Keno Davis, PC Friars Coach

Well let's talk a little NCAA basketball with a guy who coached this year. First year coach of the Providence friars very good first year and his team will be playing in the first round of the ninety Keno Davis joins us on the AT&T hotline. AT&T your world delivered taking out -- Michael how are. I'm doing well great to be --

You know we're just talking before he came on I was that -- your schedule. UN ten games in the Big -- the toughest conference in the country an applicant here Adams and if they had won one more conference game. Baby in the NCAA tournament today you agree with that.

Probably and maybe one more non conference game but it definitely do I think you know that the Big East did very well getting the seats that they dead. We tied with West Virginia at candidate for seventh place in the conference and -- Virginia got a sixth -- we got left out but that's that's the nature of the the tournament and and hopefully we'll do better and years to come.

Which one do you would you and and I got a game to prepare for but -- you know indulge us for a second. Which game do you look at and say man that we could just have that we can play two more minutes or. Have the final. 45 seconds left we we we come out on top and again what game really keeps you up at night.

Well I think you know probably are our game at home against -- Marquette -- Marquette was was played very well they were healthy and you know they were top fifteen team might believe at that time. You know are starting guard -- dictator from Pawtucket he gets hurt. In that second half there -- about seventeen minutes to go and we had about a twelve or fourteen point lead and we just weren't deep enough. To be able to hold onto that lead they got us at the end. If you get a marquis went like that another one that goes along with your wins against Syracuse credit upbeat and Patrice -- Pittsburg is a one seed. I think enough. That game would be enough but today you know they're a lot of other ones that they could out of the wire that you feel -- the bounce the ball one way or the other. Well one call goes your way maybe be and they and the big field but. We're happy to be in the and I -- we'll see how far we can go.

for those ACC fans who want to talk about how great their conferences and it is at least for this year the argument about what's the best conference in college basketball. Is kinda over when I see three number one seeds coming out of the Big East.

Well you would think so maybe you get 31 seats to three seats in to succeed so what you're saying that there's seven teams in the Big East that are in the top 24. In the country. And you know that being said there's two other conferences they got seventeen cents. You know the Big Ten gets seven of their eleven teams then you know that. So they -- We didn't maybe get that numbers -- that we would have liked but every conference to say that but at the top to get three number one seeds I think it just shows what to. What kind of reaction the Big East has gotten around the country.

I mean is that all the good news and the bad news from your perspective first year coach in the Big East at Providence. You're in a great conference and you know how good the basketball is but at the same time it's that you got a big mountain to climb.

Will we until we do but to I think you know the advantage we have both playing at -- at a major conference in the best conference in the country this year is that. You don't have to be in the top two -- three. Our conference to make the NCAA tournament like you might in some lakes so they have top obstacles and other conferences well. We have to you know I kind of felt this year when I went into the Big East meetings at media day. They talked about ten teams in some polls being in the top 25. And the tie at the time I felt like okay we need to be in the top half of our league. This year and it would be pretty good position and we did that we -- has got left out by one teams so. I think pretend they record in the toughest league in the country it was -- proud of our guys how hard they work to get that -- that number.

You know you obviously know these number one seeds better than anybody else in the country you've played all these guys which of the number one's. Is going to make life hell for some team or teams. Going on on on long term around which one of these teams it's best positioned to just really dominating the tournament.

Yeah they're there all extremely tough I would be happy if I were any team and I thought -- my bracket but. I think the team that I would pick would be local. And not that they're more talented than Pittsburgh or UConn but I think their style of play. If you get them on the second. Game of the week so there and there are the second round of the fourth round where you only have one day to prepare for them. That they do so many things that are unique with their pressure defense and they're aggressive zone defense. We've found that down and at Madison Square Garden when we didn't even have a -- prepared and they do so many different things. It's going to make like very tough teams to be able to be --

I was watching your game against will put an -- in the beginning like they were going to write you guys off the floor guys really hung in there. Until the end animals able to pull away one thing I want to ask you about. I saw a lot of dribbling against that press without a that you're happy with there was not that you told your guys to do to cut offs that would locals trying to do you.

Well I think which you which is fine with little or is that you know a lot of teams will press and do -- some of the same things that little old -- but there's so long. An athletic. That I saw when they played does Syracuse there in the final. And it's circuits would try to pass over their press and -- the announcers were talking about. How tough that was because there's so long and they were getting those deals to I don't know exactly what you would try to do that to beat them. You've got to do a mixture of things and and keep the ball low whether it's on the rebel -- on the past. Because of their town level -- a lot of pros on that team. And they can extend the court and really take the ball out of your best players hands. And then they play ten or eleven deep so there there are incredibly tough --

The coaches -- at East Tennessee State and Oklahoma State and Tennessee are all looking. At your game film of your win at home against -- to try to figure out what you did save them some time what you do to beat them.

