Juniata Men's Basketball Show

Game on with Neco, Mason, and Tyler

• Thomas Frank, Drew Besket, Greg Curley, Neco Campbell, Mason Hardy, Taylor Lapetina • Season 3 • Episode 63

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Ready for an exhilarating start to the Juniata Men's Basketball season?  Join us as Coach Curley provides crucial insights into the team's preseason scrimmages against McDaniel and Dickinson, sharing the invaluable lessons learned.  Plus we'll meet three critical players to this season's success – Neco Campbell, Mason Hardy and Tyler Lapetina. We hear about their off seasons, how they first met and the leadership roles they need to take with such a young team. We'll break down the upcoming home opener against the Golden Wolves of Alvernia, you'll hear bold predictions, and even the possibility of incorporating a live eagle into the game atmosphere. Don't miss this engaging episode as we set the stage for a thrilling season of Juniata Men's Basketball.

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Speaker 1:

I'm Tom Frank. I'm Drew Beskett.

Speaker 2:

I'm the head coach, greg Curley, and this is the Junior Atta Men's Basketball Show. Welcome listeners. I'm Tom Frank and I'm joined each and every week by Drew Beskett, aka Biz, and your Junior Atta head basketball coach, greg Curley. As we talk all things Junior Atta Men's College Basketball it's time fellas, game one, game one of the season is here. Friday night home opener, 7 pm versus the Golden Wolves of Alvernia.

Speaker 1:

The Wolves are so not golden.

Speaker 2:

Not at all.

Speaker 1:

Not at all All right, I got to tell you guys a quick story Very unfamiliar opponent, by the way.

Speaker 2:

Yes, very, I got to tell you a quick story before we get started. I got to give a shout out to my cousin Tim. We had a very interesting sports weekend. I got to tell you about this real quick. You did have a good story we did. We went to Penn State, ohio State, on Saturday. I know, I know, but we got great seats. I was sitting with the parents. It was a very interesting seat. Then we drove to Connecticut and we went to the Giants-Commanders game and somehow I'm sitting in the commissioner's suite, what? And I'm with Phil Sims. You guys remember Phil Sims, right?

Speaker 1:

This is ridiculous.

Speaker 2:

Phil Sims. And then one of the guys that I produce a podcast for Pete Rock is the guest DJ for for the night. It just happens to be the guy there. And then the third thing wait in the suite, hold on, no, he was out in the stadium, he was the whole stadium dj. And then the third thing, the guy who's sitting right behind me at the penn state game, who's the father of I can't remember his first name, but he's the starting free safety for, uh, penn state wheatley.

Speaker 2:

Oh, yeah, yeah okay wheatley dad's sitting right behind me and I walk into the suite and he's in the suite.

Speaker 1:

That's an average weekend for you.

Speaker 2:

That was a good weekend right there. At least I got to see the commanders win.

Speaker 1:

That was good.

Speaker 2:

Why are you in Connecticut? Well, Connecticut's where Tim lives, so that's where I had to drive there and then drive down. What? Did you do the whole time. You practiced?

Speaker 3:

Yeah, we practiced three times All right, Well, hey to each their own. We all had a great weekend, right, Cass? All had a great weekend To each their own.

Speaker 2:

Two out of three ain't bad, yeah. So, coach, before we introduce these fellas, how are we feeling? This is game week, good.

Speaker 3:

I mean we're getting. I mean, if you can't get excited now, I mean, yeah, this is what you do it all for, I'm excited. Guys can do obviously a lot of unknowns, but that's kind of the fun part about it as a coach see what this group can do and where we can go. Right before we started taping here, I was watching some game tape Valverde so gets the juices flowing a little bit, start to see some stuff. All right, sometimes preseason here we're kind of buried in the gym together and it'd be good to go play some other teams and, uh, see where we can go from here so we did have.

Speaker 1:

We had a couple of pre-season games.

Speaker 3:

What, uh, how are the pre-season yeah, we didn't really talk about that there was the annual curly bowl right yes, we had to squeeze scrimmage, so we scrimmaged McDaniel and Dickinson. I'm pretty quick to tell the guys, scrimmages are glorified practices and no one wins. So no one's ever won a scrimmage.

Speaker 1:

Except for the Eagles win all the scrimmages.

Speaker 2:

Wait time out, though Did you beat McDaniel?

Speaker 1:

Yeah, you did.

Speaker 3:

I mean based on the scoreboard. Actually, we didn't. We did not. Are they going to be good this year? Yes, they should be good. This is the best team I think our group has played against. They had 12 returners, so they're top. They had rotation, so they had their top 10 guys back.

Speaker 3:

I think we played 14 guys in each of the first two halves because it was our first experience. So that's why scrimmages they don't count. They had prepared a little bit for us. We had not prepared for them at all.

Speaker 3:

Come on, kevin, and sometimes you do that, listen, I mean you honestly do that to see how the team reacts to preparation. So I mean we actually did a little bit for what we anticipated we might see in Dickinson, even though we didn't see what we prepared for. But we tried to do it to just see how guys can consume information in a short period of time and be prepared. So yeah, but I mean then we, so we scrimmaged them last Sunday and then we scrimmaged Dickinson on Wednesday, both on the road, which I think were good experiences for us to be on the road, to start Good, good, you know, I thought we got a lot out of it. I think we learned a lot about ourselves. I think we improved a lot from the first scrimmage to the second scrimmage, so now I'm excited to see what we've done from the second scrimmage to our first game here.

