Derek Kellogg, UMass Basketball Coach

It is the beginning of March Madness that time of year that college basketball fans live for. Joining us on the AT&T hotline AT&T your world delivered. It's the pride of Springfield cathedral high school and the University of Massachusetts. The first year basketball coach UMass Derek Kellogg Derek -- Michael embossed and how are --

Everything's gone pretty well what a beautiful day out and Weston mass.

Since some of it here because it's cloudy in crummy -- that's not keep it coming up out the pike -- Underwear. Derek let's talk about the season. Your first season as head coach -- UMass. Finish with a twelve and eighteen record after the F 810 tournament loss in the first round overall how did you assess how your team performed this year.

I thought we were but with the denies double play and art compete throughout the season. Of the guys continue to individually get better we we did get better as a team -- Obviously what twelve went we we wish we would have a few more W that what we were competitive -- just about every game. I think we're just a few tips here basketball god played there to have an five and -- overseas and and the -- reports have about. A long tenure here continue to improve the program -- and hopefully. Next time we talked it'll be that word yet it turned it would it -- and it. There.

You think about that last night and I attract national prominence and it would and the final four Marcus Camby was a part of that team in. Derek -- house thing about this the other day it's going to be very difficult for anybody. To get another Marcus Camby who was who got to UMass because. He was overlooked and no one has -- reluctant in today's. High school gamer or early college game. You get you -- back to that level prominence without any surprises.

Well you know it's difficult it's even more to -- that you mentioned because in today's society. There's not really it into jams and and it's that would be moderate and services in games and me it's always typical of our next market gimmick by. But that was put the program and did all the guys that are the guys that can take you to a certain level. And then some point you gotta get what you're recruiting -- and got a big flies under the radar. Potentially an overseas guy or for somebody who as a connection UMass and and I think we're in the process right now get all the pieces in order. And then on the beat my other than take coach to go and find the next Marcus Camby -- the world. Our -- economically if you just sort of what take you to that next level.

As we look forward to the start the NCAA tournament this week let's talk about the team not that you're the head coach job. But that you spent eight seasons as the assistant coach of is John -- Perry is Memphis Tigers looked like another wagon this year.

They look unbelievable and -- this set -- Cal's best coaching job that he he's ever put together but you know Los three NBA players. Accomplish if you want to play it with their vote second I believe longest game in today likewise likewise and there are unbelievable defensively there's been games where they've -- teams. You know point 9% from the floor and it looks like he struggled even that shot up so. When you play a political defensively on the basketball. Yeah which is that its infancy to commit. And I'm I'm look at the -- team that has the potential and -- ball in the experience to get to a final four.

What was this that I heard earlier today. -- apparently put together four straight seasons. With 25 game win streak during a season.

It's been so -- numbers that he put together -- purpose you know did three of his seniors are adults aren't winning his. I was best ballplayers. Which means that 135. Games over now for years with the chance at a that and I will see. Really any player in the next 101520 years that is going to come close that many wins and a four year stretch.

Hey Derek we need some help put our -- hear someone ask you about some teams that are in the tournament from your league first of all. A a lot of us are familiar with Xavier I just -- the country I'd tell us something about -- that we don't know.

Not say what the what about figures even though there's. In the Atlantic ten and compete they compete on a national level playing nationals are one of the three teams that actually beat Memphis this year for Rico. So used at thirteen next goal and -- knockoff. Really anybody in the country in thirteen a ready made for the high level the highest competition they'll have a couple 696 to hit the seven footer. And they just do some unbelievable stuff coach Miller. Jon Miller does -- double coach -- ability and that's scary because they go 890. And they can play either style they play -- game and they can get down low score. In -- want to talk to that they are as defensively and rebound and they do a fantastic job both those various.

How good was the 810 this year and how far can inning and --

I think debates and seemed as if they get a lucky draw and make some shots to go all way to follow what would probably bigger beating that team. Com more realistically going to be tougher than that they get that far but. On the you know a sweet sixteen of finally in in -- George Mason wood to the final four years back so sunup and other -- possibility.

About temple no love for temple.

I a couple of will be put -- this year wreck but they were on Ricky beat about a all of which. Was -- one of our best games or see them but I I really thought they are an eternity in the night we played him in a connected a bit I liked the matchup of Arizona State. Two teams that it was double to play that way they can play that they can play so if got the optic Christmas gets hot who's they're leading scorer and and one of the top two or three players in Atlantic and he's an NBA he's an -- itself and India future MBA player get together to carry them along -- I think they're going to give Arizona State all they can handle.

Is there any team outside your conference is there any team look at. In this -- and say wait a minute nobody's talking about this team but I can see them. I don't want some damage and determine the time by any anybody from a from a nine to to a fifteen.

