Summer Series: Episode 4 feat. Nick McDevitt, Alec Oglesby, and Jestin Porter

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[00:00:52] Welcome back to the Blue Raider Podcast. I'm your host Jake Bolden. Today marks the fourth summer series episode where we check in with our favorite athletic programs on their offseason progress.

[00:01:01] I'm especially excited to bring you today's episode on the men's basketball program who made waves in the portal season with the addition of six signings. It might even consider a seventh signie in there. We are joined first by head men's basketball coach Nick McDevitt coach, how's it going?

[00:01:16] Dual well. Thanks for having me. Coach again, like I said in the intro there, six potentially you could label Justin as the seventh, you know, tell me you had a big big offseason and you guys hit it hard and you hit it fast.

[00:01:28] So tell me about that process and how you're able to get this group of guys in and literally flip a roster this upcoming season.

[00:01:34] Yeah, it's kind of the new norm if you will these days with both, you know, the advent of the transfer portal and the ability to be eligible right away after your transfer.

[00:01:45] And so, you know, it feels like a lot for us signing six and if you count JP coming back being a seventh so called addition to our program. But right now this past year in division one, there were just over 2,000 transfers men's basketball.

[00:02:02] When you think about 363 teams, you're talking about an average of about six per team just on transfers and if you graduated a couple. Now you're talking about seven or eight losses so you're having to replace roughly about half your team.

[00:02:16] If not a little over half your team potentially as we go forward, you're in and you're out. And we were in that situation this year and as you said, we hit the ground running quickly hit it hard and brought in some really talented players really excited about them.

[00:02:31] We've had about a month here in the summer of workouts with the addition of those new guys all except for one and I really like this group.

[00:02:42] We've been able to add some some size and some athleticism a little more shooting the ability to shoot the ball so it's going to be a good group and you think about.

[00:02:54] Six new players truly six new faces have joined us, but if you think back a year to two guys and came west and in Tori Austin were on the team but didn't play you know can play the game and a half before it's ACO and the Tori Austin registered.

[00:03:10] So when you look back from last year's team to this year's team, you've got eight new players and this group has had a good summer so far we've got a new strength coach and Josh Wilkerson who's done an excellent job of starting to put on some strength and some weight and some power to our veteran players as well as these returnies and I like the way this group is starting to shape up.

[00:03:34] I'm interested to know how you gauge yourself or grade yourself out with this. I think what's interesting especially the mid major level sometimes you get what you get but it seems like the targets were very as it is very targeted it seemed like these are guys that we absolutely need to have on roster to make improvements.

[00:03:51] How are you able to grade that out and then secondly, how do you grade out yourself and getting the guys that you needed?

[00:03:58] Yeah I think it's a great question Jake we really really happy with not just that we were able to plug spots as far as the positions that were positions of need but who we were able to do that with.

[00:04:14] You know, Eson Mustafa you knew somebody like Jared Jones who had a good season for us last year and was 13th all conference.

[00:04:22] You're losing some production at that position and to bring in a young man like Eson Mustafa who played four years at Coastal Carolina before transferring to TCU in the big 12.

[00:04:35] He's he's a proven productive player at this level. We played against him two years ago when he was at Coastal Carolina and they came to the Murphy Center and he had 19 and 10 against us we won the game but he still had 19 and 10 that season Eson average to double double you know you look back to last year and Jared certainly had some terrific games force where he had double doubles this young man average to double double.

[00:05:03] Hopefully that translates to this upcoming season but at the same time you look back over his career at that Coastal and average 13 and 9 his rebound rate both at Coastal and at TCU is very high.

[00:05:16] You look at a young man like Camari lands. Camari lands was consens as top 100 player by any publication coming out of high school and his two years of college he's played one year in the ACC and one year in the packed 12 at Louisville and Arizona State.

[00:05:32] And average about 19 or 20 minutes at both programs if you look back to some of the high high impact players that we've had at Middle Tennessee.

[00:05:42] The jacquroy Williams the Nick Kings, the Le Rondendis you know there's some really big time players that have come in and had huge huge years and huge numbers for us.

[00:05:55] I'm not saying his are going to translate to that this year but there are some similarities there and so. We we look for big things from those two young men obviously you love when you can welcome back a local product.