Speaker 1:

So do we know what kind of returnees Alvernia has?

Speaker 2:

Oh Biz, I did my research. We're going to get to that.

Speaker 1:

Well, I didn't, I went deep, I went deep.

Speaker 2:

I made some calls. I made some calls. You made no calls. I made some calls. I dug deep into this. I got some very interesting stats coming up.

Speaker 1:

Don't you one Coach Table?

Speaker 2:

that one for a second Before we get too far into this, though we do have a listener question I'd like to get to before we get to the guys All right, let's go. All right. Bobby B gave us a question. He said Coach Curley, do you have a pregame ritual? Is that like Bobby Bowden? I don't know. It's Bobby B, bobby B I don't, I don't.

Speaker 3:

I mean, I try to do a lot of things in the same order, do kind of the same thing, Guys know. So I don't know if it's really a ritual Sounds like a ritual.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, if you do the same thing before every game, that's a ritual.

Speaker 3:

It might change a little bit from year to year, I don't know. Usually kind of the same stuff, not a whole lot beforehand. Try to put stuff on the board pretty much the same time. But I'm not like crazy superstitious that way, but just try to get prepared, review my notes, and we'll do. I mean, the big thing for me is we'll probably have a walk through that day and then I do my game notes and I'll do my game card. That I'll have ready for whatever I need. That's kind of my process to be ready for the game, to review things and go through stuff. When we get to a place, I'm usually in the locker room just putting stuff on the board and just kind of hanging out For us as coaches. You know, once the games go it's the players. Hopefully our job's done by then.

Speaker 1:

What about like pregame meals, man? You know I love the food part of this. What about like pregame meals man? You know I love the food part of this.

Speaker 3:

What do you got Like any? So I mean the old days, you know we used to eat a lot, and I mean things have changed now. Obviously, you really want to eat three to four hours before anything substantial. So we'll do that with our players. A lot of times we're traveling, so protein, carbohydrates, all that stuff, so a lot of times we're not on the bus, we will have stuff. You know we have stuff in the locker room to have between or before. You want something like an hour before. You want something at halftime.

Speaker 1:

What do you got at halftime Energy levels?

Speaker 3:

Can we get in there? I would be like gummies or Gatorade or something like that Hold on a second.

Speaker 1:

This is a family show Come on.

Speaker 3:

Biz.

Speaker 1:

Sorry.

Speaker 3:

Biz. I got little kids too, so we call them gummies.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, very nice. All right, we're off the rails. Continue, yeah, biz.

Speaker 2:

Biz. Would I let you take control of things? Does it go in a different direction?

Speaker 3:

I'm a wild card. The biz just got back from another golf trip, wherever he was, so that's why we couldn't do this last week. So who knows?

Speaker 1:

Yeah, yes, well, hey, you were busy this weekend. I was, I was, I was running around, I was running around.

Speaker 2:

All right, can we dive in now? We got three guys here. Let's go. All right, we're kicking off the season with, I believe, the three guys that might. I'm going to put it out there. I'm going to put it out. We got a lot of pressure, a lot of pressure. We got Nico Campbell from Washington DC. I love that you're from Washington DC. I'm a Washington DC guy. He appeared in 23 games last season with 73 points, 40 rebounds, five assists, four steals and four blocks. I think we need about triple that this year, nico. No pressure on you. Taylor Laptina, do I always say your name, right? Latina?

Speaker 5:

Yeah, it's Lapatina.

Speaker 2:

Lapatina, lapatina, lapatina. If I say it enough times, I know I should have this down. And you're from Collegeville, pennsylvania. Yep, you know I didn't connect the dots there. That's where. What's the school there? Your Sinus, your Sinus, your Sinus is right there.

Speaker 2:

He started in 26 games last season with 248 points, 108 rebounds, 41 assists, 26 steals. Season high 22 points versus Lycoming and Penn State Barron Landmark conference academic honor roll. That's impressive. I think we need double from him. Double, all right. And then we got Mason Hardy from Gaithersburg, maryland Another guy down. This way You're starting to recruit down here. I like it. Started in 27 games, total 242 points, 100 rebounds, 108 assists, 56 steals and a career-high 23 points versus Wilks. I think that was the game we were at, right Biz.

Speaker 1:

Of course it was. That was a great game. That was my game, oh yeah.

Speaker 2:

That was a great game. It dominated down the stretch of that game. Yeah, and it aimed to the college sports communicators, academic all-district team and the landmark conference. Academic honor roll.

Speaker 1:

Hello.

Speaker 2:

Welcome to the show fellas.

Speaker 1:

All right.

Speaker 2:

How we doing.

Speaker 6:

How we feeling Doing good, feeling good, excited for the first game.

Speaker 2:

Everybody's good. No injuries, no nothing. You don't have to tell us. We don't want Alvernia to know, but we're all good.

Speaker 6:

Yeah, we're fine.

Speaker 2:

All right. All right, we're feeling good. We're feeling good. Let's start, let's go. Let's rewind. Two of you guys have been here. This is your fourth year here. Fourth year how did you get here? Because I don't know if we've ever asked you guys this. How did you get here, and when did the two of you guys specifically meet? Did you meet day one first, or how long have you guys known each other?

