00:00:05.120 –> 00:00:07.280
You got it. I guess you got Put it up where you

00:00:07.280 –> 00:00:07.440
get to

00:00:07.520 –> 00:00:09.680
I’ll come in here, and I’ll stop it. I just

00:00:09.840 –> 00:00:18.965
Now the first thing she’s gonna ask you about, like, your dates this past weekend. So Dates? Yeah. Dates. So when she just start getting your line start getting ready for

00:00:18.965 –> 00:00:19.685
when love life?

00:00:19.685 –> 00:00:23.765
Yeah. Start getting ready for when she kinda asks you. Kyle, you won’t have many answers. Yeah. Yeah.

00:00:24.325 –> 00:00:26.565
Y’all are are good to go whenever y’all wanna go.

00:00:26.565 –> 00:00:27.445
Do you need to

00:00:27.445 –> 00:00:36.350
do you need to test mics? Or I think I I we have, like, a set level now that we can just put it to, and it should be good. I gotta get back to the baseball game. Alright. Alright.

00:00:36.350 –> 00:00:43.470
Good luck and enjoy. Alright. Alright, guys. Left alone. So you can put the mic wherever it so that you’re comfortable in your chair.

00:00:43.470 –> 00:00:48.125
So if you wanna pull it towards you, you can. I just want you all to feel comfortable.

00:00:48.125 –> 00:00:50.125
That may be as far as that one goes, Jim.

00:00:50.445 –> 00:00:53.325
I know they’ll stretch. Alright, y’all ready?

00:00:53.325 –> 00:01:20.085
Let’s do it. Alright. So hey everybody, welcome to 90 point 9 The Lion. This is Paige LeBleu with your Fight Like a Lion podcast. Today I’m so happy to have several members of the men’s basketball team with us, just talking about their journey in this past season, what they’re doing right now, and what they’re looking forward to in the year to come. So if you guys don’t mind, you could come around and just introduce yourselves.

00:01:20.325 –> 00:01:22.645
I’m your freshman Jeremy Elyzee.

00:01:24.085 –> 00:01:26.085
Kyle Roane, one of the assistant coaches.

00:01:26.245 –> 00:01:28.085
I’m a sophomore, Kyle Edison.

00:01:30.250 –> 00:01:34.250
I’m a junior, my name is Jaiden Lawrence. He’s unsure, coach.

00:01:34.250 –> 00:01:35.930
He’s a little, not quite sure.

00:01:35.930 –> 00:01:38.330
If we’re already stumbling on this first question, we gotta

00:01:38.330 –> 00:01:42.650
Hey, knock that’s okay, because like you gotta be thinking in your head, do I have those hours?

00:01:42.650 –> 00:01:47.265
I’m I’m upset. Just thinking like what I was next year, but I’m a junior.

00:01:47.265 –> 00:01:51.905
I love it. I love it. I love it. Well, alright, guys. Let’s talk about let’s talk about basketball.

00:01:51.985 –> 00:01:57.265
Let’s talk about this last season. You guys were pretty exciting to watch for me.

00:01:57.530 –> 00:01:58.010
Thank you.

00:01:58.010 –> 00:01:58.250
And I

00:01:58.250 –> 00:02:17.465
know for a lot of our fans, tell me, and the way I would describe this team and coach, just jump in and tell me if I’m right or wrong, but I think this team had grit. I love the fact that y’all never quit, and we had some exciting games, right?

00:02:17.465 –> 00:02:18.345
Yes, ma’am.

00:02:18.345 –> 00:02:29.580
Very exciting games, and so tell me a little bit about your take maybe on the season or maybe one of the highlights that was like a favorite for you. What about you, Jeremy?

00:02:30.060 –> 00:02:55.370
So for me, I think my favorite part of the season was, does Cancun count? I mean, I’ll put Cancun in there because I guess we all, like, gel together. And I feel like that’s where that grit came out because, you know, like, when we’re, like, spending, like, at least five to six days with each other, like, all we gotta do is just get along, and I feel like that’s what what helped us be so successful during the season, so that was my favorite part of the season.

00:02:55.370 –> 00:02:58.970
I love that. Coach, was that a team building strategy there to

00:02:59.130 –> 00:03:04.490
You know, is. Those tournaments that Jeremy’s referring to, they’re called MTEs, and

00:03:04.985 –> 00:03:05.465
a lot of

00:03:05.465 –> 00:03:39.555
them are in kind of very nice locations, and that one happened to be in Cancun, which is a very nice location, but as Jeremy mentioned, it does give us a chance to bond. Obviously it gives us a chance to play three games. One of them was in The States at Wyoming, and then we flew to Cancun and played two neutral court games. So the travel, the resort we stayed at, the host company that puts the tournament together provides that atmosphere where our team can bond along with playing and competing. So I agree with Jeremy.

00:03:39.555 –> 00:03:49.235
It was, I think, a turning point in our year in terms of or a blast off to our year, so to speak, that was good for us when we look back on it. Really was.