[00:06:10] You know bring a brilliant Jared Hall from 11 in high school played there under Jim McDowell he's back and brings just size athleticism. He's really shot the ball well so far this summer as well.

[00:06:22] So that's something that we're looking forward to and you know you look at Jalen counter from IUPI. We needed some more you know last year we had when Cam went down we had to move from JP JP from the two to the one.

[00:06:37] That doesn't mean JP can't play the one at all but now when you go from playing the point car position for seven or eight minutes of game to have to do it for 35 minutes of game that's very different.

[00:06:49] And so we you know we needed some more depth back there and Jalen counter does that force he's six three two hundred pounds led IUP and scoring and steals in minutes.

[00:07:00] He's he's a guy that when you put him out there he's been there he's done it and he's done it well at the collegiate level. Allic ogles be the six five transfer from stats in the shop 40% from three last year 14 that made the NCAA tournament.

[00:07:16] So you've got to like his productivity as well and what he's able to do and kind of checks one of the boxes of something of need which was more perimeter shooting.

[00:07:27] And lastly we were able to bring back is a newcomer but he's a vet at the same time in Christian fossil any time you can add depth that's not only experienced depth.

[00:07:37] But depth he's experienced here at middle Tennessee you know he's he's a four-year college player but three of those four years were with us before he transferred to UT Martin.

[00:07:50] And as our fans know of us as a 16 young man that can shoot the basketball he's a great teammate he's he's had great energy and is honestly just really excited to be back in Murphy'sboro.

[00:08:03] And his transition back into our group was was pretty seamless he's all familiar faces new where the restaurants and town where new where his apartment was going to be so.

[00:08:13] His transition was quick and because all that Jake I really like just how this group is starting to shape up.

[00:08:20] You start watching the guard workouts and the forward workouts and you really see some of the things that you have to have in order to win a championship at this level.

[00:08:30] And you know if if this group continues to stay hungry and keep working I like what we can be.

[00:08:38] And there's so much to impact there with a group like that was so much talent at different positions and the one we'll start back at the top there with most off when when he came through.

[00:08:47] For me as a blue writer faithful forever he reminds me a lot of Sean Jones very physical he's a walking nightly double double and something that is so different about him that we've seen from like scurry dish men Coleman Jones.

[00:08:59] They have good assist numbers most office not necessarily in that range of greatest cis numbers so I'm interested to know from he's not the facilitator that we've seen in years past where do you see his role we're going to see a shift in philosophy in regards to the offense running through the forward or do you kind of see with him relative to what we've seen in years past.

[00:09:17] That's a great question you know he isn't. You know you take back to dishmen a terrific passer you know he's almost your your second point guard out on the floor we talked to him about having to quarterback the offense.

[00:09:32] He's someone we'll be able to do that but in a different way he's just such a low block low post presence and you want to be able to have rim threats.

[00:09:41] You know you want your guards to have enough guards on the floor they can put pressure on the rim off the bounce and get in the paint and you also got to have either forwards or post who there are threat to score in the paint.

[00:09:56] And that's what Esame is he is a threat to score when he gets the ball around the basket he could score with either hand.

[00:10:03] Because of his high rebound rate just ends up with a ball around the basket you know that's part of being a rim threat as well as the ability to get offensive rebounds and so.

[00:10:16] There won't be a shift in offensive philosophy as far as let's go away from it and be a three around two old school throw it in the post kind of teen but at the same time because of his skill set.

[00:10:32] And it's not to say that he's a non shooter because that's something he's continuing to belt to develop but at the same time his strength is playing around the basket you look at.

[00:10:43] Jared last year made several threes from behind the behind the art that something that Chris Loof is starting to do as well which we're really excited about so.

[00:10:53] He's got Esame who's kind of more of a low block score around the basket look and then be able to come in with somebody who's a little more mobile a little bit taller a little bit longer guy that can make threes and Chris Loof same kind of thing with with Christian fossil we're able to give other teams just different looks.

[00:11:13] And while having somebody that's six 10 6 11 that can protect the rim on the other end of the floor that's the thing that I really like Chris got to where he was really blocking shots.

[00:11:23] Late last year in the season had several big ones and I went over Western Kentucky at home. Esame's more of a while you up use his size at 6 9 6 10 he's about 250 to 260 pounds so.