Speaker 5:

Yeah, so I believe when we first got here I first roomed with a football player, so I wasn't with the basketball team, a basketball teammate directly. So I do believe once I got here I wanted to settle down, move in with my parents and then eventually go out and see the other guys on the basketball team. And then I think, yeah, it must have been a couple hours after my parents leaving, just going out and see the guys that I came in with the freshman year and yeah, I just believe from day one I met Mason.

Speaker 6:

Yeah, I think the first time we actually met was playing pickup with some of the guys who were on campus, first sort of getting that first chance to feel each other out, see each other's games. Uh, it's pretty fun and uh, yeah, we became pretty close, uh, freshman year especially, uh, like when I started to play a little bit more, tyler was playing and you know we were on the court had to get to know each other a little bit better, and then we were roommates sophomore year and we're roommates all the way up until now that's cool, fantastic.

Speaker 2:

Yes, you guys have played a lot of basketball together, yeah, yeah, I mean that's kind of cool. And then, nico, tell us your background, how you?

Speaker 4:

you're the more recent guy here not that recent, but recent in comparison to those two guys um I came from a jugo uh in weston maryland uh, garrett college and um I think I emailed coach hager and and we was chatting and I came up here on a visit and I think both of these guys was on my recruit lunch.

Speaker 2:

Oh, okay.

Speaker 4:

Since that day, I think Curly texted me and I texted him back and I was like I'm ready to come. So that was it.

Speaker 2:

That was it. So do you guys set into this? You're heading into your season.

Speaker 6:

Do you have personal goals for this season? Anything, I wouldn't say I, I personally have any goals this season. I think I I'm we're all more team centric and just really focus on, you know, helping lead this. You know what we would say? A younger team, um sort of just trying to get them prepared and get ourselves prepared as best we can is this the youngest team you've been on?

Speaker 2:

oh yeah, for sure yeah, how does that change the dynamics?

Speaker 6:

yeah, I think it's. It's definitely interesting. It's, uh, something we all have to get used to and, you know, leadership is definitely something that's at the top of all of our lists right now and just trying to adjust to get used to playing with guys we really haven't played with and also getting used to play with a lot of younger guys, because we're all pretty used to playing with more upperclassmen.

Speaker 2:

Let's look back now. What are some of the standout moments Last year? Last year was a great year. I mean it was a fun year. It had its ups and downs, it was a little bit of a roller coaster but it ended on very much a high. But what were some of the outstanding moments, whether it's last year or even in the years before?

Speaker 5:

yeah, um, some of the cool moments was I mean, obviously we didn't end the way we wanted to against wilks in the playoffs there, but being able to be with such a great group and the seniors that just graduated to leave them with a win against lavernia for the championship, it's definitely like we always wanted to do, because for the countless things that they did for us growing up, just becoming a better person and a better player, it's just not a better way to help them and their career on a win, because only two teams get to do that. That's right.

Speaker 6:

Yeah, I would definitely say that was a really funny, unique experience. Obviously, our sophomore year we got to go to the championship and we fell short. But I feel like that was a really good experience just in general to have, but also like as a player, to know what it takes to get there and sort of it fuels you because you know what that feeling is like to see the other team cut the net down and you know we're still striving for that now.

Speaker 4:

Mine's probably when Lopp hit the game-winning shot.

Speaker 1:

I almost drove off the road when you hit the shot.

Speaker 4:

I was right behind the shot, so that was a good opportunity to see.

Speaker 2:

We're going to need some of those this year. We're going to need some big shots.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, what do you guys this summer? What did you guys? Is there anything that each of you guys worked on specifically to get better at, to raise your game to that next level?

Speaker 5:

Yeah, personally, I was just working on my core and my footwork, just trying to be quicker and better on defense. Obviously, guarding at my position is pretty hard, especially with the guys in the league. We have a lot of good players at this position, so just being able to keep up with them and working on that kind of aspect of the game definitely yeah, I would say me, uh just continuing, continuously trying to work on my my set shot, being able to hit the open three.

Speaker 6:

Obviously that puts a lot more pressure on the defense and you know I was living in new york this summer, got the chance to play, uh, pick up each week at nyu uh 51 the D3 guys just trying to work on my pace.

Speaker 4:

And you know, playing as a point guard and being able to pick up full court handle pressure make the right plays, things like that my biggest thing probably is just staying in shape, like you know, just getting the miles in working on my ball, handling my shot and stuff like that, just to be prepared to come back and try to make a big opportunity this year for us so there's a lot of, a lot of big opportunities out there for you with the guys that left.

Speaker 1:

So it's gonna be pretty cool the chances that a lot of you guys are gonna have to uh, get to that next level biz.

Speaker 3:

Let's flip that. What did you work on this summer? What, uh, what was your focus this summer? How did you come back to us better?

Speaker 1:

well, hey, hey. You know what? I wanted to improve my handicap and I did. You played a lot of golf. I did come down. I started the year at like an 11-1, and now I'm at a 9-6. So you know what I made the run man. Every day, I see a new video online that I try to use. It's not the best idea, but one of them works and it's good. So that's about it. And I want to be more prepared for these, but I'm not starting out that way.

Speaker 3:

I think you've been in a 10 handicap for 30 years, man.

