Here is Part 2 of Cuonzo Martin's press conference from Wednesday. Enjoy!
Cuonzo Martin on Stephen Domingo’s commitment to Cal: “I saw him in high school from a far and I knew he was a good basketball player, he played USA Basketball, he played at Georgetown. It didn’t work out as well as he would like and to his credit, it wasn’t a case of transferring back home because it was closer, he was transferring for an opportunity. He had an understanding with the Georgetown staff and I spent a lot of time talking with Coach Thompson. He really liked him as a basketball player and just felt there were other guys and he had a better opportunity in his mind to play here, so I respect that, but again, I think he has a chance to be a good player. He can make shots, he’s playing really well, he’s probably one of our better defenders if not our best defender right now with his energy, his passion. He’s done a great job at developing his body and I expect him to be in heavy rotation.”
Cuonzo Martin on the freshmen: “Well, at their respective levels, they’ve played in a lot of big games. In national tournaments, they played USA Basketball; they’ve been a lot of places and playing. But regardless to their talent or of their talent, this is a different level. The physicality, of how physical, the physicality of how tough guys are playing, it’s a different ball game. But very talented guys. They understand how to play. They have true passion, they want to be part of something successful, so we’re excited about it.”
Cuonzo Martin of defense: “My primary identity is to win and be successful. But I always talk about defending, rebounding, play hard, because those things you can control. You don’t know how many shots your gonna get in any particular game depending on how the team is playing, they might play zone so you might now make as many shots, they might guard guys different ways, but if you defend, rebound, and play hard, that part you can control every night. So that way they’re not consumed with the fact that ‘Ok, I didn’t have a shot, when do I get a shot.’ Now the focus is just playing hard and competing, now you do that for your team as opposed for yourself.”
Cuonzo Martin on how he approaches the game with more expectations: “My approach doesn’t change. Regardless of what the talent level is. I think that’s more for the surface. My job is day-to-day. Make sure our guys get better and I’m consumed with that particular day. Whatever tomorrow presents, it presents, but for me, there’s no pressure at all, it’s one day at a time. Maxing out our talent.”
Cuonzo Martin on Stephen Domingo’s commitment to Cal: “I saw him in high school from a far and I knew he was a good basketball player, he played USA Basketball, he played at Georgetown. It didn’t work out as well as he would like and to his credit, it wasn’t a case of transferring back home because it was closer, he was transferring for an opportunity. He had an understanding with the Georgetown staff and I spent a lot of time talking with Coach Thompson. He really liked him as a basketball player and just felt there were other guys and he had a better opportunity in his mind to play here, so I respect that, but again, I think he has a chance to be a good player. He can make shots, he’s playing really well, he’s probably one of our better defenders if not our best defender right now with his energy, his passion. He’s done a great job at developing his body and I expect him to be in heavy rotation.”
Cuonzo Martin on the freshmen: “Well, at their respective levels, they’ve played in a lot of big games. In national tournaments, they played USA Basketball; they’ve been a lot of places and playing. But regardless to their talent or of their talent, this is a different level. The physicality, of how physical, the physicality of how tough guys are playing, it’s a different ball game. But very talented guys. They understand how to play. They have true passion, they want to be part of something successful, so we’re excited about it.”
Cuonzo Martin of defense: “My primary identity is to win and be successful. But I always talk about defending, rebounding, play hard, because those things you can control. You don’t know how many shots your gonna get in any particular game depending on how the team is playing, they might play zone so you might now make as many shots, they might guard guys different ways, but if you defend, rebound, and play hard, that part you can control every night. So that way they’re not consumed with the fact that ‘Ok, I didn’t have a shot, when do I get a shot.’ Now the focus is just playing hard and competing, now you do that for your team as opposed for yourself.”
Cuonzo Martin on how he approaches the game with more expectations: “My approach doesn’t change. Regardless of what the talent level is. I think that’s more for the surface. My job is day-to-day. Make sure our guys get better and I’m consumed with that particular day. Whatever tomorrow presents, it presents, but for me, there’s no pressure at all, it’s one day at a time. Maxing out our talent.”