[00:11:37] You know those two young men have particularly give you some rim protection on the defense of end of the floor to expand on that to talk about the forward play in general you've got isom you talk about Jared who's kind of he does a little bit everything but it's it's an interesting group because you have this experience with esom with Christian now you have Chris who's coming back after a full year talk already teased about Tory Austin and his.

[00:11:58] Development I think he's another guy that adds a different dynamic that you don't see with everyone else that's in that group.

[00:12:03] So how are these guys mentioned and it sounds like you've already mentioned that a lot of these guys are going to see play and time and see where they kind of stick.

[00:12:10] You hit it, you know there's there's some things like Tory Austin gives you a little bit of some things at Teofia Leonard was able to do force a couple years ago.

[00:12:22] Uses linked an athleticism and activity to make plays around the rim he's gained about 20 pounds of muscle over the last 12 months he got to us.

[00:12:33] He was right out 180 pounds he's right at 200 pounds now once again another five to 10 before the season starts and because of that he's just been able to.

[00:12:44] Use that linked an athleticism and be productive in some of the early early summer workouts, you know he he's known what to do and can see the play that needs to happen but when you're kind of getting knocked around a little bit.

[00:12:58] You can't be as productive he's really worked hard on his body and and starting to make some plays.

[00:13:05] You think about we talked about Jared Hall a little bit earlier kind of gives you a little bit of an inside out threat, you know as a standstill shooter he's been making a high number of them this summer.

[00:13:17] But also starting to use his physicality to his advantage of what as well. Well, Camari Lance has guard skills but he he's six eight about 225 to 130 pounds and it's something that he's starting to add more of a physical dimension to his game.

[00:13:35] He's he's you know been out on the perimeter a lot over the course of his college career. But his shooting numbers we felt like could really go up if he was just able to shoot shots closer to the basket.

[00:13:50] You know it doesn't no good to be six eight to 30 or seven foot to 50 if you play like a guard who's six foot 160 pounds and so he's in in some of our workouts he's he's been a physical player and you know those three young men at that spot as far as newcomers are really showing us some things that we needed.

[00:14:11] Yeah, Lance is an interesting piece because he reminds me a lot as far as where he was prior to his time in Murphy's Burrow who's a score much like we saw with J.P.

[00:14:20] At Tyler Community College, Camari was that way and back to the Jared Hall discussion same with him in high school nearly a 30 point score but back to to Camari.

[00:14:29] His development at at a high p four level school versus now at a conference USA school. I think a lot of people view this as an opportunity for him to kind of see his wings spread and you already compared to him to Nick King earlier.

[00:14:42] I think that was a great comparison. I hope, you know, I love for him to have Nick King numbers is worth it.

[00:14:47] What do you see that development in these guys what is it what's kind of the and I guess it's always different because with J.P. it took him a year to get under himself.

[00:14:55] Last year we kind of saw him kind of waking up in regard to his shooting from deep. Where do you kind of see these guys finally take that turn and get back to their scoring ways that you've seen when you're recruiting them?

[00:15:06] Well, I think for somebody like Camari as well as what I imagine it for previous players like J.Core like Nick like CJ Jones when he came to us from Arkansas is guys that have been a part of the regular rotation at those.

[00:15:25] Whether it's SEC, SEC schools, packed 12 schools, P4 level just want to be more of the major impact guy.

[00:15:36] So being one of the top guys on the team being somebody that you have to be counted on. I feel like we feel like that that's how you develop the most and the best is when if you want to become a pro to have to be counted on every single day night in and night out whether it's practices or games that if you don't come ready to play.

[00:16:00] If you don't perform the chances of winning are slim. You have to deliver every day and so you start prepping and playing with a totally different edge.

[00:16:11] It's different when you're the you know eighth, ninth, tenth man for four years versus your eighth, nine, ten for a couple years and you work your way into a totally different level totally different role.

[00:16:25] And if you I don't think he saw that happening where he was and that's why he came here is putting himself from I'm in the regular rotation at Louisville. I'm in the regular rotation Arizona State that's good.

[00:16:39] But I got if I'm going to take another jump, I got to get to where I've got to deliver and I think he's going to be able to do that for this year.

[00:16:47] And I think that's what the jacory Williams and Nick King did is whether they played an Arkansas Alabama and Memphis that they were part of it because they were very, very talented.