00:03:50.090 –> 00:03:51.450
Alright, I love that.

00:03:51.930 –> 00:04:15.335
I’d say the favorite part of my year is probably Cancun too, though, but individually, my favorite thing to do is go eat with the team. When everybody’s bonding, we would go to Chili’s and go eat and have fun. And I feel like that’s where, like that’s really where we bonded at. And you talk about how we had grit. I feel like that’s just us coming in every day and playing hard because coach Kiefer has us going every day in practice, competing every day.

00:04:16.040 –> 00:04:20.920
Yeah. Yeah. I love that. Yeah. That hard work, it’s you know, it pays off.

00:04:20.920 –> 00:04:21.320
Yeah.

00:04:21.320 –> 00:04:21.800
For sure.

00:04:22.120 –> 00:04:23.400
Yeah. What about you,

00:04:23.400 –> 00:04:36.095
Jayden? I would say my favorite part of the season was definitely we went on a stretch. Well, of course, Cancun. That was probably the best memories that I had with the team. But even though I wasn’t playing, it was still just I don’t know.

00:04:36.095 –> 00:04:42.575
It was just it was a great experience. But I’d say that my favorite part of the season is we went on a stretch where we won, like, six in a row.

00:04:42.575 –> 00:04:42.735
Yeah.

00:04:42.735 –> 00:04:52.720
And, like, everybody was just so happy, like, coming in every day and, you know, just competing. And I think that was probably my favorite part of the season when we were on that little win streak.

00:04:53.200 –> 00:05:07.025
Yeah. Winning streaks always feel good, right? Yes, ma’am. Talk to me about like, how do you like maintain that when you start to get on a streak? Is that something that messes with you or is it like it’s a positive thing that motivate like mentally?

00:05:07.985 –> 00:05:11.905
What do you do with a streak? Anybody jump in and answer that.

00:05:12.065 –> 00:05:29.880
I mean, with Coach Kiefer, he always used to tell us like, how are you gonna respond after every loss and after every win? It’s, like, it’s it’s on to the next game. So we can’t get stuck on the like, oh, we just won five in a row. Are we gonna lose the next one, or are gonna win six in a row? So I feel like that’s, like, as our as competitors, like, that’s how we look at the game.

00:05:30.635 –> 00:05:32.475
So you’re being in the moment. Definitely.

00:05:32.475 –> 00:05:56.230
Yeah. And picking off what Kyle said, he he’s always talking about responses and, like, how we respond to the next game. But I think, like, if we’re winning, it’s the pressure’s on us. So I think we look at it as, like, you know, coming in every day and just working harder just to keep keep winning and keep the target on our back because, you know, that’s what we play for to, you know, win and compete every day. So I think it’s just how we responded.

00:05:56.885 –> 00:06:00.725
Yeah. I like that. Anybody else want to jump in on that one?

00:06:01.285 –> 00:06:20.750
I mean, I don’t think, like, we didn’t get bored winning because, you know, winning feels good, and everybody like to feel good. So I feel like the more we kept winning, you know, the better we felt about ourselves. Like, our confidence went up. Yeah. But I think like that, like seven plus game winning streak, that helped a lot because, you know, I had like my little highlights here and there.

00:06:20.750 –> 00:06:26.285
Kyle had his, J Law had his, and, you know, that’s just just how it is when you win. You feel good about yourself.

00:06:26.285 –> 00:06:27.645
Everybody loved to win.

00:06:28.125 –> 00:06:33.485
You talk about growing in your confidence. I think as you get out there in place, well, you’re a freshman,

00:06:33.485 –> 00:06:33.725
right?

00:06:33.725 –> 00:06:44.810
Freshman. Stepping onto that court for the first time at this level and then learning and growing, do you feel like at some point it started to kick in for you?

00:06:45.290 –> 00:07:08.450
Yeah, I think Well, it was a big change, especially when I first got here because I struggled, especially in practice because the stuff I did in high school didn’t work when I came up here. So I was kinda like my little mental block is once I got past that, you know, a couple games in, I started to realize, like, okay. I know what I’m good at. Let me be good at what I’m good at, and then that boosts my confidence. Like, at the end of the season, my shot got better.

00:07:08.770 –> 00:07:21.345
I was more physical on my drive, so I finished at the rim better. So I think just going along with the season and, you know, playing around these guys, they helped my confidence get up. And that was just really it for me, to be honest with you. So yeah.

00:07:21.345 –> 00:07:24.945
Yeah, that’s good. That’s good. Iron sharpens iron, right?

00:07:24.945 –> 00:07:26.145
Yes ma’am. So

00:07:26.545 –> 00:07:31.745
the better, you know, your teammates are, the better you are. Y’all really push each other hard?

00:07:31.745 –> 00:07:31.985
Yes

00:07:31.985 –> 00:07:54.775
ma’am. That’s a big y’all get in the studio you guys aren’t in the studio as you listen, but got heads shaking over here like, Oh yeah, we push each other. So that’s awesome. Tell me about like, were there any moments where it was just like, one of the things I think when it comes to competition, it’s like, what did I learn from this? Right?