Speaker 1:

I used to be a three handicap man. Kids will do that to you, fellas, if you want a golf game wait on the children, that's all. I can tell you that's your advice.

Speaker 3:

That's true, you had a 20-year reprieve there in between, there for the kids. A trade Slowly moving back.

Speaker 1:

Close. I'm trying to get back. Well, now I'm over 50, so now I fit in the senior category. God's the limit.

Speaker 2:

All right. So speaking of advice, I mean, what advice are you giving to these young guys Like you're the elder statesman now. They don't know what they're about to go into, or some of them don't. Some they're statesmen now they don't know what they're about to go into, or some of them don't. Some of them went through it last year. What's the biggest advice you want to share with these guys?

Speaker 6:

Yeah, I think it's a point that Curly's tried to drive home. A lot Like, every game you go into is not an automatic chance that you're just going to roll out and win. I think a lot of the younger guys you know came from high schools where that was the case. You just buy your shoes up, go out there and win. But at this level like I think I was listening to the last podcast coach was talking about competitive balance but, um, yeah, every game you have to be ready and we we just have to be focused and I think in practice we're just trying to work on you know, concentration to the details and not just you know going out there and exerting blind effort but really honing in on you know, our concepts and things like that.

Speaker 5:

Yeah, I would just also add in like such a big group and coming into a new program, you don't know anything yet, so you're coming in here with no knowledge of how we run stuff and just being able to just stay after and you're going to get coached. You just need a good mindset that you're going to correct the mistakes that you are having and just being able to just keep grinding, keep being competitive, and the light's always at the end of the tunnel. You'll be just fine.

Speaker 4:

Yeah, the biggest thing like I try to tell them, just be a sponge, you know, like soaking all the knowledge that you need and, you know, just always pay attention to your details, because that's the biggest thing, yeah, always the biggest jump for me, because it's coming from the Juco level. Everything is so quick, but now you're coming into a system so you've got to be prepared to soak in all the details that you need to be better.

Speaker 2:

Is that the biggest difference for you? Is that at that Juco level it is a little bit more individual versus now, that it's a little bit more team-oriented?

Speaker 4:

In high school I played a set. You know balance offense, but when I got to Juco it was just like everybody can go get there. It was a free-for-all it was a free-for-all, like it was like a wreck, like you can go out there and get shots, but certainly it's like that. But you know, but Juco everybody trying to get out so.

Speaker 4:

But here it's like you all you know, all set with what you have. So I think that's why I think I improved from last year to this year, like with the knowledge of knowing certain things. Now.

Speaker 1:

Now to you guys, because obviously you know you had some great leadership and now you're in the leadership position. Have you identified of guys step forward that you can see? You know when you guys leave this year that you're going to I guess, groom for lack of a better term to be that next level, like, have you started to see that yet?

Speaker 6:

Yeah, I think for sure. I think you know we have a junior on the team, sho Watson, and another younger guy who's you know, also trying to step into a leadership role right now Ty Kozak. You've got Elijah. So there is a lot of you know younger guys on the team with experience. And you know there is, you know, times where we try to, you know, let them know that, hey, you are a leader, you are looked at in this capacity, so the expectation is higher, so you have to bring it all the time. But I think that we're always going to try to pass the program off into good hands and I think it will be in good hands.

Speaker 1:

Seems like it has been every year. Seems like there's always a good group of guys that keep stepping up, so that's no surprise.

Speaker 2:

So how are we feeling about the season opener? What do you guys got to do to win this game? This is going to be interesting, right? You beat them the last game of the year, they beat you the first game of the year, and now we're playing them again for the first game of the year. It's kind of crazy.

Speaker 6:

Yeah, I think, most importantly, we're going to have to defend. They have a lot of experienced guys who have been consistent scorers for their team for quite a while now. So I think the emphasis is just, you know, stopping limiting them in transition and defending at a high level and then letting the offense take care of itself and staying committed to it throughout the whole game. And I think that, you know, throughout the scrimmages, there has been a lot of, you know, points where you could see the trajectory that this team can be on if we really, you know, harness it and focus. And I just think that you know, we're really excited to get after Friday.

Speaker 5:

Yeah, I mean, I would also just talk about how they have a lot of experience coming back and also from other leagues, different grad students coming in. So just especially for a young group and a young team that we're going to step into with, like, it's just all about the focus and the mindset and just being able to just stay determined the whole, both halves of the game, because it's just going to. It's going to be a long game for both teams, so just being able to stay after it and compete until the end would be a huge thing.

Speaker 4:

Right, never get too high, never get too low. Like just stay in the middle and we all just got to rally together, you know.

Speaker 2:

And we'll be right back. The Juniata Men's Basketball Show is produced and distributed by Merit Creative, looking to skyrocket your business's visibility and drive growth. At Merit Creative, we solve your brand and marketing woes With big ideas, decades of experience and innovative solutions. We'll draw in your target audience and keep them hooked. Remember creativity is key to success. Partner with Merit Creative and unlock your brand's potential. Learn more at meritcreativecom. And now back to the show.

