Recruiting was a hot topic at Media Day. (Shotgun Spratling/Neon Tommy)

Not on Friday, when the head coaches and one player representative from each of teams of the Pac-12 showed up for the Conference’s Basketball Media Day. With the coaches and players amped up to get started with the new season, one is bound to get a few insights into what to look for in the inaugural Pac-12 Men’s Basketball season. 

With numerous topics up for discussion, including the impact of what is essentially the deregulation of recruiting, and the coaches’ reactions to how basketball has taken a backseat to football regarding conference expansion, Pac-12 Media day was full of laughter and serious discussion. Read on for some of the best moments and most stand-out quotes from the day’s events.

ASU

The festivities started off with coach Herb Sendek and junior guard Trent Lockett representing Arizona State. After finishing a dismal 12-19 last season, ASU looks to bounce back with a very young squad led by Lockett. Sendek started off by praising Lockett and commenting on his work ethic and his expectations of him to have a “breakthrough year”. Guys have shown good energy at practice which Coach hopes will translate to results on the court. Sendek discussed the excitement that the rest of the conference shared with the inclusion of both Utah and Colorado in the Pac-12, and praised the recruiting rule change that allow coaches to maintain constant contact with recruits through phone calls, text messages, and social media. 

“Really, other than Trent, we don’t have somebody who has put a lot of points on the board yet in their career…I think we’re going to have to be a team that really works to get each other baskets.”—Sendek, after being asked about who will step up on the offensive end of the floor besides Lockett. 

“The biggest goal for me this year is just to go out and win. That’s the biggest thing since we had a tough year last year. So personally I’m just going out every night doing the best I can to help my team.”—Lockett, after being asked about personal goals and goals for the team.

Arizona

Arizona coach Sean Miller and Guard Kyle Fogg talked about their expectations for the upcoming season. Arizona was picked by the media to finish No. 3 in the conference, however, if their last scrimmage game was any indication, they have a lot of work to do in order to meet those expectations. The losses of guard Mo Mo Jones and wingman Kevin Parrom, along with the departure of forward Derrick Williams to the NBA, have severely hurt Arizona’s chances of competing for the Pac-12 title. “There is no way in the world we are the third-best team in the Pac-12,” Miller said.

Colorado

Represented by coach Tad Boyle and senior forward Austin Dufault, Colorado is one of the two new additions that formed the Pac-12. Colorado joins the league from the Big-12 coming off of one of its most successful seasons in school history. The Buffs narrowly missed making the Big Dance last year, and instead made it to the Final Four of the NIT. With the opportunity to tap into the California pipeline for top basketball recruits, Colorado looks to build upon its accomplishments from last year and make an immediate impact in its new league. The key point that Coach Boyle hopes to address this year is that Colorado hopes to compete in the new league, while maintaining a team first attitude and style of play. 

“I think it’s important. We have a lot of momentum in our program right now, and we want to keep that momentum going. That doesn’t mean that if we get off to a slow start then it’s the end of the world. This is a long term relationship we’re in...one thing that I think you are going to find out about our guys is that we’re going to compete.”—Boyle, when asked about the importance of doing well as a new school in the Pac-12.

“I was just definitely excited to become a part of this league. There’s a lot of history…everybody knows that. I got to play three years in the Big-12, and now I get to experience a year in the Pac-12…I’m excited to be a part of the first team to play in the Pac-12 out of Colorado.”—Dufault, when asked about his reaction about joining the Pac-12 from a competitive standpoint.

Stanford

Stanford and coach Johnny Dawkins return a somewhat experienced squad, led by Josh Owens. Having had a few questions at the point guard position last year, Dawkins is very high on returning guard Aaron Bright, stating “he is probably our most improved player.” Freshman guard Chasson Randle is also going to be looked at as an immediate contributor at point guard and will help them compete in the Pac-12. 

“I thought the experience in Spain was terrific for our group…I watched them really grow. I thought the competition was terrific. It forced our kids to really play at a level where it upped their games.”—Dawkins, when asked about the team’s experience in Italy in the summer:.

“For us it was great just being able to start so early. Guys put in a whole bunch of work in the spring and in the summer…and just from a bonding experience it was just a great time.”--Owens when asked about the impact of overseas experience for the players.

USC

Coach Kevin O’Neill provided probably the most humorous moments of the day, especially at the expense of his player representative, Maurice Jones. However, KO was pretty serious when talking about his new team.

“We returned 11 points and three rebounds,” he said. That pretty much sums up the experience of this year’s Trojan squad. USC has already experienced a huge loss with the graduation of most of the starting line-up from last year, and a lot of injuries, headlined by senior Guard Jio Fontan’s season-ending knee injury. O’Neill will be depending on a lot of inexperienced players.

“We don’t have anybody in the role right now. I think somebody has got to evolve into that. It might be Mo, it might be Alexis Moore …I don’t know.”--O’Neill, when asked about who is going to replace Marcus Simmons as the defensive stopper: 

“I’ve just got to be more vocal. You know last year it was my freshman year and I was just kinda getting my feet wet. This year KO told me to be more aggressive but still keep that point guard mentality in mind. I still have got to create for my teammates.”—Jones, after being asked about what he sees as his role as a leader: 

Utah

One of the two new additions to the conference, Utah is facing a year of many firsts, starting with adjusting to the Pac-12. The Utes have a new head coach, Larry Krystkowiak, who seemed amped to start coaching his new team. Having coached the New Jersey Nets last year, Krystkowiak is sure to bring his NBA intensity and instill it in senior center David Foster and company. 

“I know all you guys are so smart because it says 12 times in 19 tries you have picked the winner. And I want to know how many times in 19 tries have you picked the bottom team correctly? Hopefully that’s not quite as high of a number.”—Krystokowiak, when asked about being picked to finish last in the conference by the media. 

“Well I’ll tell you what I’m not going to miss; travelling to Laramie, Wyoming anymore…I’m looking forward to playing at Oregon. I’ve never played on a court with a bunch of trees, so it should be good.” --Foster when asked about what he was looking forward to as far as the travel schedule now that Utah’s in the Pac-12: 

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