Bryan Mullins mid-summer update

Men's basketball head coach Bryan Mullins gave a mid-summer update on the Missouri Valley Conference teleconference on Tuesday. Below is a transcript.

OPENING STATEMENT
I'm excited for this upcoming year. Obviously, the last 3-4 months have been unprecedented for everyone. It has been interesting with the recruiting landscape. I think the biggest thing for most of us coaches is being away from the players and not having that daily interaction. We were able recently to get our guys back on campus, and it was great to see them. I think we have a great foundation coming back with Marcus (Domask), Lance (Jones), Trent (Brown), and Sekou (Dembele). Sekou was hurt for a lot of the season, but he's back. Ben Harvey was a transfer who sat out who will be eligible to play. We had to add a lot of new players for this year's roster. I'm really excited for everyone who joined our program. I think they're all about the right stuff. The future of SIU basketball is really bright. Building off of last year's success, we're trying to add and get better every single day. 'Control what you can control' has been our message to our guys in the last couple months. There are a lot of things we can't control right now, but there are a lot of things we can.

With the schedule, we have a really good home schedule in the works. We're still trying to finalize 1-2 games. It will be a challenging schedule, and I think we have a team that is ready to take on that challenge.

With Dalton Banks coming in, will Lance Jones' role change at all?
I think Lance needs to take another big step forward. He started to make progress in the second half of the Valley schedule last season. He has to continue to develop as a leader, as a playmaker, and as a point guard. He has to continue to get better at making decisions, and continue to stay aggressive and play with confidence like he was at the end of the season.

What do you like about your recruiting class?
We have a bunch of winners, guys who know what it takes to win. We have guys that are about SIU. We have guys who are excited to be here, who know how special this program is, and who are ready and willing to put in the work. All of us coaches are ready to get back in the gym with these guys, hopefully soon.

What has it been like cyber-connecting with your team through the pandemic and also racial tensions in the world?
It's challenging but it's something that every program is going through. We have been doing the best we can with Zoom meetings, like I'm sure most programs are. We have team ones, small group ones and individual ones. We're trying to continue to develop relationships and develop trust. It's not ideal, but like I mentioned before, it's what we can control, and we're doing the best we can, and our guys understand that. We had some great discussions as a team, so I think it's been beneficial.

What does Ben Harvey bring to the team?
He had a great year (redshirting in 2019-20). We always say, it's not a year to sit out; it's year to get better. He really worked hard in the weight room and on the court. He's a guy who won a state championship in high school and has a knack to score the ball. He's a guy who makes tough shots. He has a quiet confidence about him that will really help this year's team.

What is the difference, now in your second year, from where you were at a year ago?
Having guys back — Marcus, Lance, Trent, Sekou, Ben — it makes so much of a difference. They're able to answer questions. They're able to understand the standards we have in the program and communicate them with our new guys. Even though we added eight guys this year, that core foundation makes a difference. They've been doing a good job building team chemistry through group texts and Zooms. Even though we're not able to see the guys or work with them yet, I still feel that we're further along than we were at this point last year.

If there are any interruptions due to COVID going forward, how much advantage would veteran teams have?
Experience in college basketball is crucial. Having guys that have been through the ups and downs, who have won the tough games, or maybe even lost the big games, that plays a huge role in terms of success. I also think it's how you deal with those interruptions as a team, as leaders. Some guys will make excuses or let the foot off the gas, while others will continue to do as much as possible through those interruptions. Experience is crucial, but I also think that mindset and group chemistry — whether or not you've been together for four years, or just one year — I think that can play a huge role as well.

How have you spent your time, when you can't be in the gym or on the road?
Recruiting was a big piece of it. I bought my first house at the beginning of last year, so I was able to do some things around the house. I've done some individual development, in terms of reading more. There have been a ton of coaching clinics that I have been able to watch. I have talked to other coaches in order to try to get better myself, along with the team Zooms and trying to keep our program together and communicating as much as possible. Not traveling has been the biggest difference that I've noticed, in terms of daily life, but we have still been really busy as a staff. Being able to connect with our guys as much as possible has been the biggest thing for us.

Are you confident right now that the season will go on as scheduled?
I haven't heard anything different, as of now. Obviously, things have changed week-to-week, day-to-day, but I think, as of right now, I'm hoping confidently that the season will be on time, and there will be a season.

How do you normalize life for your new freshmen, in a time when things are anything but normal?
That's the difficult part, especially for the new guys and the freshmen. The first week they're in isolation before they get tested. They understand it, though, and their parents understand it. We're in an extremely unique time right now. We have to control what we can. I think that it's good for them to get down here right now. Hopefully everything goes smooth with the reintroduction to campus for all our student-athletes. If that does go well, eventually it will be somewhat normal. But it's not the normal move-in process for freshmen. That's a little disappointing for them and their families, but I think everyone understands where we're at right now as a country.

How has Marcus Domask improved this summer?
First of all, strength and explosiveness with his body; I know he really worked hard at home. Ball handling and just being able to add a couple more finishing moves when he gets to the paint have been things we have talked to him about in the last couple months. Obviously, we haven't been able to work with the guys, and they haven't played any pick-up or anything. Those are the areas we discussed with him after the season, and I think he can make another big jump heading into his sophomore season. That freshman year, everything is new for all those guys. When you get that under your belt, you understand what's coming. You have a better feel for the league. Hopefully, all our freshmen can make a big jump heading into their sophomore seasons.