Speaker 2:

All right, biz, I'm going to give you some stats. I did a little research here, so let's start at the beginning. Yes, alvernia, last season we were one and one against them. I'd say we won the big one, though. We won the ECAC championship. That was the one March 10th 8377. The Golden Wolves are led by a relatively young coach, right, this Mike Miller guy, which, by the way, terrible, website the Golden Wolves. I can't even. I don't even know when the guy started. They don't even mention what his career record is. I just, I don't get it. I don't get it. But I know they're members of the Mid-Atlantic Conference. And here's the interesting thing they got six graduate students. Holy crap, six graduate students, like that doesn't even seem right. And only one senior. Do I have this right Coach?

Speaker 3:

I think you have that right. So what is that? Is that six graduate?

Speaker 2:

students that came back. So this is the last COVID year.

Speaker 3:

This is the last COVID year, um, and then now division three. If you have eligibility, left division one you can be a grad or division two you can come and take your grad year. So which they're kind of a mix of that, but they have three um grad, uh, returning grad students that were part of the rotation last year played us in the championship game. That were key guys and, like we said, they also have a couple transfers from some other places. So yeah, I mean they have, you know, experience for sure and you know there's a big difference when you're 18 or 19 versus, you know, 21, 22. That's probably the biggest area of growth in your life and doesn't really change the basketball. And the three core guys they have coming back are all main guys. Two of them have been all-league guys multiple times. The third is kind of a specialist shooter. So I mean you know and you kind of want kind of a triumvirate of guys usually to build around if you have experience. So it's going to be a big challenge. Mason said it really well. I mean they can score, they have guys who can just play. They just kind of put you in space and go at their pace, do what they want to do. So it's honestly, it's a challenge, but it's a great place to start because we're going to get the truth told, we're going to know where we sit and we're going to find out things, and what we do well is what we can do well, and where we struggle or what gets exposed are things that we can address right away, and it's all going to be mindset and approach, and then we're going to find out real quick how hard you have to play, how big, how, how big a deal every possession is, and the biggest challenge with younger groups is staying focused and concentrating, play to play and even within plays, as plays go on, you know you lose focus, you don't stay with it, and so I think it's just going to be a good opportunity.

Speaker 3:

Games have a way of providing that, but staying within the moment, too, and sustaining it and seeing how you handle competition and the lights coming on and you know it's good to get going. It's good to play these guys. To start, um, you mentioned coach miller. His dad was a long time coach there. Mike played there, mike jr played for his dad, his dad's of uh berks county, um hall of famer as a coach and has done a lot of stuff, so I think his dad still helps out behind the scenes. His uncle was on the bench, so they're the family yes, it very much is um, very much is.

Speaker 3:

So there's actually a lot of experience with their staff, Uh, and so there'll be a lot of continuity and they, they really don't know much besides winning Uh. They pretty much win every year, uh, and are always going to be in the mix. I would assume, with their experienced guys, they'll be there again too, which is one of the reasons we've liked playing them so, and you know, coming in cold to the season, we don't know how much they've changed. Also, you know they had some other guys they lost. Will they change their style of play at all? You know there's so many uncertainties. The first game that we, you know, trying to be ready for everything is really hard for a young group, so that you know, you never know. If you see things, you just have to see. And so the sooner we can get to those things, the better for our development and our preparation for when we open up with Lycoming in the week play.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, they come in square. They averaged almost 80 points a game last year. They were at 77.9, where you guys were at 69.8. So they're going to put up some points. You got to put up some points, fellas, that's yeah.

Speaker 1:

Fire the ball, fire the ball.

Speaker 2:

So, curly, I got another beef is we got to get your bio updated on the website. They didn't update it this year yet, so we got to get that fixed.

Speaker 3:

Honestly, I think they're updating our rosters today. I think they might have been doing that stuff, so I assume they're kind of moving into that now. But I don't know, I can't say. I've been on checking my bio.

Speaker 2:

I do. I check your bio. I check your bio every day. He does, but I did calculate it myself. You sit at 308 wins, if I have this correct. You probably don't even know, correct? You probably don't. You probably don't even know. By the way, biz, that's a third of the entire total ever won at juniata. The goat fun fact for you. Yes, all right, we got a special guy who's back. The glum is back. The glum already sent in his line for this game. You guys want to hear this. The glum is confident the eagles will carry the momentum into the season. Has a set the line at juniata minus 5.5. Minus 5.5 in the opening game, with an over and under at 126.5, which seems a little low to me.

Speaker 1:

Over for sure.

Speaker 2:

You're going with the over.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, absolutely.

Speaker 2:

This early in the season? What if we're a little rusty coming out of the?

Speaker 1:

gate? Nah, I don't think so. No rust A lot of young talent out there.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, I kind of think we could shoot the lights out at any given moment.

Speaker 1:

I kind of think so too. We have the reincarnation of Run TMC right in front of us.

Speaker 2:

That's right.

Speaker 1:

Golden State Warriors man Run TMC. We're looking at them right now, Right now. This is it. This is the trio.

Speaker 2:

What are you going with Tyler Right now? This is it, this is the trio. So what are you going with? It's a five Tyler, mason and Campbell man. I do like it. It works, doesn't it? It does work. It's five and a half points.

Speaker 1:

So listen, I mean Juniat is going to win this game, but five and a half, that's a big number, man.

Speaker 2:

I see about a three-point victory.

Speaker 1:

So you're going to take Alvernia. There is youth. Well, I mean, I'm taking the plus five and a half, but we're going to win the game. I'm not.

