Texas A&M Basketball
Key quotes from Alex Caruso interview
“Plaza Palooza will be Friday night from 10-11:30 on the North East side of Kyle Field. We’re going to set up a basketball court and you can have some interaction with the players. It’ll be pretty wide open, so you won’t have to wait long to talk to me or any of the guys. There will be contests, giveaways and I’m pretty sure there will be food. Also, we’ll have a performance from one of the rapping professors, Stuckey. He’s good, so I’m looking forward to it.”
“I think it will be a little bit of (scheduled) and improvised. Last year, we had some free shoot where people could come out and we would stop for ten or fifteen minutes and play knockout with the fans. I’m sure there will be some things like that and time for them to just throw up half court shots.”
“I know everybody talks about the Final Four in Houston and if we play good enough, tough enough and defend people, we can get there. We have the depth and the talent within that depth, so that if somebody falls out, the talent and chemistry of the team doesn't drop off. That is obviously a big task. We have thirty games on that schedule and it is one of the hardest schedules we have ever had. It’ll be a challenge, but if you are looking for a ceiling, I think the final four is it.”
“Competition has made practice so much fun for me. The first couple of times I played with the new guys, it took me by surprise how good they were and how talented they were. They have helped us older guys have a new energy about us, and we have helped them with the learning curve of college and just figuring out how to do stuff. The combination has been really fun to watch develop.”
“The moment the other AC (Alex Collins) stepped on campus, he has helped keep me calm and keep me base. Jordan Green did a good job of that last year, but he’s gone. So I think I have found someone else who keeps me stable, because he keeps his emotions in check and is a really level headed guy. Basketball wise, he is lightning quick with the ball and dribbles about a foot off the ground. He isn't a really small guy, but he plays even smaller than he seems and gets into the paint at will and creates shots for others. He’ll be great for us, because I run around with my head cut off sometimes and get tired, so he and ARob will help direct the team and create plays.”
“DJ Hoog hasn’t hit the rim in a few days, so I’m starting to wonder if he is ever going to miss. I was talking about this the other day, but is just getting on streaks where he makes shots and even when he isn't clicking, he isn't shooting bad. He’s as tall as our post guys and shoots above his head, so his shots wont be blocked. He isn't rushed and has a quick release, so I see him translating to the SEC very well.”
“Admon Gilder is a four star recruit who could have gone anywhere in the country and played 20-25 minutes a game. He might play that many here, might not, but I have never seen a freshman as ready to play the guard position physically as he is. He has the strength and athleticism to go with it, but he is smart. He can distribute as well as he can shoot and defend. Every guy we put in there is capable.”
“Playing Texas is going to be really special. Part of that is because of the tradition and getting a chance to be a part of that, but I know half their team. Half the seniors I grew up playing with. Cameron Ridley was here for a year and a half and I played him in middle school, so that will be fun. It’s probably the biggest game since I have been here. You don't have to get me excited for much, but that is just another level.”
“The Navy SEALS training was rough. It was a great experience, but it was physically demanding, mentally taxing and I think it helped bring us together. It pushed guys to new limits and reassured everybody where some guys were. We didn't have clocks, so we don’t know when they woke us up. We slept in the locker room and the only light on was the security light. The floor and the carpet were so hard. I know it was in the middle of the night, because they woke us up and we went out for two hours to do a training session and it was still dark when we came back. They would wake us up with airhorns, running with the combat pants and carrying logs, all that."
Gearing up for basketball season with Alex Caruso
Key quotes from Alex Caruso interview
“Plaza Palooza will be Friday night from 10-11:30 on the North East side of Kyle Field. We’re going to set up a basketball court and you can have some interaction with the players. It’ll be pretty wide open, so you won’t have to wait long to talk to me or any of the guys. There will be contests, giveaways and I’m pretty sure there will be food. Also, we’ll have a performance from one of the rapping professors, Stuckey. He’s good, so I’m looking forward to it.”“I think it will be a little bit of (scheduled) and improvised. Last year, we had some free shoot where people could come out and we would stop for ten or fifteen minutes and play knockout with the fans. I’m sure there will be some things like that and time for them to just throw up half court shots.”
“I know everybody talks about the Final Four in Houston and if we play good enough, tough enough and defend people, we can get there. We have the depth and the talent within that depth, so that if somebody falls out, the talent and chemistry of the team doesn't drop off. That is obviously a big task. We have thirty games on that schedule and it is one of the hardest schedules we have ever had. It’ll be a challenge, but if you are looking for a ceiling, I think the final four is it.”
“Competition has made practice so much fun for me. The first couple of times I played with the new guys, it took me by surprise how good they were and how talented they were. They have helped us older guys have a new energy about us, and we have helped them with the learning curve of college and just figuring out how to do stuff. The combination has been really fun to watch develop.”
“The moment the other AC (Alex Collins) stepped on campus, he has helped keep me calm and keep me base. Jordan Green did a good job of that last year, but he’s gone. So I think I have found someone else who keeps me stable, because he keeps his emotions in check and is a really level headed guy. Basketball wise, he is lightning quick with the ball and dribbles about a foot off the ground. He isn't a really small guy, but he plays even smaller than he seems and gets into the paint at will and creates shots for others. He’ll be great for us, because I run around with my head cut off sometimes and get tired, so he and ARob will help direct the team and create plays.”
“DJ Hoog hasn’t hit the rim in a few days, so I’m starting to wonder if he is ever going to miss. I was talking about this the other day, but is just getting on streaks where he makes shots and even when he isn't clicking, he isn't shooting bad. He’s as tall as our post guys and shoots above his head, so his shots wont be blocked. He isn't rushed and has a quick release, so I see him translating to the SEC very well.”
“Admon Gilder is a four star recruit who could have gone anywhere in the country and played 20-25 minutes a game. He might play that many here, might not, but I have never seen a freshman as ready to play the guard position physically as he is. He has the strength and athleticism to go with it, but he is smart. He can distribute as well as he can shoot and defend. Every guy we put in there is capable.”
“Playing Texas is going to be really special. Part of that is because of the tradition and getting a chance to be a part of that, but I know half their team. Half the seniors I grew up playing with. Cameron Ridley was here for a year and a half and I played him in middle school, so that will be fun. It’s probably the biggest game since I have been here. You don't have to get me excited for much, but that is just another level.”
“The Navy SEALS training was rough. It was a great experience, but it was physically demanding, mentally taxing and I think it helped bring us together. It pushed guys to new limits and reassured everybody where some guys were. We didn't have clocks, so we don’t know when they woke us up. We slept in the locker room and the only light on was the security light. The floor and the carpet were so hard. I know it was in the middle of the night, because they woke us up and we went out for two hours to do a training session and it was still dark when we came back. They would wake us up with airhorns, running with the combat pants and carrying logs, all that."
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