[00:16:57] But sometimes there's a log jam at some of those places. They're just aren't enough minutes to go around for everybody.

[00:17:04] And I think he's a young man that just with more, more time and a bigger role you start to see his productivity go up. Sometimes when you're that ninth or tenth man you feel like every time you get in the game if I don't get something done immediately coach's going to take me back out and I might not get back out here.

[00:17:23] Sometimes you tend to relax a little bit as one of those guys, now I'll sudden you're more the top two or three players. You play through mistakes a little bit better.

[00:17:33] You let the game come to you a little bit more relaxed and let your talent show is opposed to pressing so that you get more minutes. Sometimes you start pressing so you get more minutes and you play worse.

[00:17:47] So it takes you out anyway. And so I think for players like himself knowing that you're going to be in high impact player for us, you've got to be ready to go and I didn't deny it out.

[00:18:00] You can see a big jump for some of those guys year in and year over year because of those things.

[00:18:06] Another sign that I really liked was Alec Oglesby and I'll tease the rest of this episode here. He comes on next after with you coach and he's a personality that I really liked after talking to him.

[00:18:16] He brings this experience, a savvy veteran about him but the one thing that I liked about him a lot that I think you may be taking from the playbook of the women's team is he's comes from successful backgrounds.

[00:18:26] He's a champion in high school career there at Stetson where he led them to March Madness last year. He just has that it ability I think and you can attest to his understanding of what it takes to be a winner because of that background he has.

[00:18:41] I think he's a great leadership role for you guys. I'm interested to hear your input and what you've seen from him in the one month of workout so far.

[00:18:47] He's great. You'll see that is this podcast continues and get a chance to just hear him. He just sounds different, carries himself different.

[00:19:01] He's just an older mature young man. He goes about his business the right way a really hard worker. I actually play high school basketball against his dad's team.

[00:19:14] I spoke to Alec on the phone and we started recruiting him and realized his father was a high school basketball coach and Westman North Carolina and played against him in high school.

[00:19:27] I've known his dad for a long time. We were really fortunate to get him out of the transfer portal because he just brings great qualities to your team and to your locker room.

[00:19:39] Whether he's in the game or not while he's out there, he's obviously competitor and can really shoot the basketball and he's got experience and experience winning.

[00:19:50] I've been a part of several winning programs at both Cleveland State, UNCW, Stetson and now what he can bring to our locker room is he knows what winning looks like. He knows what it feels like. I don't think you can have enough guys like him in your program.

[00:20:07] And lastly, around him up is as Jayland counter. I think he's another interesting piece and everyone talked about last season. J.P. having to take over that point guard role counter.

[00:20:16] Those were all of his minutes are primarily he's going to be a great backup to what I assumed to be calm.

[00:20:21] Where do you see his role in regards to this year? I mean, he's already a senior so not much, I don't know how much development time there is for him but where do you see him fitting into the roster?

[00:20:31] He needs to be an impact guy. I know that and that's why we recruited him and why he's here. You think about combo guards and guys that have some size and he fits that bill.

[00:20:45] You look at having him and J.P. and and came out there at times together. There'll be times that obviously the three of those are playing the one and the two spot together. There'll be times where two of those guys and trade green can be out there together.

[00:21:03] Trey greens another guy at 6, 3, 2, and a pound and came at 6, 3 basically 200 pounds. That Jayly counter at 6, 3, 2, and a pound you've got size and interchangeable guys. And I think Jayland's another guy that is a multi dimensional player can make plays for himself and others off the bounce.

[00:21:20] He's strong enough to guard bigger players or at least taller players than himself. He's got experience. So you just don't want to put guys in spots where they're not going to be successful and he also allows us to not really where came out early in the season.

[00:21:42] You know, camps coming off an injury and has it played since last November. And so you really what you don't want to have to do is on game one playing for 40 minutes.

[00:21:53] And so it allows K, I'm to kind of ease himself into the season as he gets more and more comfortable. So I really like his energy and what he's brought to the table so far in J.P. and counter.

[00:22:06] Yeah, and you touched on it there with with Cam and his injury update back in November was when the ACL tear happened. I'm interested where where does he stand now? What do we look like when the season rolls around there in November again?