Speaker 2:

I say Juniata comes out of the block and just beats the crap out of these guys. I really think you guys are going to. I'm thinking you're shooting the lights out. It's a ten-point victory. Alvernia has no idea what hit them they. Alverni has no idea what hit him. They're literally crying as they walk out of the gym.

Speaker 1:

You know what they're going to. Be glad it's over.

Speaker 2:

And I think it's going to be glad it's over.

Speaker 1:

I think we're going well over.

Speaker 2:

Are you playing them?

Speaker 1:

anymore. Is this it?

Speaker 3:

Is this? It Not? After this conversation, we're not playing. We might not even play Friday now.

Speaker 1:

What are you talking about? If they forfeit that, We'll take it. Hey, a win's a win man.

Speaker 2:

I like it. Yes, yes.

Speaker 1:

If you hit it in the water and get on the green and still make a par, it's still a par. So what do you want to do?

Speaker 2:

Coach, what are you saying are the keys to victory here?

Speaker 3:

What do you got? I mean what we always talk about team toughness and execution. I mean it's a wet win game so that'll be always on the board for us. I mean I'm dead serious and this is a really good veteran team coming in we're playing against. I'm more worried about how much better we get and how we look, how we compete, how we play together as a team. But the two areas we have to work on is being a better team and measuring our toughness and understanding. And I don't think we have tough kids and I think the guys that came in are tough. It's just the transition from high school to college and how consistent you have to be in your focus, the mental toughness to stay at it, even a little bit. The physicality, how you have to challenge and play with force. We call it playing with force. Just watching a little bit of last year's game, I just think there's going to be some kind of when they go into their back down game and attack some guys. We're going to find out about some guys quickly and I think it's good for them. I'm sure we'll respond. I'm sure a lot of it is. They just need some information to see things.

Speaker 3:

What I have been happy about with our two scrimmages is our guys. They're competitors and they're not intimidated by size. They'll go play anybody and that hasn't always been the case. Sometimes that's a transition for some of our young guys. They may be ahead in some other areas. I think for this group it's just concentration, focus, consistently paying attention to small things and details. The best way to learn the importance of those things is to play good players and good teams. When you play those teams, small things undone way to learn the importance of those things is to play good players and good teams. And so when you play those teams, small things undone are magnified right. The small cracks are the things that get you. They become big ones real quick, and so I think feedback and the information provided is important. That's what's been good about the two scrimmages.

Speaker 3:

I think you could see guys because they're competitors, they want to win. I think they're committed to what we're trying to do. But I think there's a little bit of suspended belief until you get in there yourself and really see how it goes. And these three guys are awesome at being consistent with the message and talking guys through it. But they know I mean sometimes you just got to. We all kind of got to look at each other and like, well, you know, we just have to go through some things and then, and then guys got to decide to make their have the right response and handle those things the right way.

Speaker 3:

So, like I said, I think Friday is a great opportunity. We need to go compete our butt off, though, like we need to go play really, really hard and we need to play all 40 minutes. That's my biggest thing and we need to play together all 40 minutes. We can't let them kind of break us apart and try to go do our things, like they said, staying committed at what we're doing. We've done that well, but I think there's an opportunity in this to do that in front of them, and I'm sure when we do what we're trying to do, we'll have some success. Can we do it long enough for a long enough stretch over 40 minutes compared to them, to pull out a win?

Speaker 2:

That for a long enough stretch over 40 minutes compared to them to pull out a win. That's what we have to go find out. How about the atmosphere for Friday night? Has Coach Hager looked into a live eagle yet?

Speaker 3:

I think that's. He's not here right now. I think he's working on that. All right, I was going to whatever the what is the wrist thing called that? The falcon, like falconeers, have that lands on.

Speaker 1:

Whoa falconeer. How in God's name do you know? It's a falconeer First of all, we're not a falconeer.

Speaker 2:

We don't have a falcon, we have an eagle.

Speaker 3:

But the thing you put on there. You know what I'm talking about it's a glove.

Speaker 1:

Where are the rest of them? It probably is a glove.

Speaker 3:

So the falconeer, the eagle doesn't like puncture their veins? Well, you couldn't even come up with the glove.

Speaker 1:

Maybe we can start with a parrot or something, or a sparrow, work our way up.

Speaker 2:

I don't like that idea. Biz Guys, what are you telling people? Why are they coming out Friday night? Let's get people out.

Speaker 4:

We've got to have a big.

Speaker 2:

This is the season opener.

Speaker 4:

It's a 7 o'clock on a.

Speaker 2:

Friday it doesn't get bigger than this. What are you telling people that? Why they have to come out?

Speaker 6:

Well, I think one of the good things is that a lot of the times we don't have to tell people why. You know we've put together some pretty good seasons over the years and you know we usually get pretty good turnout. So I think you know when people ask, I'll let them know to come and I expect a pretty good attendance.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, let's get that attendance? Will the mascot be there? We need the mascot there. We need drummers and cheerleaders. Those are my big three keys to success.

Speaker 6:

Eagle, drummer, cheerleaders, boom yeah.

Speaker 2:

I'm not sure about any three of those right now, do you? Know, who the eagle is. No, seriously, you do you know?

Speaker 1:

who the the the uh eagle is no.

Speaker 2:

Seriously, you don't know who the eagle is.

Speaker 1:

No, how do you? Not know who the eagle is. I mean tom. They're wearing the the car I know, but like it's not, it's not, like it's a 25, 30 000 student school.

