On if having so many possible season opener opponents can help with tournament prep later in the season:
“We had started preparing for Charlotte and VCU back before we got shut down and coming out of that we only had one day where we did not do any preparation for UT Martin at all. We didn’t do anything Saturday in preparation for Colorado, because we weren’t sure yet that the game was actually going to go. While we were working on that game, we were in contact with two or three other schools that we possibly would have to get on the road and go play on a Wednesday, which at this point in time we were prepared to do whatever we had to do to get our season going. Tomorrow will be the first time that we have everybody sitting on the same bench together. We’re opening up this week with Colorado and ten we have Cincinnati, and it is what it is. We’re just glad to be playing, and I think our guys will tell you that they’re excited.”
On if having a Veteran team can eliminate tome of the issues that come with not having a preseason:
“Our older guys, they’ve been able to handle the stops and starts better than the younger guys. The older guys, they came into the gym and did what they were supposed to do. It’s the team concept where when we call something, the older guys get it and the younger guys are looking around saying ‘What was that?’ but that’s where we have to have a different package with some of those younger guys. The older guys, they should know. They should be able to handle it. The biggest thing we’ve tried to do is keep those young guys as fresh as we can and try to teach them how hard they are going to have to play.”