00:07:55.095 –> 00:08:00.455
Do you have learning moments throughout the year that really stood out for you individually?

00:08:01.470 –> 00:08:15.595
I feel like every day is a learning moment. Coach Rowan is always going to tell you even little details matter. And that’s the biggest difference between Division I and other programs lower like Juco. It’s the details from the first day you come in. That’s what I feel like.

00:08:15.595 –> 00:08:18.075
I love that. What are some of the details for you?

00:08:20.155 –> 00:08:26.555
What’s a big detail I struggle with this year? Well, I don’t know. At off the top of my head, I don’t really know.

00:08:26.820 –> 00:08:27.700
I can say something.

00:08:27.700 –> 00:08:29.300
Playing, like, a little slower for you.

00:08:29.300 –> 00:08:30.420
Yeah. For sure. Make

00:08:30.420 –> 00:08:52.455
it right. More like just accepting the fact that you’re wrong and they’re just like, our coaches love us to death. Like, they’re gonna do anything to help us win or help us be better. So I think it’s just the fact that taking what they say and not being personal with it, taking it to the chin and just moving forward and being better at that situation that you’re wrong in. Yeah.

00:08:52.455 –> 00:08:57.015
Yeah. So being able to take constructive criticism. Yes, ma’am. And let somebody teach you.

00:08:57.260 –> 00:09:01.820
That’s a big thing. And it also contributes to winning too.

00:09:02.220 –> 00:09:03.100
Of course.

00:09:03.180 –> 00:09:08.060
If you got one person that’s not doing that, it don’t look like you stick out.

00:09:10.035 –> 00:09:12.355
This is this is my grace team. Right?

00:09:12.675 –> 00:09:12.995
Yeah.

00:09:12.995 –> 00:09:17.155
Right? Did I remember that? Yes, ma’am. I love that. Tell me what grace is.

00:09:17.875 –> 00:09:22.915
Oh. Is gratitude what? Respect. Accountability.

00:09:22.915 –> 00:09:23.475
I don’t know.

00:09:25.350 –> 00:09:31.350
What’s to see? Commitment. Commitment, and then enthusiasm. Enthusiasm. Yeah, I study my text, know

00:09:31.350 –> 00:09:31.670
what I mean?

00:09:31.670 –> 00:09:34.950
But I don’t think the R is respect, is it? It respect?

00:09:34.950 –> 00:09:35.350
It’s respect.

00:09:35.350 –> 00:10:11.435
Yes, it is. Wanna respect each team that we play, we wanna respect everybody that we encounter, you know, that’s our pillars of our program, and, you know, one thing that’s, speaking of winning streak and what these guys have said that has been big in this particular group is our approach each day, You mentioned, do we push each other? On the floor, it’s gotta be very, very competitive. Then as Kyle mentioned, after those days are over, then okay, let’s go eat at a particular restaurant and let’s bond again, knowing that it’s just like coaches pushing them, teammates push each other, but it’s over. It’s nothing personal.

00:10:11.435 –> 00:10:39.945
We’re just going to be the best player we can be each day, and it’s my responsibility to know that my teammates coming with it every day. I can’t bring a bad attitude. I cannot have enthusiasm a particular day because I know somebody’s coming with it. That’s some of the details, other than techniques that we teach them, that maybe they’ve gotten away with just by being the best player at their high school team or best player on their junior college team. Now when you get here, everybody’s been the best player at their particular school.

00:10:40.345 –> 00:11:16.995
And, you know, we’ve gotta get here and roles become defined a little more than they have had them. You probably don’t get as away with as much as you did when you were the best player on a particular team. So, not only did we push them as coaches, but their teammates push, and that’s one thing that stood out about this year’s team. We were very competitive each day, which made us, as coaching staff, it made us a very enjoyable group to work with each day. When you’re having to motivate a team, odds are you’re not gonna be very successful with your record or with your pleasure of being down there working with them each day.

00:11:16.995 –> 00:11:22.170
We were able to coach this group each day. That makes a lot of sense, what you’re saying. Yeah, we were able to

00:11:22.170 –> 00:11:47.900
coach this group each day because they brought enthusiasm, they brought a competitive spirit, they were committed to getting better every day, and we were able to coach. And like Jayden said, we all gotta get better in personal ways. Some of us, you know, we’re still competitive guys, and we do love our guys. We’re a unique program, and I think our guys feel that, so we’re able to kind of coach and tell them things. In And the heat of the moment, sometimes, you know, it’s not easy to hear.

00:11:47.900 –> 00:12:16.800
Let’s all be honest, we’ve all been there. But we did a good job of responding, like that’s a word they’ve used a lot in this meeting. Responded well, and as a group that because of their approach and because they brought it, we didn’t have to motivate a lot this year. And that’s why we can look back and say, you know, regardless of record, regardless of games here, games there, it was a pleasure each day because we were able to coach. And that doesn’t happen with every team, every program.