Speaker 2:

I mean you probably are in math class with this guy, but he doesn't wear the costume in math class.

Speaker 1:

How about cheerleaders? We know cheerleaders. Yeah, we know cheerle class how?

Speaker 2:

about cheerleaders.

Speaker 1:

We know cheerleaders yeah, we know, cheerleaders I don't know, you guys know, cheerleaders you're do?

Speaker 2:

we know drummers does anybody know a? Drummer, a band member. We need a. We need a drum yeah, a big drum.

Speaker 1:

You've been beating the oh yeah, beating the drum for the drum all last year yeah like a war drum like a war drum.

Speaker 2:

That's what we need.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, that would be cool to Like a war drum Like a war drum.

Speaker 2:

That's what we need, yeah, hmm, that would be cool to have a war drum, maybe with the podcast logo on it, and somebody just hits it the whole game.

Speaker 1:

We could probably get it sponsored.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, we'll look into that.

Speaker 1:

All right.

Speaker 2:

All right, curly, what else you got for us? I'm out of questions. I for us. I'm out of questions, I'm so excited. I'm ready to get started. I know it's been a long.

Speaker 3:

Hey, listen honestly, you want a reason to come out to these three guys right here yeah I mean run tmc newly. These guys, I'm excited, very excited for them, uh, and the opportunity in front of them. I told you, um, I think all of them have worked incredibly hard, which you should ask them about. What their future plans are, which are equally as impressive, which I'm probably the most proud of.

Speaker 2:

It seems so far off. It seems so far off. But let's ask.

Speaker 3:

One of the things we tell recruits when we come in. The cool thing here with our guys our seniors have all had jobs or objectives or directions they were going before they even started their senior year, you know, which is a great thing. So I'll let each of those guys tell them what their future plans are. Nico's is a little bit more specific. We've got to work through it, but he's hoping to follow some recent footsteps of a recent grad. He'll tell you about that stuff, but I'm excited about that too.

Speaker 4:

I'll start. My plans for my senior year is to become a GA, a grant assistant. I just got off a phone call, right before the start of this podcast, with a high school coach from back home and we're going to start chatting tomorrow about some different schools. I'm not going to say the school's names right now because I don't know if it's 100% sure, but I think it's going to work out good for me.

Speaker 1:

We don't need any violations.

Speaker 2:

I like it though.

Speaker 6:

Yeah very good. Yeah, I had the opportunity the last two summers to live in New York City with my sister. She played basketball at Columbia and has lived in Brooklyn ever since graduating and I got the opportunity to intern at JP Morgan the past two summers and thankfully, after this year I was able to land a full-time return offer. I'll start in June of next year and move to New York.

Speaker 1:

Pretty excited, sweet. What are you going to do for JP Morgan?

Speaker 6:

Yeah, so I work in product management for our research platform. Okay, basically I'm behind a lot of the equity and the credit research, all the research in general and just trying to improve the infrastructure making sure our clients are getting all the content they need and just improving and maintaining the infrastructure of our research platform.

Speaker 2:

Fantastic. Don't forget about us. Mason, Don't forget about us. Yeah, seriously I will.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, Tom, we're building a huge network of people that are going to be way more important than you are.

Speaker 5:

Yeah, don't forget us, yeah, and so coming up in just a few weeks now I'm starting to apply for my grad school, so I can get the 150 credit hours, so I can sit and take the CPA exams. This summer I'm working for Ernst Young, so, nick Rigby, you'll be seeing him in the office.

Speaker 2:

Ah, there you go, all right.

Speaker 5:

So I'll be doing a little auditing internship and going for my CPA exams and all that.

Speaker 1:

Nice Down in Philly.

Speaker 5:

Yep on Marquess All right.

Speaker 1:

Very exciting. We'll have to connect him with Mr John Davis as well.

Speaker 2:

Yes, cpa, we know some people in that space. Yes, we do Biz any big predictions? I mean this is the last show before the season starts. I mean it could be a wild prediction. It could be that we actually do have a live eagle at one game. It could be, I don't know. You tell me.

Speaker 1:

I mean, I do predict that we're going to have like an amazing crowd this year. All right, this is the year that we get the crowd. We're going to break the attendance records. We're going to get a big. I want another whiteout game like that picture in Hager's office.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, I know.

Speaker 1:

That's what I want, and these guys will deliver, you know, I think. I mean I think we're going to surprise people, man. I mean, listen, you know, nobody's going to know what to expect either when we're playing them. It goes both ways Until it's on tape. Man, there's a lot of hidden gems and the leadership's going to be good. If you want a bold prediction, I think I'm going to predict that Mason will be the defensive player of the year in the conference.

Speaker 2:

I had a prediction that involved Mason as well. So, mason and it's more of a challenge to you I looked up for my own education. I looked up the most assists in one game in the history of Juniata. Do you know who the player is?

Speaker 6:

Take a guess and say Jeremy Hayes.

Speaker 2:

It's not Jeremy Hayes. That's a great guess. It was a guy by the name of Bob Musser who had 17 assists in a game on February 3rd 1979. That is the all-time record for single game assists. That's the bar that I'm setting. I think you're going to break it this year, I don't know when. I don't know exactly how tyler better be hitting a lot of shots on the other end of that you know what I think you could tie in?

