Juniata Men's Basketball Show

Seniors, Mascots, and Drums

• Thomas Frank, Drew Besket, Greg Curley • Season 3 • Episode 71

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As the season winds down, the spotlight shifts to the upcoming Senior Day We pay tribute to the invaluable contributions of senior players Mason Hardy, Tyler Lapetina, and Neco Campbell, whose leadership and spirit have left an indelible mark on the team. Coach Curley shares his thoughts on the next generation stepping into leadership roles, offering heartfelt insights on mentorship and the enduring legacy left by these outstanding seniors.

Competition in the Landmark Conference is heating up, and we dive into a spirited analysis of top contenders like Drew and Catholic. From standout players to game-winning strategies, we break down what makes these matchups so electrifying. We also explore the motivation required to finish the season strong and celebrate our seniors with pride. As we look forward to the final games, we underscore the importance of camaraderie, gratitude, and maintaining the competitive spirit that defines us as a team. Tune now in for heart, humor, and a whole lot of basketball passion!

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Tom Frank:

What's up, Juniata Nation? Tom Frank, here, your co-host. I'll be the first to admit that my trip to the Super Bowl parade last week threw off our schedule just a bit. So this week's episode, which was recorded just before Saturday's big senior day win over the Gophers, is coming to you a little later than I planned. Huge congratulations to our three seniors on that victory. Yes, we called it. Without further ado. Here's this week's show.

Tom Frank:

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

Coach Curley:

I'm the head coach, Greg Curley.

Tom Frank:

And this is the Junior Out of 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 Out of Head Basketball coach, greg Curley. As we talk all things. Junior Out of Men's College Basketball Mid-February fellas. Yes, there's snow on the ground. We just have three more games to this year's schedule. Yes, I don't know if that's a happy thing or a sad thing. I haven't decided yet. It's a happy thing or is it a sad thing? Well, yeah, but we got one. Yeah, I do love the season, you know. But before we get into all that, though, we did have a big win, first light coming. We're going to get into that. Boom. We had a date change on the Catholic game, which threw my whole day off to be totally honest with you.

Tom Frank:

You had a crowd man, I had a whole crowd. I had a whole crowd about that that's unfortunate. And then we do have to give a shout out to the left side, or would it be the right side of the state? The big, the big win for the birds? I'm sure John Kelly is is is a happy man right now.

Coach Curley:

There's probably a few happy men folks about that one yeah.

Tom Frank:

Yeah, I just look at him, cause he I the whole time. I saw him last time he did, the word birds just kept coming out of his mouth. Yeah, quite a bit, quite a bit. Hopefully he's not on any light poles, you know, maybe you guys should hook up for the parade. Yeah, right now I'm scheduled to go to this parade. Oof, good luck to you. And the only reason I'm going it's Valentine's Day and so my wife wanted to go. It's Valentine's Day. I feel like I'm obligated. There you go. Yeah, I don't know, do I have to wear an Eagle shirt? Two birds with one stone, literally. Yeah, boom, that's a good one. Yeah, oh, hey. What'd you guys think of this? What'd you guys think of the Super Bowl game? I thought it was excellent. I wanted Kansas City to get decimated it was boring though.

Tom Frank:

No, it was exciting. It was an absolutely boring game. I loved every minute of it, did you? Yeah, I mean my household here did half the household at least, plus it covered all my bets. So, yeah, biz was a happy camper. Did you watch the game, curly?

Coach Curley:

Yeah, I watched it. What'd you do for the Super Bowl? What'd you guys do Anything? Jenna always does like. We have our own little kind of Super Bowl party here, so she made a bunch of stuff so it was fun. Kids enjoyed it Nice?

Tom Frank:

Is it? Is it themed? Do you guys theme it out for, like the teams that are in it, or what's the story?

Coach Curley:

Nah, she just has. She comes up with whatever she's going to make. You know the old, all the tailgate fair and so uh, it's always fun completely dominated both sides of the line of scrimmage, and that was it. It wasn't much chance, friendships man.

Tom Frank:

Yep Halftime show. Did we enjoy the halftime show? I could have cared less. I'm not going to lie. I kind of enjoyed it, did you? I kind of did. No, I mean, nothing in the world will overtop the Snoop. Dr Dre. Eminem, I agree with you there, I agree with you there, it'll never happen.