00:12:16.800 –> 00:12:22.880
So that was one thing that this group, as a collective, we stood out with.

00:12:23.280 –> 00:12:32.995
I love that. Yeah. I mean, you gotta want it and come with the energy. Talk to me about leadership. Like, what’s your responsibility as a leader?

00:12:33.475 –> 00:13:00.425
As a leader, I think, because, you know, me being a young guy, I don’t think I could have that many off days. Like, if you know what I mean? Because, you know, just like everywhere you go, like, if you’re the young guy, people are gonna wanna, like, test you, like, see if, like, let’s say I’m a just throw a name out there. Like, you know, Sam and Buck are two of fifth years. You know, like, I got the chance to share the court with them, but I also got to show them why I’m on the court with them.

00:13:00.425 –> 00:13:19.770
You know what I mean? Because they’re like 20 years old. I’m still 19, and it’s like, okay. Like, if he’s gonna be on the court with me, like, show show me why he deserves to be on the court with me. So that’s where I feel like my leadership comes in, you know, just coming in and working hard every day, proving why I should be on the floor with, you know, the older guys.

00:13:20.405 –> 00:13:23.925
Gotcha. Gotcha. Right. Right. I’ve worked hard to be here.

00:13:23.925 –> 00:13:24.325
Yeah.

00:13:24.405 –> 00:13:27.125
You know, I gotta prove my gotta earn my stripes.

00:13:27.205 –> 00:13:28.005
That’s it.

00:13:28.725 –> 00:13:34.565
For me, I don’t think my leadership role was that big this year. I feel like I was in, like, more of a learning role this year.

00:13:34.565 –> 00:13:35.445
Talk to me about that.

00:13:36.550 –> 00:13:56.865
It was a lot of ups and downs, but now it’s at end, I’m glad. You know how you always in the moment, you’re not really thinking about how do you put it? You’re not really thinking about, oh, this is gonna be good for the future. You’re always thinking about now. And I feel like this year taught me to just, like, trust God and just be yourself.

00:13:57.265 –> 00:14:05.105
And it’s all gonna work out for the best. But I had Buck. I had Sam. Even Jeremy sometime would learn. He’d tell me little stuff, the coaches.

00:14:05.950 –> 00:14:08.110
So you just gotta sit there and absorb it.

00:14:09.550 –> 00:14:19.550
Yeah. And, you know, there are lots of ways to be a leader. Right? Sometimes it’s with your words and, like, you know, encouraging. Sometimes it might be the quietest player on the team, but they work the hardest.

00:14:19.985 –> 00:14:24.625
Right? So there’s leadership comes in lots of flavors too,

00:14:24.785 –> 00:14:25.025
when

00:14:25.025 –> 00:14:26.705
you think about that. What about you, Jay?

00:14:26.945 –> 00:15:18.845
I was pick up off what Kyle said about being a learning year, but me being an upperclassman, I am a junior, so I know that I I had a little bit of a leading role. But going into next year, I think I definitely have ways to grow and be a leader. They well, Jeremy also said being an everyday guy, just coming in and being happy to be there. We had a meeting or towards the end of the season just about coming into practice, you know, touching everybody, give them a high five, like, just having a being in a good mood and being being happy and blessed just to be out here because not a lot of people get to, you know, play division one basketball, and they would kill to do that. So I think it was just more of a learning year this year, but going into next year, I definitely know I being a senior, I’ll have a bigger leadership role, and I’m looking forward to it.

00:15:19.085 –> 00:15:20.125
Good, I love that.

00:15:20.125 –> 00:15:20.685
Yes, ma’am.

00:15:20.685 –> 00:15:34.300
So you’re talking about that gratitude piece. Grateful. Yeah. So pick your favorite person, who do you look up to in basketball and why?

00:15:36.380 –> 00:15:37.100
Professional.

00:15:37.420 –> 00:15:49.585
Could be professional, could have been a teammate, a coach, it doesn’t matter. Like think about yourself, really when you look at someone and maybe aspire to be like them,

00:15:49.665 –> 00:16:11.425
how I is it always said Kevin Durant because he doesn’t put his business out on social media. Like, you know, you don’t know ever know what he’s doing. All he does is just, like, wake up, you know, handle his business, and play basketball. And I feel like that’s, like, the best recipe to being to being great. So, like, just Kevin Durant, know, he always comes in.

00:16:11.505 –> 00:16:22.065
He’s the best player on the floor in my eyes. You know, just the way how he plays, he’s simple, but very effective. You know, he’s an all time great. So Kevin Durant is my favorite player.

00:16:22.065 –> 00:16:24.730
Alright. Coach, what about you?

00:16:25.530 –> 00:16:58.930
You know, actually probably don’t have a favorite player. I’ve traveled around, worked so many places. I try to not become stubborn as I grow in my career with my philosophy, because I’ve seen so many guys get to a point where they max out, and I don’t want to do that. So I find myself learning from everybody. I have guys that I learn from that I coach, that I have coached.

