Brownell on Virginia: 'They just keep getting better'
Brad Brownell spoke to the media ahead of today's top-25 showdown between the 12th-ranked Tigers and 18th-ranked Virginia Cavaliers. Here are the key quotes and highlights:
ON LOSING MOMENTUM BECAUSE OF THE COVID SHUTDOWN:
“Yeah, it was a little disappointing. It was hard last week when we called the guys off the court on Friday, right before practice started. And especially when you're playing well, guys are excited. They want to go out and compete. They were looking forward to it. You just have a lot of positive momentum with your team when things are going well. The energy was good, and guys were practicing great. It was hard.”
ON HOW THE OLDER STAFF IS HANDLING THE POTENTIAL FOR COVID:
“Yeah, I think we're all cognizant of that, especially some of us that are a little bit older than others. The younger guys, young GA's and all that, probably don't think about it as much. I do think some of our older coaches do, and a lot of us are married. So now we're around our families, and our families, whatever they could be around could put us potentially in danger, as well. I've had conversations with my staff about 'if you feel uncomfortable, or don't feel right, take days to stay away or whatnot. Whatever you need to do, your health is first.'”
ON VIRGINIA’S ADJUSTMENTS FROM EARLY IN THE SEASON:
“I think they're just getting better. I think they had some roster turnover, a lot of new guys. You could tell early in the year, like the San Francisco game, [Tony Bennett] is playing more guys and still trying to figure some things out. You can almost see that he's changed not how they play, but probably personnel groupings and things of that nature. Made adjustments that way. And I just think it's experience and practice and consistency. And they just look better.”
ON NICK HONOR’S CHANGE IN VOCAL LEADERSHIP:
“I just wanted him to have a bigger voice. He's a naturally pretty quiet guy. Great guy. Really good player, energy giver. Great kid, just kind of quiet. And you know, that was one of the things that that I talked about and noticed in his year out was just that I thought if he wants to direct the team, have the ball in his hands or be an extension of me on the court, he's gonna have to do a better job of communicating.”
ON HUNTER TYSON’S AVAILABILITY:
“[Hunter] has practiced the last two days, and as long as things go well today and tomorrow morning, he should be good to go.”
– Clemson and Virginia will tipoff at 6:00 PM this afternoon on ESPN.