Tom Frank:

How about commercials? Actually, speaking of commercials, we had a question from a listener. Oh, all right, david B. He said, fellas, what was your favorite Super Bowl commercial man? I'm trying to remember now. There weren't many memorable ones at least for me.

Coach Curley:

You know what? I didn't really pay attention.

Tom Frank:

I didn't really pay attention that's that I pay attention to the commercials, really pay attention. Well, I mean, that's your job.

Coach Curley:

I love the commercials, I think that's my favorite part of the game. What was?

Tom Frank:

the one for, uh, the one where they had like all the old like mascots, like an online shopping one. Well, that was good with the big kool-aid dude, that was my favorite one, for sure and the bald-headed with mr clean. Yeah, that one yeah I kind of liked and maybe this is the same David B, I don't know the one with David Beckham and his long-lost brother. Oh, that was pretty good.

Coach Curley:

Who ended?

Tom Frank:

up yeah.

Coach Curley:

I like.

Tom Frank:

David B Huh, it could be. We are worldwide. You know, I kind of liked that commercial. Yeah, all right. Yeah, that was a good one. I'll give you that one. There, they're the flying mustaches. Yeah, for Pringles, we need, like, more Bud Light commercials. Man, the old, the horses, what were they? The Clydesdales? No, not even that. Like you know, the Bud Light guy, the dog, you know what's up.

Tom Frank:

What's up, I agree. I wonder who that what's up guy is. Is he somewhere out in the world? Who was that? I don't know. He's not a famous person. We need to get him on the junior, I think we should look into that for the summer. All right, what's up, guy, what's up. I like it, mr. Mr cruiser, was this key?

Coach Curley:

yes, I am that guy remember that was pretty good that was good too all right.

Tom Frank:

Well, we had some. We had a change of pace this past week. We also had a big win. An exciting W An overtime versus Lycoming. That was a fantastic game, best game of the year.

Coach Curley:

Yeah, it was a really good basketball game period. Yeah, I mean our guys really fought. Obviously, the leadership Mason Hardy played it's one of those games you take with you forever and he deserves it. I thought Tyler Laptina the floor game he played was off the charts as well. And then Ty Kozak having 20 rebounds, I think. Jaden Bilger at 24. A lot of contributions, really excited for the guys. It was a great crowd, it was a great crowd the football team. Really, is that why the football team? It was a great crowd.

Tom Frank:

It was a great crowd. The football team really. Is that why the football team? Yeah, they showed up. I turned the game on and I actually was kind of shocked at how big the crowd was, and they were loud too. So that was the football team.

Coach Curley:

Yeah, well, it wasn't just them. I mean, again, we play so many games over break when there's no one there. You know you get weeknight games when students are around. I think our place always does a good job of supporting each other. Honestly, weekend games are more challenging during the semester because a lot of our athletes have things or you know they're competing or they have practice or that's their time to go home. A lot of those weeknight games when we have students in session are probably going to be our best kind of student support crowds. We have students in session are probably going to be our best kind of student support crowds the weekend ones, if the weather's right and you know that's when we get a lot more family and people from community and stuff to come. So I think it's probably close, but in terms of energy there's probably not not much better it was great and Jen, you know Jen mentioned.

Coach Curley:

You know, like she doesn't care what anybody says, she watches all the games on flow sports and stuff. Our camera angle doesn't always, you know. Sometimes it's from across the benches, but if you look over to student sections it's like I don't care where it is. You guys get the best crowds when your students are in session and I would agree with that. I think that played a huge part in our ability to be successful in that game and I think that feeds the youth. I mean we have so many young guys. I think that extra energy is a big deal and when you got to play a lot of games in a lot of places with not in front of a lot of people, that can be challenging. So it was, yeah, it was great. It was the hard work to pay off for those guys. The way we won, it was terrific. Yeah, and really really played hard. It felt good to be in one of those games where I thought we looked like ourselves, played like ourselves and when we do, the outcomes correspond to that.

Tom Frank:

Yeah, no, it was a great game. The crowd, I give it up for those guys. Yeah, if anybody's listening from that crowd, it was fantastic. They were loud, they knew when to cheer for defense. I mean it was very good.

Coach Curley:

We're building on that.

Tom Frank:

That's the building block. That's the building block. That's the building block right there. I mean, there was no band there. I kind of wanted the pep band. But you know, take our wins where we get them. Somebody challenged next? Home game student. One student needs to bring a drum, I don't care who.