00:16:58.930 –> 00:18:05.230
I had lunch with Sam Hinds yesterday, because he’s leaving town, just to tell him he impacted me, and enjoyed the time that I got to coach him because he taught me something that I appreciate, and that he was an everyday guy. Whether it was the first drill or the last drill, he participated and gave his max regardless if he had been the leading scorer the night before, regardless if he was this, that, and I told him I appreciated that, and that made me better as a coach to now these guys that are returning, we can hold them to a different standard. If it’s a coach somewhere that I’ve worked for, or I’ve seen something or heard them at a clinic that I like something, then I’ll take bits and pieces of that. So it’s hard for me to just name just one just because of former players, because of fellow coaches that I’ve worked with, players that I’m currently with now, coaches that I’ve seen from afar, just because I’m not trying to have a stubborn philosophy where I can always be learning, that I want to say that I pick from a lot of people.

00:18:06.525 –> 00:18:40.525
And I don’t have an ego. They can be younger than me, they can be older than me, they can be in a different position than me. To be honest with you, they don’t have to be a basketball coach. I go and I’ll watch, I’ll go early and I’ll watch a baseball team warm up, an hour before the game, and there’s so much organization out there that maybe we can take that into our practice in because they have so many ongoing things, or go to a August football practice when two a days open up. Every college I’ve ever worked at, I always go do those things, and their terminology, their lingo, the things they do, it’s all about organization.

00:18:40.525 –> 00:18:46.230
It’s all to maximize the time we have with student athletes to get the best out of them we can.

00:18:46.230 –> 00:18:48.070
So you’re a sponge. Just wanting to learn all

00:18:48.070 –> 00:18:51.110
the time. 100%. 100%. I try to do that.

00:18:51.430 –> 00:18:53.590
Hear that. I love that. What about you?

00:18:53.590 –> 00:19:08.415
Mine’s LeBron James. I love LeBron just because the way he carries himself, the way he goes about his business, you know, trusts God. He’s a he’s a family man. And just the way he plays basketball, I just love it. Like, the way he sees the court, how he can pass.

00:19:08.895 –> 00:19:11.295
That’s how I wanna be, but I don’t pass as good as him.

00:19:11.295 –> 00:19:13.540
Okay. Alright. Thank you.

00:19:14.020 –> 00:19:22.020
That’s a good question because I’ve never really thought about this, but we watched what was that show we watched in the in the locker room?

00:19:22.260 –> 00:19:24.100
The Olympic show. It was

00:19:24.100 –> 00:20:13.400
the it’s a new show on on Netflix, and it’s about the the USA team. And I never really, like, looked into Bam Adebayo, like, in his, like, personal life and what what all he went through to get to where he’s at today. But we watched the show, and it made me really study him. So I would say him because I said it already, but him coming in to practice every day, whether he just was dealing with personal problems or whatever he has going on, he’s still gonna come in, be the same dude every day, give it all, be in a good mood, be joking, and just being around I feel like being around somebody just like that makes you a better person and more happy and is in a good mood. So I would say, based off your question, I would say that he’s probably one of my favorites right now.

00:20:13.480 –> 00:20:23.720
All right. I love it. I love it. So a really good mix. You know, when I look at professional basketball players, I mean, Michael Jordan for sure has the most quotes.

00:20:23.925 –> 00:20:42.260
He’s prolific in all the quotes that are out there. But I do have a favorite. He talks about the shots, you don’t miss the shots you don’t make, because you don’t take. Like right? And I love that.

00:20:42.900 –> 00:20:47.780
There’s so many things about him. I love John Wooden. Do y’all know who that is?

00:20:47.940 –> 00:20:48.740
No, don’t know who that is.

00:20:48.740 –> 00:20:50.340
These youngsters, coach,

00:20:50.340 –> 00:20:50.900
would you do?

00:20:50.900 –> 00:20:52.185
Tell us about John Wood?

00:20:52.185 –> 00:21:00.985
Well, that’s a shame that Jeremy doesn’t know. I don’t know. Jeremy and Kyle will give Jayden a little credit for knowing, but maybe growing up in Kentucky is a little different than growing up in Florida.

00:21:00.985 –> 00:21:02.585
How about that? But no, he

00:21:03.480 –> 00:21:31.025
had a lot of sayings also, and these guys don’t know, but when you’re talking about winning multiple, multiple, multiple Division I championships in a row, nobody will ever match that in today’s era, which is what he did. But he has a lot of quotes too, you know, and just like to my deal, when you called it a sponge, know, one of his statements is, When you’re done learning, you’re through, and I never want to get to that point, so I was about to bring up that statement or that quote that he made, so it’s neat that you said that.