[00:22:18] Yeah, it looks good so far. You know, he's really worked hard. He's able to do most of the things that we're doing both in the weight room. Our off court conditioning as well as some of the on court things.

[00:22:31] His surgery was December first. So you think nine months out which is your recovery date and timeline to be fully recovered. Assuming things go well. So that would be September first. And so right now he's about seven and a half months into it and he's he's looking good.

[00:22:51] You know, that's not to say that on September one we're just going to take you know turn the reins loose and just let him go.

[00:22:58] But at the same time for where you know right now the early part of July he's where he needs to be there hasn't been any hiccup so far. Not going wood and you know he's he's doing well. He is doing well. We're excited about that.

[00:23:16] Lord knows, you know we saw last year our team was reliant on him and what he could do. You know when when you lose your point guard your quarterback or one of your best players it hurts when that's the same person.

[00:23:32] It really hurts. You know you lose a guy that somewhere predict to be a first team all conference guy and it's the point guard and now he's out and you know they're different kind of analytics metrics that measure usage rates will his usage rate the previous season was one of the tops in the country.

[00:23:50] And you can see why I mean when our fans watching when we watch him he looks good out there with that ball in his hands and so you want the ball in his hands now of sudden.

[00:23:59] Somebody else has to have that ball in their hands the majority of the game it's just it's going to look different so it was a hard adjustment for our team to make but I think at the same time what it did is allow some other guys to really grow their games albeit in a very hard and uncomfortable season.

[00:24:15] But at the same time now I think those guys are particularly like JP better all for it now having came back and having jailing out there jailing counter out there with them as well. I really like our our back court is shaping up.

[00:24:30] Yeah, I think and that was kind of my next question leading into the back court now you have came back to what we hope to be full health by time conference season rolls back around and we're going to be playing around with what you got all over the court because you have so much

[00:24:44] experience you've got nine seniors on the roster this year and I know that seniors now it doesn't mean what it did five years ago because that could mean they could get another year or you know there's so many things in play here but we talk about the roster build up of nine seniors.

[00:24:58] It just seems like you've got this this veteran presence that it seems like there's there's time to do damage and that's that's now. So when you're having these conversations with these guys you're bringing in all these veteran players you're bringing in all this experience.

[00:25:10] How how what are that what does that conversation like with your guys because you ended the season on a high note relative to the the finish against Western and the semis but you finish on a high note after a really slow start.

[00:25:21] How did what is that conversation like with your guys about bringing the troops together this season really mean something because of what we've got in front of us with the nine seniors and really needing a back bounce back year to win the fans back over in Murphy'sboro.

[00:25:33] Yeah, I think if you you know the good thing is all those guys whether it's seniors or not are hungry to win. You know and the good thing is is even with our returners outside of last year and going into the season.

[00:25:51] We were doing you back up two or three years and you really like where our group was headed. And so now you just have to kind of you know after after last year and came going down had to kind of reset things.

[00:26:06] Two years ago three years ago I guess now you'd say, you know you win 26 games and you win the East division get to the semifinals lose the eventual champion and you a b.

[00:26:18] The next year had a great season finished towards the top beat, a top 25 team and FAU lose miss a shot there towards the end and the semifinals against them before they make their run to the final four.

[00:26:32] And then you go into last year and your preseason co-favorites you know you picked one so you think about you know you like where that's headed and then.

[00:26:43] You know we we hit a rough patch there after cams injury and then also Josh agundally and we talked about rem threats and paint threats earlier now.

[00:26:51] So I think that's the first time you look back to last year and two of those threats are no longer having a play you know you've got a low post presence that's gone in your point guard's gone.

[00:26:59] And we were still able as you just mentioned to end on a high note get to the semifinals albeit you know that the game gets western was no fun in the semis but one hour last six home games and now you look at this group and what we've got going into this season.

[00:27:17] But I'd yet another chance to have a great season. I thought we would have had a great season last year. If you ask any of our players who were here or the ones that and are gone or the ones that are here.

[00:27:31] They knew what things were looking like last summer. We went to Italy and albeit we weren't played Kentucky on our foreign tour. I really like what we were seeing from our group.

[00:27:46] We played East Tennessee State and UT Martin and closed scrimmages both teams lost in their conference championship games and I can't say what the score was or give out any stats here publicly.