Tom Frank:

Yeah, all we need, I don't care how big your drum is Just bring a drum.

Tom Frank:

I think we need to invest in a giant and I'm not talking a little drum, I'm talking like I'm serious about this. I'm with you, man. I had a giant, giant, giant drum, because you guys could put it right up behind, like opposite of the bench where the players are, and you could sit it up there and it could have a giant logo in it. It actually should have the podcast logo in it.

Coach Curley:

I guess before buying the drum.

Tom Frank:

And then just have someone beat that all the time. That would just drive people nuts, like on timeouts and when they have the ball.

Coach Curley:

If football isn't in Purdue, it has a huge drum. Doesn't Purdue have a huge drum that we all around?

Tom Frank:

Do they have a huge drum? They do have a huge drum. Then let's take our cue from the Purdue Boilermakers.

Coach Curley:

All right, hey, if our men's program is as good as theirs right now, we'll take it.

Tom Frank:

But I think we program is as good as theirs right now. We'll take it. We need something to shake it up. Next year we need a serious shake-up. If I win the Powerball, I will get that drum, that drum. How much could it be to get? A giant drum, a big drum, yeah, I mean, come on.

Coach Curley:

I don't know they got the cash. Supply chain.

Tom Frank:

Supply chain. We got to figure out who we can talk to. I think we go right to the top. All right, the president, if you could make that introduction Curly for us.

Coach Curley:

I've tried to keep you guys away from him for now.

Tom Frank:

All right, we're not quite there yet that might be a good idea. All right, we'll work on that. We got a lot of time to get that drum, don't worry. All right, I just want to mention the Catholic game. The Catholic game gets moved, which I. Whoever moved the game? Brilliant, they moved it from Wednesday afternoon to Tuesday afternoon. You guys get crushed. Wednesday night to Tuesday afternoon yeah, Wednesday night to Tuesday afternoon, so good timing on the snow. You probably got out of there just in time.

Coach Curley:

Yeah, actually in terms of travel, there wasn't a much better way to do it in terms of traveling into the city. So, yeah, it worked out. We were able to get it out of there back in normal times. You know a little, obviously not the normal schedule coming off the drew game. You're off sunday and you come in and you got short turnaround and playing the 20th team ranked team in the country. That's a challenge but in terms of a kind of logistics of it and how it worked out, I think it it was the best decision for everybody.

Tom Frank:

The only downside of the decision, though, is I was going to be there. I had a crowd of people coming Shout out to Thryne. Harpering Thryne was the mastermind behind this. We were going to take the seats right behind the basket. I think we could have added some extra energy that you might have needed for that game.

Coach Curley:

No, I mean, I appreciate Thon and all those guys being ready to go.

Tom Frank:

And we'll have to take a rain check and get them there next year. Well, maybe I'll even come down for that one. Yeah, it'd be good. It'd be good We'll party in Annapolis with my man, tom Frank. Yeah, yeah, I mean, we're right in the city of the DC. Maybe curls can pull an urban mire and just stay and party with us and then fly back the next day.

Coach Curley:

Maybe we should push for games in Annapolis instead of the Palestra sometime, to just take it on Tom's home turf man.

Tom Frank:

We can play at the Naval Academy or something. Why not play at the Naval Academy?

Coach Curley:

Yeah, that would be actually pretty cool hey.

Tom Frank:

Katie, this is a great idea.

Coach Curley:

You know the.

Tom Frank:

Landmark Conference stands for, you know, good positive men, and so does the Naval Academy. Like that seems like a no-brainer. You do a doubleheader Navy versus somebody, and then Juniata versus yeah, and you guys have the same colors. So they're kind of perfect, alright.

Tom Frank:

That's our number two thing. We've got all kinds of ideas.

Coach Curley:

Drum Naval all right. All right, that's our number. We got all kinds of ideas. Drum naval academy game how are we?

Tom Frank:

maybe you could take the drum down there. How about? How good would that be? Hey, how are we on the eagle too? Yeah, maybe. Hey, when you're at that parade for the Eagles championship, see if you can grab that eagle and bring it with, or I'll just I'll watch the logistics how it works, or just see the guy who catches him and say hey man, what does it take to get you up to hunting? Yeah, one game a year, the alumni game yeah, celebrate team gold's victory yeah.

