Stanford head coach Jerod Haase, fifth year forward Spencer Jones, and senior forward Brandon Angel represented the Cardinal at Pac-12 men’s basketball media day. Below are some notes and takeaways that I have from what they said as well as video and transcript courtesy of Pac-12.com.
VIDEO: Spencer Jones & Brandon Angel Presser
Haase opened up by saying he is excited about his team. He felt like the foreign tour they took to Europe really helped them grow and come together as a team as they had more practice time. He also likes having an older team. He feels like they are pretty far ahead. He feels like they have talent, depth, and hunger.
Expanding on getting older, the physicality and experience factors are big. Just having gone through all the challenges of college basketball he feels is beneficial for his team. This isn’t their first rodeo, they’ve been here before, and that should help them get off to the kind of start they want to have.
Expanding on the foreign tour, the chance to see Maxime Raynaud’s family was great and then also to see where Andrej Stojakovic’s family roots are was cool, too. And then just the getting those extra practices in really helped him get a better feel for his team and get ahead of where they normally would be. So, just an all-around great experience and learning opportunity for the team.
On their shooting, Haase said it’s all about getting clean looks. He says they have been playing a bit faster, which should help. He said for most of the game, they’re going to have four to five guys who can really shoot. So, shooting should be a big part of what they do.
As for Jared Bynum, the grad transfer from Providence, he likes the point guard presence he can bring and also his NCAA tournament experience. He feels like he’ll bring a good element to the team due to his guard play and experience.
Talking about Spencer Jones, Haase said they want to get him going in a variety of ways. Not just his 3-point shooting but be as well rounded as possible by getting involved in the post and doing things in that area as well.
Haase also is excited about Raynaud and his development. Especially his confidence and how that has grown. A guy who is primed to have a good year because of his ability to score inside and make plays from the perimeter.
Talking about Brandon Angel, Haase likes how steady his development is. Just how he keeps getting better and better every season. He sees him as a guy who will really thrive and also have a chance to be Pac-12 scholar athlete of the year for men’s basketball.
Haase also shared his thoughts on the challenges that comes with NIL, transfer portal, etc. He said what he wants to do is make sure guys understand the consequences of what they do. A big part of what Stanford does is develop guys for four years and he sees that as something that is a strength of their program. Good for both the program and the players. Haase is very proud of this year’s team because they are a group of guys who believe in the direction of the team, education, life after basketball, and all the big picture things that his program wants to emphasize.
On Andrej Stojakovic, Haase said he’s a guy who can create his own shot and score in a variety of ways. Has great length and create shots off the dribble. He feels like he’s going to be a really good player who can grow and develop with them. Having an experienced roster he feels will help Stojakovic and Kanaan Carlyle grow.
Haase said Angel and Jones are going to be leaders on the team who represented the best of what their program wants to do. Guys who are very smart and fit well within their scheme. Two of their cornerstones.
Switching gears to Spencer Jones and Brandon Angel’s presser, Jones said when he first got to Stanford, he found that his 3-point shooting could help the team. Since then, he’s tried to become as well rounded as possible. He knew he was going to have to be more of a well-rounded player and he’s prepared for that.
Jones said making the NCAA tournament is definitely the goal for the team. He said that’s the reason he came back. He said he wouldn’t have come back if he didn’t feel like making the tournament wasn’t a strong possibility. Coming back this year was a basketball decision for him.
Angel said being older helps because of the offense they run and how that makes them more cohesive. He said the goal is to finish out Pac-12 play strong and make a run in the NCAA tournament as well.
Angel liked how his season ended last year, but he acknowledged he also came out of a slump. It was rewarding to see his hard work pay off after putting the work in. Going into the offseason with that, he said it does build confidence and now it’s about being consistent throughout the entire season.
On the 3-point shooting they have, Jones said it’s nice to have more shooters around him and that allows him to be freer and play looser. He said it’s created a more unselfish team where they don’t have to rely on one guy and they trust that the guy next to them can knock it down. He commented when Tyrell Terry was a freshman the two of them really had to be the 3-point shooting presence and now that’s no longer the case.
Both Angel and Jones praised Bynum. Angel said Bynum has a great feel for the game and putting them in the best possible positions to succeed. The knowledge Bynum has from making the tournament is a plus, too. Jones said it didn’t take them long to click with Bynum. He said it’s been a seamless transition to playing with Bynum.
Angel said they’re all ready for the moment and are happy to take on a bigger role, but it’s all about winning and doing whatever is necessary to make that happen. He feels like sharing the ball is going to be a key thing they do well this year. Being unselfish and making the team the focus.
Given how good the offense was last year, Jones said defense has been the bigger focus in the offseason. He said Raynaud has made strides on his post defense and that Carlyle has tons of upside on the perimeter. So, defense is going to be the key assuming the offense is what they think it will be.
Jones talked about his first days at Stanford and how intimidating it is. Just because of how many talented people are on campus. He said once you get over that hump and realize you fit in, it’s a great place to be due to the amazing conversations you can have with people.
When asked about possibly being Pac-12 scholar athlete of the year, Angel said academics have always been important to him and prides himself to put the work in the classroom. Just comes from the way he grew up. Finally, Jones said time management is key to being successful at Stanford. Just because of all the things you have to do and are expected to do both on the court and in the classroom.
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