ASSOCIATE HEAD COACH JON SCHEYER 

On improving the team’s defensive rebounding: 

“I think it’s a mindset. It’s something we’ve drilled a lot. We’ve spent many film sessions talking about it, but the reality is we’ve had other times in some of our games where we’re more athletic or able to go up and get it. Virginia Tech is a good example – [Justyn] Mutts and [Keve] Aluma, they go to the boards. If shot goes up and you don’t put a body on them, they’re going to make you pay with it, not only for put backs but for kick-out three’s. Our guys, they’ve taken responsibility. They know it’s something we need to improve on. For us as a coaching staff, we need to do a better job of coaching it and teaching it. That’s something hopefully tomorrow night, we show some improvement in that area.” 

On what the team is focusing on for its matchup against Virginia Tech on Wednesday: 

“[Mike Young] is a big time coach. They have a great coaching staff. Virginia Tech – they always know who they are and they play to their strengths. They’re a team that really makes you work on the defensive end. They do a great job of passing, screening, cutting. We always talk about having discipline on the ball, but in this game you need to have great discipline off the ball as well because they make you pay. They put five guys on the floor that can shoot it and they have a player in [Keve] Aluma who they can throw the ball to and he can really create offense for them. It’s a great challenge. I have a lot of respect for Coach Young and what he’s done. I think our guys are anxious to play our first ACC game.” 

On if the team has taken a new approach in reaction to games around the country being canceled due to COVID-19: 

“I think it’s made us all more aware for our interactions and just being as safe as possible while still living our life. For our guys, masking up, washing our hands – those little things. We all want to get back to normal so badly, so you let some of those things slide. This has been a good wakeup call, forget about for us but I think for our country and for everybody that we need to still be safe and handle things the right way. Our guys want to play games. They’ll do whatever it takes in order for that to happen, and we’ll continue to stay diligent in that.” 

On what the coaching staff saw in graduate-transfer forward Theo John when recruiting him: 

“We all felt like we knew Theo so well – C-Well [Chris Carrawell] the best, coaching him at Marquette. For me, I watched Theo play since he was in high school playing with Tre Jones and Gary Trent and these guys. We felt like we knew him really well, and then of course having a close relationship with Wojo [Steve Wojciechowski], following his progress at Marquette. Just the physical presence – I think last year, we really felt like we got hurt by that, getting beat up on the boards and not having a physical presence down low. The defense, the rebounding and just the game experience. When we found out that there was a chance that we could get Theo, Coach literally almost got out of his seat. He jumped at it. I think we all felt that way, it was unanimous. The thing that’s been so great about Theo is what a great teammate he’s been. First of all, he doesn’t really sit down much when he’s on the sideline, but he’s always in Mark [Williams’] ear, pushing him, telling him to keep going, to get better. The guys look up to him like a big brother. He’s been terrific for us. The biggest thing we had to make sure is that he was healthy. That’s something we still keep an eye on, but his body is in a really good place and he’ll continue to make a big impact for us.” 

On what aspect of the team has been improved the most from last season: 

“What jumps out to me is the way we’ve taken care of the ball. We’ve been really solid and sound with the ball, which has created more open opportunities and the  scoring has come easier for us. I think that’s where it starts. We have four guys on the floor – no matter who it is, really – that have made good decisions. That’s  translated into shots, it’s also translated into getting fouled more. Then, just the physicality of our team. We’ve been a team defensively and offensively that we can be  a load, just because our perimeter is strong and big, and then obviously inside we start the game with Paolo [Banchero] and Mark [Williams] and you come off the bench  with Theo [John] or an AJ Griffin – that’s pretty good for college. Those two things have really stood out to me.” 

On what challenges Virginia Tech presents defensively: 

“I think it starts with how hard they play. They play their butts off. They really guard the ball and they don’t necessarily pressure you all the way out to half court, but  when you’re in the scoring area, they put pressure on the ball. When you drive, there’s defenders to help and they ratted the ball. They’re actually one of the leaders in  the country in terms of turnovers. It’s not necessarily with steals, but it’s turnovers that they force you into with how they close on the ball so quickly on drives in  congested areas. It starts there, and then they’re experienced, so they know their rotations, they know game plans, they can do a lot of different things, different  coverages, so it’s a great challenge for us. It’s not like it’s anything different from what we’ve done, what we want to do as a team. We want to play together, play  strong but especially first ACC game, playing through contact will be a big thing for our guys.” 

On how important freshman forward AJ Griffin being in the rotation is for the team: 

“It’s huge. AJ – I can’t say enough about his attitude, first and foremost. He went over a year without playing, so I think naturally there’s some rust that he had to shake  off in practices. But he stayed with it. When AJ is on the floor, we look different as a team. He just brings a physical presence, his shooting and scoring ability, and I  think you guys have had a chance to see this past week how good of a passer he is. He makes really good passes, hitting open men for three’s. We need to keep him in  there, keep him going because I think the strides that he’s going to take from this point in the season to the end of the year will be tremendous.”