Tom Frank:

Yeah, alright, so we got three remaining games, three left. Team Gold's victory yeah, I'll say about that. Yeah, all right. So we got three remaining games, three left, three left. I think they're all winnable. We got Saturday versus Goucher, 4 o'clock. We got the following Wednesday at Susquehanna at 8 pm and then we have at Moravian for the season finale on Saturday, february 22nd. So senior night's this Saturday. Then Will it be this Saturday?

Coach Curley:

or Wednesday. Senior day is Saturday. Oh, it's a Saturday, okay, yeah. So I mean I think we're excited about that. I mean obviously Tyler, mason and Nico. So Nico technically has another year but he's before the season to decide this would be his last year because it would be grad school and other things and he's going to actually wants to get into coaching. So yeah, I mean it's a big game for those guys. I mean I think you know Jen brought it up the other day to me and just said, like particularly Tyler and Mason, how much they've meant to the program over four years, which is absolutely undeniable and I mean just how they've honestly managed and handled this year for us.

Coach Curley:

You know our results aren't great but their leadership has been as good as we've had, and sometimes when we're as young as we are, it may take a little while for that to sink in, but kind of challenge those three before the season. No idea how this is going to go. It's going to be a really challenging year because of what we lost and what we have to go through. And then you know all the unforeseen circumstances we've kind of documented, kind of hit us, but the biggest thing is they got to get us out of the year, you know, with guys coming back that know what it means to be us and have an idea of what it means to play here and kind of, you know, not just keepers of our culture but maybe continue to improve on our culture, and I think those guys have absolutely done that. I think one of the things we talked about after the Catholic game and the younger guys is this last week now I'm coming out of like home and game there's there's always this kind of weird leadership shift that happens at the end of a season when you have seniors because, if you think about it, they've gone, they've kind of fostered everything throughout the entire season and and and been the ones that have led and been the ones in kind of that caretaker role. And towards the end it shifts like kind of any life cycle, where you know now they're coming to grips with kind of the end of their basketball career and the end of their opportunity, and so their frame of mind shifts to where they're going next and what they've experienced, and there's a void that the rest of the team has to pick up where they left off and help them through it.

Coach Curley:

And so for me, I thought really Tyler and Mason led us through that Lycoming game and I think this game Saturday. I think this is our young guys' turn to step in and lead these guys through it, and so I'm excited to see that. But honestly, what those guys have meant to the program Nico as well Nico only had two years here and for him to kind of be up to the standard in terms of leadership and how he mentored guys and what he does behind the scenes and kind of how he counseled guys, just really speaks to who he is. You know, and we're still standing. We're certainly not where we want to be and the lessons continue to be challenging. Truthfully, if you take the wins and losses away, kind of the day-to-day, like the game prep and the practices and the coaching and the demands and the positives, it's really another basketball season. The hard part becomes the results, which is harder for younger guys. But I think these guys really kept a ton of perspective on it. Obviously, as coaches, we feel like we wanted to provide those guys more and they deserve more in terms of outcomes this year. But however you rack up their careers, I think they're still ahead in the win column and they're still ahead in the two seniors for sure.

Coach Curley:

There's very, very few guys that ever went to the playoffs three straight times in our school history. One is still part of the only classes that have had three winning seasons in four years. Their goal was to be the only team to ever do it four straight years winning seasons. That's still never been done in the history of the school. So I mean you walk away and you have that.

Coach Curley:

And then kind of the courage they both showed I mean Mason, kind of the iron man, and how hard he plays and everyone can see it and what he brings all the time in every possession, um, you know that that is his legacy and that's a heck of a legacy to have.

Coach Curley:

And you know, I think tyler, um, you know, just battling through what he's had to physically this year, I mean, and you could see a million reasons why, why not? But but he's still right there, um, you know he's not, he's not, he's probably not 60%, um, of what he is, but to still go out there and battle and come to practice and have that attitude in a moment when a lot of people particularly the way things are now, you know, is it worth it and what's not, you know moment when a lot of people particularly the way things are now, you know, is it worth it and what's not, you know just really speaks to who these guys are. You know, I think what I'm excited for is our younger guys to take the torch from these guys and now do something with it, like they did, and start, hopefully, saturday with a great effort.

Tom Frank:

Yeah.