Speaker 1:

what's the record for most threes in the game? This could be a tie-in it could be a double trouble game.

Speaker 2:

It could be. I looked that up too.

Speaker 1:

It was in the 20s, tyler, it's a lot of threes all right, let's just put it this way tyler, how many, uh how many? What's the most threes that Evan ever had in a game?

Speaker 5:

Oh gosh, yes, I'd say anything between like six and eight.

Speaker 2:

I remember an eight. I think it was an eight.

Speaker 1:

Hey we can't forget Coach Hager made 10 out of 11.

Speaker 3:

All right, so you've got to go after Coach Hager, you've got to go after Coach.

Speaker 1:

Hager. What's the block record All?

Speaker 2:

these guys are going to go after something I don't know. The block record.

Speaker 1:

What would we guess? Who do you think it's got to be?

Speaker 3:

Who's it got to be? I think Chris Giaziota has the block record. Really Career or game? I think probably both, if I had to guess.

Speaker 2:

What would you put the number at?

Speaker 3:

Because this is now. You're out of my. This is like I talk about falconeering gloves, about evens. This is about the same. I'm out of my wavelength. Yeah, he's not a stat guy.

Speaker 2:

He's not a stat guy.

Speaker 1:

All right, whatever the block record is, nico, you're getting it.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, just don't leave the feet, don't jump into them. Let's not foul out, but let's get the block record.

Speaker 1:

I don't know. Tom does like a good hard foul. I do like a good hard foul. Hey, don't be afraid to do it.

Speaker 2:

You get five fouls. Some guy comes down the lane, make him know that you're there. You got to make a statement. Yeah, I do. This is the hardest working team in basketball. We got to prove it. Yeah, yeah, all right.

Speaker 1:

I think we've done everything we can Biz to get these guys believe so. Yeah, hey, you know what? The one thing that we got is a coach that can beat good teams, unlike another team that's not too far away from juniata's campus that can't beat any good freaking teams are we gonna attack franklin again yes, we are, he stinks. But anyway, coach curly, have you ever, uh, gone back at a fan and, like argued with them, or you just walk out?

Speaker 3:

I'm not getting into this.

Speaker 1:

Sorry, I'm bitter. I'm bitter and it'll never change. As a matter of fact, I'm going to issue a bet to any one of our listeners. I will bet them $10 that Franklin never beats Ohio State as long as he's the coach. I'm taking that bet.

Speaker 2:

Take it All right, $10. You see it right here.

Speaker 1:

All right as long as he's the head coach. From this point forward, he won't be.

Speaker 3:

You are the epitome of a fan. You're the definition of a fan. I am a fan.

Speaker 1:

I like to stick up for you. I don't go for mediocrity.

Speaker 2:

Well, the next time we talk, Miz, we're either going to be 1-0 or 0-1.

Speaker 1:

So wait.

Speaker 2:

It's and one. So wait, it's one game and then we're back on. Oh, I think we got to be back on before next tuesday's game. Like let's just dedicate that. Oh, yeah, yeah, right. Next we're back to normal schedule. We got to get back to normal schedule no more messing around.

Speaker 1:

I'm done with golf trips, boys.

Speaker 2:

I'm good, you're done with golf trips. I'll make sure I'm back. We'll do maybe sunday night, maybe sunday night after the steelers have to play my commanders yeah, there you go.

Speaker 1:

You turn-coded on them, that's all right, tomlin will blow that too. I'm really bitter, fellas.

Speaker 3:

Nico's a big commanders guy too. Yeah, well, he should be. He's a DC guy.

Speaker 2:

Hey, listen man Jaden.

Speaker 1:

Daniels is for real.

Speaker 2:

How great is that, hey, you should take some inspiration from this commanders team, right.

Speaker 1:

Everybody thought nah, they can't do it, they can't do it. What are they doing? They're 7-2. Hey, you guys are playing with house money man House money. Outside expectations are. You know, you lose all those guys. They're low. I mean, it's to prove it. You guys can prove it. I see it coming. Words of wisdom, thank you.

Speaker 2:

Let's go we need 1-0. The next time we're on Nico Tyler Mason, let's go Run TMC. You got to lead by example. Every single possession has to count. Dominate, score early, score often. I want to see some fun out there. Smile, it's going to be a good time See their smile.

Speaker 1:

Look at the smile.

Speaker 2:

It's going to be a good time, that's right, all right. Any last word. Fellas, anything, it's going to be a good time, right, that's right, all right, any last word?

Speaker 6:

fellas Anything. Hopefully we'll come back to a win to talk about.

Speaker 2:

I can't wait.

Speaker 1:

Many times.

Speaker 2:

All right, people. Follow the show on Instagram at Juniata Basketball Show. Subscribe to the Juniata Men's Basketball Show on Apple, spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. Leave us a comment on Instagram. And until next time, we got Nico, we got Tyler and we got Mason. I'm Tom Frank, I'm Biz.

Speaker 3:

I'm the head coach, Greg Curley.

Speaker 2:

Ba-boom Boom, let's go, guys.

Speaker 1:

Well done.

Speaker 2:

We need wins, we need wins. This show is a lot easier with wins.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, coach gets a little grumpy when there's no wins. Help us out, boys, we.

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Drew Besket

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Greg Curley

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Tom Frank

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