00:21:31.520 –> 00:21:59.275
I love that. I have his pyramid of success, you know, on my and years ago when I worked with women’s basketball, this is like when you were a baby, but I used to use that pyramid of success, and I would go in every week with them and touch on a different topic. But when I watched the documentary on him, it just really was so interesting because he would have You talk about the basics, it’s like, Let’s tie our shoes. It’s like

00:21:59.435 –> 00:22:02.155
No, he would teach his teams how to do that, yeah.

00:22:02.155 –> 00:22:26.295
Yeah, yeah, and it was really just about taking We’re all down here on the same level, and we’re gonna be a team. I thought that was amazing. So interesting, I think it’s important to have people that we look up to, right? Yeah. Kinda like, what are your hopes and your goals for where, know, I know y’all are, well, no, let’s ask this question first.

00:22:26.295 –> 00:22:29.975
Let’s keep it in order. So right now y’all are having a little bit of a break, right?

00:22:29.975 –> 00:22:30.295
Yes,

00:22:30.295 –> 00:22:43.400
ma’am. You deserve it. I’m just saying, you deserve a little bit of a break. What are you doing for you that makes you happy that like, it’s kinda like, hey, I’m doing this because I’m taking a break and this is good for me. What are you doing for you?

00:22:44.120 –> 00:23:03.210
Right now, I like to stay busy. So I’ve been in the weight room for, like, the past two weeks or so because, you know, I’m trying to be great. So, like, what’s it called? Like, a couple of days after the after our last game, I hit up the strength coach. Was like, okay.

00:23:03.210 –> 00:23:11.530
Let’s get back to work as soon as you get back. So that’s what I’ve been doing. Alright. You know, schoolwork, obviously, but definitely hitting the weight room. I’m too skinny.

00:23:11.530 –> 00:23:13.290
So, you know, I gotta build that muscle.

00:23:13.415 –> 00:23:15.095
The man got goals. Yeah.

00:23:18.215 –> 00:23:27.030
For me, I don’t know. It’s the same thing as Jeremy. I don’t really like yeah. We say during the season, we’re like, oh, I need this break. I can’t wait for this break.

00:23:27.030 –> 00:23:33.910
When the break comes, we don’t know what to do. So we go right back to the gym. That’s how I feel. What was the other question you had?

00:23:33.910 –> 00:23:44.265
Yeah. No. But you know what? Kind of elaborate on that a little bit because I think a lot of times lots of athletes, the court, the field, whatever it is, is kind of like your happy place

00:23:44.265 –> 00:23:44.985
or your safe

00:23:44.985 –> 00:23:51.630
place where you feel most like yourself and most okay. Talk a little bit about that cause I think that’s what I’m hearing from you.

00:23:51.630 –> 00:24:06.845
Yeah, for sure I love to be in the gym. It’s just where I grew up, man. Like even when I was a kid outside on the courts, it’s the same thing I fear. And I’m not next to home. So really the only time I really have fun is like when I’m at home with my brothers, with my day one, like who I grew up with.

00:24:06.845 –> 00:24:09.165
But when I’m out here, like, it’s What just like

00:24:09.805 –> 00:24:11.405
do you do for fun with your brothers?

00:24:12.605 –> 00:24:17.405
We probably I don’t know. We probably go outside. We probably play basketball too.

00:24:19.330 –> 00:24:40.665
That’s a tough question, Ms. Page, with Kyle. And you notice Kyle didn’t mention something that Jeremy did in his academics. We’re always kinda staying on them. When we see them at practice every day, obviously we’re encouraging them to be the best versions of themselves, which include, yeah, classwork also.

00:24:40.665 –> 00:24:50.745
So, have to kinda make sure we kinda keep our hands on them even though they’re a little freer, just to kinda make sure we continue to stay on them a little

00:24:50.745 –> 00:24:57.310
coach, because earlier in this show, I said something about what you’ve been, and he said, I’ve been catching up on schoolwork. I heard you.

00:24:57.310 –> 00:25:00.110
Yes, ma’am. I got you. I got you.

00:25:00.110 –> 00:25:01.710
Didn’t give him as much credit, did I?

00:25:02.990 –> 00:25:09.095
He did. He didn’t say coach is pushing me. He said, doing it. I’m catching up on my schoolwork. Pretty good.

00:25:09.095 –> 00:25:10.455
Alright. I’m gonna leave you out, Jay.

00:25:10.615 –> 00:25:43.665
Oh, me, I’m just you know, the the young guys, I had to take a week off, but I was dealing with some some rib problems. I had a deep bruise in my rib, so I I needed to get that back to normal. So yeah. And then I’ve just been well, I just I took about a week off, and now I’m back in the gym and back working out with with coach Daniel, our strength coach. And I’ve been doing a little bit of, like, just reading, trying to, like, get closer with God and just, you know, just be a better person.

00:25:43.665 –> 00:25:53.910
I feel like the world is crazy now, so you never know. Like, you know what I’m saying? So I’ve just been trying to, you know, just better myself right now.

00:25:53.910 –> 00:26:12.405
I love that. So I’m gonna two of you guys have mentioned it, so I’m you opened the floor. So let’s talk about that faith in sport. Right? And I know coach brought up Sam, when he would go out, he would always give glory to God when he went out onto the court.