Tom Frank:

Oh hey, the one thing that you have always had was a great transition leadership, and I couldn't think of two better dudes to lead it into the next class. I mean, it seems like every story there was one or two guys that had to transition. And these guys are it man. They battled a hell of a career.

Coach Curley:

Bravo to them, yeah and I would throw Nico in there. I mean it's such a short time being here for him to commit and buy in and to come from, you know, kind of fly into it and to be such a good mentor to these younger guys. Just, you know just kind of the advice he gives guys and how he relates to people. You know that's hard too. I mean the challenge of being a two-year guy is you're still trying to get your footing and you're still trying to figure things out. Like he and I always say, it takes about two years to figure it all out. I think you're seeing that a little bit in ty kozak here how he's really kind of developed.

Coach Curley:

I'm very proud of how he's developing through the season and and, uh, how he's kind of matured and coming into himself as a player.

Coach Curley:

I think super excited about where that goes. But it's just generally the timeline it takes and, uh, you know, to come in and have that attitude and lead and try to mentor and push people along. I mean just speaks to how good of guys these guys are and sometimes the one loss record taints how people see things and there's a lot of teams that win a lot of games that they're not the guys that you think they are, and there's teams that struggle like this, and it doesn't mean our guys aren't what they're supposed to be when I say, while you're inside of it and you're at practice and you're doing these things, it's where they are. I think there's some very real things that have gotten in the way of us realizing some things from a basketball perspective, but I think the lessons and the opportunity hopefully this teaches everybody involved are the stuff that we still need to stay focused on, which is why we do this in the first place. Yeah, we do this in the first place.

Tom Frank:

Yeah, I do have to say this, though we got to give our flowers to Mason. All these seniors, great seniors. But man, the game that he played against Lycoming, I mean I just man, the heart he had in that game, the big buckets he had, he played a whale of a game In the last I was. That was that was just a great. That was just a great game to watch. Last shot was Tyler to him to send it to overtime.

Coach Curley:

I mean he couldn't have written a better script than that.

Tom Frank:

Yeah, yeah, I was really happy to see that for him. All right, big W the dub, woo the dub, the dub, and you know what?

Coach Curley:

I think we can get another one here. I think so.

Tom Frank:

I want to take a minute. Let's take a look. We haven't looked at the landmark conference standings all year. All right, let's take a look at them right now. We do have Drew sitting at the top. Drew, you're at the top 15-0 in conference, 19-3 overall. Wow, drew's having a good year Well.

Tom Frank:

I mean, you know, once in a blue moon for me.

Tom Frank:

Thomas, yes, catholic's right behind him at 14-1, also 19-3. So is Drew ranked? Curls, yeah, you said Catholic's ranked, but Drew isn't.

Coach Curley:

Catholic is ranked right now, drew is not. They actually play this weekend.

Tom Frank:

Man, that's a good matchup.

Coach Curley:

They're both very, very good teams, very deep. They match up very well together, have really good guard play, have guys that can take over games. Sean Nealon for Catholic, the Sean Nealon for Catholic, the game before I said 32. You know he was 7 or 9 for 3 against us first game. He's been probably one of the most consistent guys in the league. Malcolm Newman for Drew is the same. But they had, you know, they've had guys player of the week multiple times off the bench.

Coach Curley:

I mean Drew plays 10 guys and they're all like you know, they're all landmark starter and caliber guys and Catholic could go that deep if they want. I mean I think you've seen they've been challenged with some some different lineups and stuff, but they're you know they lost all those guys from last year and they're still right there. So they're just really good, well coached, tough basketball teams. I think the thing I always tell guys and I've told you guys I mean it's the team toughness, execution are always the top teams in the league and those are the two teams that do think the thing I always tell guys and I've told you guys, I mean it's the team toughness, execution are always the top teams in the league and those are the two teams that do it the best, and they're right there.

Coach Curley:

Now, playoff basketball is a little bit different. The other thing they're built on is really defense and rebounding. They both have the top rebounding margins in the league. They're super physical. They're going to defend a little bit different style in the fact that Drew goes up and down presses, so the numbers are different, but in the end they're still built on defense physicality. Devin Musial is probably one of the best defenders that we've seen, and there's some good ones in the league, and so it should be a great game. Obviously, we just played them back to back, which is where we are is a challenge, but you know, we definitely had moments in both those games.

Tom Frank:

You hung with Drew for a while.

