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Five Questions - Xavier University, Assistant Coach Chris Mack
By Chris DiSano | September 9, 2008
In this edition of ‘Five Questions’, Chris Mack of Xavier chats with College Chalktalk about the offseason, expectations for newcomers and veterans alike, and his relationship with a great mentor, as we inch closer to the start of the 2008-09 season.
College Chalktalk: Can you briefly describe each of your newcomers?
Chris Mack: Sure. We have several new faces this year.
Jamel McLean - A transfer from Tulsa who sat out last season. He will be one of the best athletes in the conference this year and will provide a defensive presence for us. He’ll also be an excellent offensive and defensive rebounder.
Andrew Taylor - Also a transfer, arrives at Xavier after playing at Hillsdale College. A high school teammate of B.J. Raymond, he’s a solid addition to our program and will provide us with frontcourt depth.
Terrell Holloway - A freshman, he is a true floor leader. He thinks pass before shoot and can get the ball to any spot on the floor. He has big shoes to fill with Drew Lavender graduating, but will not be expected to carry the same load for our team.
Mark Lyons - An athletic combo guard who excels at getting to the rim. He is very explosive and will be a tenacious defender.
Brad Redford - A gym rat who can shoot the ball as well as any young guard in the country. He sank 102 consecutive free throws during his senior year in high school. Amazing shooter, but will need to add muscle to his frame.
Brian Walsh - Brian brings all the intangibles to the game. He can shoot the three, passes well and understands how to get the ball to the open man. More athletic than one would think, Brian is an excellent rebounding guard.
Kenny Frease - A huge presence inside. A legitimate seven footer, Kenny is a very skilled post player. He must continue to work on his conditioning and adjust to the speed of the game, but he’ll rebound on both ends and is a great passer for a big man.
Jordan Crawford - One of the most talented players in our program. May play this year depending on his NCAA appeal. Can shoot, create and make plays. Likes big moments. Very serious about basketball and loves to win.
CCT: As many are well aware, the rivalry between XU and UD is fierce. As a former captain of the Muskies, what is your best rivalry memory?
CM: The rivalry between Xavier and Dayton is fun. Being from Cincinnati, I always felt the Crosstown Shootout was more of a rivalry. Add in the fact that when I played at Xavier, we were undefeated against UD, and UC was really on the map with Coach Huggins.
However, my best memory of the rivalry was when Mark Poynter went off for like 20 in a game at Cincinnati Gardens. Mark was a walk-on and didn’t play much during the season, but that game he got going. Coach Gillen left him in and he ended up winning the MVP trophy for the game. Great times! It was fun beating them back in the day. There’s nothing like a quiet UD Arena.
CCT: Derrick Brown recently made an appearance as one of College Chalktalk’s Top 5 Returnees. While he has our vote, in what areas do you feel Derrick needs to elevate his game to reach a truly elite level?
CM: Derrick Brown is a tremendously talented player. But as I’ve told him, truly great players produce, they’re not just about potential. Derrick understands that if he is going to be one of the best players in the conference, he needs to be able to impact games all the time, not just in three minute spurts. He doesn’t have to score twenty points every night… but he needs to be a presence rebounding the basketball, blocking shots and scoring inside. The more comfortable he gets around the basket and the more confidence he exudes in his perimeter game, his scoring will increase. But again, he doesn’t have to get twenty a night to be an impact player in this league, night-in and night-out. I think he took a big step forward this summer to be that type of player for us.
CCT: This season, your backcourt will be very young. What are your goals for the newcomers and have you spoken with each about expectations for 2008-09?
CM: Our young guards will be a big part of our system this year. We expect them to defend in our system like a Xavier basketball player, regardless of their class. It doesn’t say “freshman” on their jersey. They need to play aggressive defense and be part of a system that believes in winning by our defensive effort. The ones that understand that better will play more. It’s that simple with Coach Miller.
On offense, our guards will be handed some really good veteran players on the wings and in the post. They will learn to manage the game by one of the best point guard coaches in the country, in Coach Miller, and will be expected to run the team. Each of the last four years, we’ve led the A-10 in assist/turnover ratio, and we won’t lessen our expectations now that we have some new faces to coach. They’re all very good, talented players, and it’s an exciting time to see what each will bring to the table.
CCT: You were coached and mentored by the late, former XU great, Head Coach Skip Prosser. What is one significant lesson you’ll remember being taught by Skip?
CM: As far as coaching under Coach P, and being mentored by him, I am forever grateful. He was the most sincere, down to earth, good to the core person I’ve ever been around. He taught me to remember the game is always about the kids and for the kids.