00:26:12.885 –> 00:26:15.045
Is that kind of part of the culture of this team?

00:26:18.610 –> 00:26:34.745
Wouldn’t no. I can only speak for water now. Wouldn’t say it’s more of a culture, but I think it’s something that most of us just believe in. You know, I’m also I believe in God myself, but I don’t know everybody’s religion. So I don’t want to say, Oh yeah, God is a part of our culture.

00:26:34.745 –> 00:26:37.705
But I want to give respects to whoever everybody

00:26:37.625 –> 00:26:38.265
Yeah, else sure. Believes

00:26:39.385 –> 00:26:47.305
But I think the majority of us believe in God and what He’s done for us and gave us all His blessings, and that’s what I believe in.

00:26:47.840 –> 00:26:56.400
So for those of you guys who are like minded, I mean, you ever like Do y’all have conversations? Do you encourage each other in that way?

00:26:56.560 –> 00:26:57.280
Yeah, for sure.

00:26:57.280 –> 00:27:03.705
Are any of you guys involved in FCA? I’m gonna give a plug for FCA here. Anybody involved in FCA?

00:27:03.945 –> 00:27:06.265
Ma’am. No. You might have put me on.

00:27:06.265 –> 00:27:07.865
Is that because it’s Monday night?

00:27:08.185 –> 00:27:09.305
I mean It

00:27:09.305 –> 00:27:54.930
is tough, but brother Corey does come to us. We have a chance. Brother Corey does come to us and covers that aspect of it because obviously we dictate a lot of these guys’ time, and it may not work at the time that they have a meeting, but he does devote a time to us each week and comes to our team and ties it into basketball, where it, regardless of our individual thoughts throughout our team, because when you’ve got 15 young men, there can be 15 different deals. I will say that I think the majority are like what you’re hearing here, I will say that. Some of us, we’re, some of our young men, and they might be from different countries other than our like country, which means that there may be some different thoughts, or they may You’re bring friend, right.

00:27:54.930 –> 00:28:05.985
Yeah, may bring different backgrounds from their country. So Brother Corey brings a devotion to us that ties into basketball, and there’s no forcefulness or anything like that, but it’s

00:28:05.985 –> 00:28:06.865
a It’s respectful.

00:28:06.865 –> 00:28:15.460
It’s respectful, it’s a natural thing to pull us together and allow our guys to have faith where faith is needed in their particular lives.

00:28:15.780 –> 00:28:38.775
I’ve been going to church since I was little, so like faith has always been with me, but I feel like there’s certain stuff in basketball where you look and you’re just like, wow, thank you Jesus. There’s only, like, there’s only one way this could have happened. Like, so I I feel like when you’re a competitor, when you when you compete, like, when you play sports, it could be anything in life though, really. Like, that’s how us are coming. Like, when you’re competitive, you just look at God, like, wow.

00:28:38.775 –> 00:28:50.950
Thank you, Lord, for where I’m at right now. Like last year, I was in Juco last year, I told myself all year, like, I’m gonna transfer. And it got hard. Like, didn’t look like I was transferring. And the next thing you know, my phone started buzzing.

00:28:51.270 –> 00:28:56.015
Like, and I spoke it into existence, and it just happened, just thank the Lord.

00:28:56.255 –> 00:29:16.710
I love that. You know, we’re coming out of an Olympic year, and Instagram was full of that, right? And maybe because of what I like, of course it’s going to feed me because you know how it does that with you. But my Instagram is full of athletes talking about their face, and it’s really inspiring. I

00:29:17.910 –> 00:29:48.260
would say just, I don’t know, like, what Kyle said again is, like, just looking up and just being like, like, thank you. Just thank you for literally everything, like the ups and the downs, the learning lessons. I would say a big part of my faith is, like, my mom is really, like, a real big Christian. Pretty much my whole family is, but my mom really has just stayed on me and just, like, keep God first, keep praying. Any situation that you’re thinking about, that you’re overthinking, just pray, pray, pray.

00:29:48.260 –> 00:29:52.745
And just that’s the way I look at it. I just give all the glory to God, really.

00:29:53.305 –> 00:29:54.265
Yeah, those mamas.

00:29:54.265 –> 00:29:54.825
I see a

00:29:54.825 –> 00:29:56.105
lot of smiles around the room.

00:29:56.105 –> 00:30:15.790
Shout out to the moms, right? Everybody in here is smiling. That’s so good. So, okay, as we kind of wrap up, what are we looking forward to for the year coming up? What are any goals or any just What are you looking forward to?

00:30:16.510 –> 00:30:22.465
Of all, you need to get this ring. Mhmm. That’s definitely just the main goal. Mhmm. Just getting getting the ring.