Coach Curley:

Well, we make a couple layups and make some shots that we're capable of, it's probably an even game at halftime, you know. And then, if you watch the game, I think when their top guys come back in is when they kind of make some pushes, and when they kind of go back out we kind of push back. So I think we're slowly kind of creeping up in terms of the level we compete with. It's just the top, top level guys, you know, and we just don't quite have enough in those situations. I thought it was the same at Catholic. I mean, it was a tie game with eight minutes left in the first half at Catholic. You know, that's only well, that's still. It's a tie game with eight minutes left in the first half and then it got away quick. You know, and it's the same kind of challenge for us. We just can't consistently score, and when you can't consistently score it gets hard. Now we have to figure out a way to get through that because, like I just said, the teams that are really good are built on defense and rebound. And I don't know if you saw what Mick Cronin just said. He just said the really good programs win when they can't score. So I think part of the experience of this year should give us some resilience and some endurance to be able to do that.

Coach Curley:

As those other areas develop for us, which they are, we've become more consistent in ways. We're playing exceptional defenses, we're finding answers, guys are getting more comfortable. Part of that is we're starting to develop roles, finally. I mean we're having conversations about roles, we're able to hold guys accountable to what the role might be, and so those are things we had, me and had, and you're usually having those. You know, second, third game of the season, and so there's there's progress to that. But yeah, it should be. That should be a heck of a game. That is going to be a good game what's that saturday you said yeah, it's saturday At Drew.

Coach Curley:

What happened?

Tom Frank:

the first time they played, I think, drew won in overtime at Catholic.

Tom Frank:

And that was back in the game too In conference loss. All right, so clearly those two teams are at the top. I think we have a big hunk in the middle. We got Wilks at 10-5 in the conference, Susquehanna at 9-5, Moravian at 9-6, Elizabethtown at 5-9, and Scranton at 5-10. Seems like the middle will batch there.

Coach Curley:

Yeah, I mean I'd say the Moravian, wilks and Susquehanna probably rounded out those five. I think when you get down to the you see how the records are flipped. I just think a little depth of ability and talent. It doesn't mean those teams don't have good players, that couldn't have nights, but I think you know Wilk's complete team. Susquehanna, you know they have everybody back from last year. They'll have everybody back again next year. So they're kind of. You know they're very experienced, they're very big. We'll play them Wednesday. They're a challenging matchup for us so that'll be difficult.

Coach Curley:

They do some things. They're exceptionally well coached. Obviously they know how to win. Then Moravian, you know coached, obviously they know how to win. Then Moravian, chad Kratzer and some of those guys, they can just score but they also back it up with some length and athleticism. So yeah, I mean that's a really good five team mix. I mean in some years you eliminate the top two teams and those other three teams are really good teams that are at the top. So I think that's the depth.

Coach Curley:

And if you would have told me that this Scranton team, even this E-Town team, with as much experience as they have they're veteran-laden now and they have some guys that can score would be fighting for those last spots. I mean, that really is more of an indicator of how good the league is than it is where they are. That's where we've kind of got the double whammy of getting kind of smacked with that. At the same time it's very, very hard for our young guys or those around them who haven't been through this or seen it, to kind of see the trees through the forest in that one. But we keep staying at it and keep working at it. Hopefully that opens up sometimes and we'll see some benefit from what we've gone through this season.

Tom Frank:

I smell a spoiler. Oh, then we got the bottom three Goucher G I smell a spoiler, oh then we got the bottom three Goucher Goucher's only got three

Tom Frank:

wins Lycoming two and then our Eagles.

Coach Curley:

Yeah, now they're playing I mean Goucher's playing right now at E-Town. So we'll see how that one goes. They've had some lineup changes here too, so I think they've probably gone through some similar things to us Lyco, after our game, actually went on the road and beat Goucher right after they played us. So yeah, I mean, I think it kind of tells you, I don't think we're here alone, I think we're kind of in a grouping, and then I think there's a next group and we're obviously right there in those games with Scranton and right within striking distance of E-Town. So I don't know that we're as far away as it looks. But you know, as Parcells said, you know you are what your record says you are, but we're not done yet. We have a couple here. Let's see what we can do. I think our goal right now.

Tom Frank:

I think we can. If we could, we could, we could jump ahead of Lycoming in these standings. All right, I think that's our goal. Challenge accepted Biz accepted. I mean let's go Motivation right Spoiler. Let's spoil something, let's spoil something. I think we can do it. Mini motivation.

