Evans excited to play point guard in Texas Tech's new motion offense
TEXAS TECH BASKETBALL Q&As: Niem Stevenson | Anthony Livingston | Gio McLean
Texas Tech basketball is still a few months away from tipping off its 2016-17 season, but the local media recently had a chance to sit down with the members of this Red Raider squad one-on-one to see how things have been progressing over the summer.
Today we share our Q&A with junior point guard Keenan Evans, who gave insight on the offseason and what he expects for this team.
Q: First, how has the offseason been going so far?
"I feel like everything is going really well. It's a great coaching staff that they brought in - GAs, assistants, everybody is getting us prepared for Big 12 play and just the season overall. I really just feel like things are going very well overall."
Q: Now that you've been around them a few months, what's been the biggest thing you've had to adjust to under Chris Beard and his staff?
"I'd say kind of the play style. I mean, it's more just playing than running actual plays, if that makes sense. It's not about being a robot. You adjust to the defense and you play off of the defense."
Q: What have you thought of this group of newcomers, especially considering how many of them there are?
"It's always good getting to meet new personalities, new people, and it's even better when it's teammates, their talents. It's been great so far playing with them, just pushing each other in drills. Nobody is taking a day off, and everybody is just pushing each other."
Q: From speaking with several other guys on the team, they've spoken about how they believe you've really stepped up and taken a leadership role on the team. What do you think about that, and do you think you've done that?
"Yeah, I feel like I want to, and then I've also had to. Everybody has to take leadership for themselves, but I feel like I'm trying to bring the team together to make us all just be one on the same page."
Q: What's it been like competing with all these other guys who are newcomers that are also guards? Has that been something that might have triggered a desire for you to want to take a bigger leadership role, too?
"Of course. You obviously want to be the best, and you want to fight for that starting job, and everybody wants playing time, so it's going to push you to be the best, especially for me. I've been in here trying to put up a bunch of extra shots."
Q: What's it been like getting to know the newcomers at guard like Gio McLean, Shadell Millinghaus and Niem Stevenson?
"It's been great getting to know their play styles, trying to steal a couple moves from their skillset and put it in yours. It's just very fun playing with them. They're great players, and I can't wait for this season just to get a chance to play with all these guys."
Q: How do you like the new motion offense, which is obviously pretty radically different from what you were doing under Tubby Smith?
"It's been fun. You just feel more free just to play and, with everybody, you can really see their skillset instead of just a set. In a set, you really can't see peoples' skillsets because it's so restricted. It's just been fun getting to see everybody free."
Q: Where do you feel like you guys are at as a team heading into the fall right now?
"I feel like we're on the right route. The coaching staff and coaching staff has got us on the right path for the season so far."