Well well we got we got a 21 Blair and foul trouble I think that was I think -- you talked about. Of -- player you talk about the B that you -- you talk about. You know sure fire NBA long term. You know players. The best way in college where you only get 5000 as you get in the foul trouble you get them a couple early ones they have to sit in the first half. Most coaches will do that -- you could get there they're minutes down. That's so that's a big factor. And then you have to be physical with Pittsburgh because. Pittsburgh is you know arguably. You know the best team in the country but in my mind they're the best rebounding team. In the country and so they can just dominate -- on the -- you have to be able to keep them off the offensive boards.

I remember we talked to you after you guys upset that -- asking about the types of players you looking for. Going forward you said you wanted to play a little up temple style and even for the big man you want them have a little bit of range and that don't have it now they need to be able to develop it. You look at this league now the Big East and say. I can we can play our own style and still win in this league or do you have to. Kind of tailor what you want to what the league is doing if that makes sense.

Yeah I think it does. I would just say that you want to do what. -- you know there's no one's style that you have to you know have. I think -- be tough. Against the UConn in the it's. To beat -- that -- style. I think it's better to to be able to Taylor you know the players that you bring in in the recruiting process to what you want to. Be able to do it that's for us it's going to be able to fast break it to spread the court. Andy used versatility troop players I think what you look at the success that Marquette -- have. The success that Villanova has had. That's going to be closer to our style where we're going to have. Players are going to be able to spread the court we're going to be able to attack the basket that's weather and a half court. Or in the fold 94 feet of the court.

You know as the coach of a team that's probably going to play in the NIT because of some smaller conference that has an automatic berth what's your take on the on the way the NCAA tournament field is selected.

Well I mean I like that the selection process I think that they they really worked each year on trying to. To develop and try to take the best teams that's not saying that each and every year you know as a coach you wouldn't. -- picked a couple teams differently. Or feel like this election. Criteria you know -- should be tweaked but. And that's whether you're talking major conference teams are your talkin'. Versus mid major you're talkin' conference to conference. How they are evaluated. But I really think that it should be looked at you know went from 6465. Teams. You know it and march -- is a great. Is a great setup I think when you look back at the history of college basketball on the how they've been able to expand the field. And in the NCAA tournament. You're only talking about 17%. Of division one teams are making your your. You major tournament and that's a very small percent what you think about. Other turn in the fields. It's so I would like to see it increased. Not saying that it needed to be need to be increased so 128 or anything but I think. When you look at the NIT field that you look at those. You know those those teams that are left out. I feel those teams could make big runs in the NCAA tournament. By increasing the field it would really help the game.

We all have NCAA tournament brackets we don't have NIT tournament bracket yet have a conversation. With your team to make sure they are motivated. To play and in ninety.

Well I don't know that you do what you when you come from the Big East. And you know we're we're going to be able to open up with an ACC opponent in Miami and and that looks on the other side of the bracket we were to win a game that we to Florida so. I mean to be able to play at that high level I think his motivation enough but when you come from the Big East Conference. You would love the opportunity get back to Madison Square Garden. And building history behind yet ninety. And know about what a special place it is because that's where we player conference tournament so. I feel like our guys are motivated enough whether certain teams. You don't need that motivation what you're not maybe you're not going to draw nearly as well as -- would for your conference. Regular season. That you want to be able to have their guys attention. When you get to this time but these games are important roster improve the program. In airport it's important for us first seniors that want to try to play professionally at some level. Next year so hopefully our guys have the best effort that we've had all year and continue to that's that's what I'd expect from a.

Have you had a chance to look at Miami much yet.

A little bit a little bit -- last night so this morning and and we'll continue to. And it's a little difficult because you get a good feel for all the teams in your conference and now you're starting fresh but. Will have a big game plan about what we continue to try to work trying to limits of their success they've got an incredible. Shooter -- NBA shooter and inject a Clinton that. That really stretches your defense so I'm sure he'll be at the top of our scouting report.

Looks like somebody's looking out for you guys could potentially have -- two home games even though you're not the highest seed.

Well I didn't I don't know. If we could hurt their look at Al Forsyth I kind of just felt a little slight I don't nobody would like to hear that about the NIT in the city. Who dropped that you know we tied West Virginia. In our conference they got a six. In the NCAA tournament we got a five in the united -- felt. There was pretty big discrepancy there but. I don't think we have any favors with Miami or or potentially Florida in the second round so but -- we go play at a high level I'm going to be proud of this team no matter what.

Final question for me did you get a chance to watch the Syracuse marathon the other night.

You know I I it's I had taped -- that's he had live but I it's saw bits and pieces and I've gone back and watched it just because of what what a crazy game that wasn't. You like to see what teams are doing that -- the year especially what did your conference but. It won't surprise me at all it's Syracuse makes the long run that they. They've got a lot of experience and Jonny Flynn. Is the best point guard in college basketball. In my mind that and I think we're going to be watching him for a lot of years to come at the next level.

Some people said they think that's the best college basketball game they've ever seen do you agree with that.

Well I don't know what I'd put ahead of it. You know maybe maybe from a different Arab but. I think that's that's the best one I've seen in a long time.

You know good luck against Miami and hopefully beyond that the and I team look forward to talking to you again in the future.

I think slot anytime.

Appreciate you know thank you. That is Keno Davis -- basketball coach of Providence College they face the University of Miami in their first round game.