Coach Curley:

Listen, I think our focus needs to be to send our seniors out the right way, and there should be more than enough motivation for Saturday. And we get through Saturday and now you're in your last week and you got a choice. What are you going to do now? You know, I mean, you got I'd listen Sometimes and I'm sure it's out there and all guys tough, you're like man, you're playing college basketball. You got three college basketball games to play. What are you gonna do with them? Uh, you know, I, I think you know I was thinking about something today and, like you think, when you think about being grateful for opportunities and play college, it'd be a part of it, but part of being grateful is you're grateful for the entire experience. That means failure and success, yeah, so like you can't pick one without the other, and maybe that's my perspective as a coach for 24 years.

Coach Curley:

But like, we've had great seasons and we're having an abysmal season and you got to take it, with what comes with it, and you can be grateful to have the opportunity to be a college coach and be coached at a place like Juniata and the kids we are, or you can't. And like, you got to choose. You can't just pick it when it comes. And I think it's a very tough lesson. It's not the one our guys want to learn, but if we keep perspective the right way and if they stay in there and see what it does for them over the next several years, you know we just got to turn this into the right thing but like, oh, it's been long, I hope you took it and that's where, honestly and there's going to be some like that I can't connect with that.

Coach Curley:

So we're going to play. The coaches will be prepared and that's up to our players, but the thing is players have to play. That's the hard part as a coach. If you ask me what the challenge is is, I don't think my approach has been much different at all. But the players have to play and you're also fortunate for a lot of the times that the players made you right, made you look good and did what they did, and that doesn't mean our players now are making us wrong. They're, you know it's. They're just not. It's not where we need to be. We just need to worry about taking more steps and we got three more chances to do it and three more opportunities to show our character and see how we're going to compete.

Tom Frank:

Tone setter, tone setter. We need this one on Saturday, so Saturday senior day.

Coach Curley:

We're getting a blanket, we're getting a jersey, we're getting a picture. What are we getting? What can you tell us? I mean, they'll get the usual, I think it's kind of a framed letter with an action photo on it, beforehand and water them and their parents or whoever chooses to walk them out, and then afterwards there'll be like a post-game kind of potluck thing for the families A potluck.

Coach Curley:

Yes, and because of some weather and challenges with the schedule this year and some things that fell through, this is kind of the first time we've had that opportunity. So you know, I'm looking forward to that and I mean, listen, it's, you know, to get everybody together and hey, we're still here and there's a lot of relationships. I mean it's cool today because we're off, we're at the women's game. It was national women and girls, youth and women in sports today, so Kiera Curley and the Little Cats played at halftime and so they were there and all that stuff.

Tom Frank:

Little Cats.

Tom Frank:

And Kiera had a couple buckets.

Coach Curley:

So it was nice, it was cool. But you know, on the far side I think we had 11, 12 of our guys all sitting together watching the game, probably through the course of the game just kind of keep an eye Probably 13, 14 guys just rolled through, just rolled through. They all kind of sit together and together.

Coach Curley:

So I mean, however you want to look at things, those relationships weren't even there six months ago and so, like when you talk about how special this experience is, that's what it is. Now, one of the things we have to be careful of is we're not a social organization. This isn't a fraternity. We're a competitive basketball program and so we have to be teammates and we have to understand what that means and we have to grow through that. But I always have said there's probably no better compliment to tell somebody than you're a teammate, you're my teammate, and so we have to kind of honor that and how we finish the season and what we demand and expect of each other and how we use this season to kind of propel ourselves forward.

Tom Frank:

You can't have success without a good call. Biz. What I got out of that quote was that this isn't a social call. This is a competitive podcast and we go toe-to-toe with any podcast in the country. Well, obviously nobody's come toe-to-toe with us, so we're still undefeated. Biz, we're still undefeated. You know where we sit, anytime anywhere.

Coach Curley:

Biz out of the friend zone. Biz, we're out of the friend zone, we're competitive zone.

Tom Frank:

Biz Thank God.

Tom Frank:

This is competitiveness.

Tom Frank:

It's about time I got out of the friend zone. Biz spent a lot of time in the friend zone back in the day.

Coach Curley:

That's fine. Let's not go there?

Tom Frank:

Let's not go there, let's not go there. This just took a turn. Any final words for the team going?