My playing career has come and gone. When we win, while it feels incredible as a competitor, the moment is and should be for our players. You’ll never see me celebrate like a wild man on the sidelines when we win, and I won’t be a poor sport when we lose. As coaches, we need to help to define to our players what is truly important in the game of basketball.
I miss him tremendously as a person, a coach and a friend. I used to be able to call and ask him how he’d deal with a certain situation, a certain problem. I knew he would always have the right perspective. I try to put myself in his position when those same problems arise, but it will never be the same. There was only one Coach Prosser. He’s the only reason I’ve been able to become a college coach.
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(College Chalktalk would like to thank Coach Mack for talking Xavier basketball and for his candid thoughts. We’ll be checking back with him throughout the season.)
Topics: Five Questions |
September 9th, 2008 at 5:46 am
Coach Mack had truly defined the now almost non existent “rivalry” between X and UD. The domination doesn’t seem to be ending. Hopefully Charlotte can take UD’s place as a team capable of hanging with X.
September 9th, 2008 at 6:30 am
Xavier has never been to a Final Four.
Xavier quit on their football program as well.
September 9th, 2008 at 7:14 am
Good point XF. In addition, I hear the price of tea in China is going up.
September 9th, 2008 at 7:25 am
Question? Does anyone know what former Xavier players Mo Brantley and Andre Smith are up to nowadays?
September 9th, 2008 at 7:33 am
Great read as always guys.
My favorite quote: “But as I’ve told him, truly great players produce, they’re not just about potential.”
September 9th, 2008 at 8:59 am
Mack is awesome, he tows a lot of weight for the program and is a credit to Sean and the administration at XU.
Those Freshman guards are like I’ve never seen, just one after another. Hopefully they can build camaraderie.
September 9th, 2008 at 11:34 am
Question, why would someone be so pathetic that they would use someone elses tag in order to try and attack a program?
dayton fans, the bane of human existence.
September 9th, 2008 at 11:57 am
Nothing like a quiet UD Arena?..that’s the truth
Well, the only thing better than a quiet UD arena are payments to my dad
September 9th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
Please help me. I’m being held captive in a Chinese cookie factory.
September 9th, 2008 at 4:30 pm
UD…at least they “host” an NCAA game!!!
September 9th, 2008 at 6:44 pm
UD can host all the NCAA games they want!! They just cant win any!!!!
September 9th, 2008 at 7:51 pm
Stickém Up and give me all your money!
September 10th, 2008 at 7:37 am
Anyone got any…
September 10th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
I can’t believe I wasted 4 years. Hey Drew, can you tell me that story again about what it’s like to play in the NCAA’s.
September 10th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
God it stinks that we can’t trash talk anything that happens on the court. They freaking own us..
September 10th, 2008 at 6:29 pm
Speaking of Rivalries…when will we get Creighton back on the schedule?
September 11th, 2008 at 7:45 am
According to me, Dayton has a sizable lead in the all-time series.
Also, Dayton has played in the Final Four. Xavier has not.
September 11th, 2008 at 10:43 am
We should try to live in the now and not hold on to things that happened before microwaves were invented.
But heck, what else are you going to hold on to?
September 11th, 2008 at 8:21 pm
who is this “Xavier” you speak of?
September 11th, 2008 at 8:22 pm
I go to Xavier because all of the other girls on campus look just like me.
September 12th, 2008 at 7:36 am
“Reagan, Reagan, Bush, Clinton, Clinton, Bush, Bush. Who to add to the list McCain or Obama?”
September 12th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
1967 was a glorious year. Who can forget the Civil Rights struggle, Vietnam, the M-16 and Dayton’s last relevant season. Congrats!
September 13th, 2008 at 5:36 am
Dayton has a good class this year and is going to be a good team. Marcus Johnson, Chris Wright, Charles Little that might be the best 1-2-3 punch in the A-10. I think UD and X will split this season. Dayton winning on their court and X winning on their court. ]
Go MUSKIES
[Thanks for the comment. 2008-09 team previews will be released in the coming weeks.] - CCT Staff
September 13th, 2008 at 7:34 am
Xavier stinks. Boring campus, ugly chicks, no banners in the rafters.
September 13th, 2008 at 8:48 am
That’s right! XU has never been to a Final Four! Posers! My Grandad is always telling me stories about UD’s success in his day…
September 14th, 2008 at 8:30 am
If I don’t get 30+ minutes a game, Sean Miller better guard his grill.
September 18th, 2008 at 8:54 am
Oh god….what have I done?