00:30:22.465 –> 00:30:48.995
But, of course, we need to, you know, play good during the season. Just, you know, keep winning because winning if if we’re winning or if we’re winning, then everybody’s winning. So, I mean, just winning and just, you know, staying on top of of what we gotta do, what we gotta control. We know what we what we did bad last year, what we have to work on this year, and just bringing in the right pieces and, you know, just competing for this ring.

00:30:49.315 –> 00:30:51.475
Alright. You’re a man with a goal.

00:30:51.475 –> 00:30:52.355
Yes, ma’am.

00:30:52.515 –> 00:31:03.300
And so I like I think championship too. And then as goals, like, if we’re winning, everybody’s coming and competing, everybody’s gonna get better. So I’m not looking at individual goals. I wanna come and win a championship.

00:31:03.300 –> 00:31:03.860
That’s brilliant.

00:31:03.860 –> 00:31:19.265
I’ve seen, like, we went to the tournament this year and all our names was on the floor, and we got we got upset. And I felt like a little, like, like, a bad taste in my mouth. Like so so everybody else couldn’t stand. We gotta lead. So I wanna come back next year and win it and look at everybody that that was there this year.

00:31:19.265 –> 00:31:23.585
Like, oh, yeah. Y’all Southeastern. Yeah. We’re gonna be good next year. That’s awesome.

00:31:23.665 –> 00:31:27.825
I like it. I like it. I like that positivity. What about you, Jeremy?

00:31:28.065 –> 00:31:42.260
Backing off what Kyle said, you know, we gotta put, like gotta give Southeastern, like, you know, a name. You know? I’m trying to go to the March Madness tournament also. You know? That’s, like, my biggest thing, you know, like, watching as a kid.

00:31:42.500 –> 00:32:04.380
Be like, oh, that big gym, packed of people, you know. I never played in a crowd that big, so that’s another thing I wanna see. You know, just going to March Madness, you know, having that experience, obviously winning a championship at this school, and, you know, just bettering, like, the team, you know, because we well, we’re a new team. You know, we had a lot of mistakes. You know, next year, now I know what to do.

00:32:04.940 –> 00:32:11.695
Kyle and J Law knows what to do. You know? Okay. Let’s what what happened last year, let’s keep it last year. Let’s focus on the new year.

00:32:11.695 –> 00:32:16.975
You know? Let’s eliminate all those mistakes. So I think that’s what, you know, like, ultimate goal is for next year.

00:32:16.975 –> 00:32:27.460
Yeah. Alright. Well, maybe I hear you guys, like, you know, kind of like, okay. We had some mistake. You but you had some really great moments too last year, and I don’t want to take that away from this team.

00:32:27.460 –> 00:32:43.615
Mean, y’all were really good, really exciting to watch, and you know I hear, don’t know as a coach, maybe you can wrap this up coach, but what’s it like to hear these guys talking about, you know, when they’re talking about team goals, not individual goals?

00:32:43.615 –> 00:33:32.370
No, I think it’s been very good, and I’ve been a sponge and been listening to what each of them say, and I think there’s been some very mature answers, and now the challenge is the championship that each of them say is a byproduct of what we do each day from here on out, and I think that’s what our challenge as coaching staff is to these guys. Not that I’m saying it is, but not let it just be word play, but our actions and our, what we say have to align, and I think if we get the maximum in our alignment, I think we will have a chance. We’ve got a great core sitting right here and some other guys that are in class at this time that couldn’t be on this podcast, but I think that’s what we are challenged internally, and we have to push them to this, is know that, okay, we’ve all said championship. That doesn’t just happen. Winning in Division I is not easy.

00:33:32.850 –> 00:33:48.225
And so the byproduct of what we do every day is gonna be a championship. And I think what happens there in those days in our prep and our approach, that’s where it’s gonna be won at. So it’ll be up to us. And I like what they’re saying, so now the challenge is to be, to let’s be that every day.

00:33:48.705 –> 00:33:49.505
Eleven days.

00:33:50.070 –> 00:33:50.870
Go ahead.

00:33:50.870 –> 00:33:56.470
No, I was just saying, it’s a saying we say we come in every day and I like, it’s like, when we break it down, we like stack days.

00:33:56.950 –> 00:34:01.190
So that’s what it’s gonna take. Stack days. Just put days and days I and

00:34:01.830 –> 00:34:06.475
love it. I love it. All right, guys, it’s been so great to have y’all in the studio.

00:34:06.715 –> 00:34:07.115
You for having me.

00:34:07.115 –> 00:34:24.760
Just wanna wish y’all good luck. If any of you really just love being on the podcast, hit me up, you can come back. We got lots of topics that we talk about. But I just wish y’all a great end of the semester and just can’t wait to see y’all back on the court in competition again.

00:34:24.760 –> 00:34:25.960
Yes ma’am, thank you. You.

00:34:25.960 –> 00:34:27.160
Thank you, Mrs. Paige.

00:34:27.160 –> 00:34:36.048
Thank you so much. So everybody have a great afternoon. This is Paige LeBlue with 90 point 9 The Lion and your Fight Like a Lion podcast. Lion up.