Absolutely it's funny you mentioned that I. I look at Arizona's number 11 and foremost the team that has had -- ups and -- on the record hasn't been fantastic they were nineteen and thirteen this year but anytime you have. A guaranteed lottery pick in Jordan Hill and another kid chased -- a pitcher who could potentially be a lottery pick you have two guys that are NBA players on the roster. Of other kids that were I would recruit it would Nic Wise and and a couple other guys I think -- came that helped to -- you talked I don't I seem to get a team that has to. But that's allotted six out of the fact. At the top one in Mississippi State played fantastic basketball right now. -- Washington Telstra Washington important that Mississippi State. It would get. By that game I think they going to run have a big -- inside who blocks everything. In a freshman point guard who just get better I think an MBA player on or -- And that's side of it that's Arizona is really the team that which gear if I was in the bracket.

I'm not that I'm going to make money off your predictions but I'll buy you beer can expect. -- out what I thought my bracket was Arizona. Or Florida.

You know this is the time of year where fans of of individual conferences like talked about how good the conference is at this conference that. It seems to me that there's not much of an argument this year when the Big East has three number one seeds amok in the four number one seeds in the tournament.

Now -- they had that arguably in could probably and I was the best conference in the country this year. Comment Louisville with but he did that that in the regular season in the conference tournament. What testament to coach him and his squad they're they're great -- you know what they have a couple MBA players and anytime you have that you can legitimately make a -- at the final four. You know Uga and and the same token -- had a fantastic season. And and they've done some great things and then they're committed to it. Really exemplifies Big East basketball taught physical complete different styles -- You know the Big East was as good as it's ever been this year and those teams are -- don't you gotta be wary of a little bit -- it's it was too long in the in the article was too -- on some games. Syracuse -- has much talent as anybody in the country. It has played a nonpolitical scheduled on some great things but that they wear themselves out in the proper term at Madison Square Garden obvious. --

We're talking about that earlier Derek where if you're one of the have teams if your -- new kind. Losing early in your conference tournament doesn't really hurt you a bit and in fact may help yet not having to battle through a whole weekend the top basketball.

I agree because in years past that keeps being some teams maybe as an example they looked. Let it down a little bit antsy cervical this year -- that was that a little bit earlier in Madison square. Give the coach a little bit and let me get those guys back on point. And that secondly. -- you a couple of days a restaurant like me get back to practice and then -- I think or refresh. Open minded team like going to be -- determined that it is important in a couple of stern.

what do you tell your biggest challenges that out there UMass to get the program back to where you want it.

The biggest thing yep this subdivision division about how -- see the program of a national program that that's going to be on national television competed -- level. But we're going to try to schedule of the opposite out of conference schedule in the country. And down you know but you just have to overcome right now not be in -- TV as much as some of these other conferences and and not -- national exposure. Comment really the way to do that is it by building relationships with kids at a early age. And -- them about why -- vision which in -- UMass is an unbelievable college campus -- an unbelievable education with the potential to be. One of the top fastball -- in the country so. I feel that way and I know a lot of our kids and our team of people in the -- the other way and now have to get all the recruits out there at the same -- as we --

And I I remember back cal that was one his phrases like anytime anyplace. And any used to go back of words with I don't. About a four -- do you see playing UConn in your future.

I'm actually that would be somethin'. Probably right now they're in a coach Calhoun would have to decide on how much I could you know -- once we get. Our program in order it be a great game a place that you know I'm sure all the sister both but I universities would love to see happen. Right now I'm just concerned about our program back to where. I'd hate to be in and be competitive not only Nash to -- only. And that will -- for the national event at some point. Beat -- games like the Boston College game and maybe even -- game would be would be three games there will be great for our program and also an area.

Gone back out to greatly to the upcoming tournament we mentioned those three number one seeds out of the Big East. Went to the coaches -- name pitino and -- it might be hard for the third when Jamie Dixon to get much run and yet he's got a great job with that -- program.

It benefit that the Japanese you know created systems are better -- Not always be in particular coach -- but he also built doormat and they've done a great job recruit kids that public want to play. And they play a style that most of you they're not beat themselves that play a physical basketball unbelievable defensively. In to compete the way coach Dixon has in the Big East in the compete with those guys. You know up to what he's done their it's really been an amazing job.

Hey Derek we really appreciate making a few minutes and help Mike a lot with his racquets I don't need help -- Best of luck to you as you continue to build that program backed up out there. -- put extra -- and I appreciate it I don't think they give. That is Derek Kellogg they have basketball coach at the University of Massachusetts joining us on the eighteenth tee hotline. AT&T your world delivered.