent? 

Quote from: Moose on July 14, 2011, 02:35:55 PM

Quote from: qcredman on July 14, 2011, 01:53:51 PM

Thanks gonzalo.

Nothing new here but I can't help but think back to last year when Lavin spoke about the schedule then being a lot tougher than it would be this year with all the incoming freshmen.

Looking at the upcoming schedule he seems to have changed his tune about that. This might indicate that this class is a lot better than what even he could practically expect it to be at the time.

The interview seems to indicate that he wants to see just how good this team can be earlier on.

He saw how much SOS kept us in the conversation last year on top of the BE schedule and how this year it could do wonders for us squeaking into the tournament if we play halfway decent ball.

Don't think Steve was in any way surprised at the impact of the SOS - take a look at his record.  In 8 years as a head coach he's probably  in the top 5-10 coaches in terms of average SOS played.   Pretty impressive considering during most of his UCLA run 2/3s of the Pac 10 was pretty much crap in the RPI rankings....

Steve has always played a challenging schedule.  Much to his detriment with UCLA fans.   Early season losses (even blowouts) while he tinkered with the roster and lineups (much as we saw here early last season) that might have been avoided with a few more cupcakes - but then, if you're tinkering to see what works best, what insight is actually gleaned if your WALKONS could have beaten the opponent?

Exactly right.  I don't think he changed his tune about the SOS.  I think he's certainly aware and actively sought out top teams for the schedule.  It's what fans want to watch and what recruits want to play against.  He certainly had some growin pains for quite a few reasons last season early on.  I expect some of the same, expect I expect that the coaches will be much kore in synch and not feeling out what they want o do like last season.  It should bode well with a more focused staff and a Steve Lavin that has been back in this game for an entire year.

I liked Coach Lavin's answer to the question on how it is going with his new recruits.  I thought it was a trick question.  However, Coach Lavin never faulted, as he simply stated that NCAA rules prohibit coaches from working out their recruits at this date.

It was a good interview.  Boy, are we blessed having Coach Lavin.

Lets hope this year's biopsy brings good news!

I liked Coach Lavin's answer to the question on how it is going with his new recruits.  I thought it was a trick question.  However, Coach Lavin never faulted, as he simply stated that NCAA rules prohibit coaches from working out their recruits at this date.

It was a good interview.  Boy, are we blessed having Coach Lavin.

Lets hope this year's biopsy brings good news!

It's not a trick question honestly.  Zags reads the boards, he knows what fans want to know.  He knows what he has to ask and he knows the kind of answer Lav or any coach will give.

Zags has an interview style made for print journalism.