Coach Curley:

into Saturday. Miz was a great teammate, though Tom, he was a great teammate. Miz was a great teammate.

Tom Frank:

You know what, man? I just do my part, tom. That's the message. Do your part, do your part. Everybody does their part. All parts come together to make a win. The whole is the sum of the parts, tom. Sure, yeah, let's send the seniors out in stock. Yeah, you can't have a senior in a row with a loss? How about a great momentum builder for next season? Oh man, we get three in a row. What? What are you doing if we get three in a row? What?

Tom Frank:

am I feeling?

Tom Frank:

you. Yeah, I feel like you should do something crazy if they win three in a row to end the season not streaking. I can tell you that I think we need something really good, really motivating. All right, hmm, curly any thoughts, any ideas?

Coach Curley:

I don't motivate many.

Tom Frank:

Maybe Biz sings the is there like a fight song at the opening game next year if they win the last three.

Coach Curley:

Tell you what I'll play the national anthem on my guitar.

Tom Frank:

That'll make me happy. Yeah but can you actually do that? Not yet. But that's the challenge you lead. How about you lead the entire gymnasium in the singing of the fight song?

Coach Curley:

I will be the mascot there we go, I will be the mascot, that's it.

Tom Frank:

For the first game. You guys win this last three. Biz is the mascot. I will be holding the ring in fire that he will jump through at halftime, the first game of the year. I will be the mascot and Tom is going to buy a big drum. Okay, that's what we're going to do. I'm buying the drum, you're being the mascot. Hey, let's not.

Tom Frank:

The three in a row.

Tom Frank:

Back in the old Penn State days I was Bookie the Blue Bear during the Arts Fest and Biz. Do you remember? If you recall I was the you were the you were the hokey bird too, weren't you? No, but I was also, if you remember, in a parade. Yeah, I was in a parade for the golf team and I was some kind of weird bird, that's yeah do you remember this? You remember you guys both have mascot experience, don't you do have mascot experience. I am also a well-known blueberry and andzel.

Coach Curley:

Aren't you a strawberry too? That's true, you get paid for that, though I was a strawberry as well. Yeah, you get paid for that, though. That's good money man.

Tom Frank:

All right, that's good money. Right there, I will be the mascot and I will bring a drum Next year. Yeah, all right. Hey, kirtley on board tomorrow. Yeah, I'd make flyers up. I mean, come on, this will be good Marketing blitz. I'm looking forward to it. I'd look good in an eagle costume, actually no.

Tom Frank:

Tom, you have to arrange for a real eagle. No, no, no, that's too hard, I might hurt some. Yeah, but what if the eagle I don't know eats a kid I doubt it, at least a drum, and you jump through it at least a drum we can hold for a while.

Coach Curley:

Yeah.

Tom Frank:

Yeah, let's stick with the drum and the Eagle.

Tom Frank:

All right, there you go.

Tom Frank:

There you have it. Yeah, eagle nation, all right, I that's our clip right there. That is our card that we'll put out. That's a motivational clip. We got to get that out before Saturday. Yes, bez, you going to be watching the game Saturday? I will watch the game Saturday, all right, maybe we'll go do a live. We can do that. I'd love to be, at the game. I mean seeing the seniors are cool, but that potluck sounds so good.

Coach Curley:

What will the Curly family?

Tom Frank:

be bringing to the potluck? Do we know I?

Coach Curley:

don't know. We just try to make it to the game on time.

Tom Frank:

That works the rest of the crew anyway. So if you could take a picture of the potluck potluck dinner for biz, he would that would make this save me some leftovers, whatever, and because it might be a while till you see that I mean, if there's good leftovers, I'll make the trip all right that's a good point, that's a great point thank you all right.

Tom Frank:

All right, there, you have it, we got there you are off the schneid as they say yeah, let's end on a big note. We got Goucher, Susquehanna, moravian. Anything can happen. Biz Mascot, games, mascot and a drum. That's right, there we go. Follow the show on Instagram at JuniataBasketballShow, subscribe to the Juni Adam Men's Basketball Show on Apple Spotify. Or, if you listen to podcasts, leave us a comment on Instagram. And until next time, I'm Tom Frank, I'm Booth and I'm Coach.

Coach Curley:

Greg Curley.

Tom Frank:

The drum Dude. I would love that.

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Drew Besket

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Greg Curley

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Tom Frank

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