[00:28:00] We've got a lot of results and we started out with two wins before things were derailed so if you look back to how about 24 to 30 months we're headed. Things were headed right where we wanted it and I think that is still the same today.

[00:28:20] We've got a great product, we're in a great location in Murphy's Burrow. We've got a great group of guys. I think this team if we continue to develop and play the right way and come together with a lot of newcomers, a bunch of seniors.

[00:28:36] This will be yet another fun year. When you're in a gym full of guys that it's hard to describe it but it's kind of that it factor.

[00:28:48] I think you mentioned a little bit earlier when you're in a gym that just sounds the right way and it feels the right way.

[00:28:56] You just kind of walk out of there sometimes whether it's a fan or a player or coach and just know that that feels a little bit different or I mean I like the sounds of that.

[00:29:06] I was boring or low energy or I don't know if those guys are good enough and then you get the opposite too. That's a high energy weight room or that's a high energy gym or those guys look big and long and talented and are skilled.

[00:29:20] I'll say this, I like the looks of this group so far. Yeah, you're not alone. I would say a lot of Blu-rayed or fans should feel optimistic about this team that you've put together this off season.

[00:29:32] The director is moving right back up and I think the way that the season ended last year in the regular season you talk about the six home wins is a great sign of where things are turned in for you. We're glad things are moving in that direction.

[00:29:43] We're excited about this upcoming season coach before I let you go. I know we talked a little bit about some of the non-conference schedules, the teams that may be playing.

[00:29:50] We know we have recurring games with Belmont and Murray but there was another new exciting series that you kind of wanted to tease for the fans. Yeah, you know in addition to those we've still got UAB.

[00:30:01] We'll have to go down and Birmingham this year that'll be a yet another tough trip. We're going to we're part of the Murdoch invitation. That's our MTE, right before Thanksgiving.

[00:30:11] Right now I know Bradley South Florida, Ohio and I believe Princeton along with ourselves or five of the guaranteed teams in it. They're still talking about seven or eight other teams for those last three spots but should be a fun tournament.

[00:30:25] All those games will be on ESPN the week before Thanksgiving but we also started a new series with Evansville. You know Evansville, Missouri Valley.

[00:30:35] For our fans that don't know almost 50 years ago, Evansville was on their way to Murphy'sboro to play middle Tennessee when they're team playing crashed and it killed all the members on board.

[00:30:51] So we got together with them several months ago and I've decided to start a four year series in part because of where approaching the 50 year anniversary of that tragic accident.

[00:31:06] For a long time, I'm sure some college basketball fans remember Evansville wore sleeves as part of their uniforms instead of the the take top look. It was a sleeve uniforms to commemorate and continue to you know honor those victims from that plane crash.

[00:31:26] So on the 50 year anniversary of that is part of that four game series they will be coming to Murphy'sboro so we kind of meet to honor those families as we approach that 50 year anniversary of that accident. We've been working on the first half of the year.

[00:31:47] I'm sure you have a great time with the team. I'm sure you have a great time with the team. Thank you. Joining us now is one of the latest additions to the Blue Raider basketball squad via the transfer portal.

[00:32:03] Contributing to a sets in university team that made a trip to last year's March madness after earning an Atlantic sun tournament championship. He averaged 10 points in four rebounds per contest in 23 24 while adding to his impressive 40% career three point shooting mark from gamesville florida.

[00:32:17] It's Alic Ogles be allie thanks for coming on. Yeah, thank you for having me. I'm really really glad I'm part of the apartment so. Well, Alic you're intriguing we said this before we came on. I'm really intrigued by your story.

[00:32:29] You kind of have you've been everywhere really so it seems you've been to a lot of successful programs as I just mentioned at the top there at Stetson.

[00:32:36] Tell me a little bit about your journey here to Murphy'sboro what kind of pulled you in to coach Mcdevitt and staff and and kind of what did it take to kind of get you where you are now in your basketball career.

[00:32:46] I mean it's been definitely a long journey. Vince is a few different spots. Been a like I've been to the United States tournament twice before and was at Stetson University last year and the transfer portal and. And to you come on, you know, I really like Nick Mcdevitt.

[00:33:05] I like the coach staff was long. I brought on staff team like they had my best interest, you know, I like how the program fit my game the style play their defensive.

[00:33:16] No, they viewed me on their defensive and Anna office and so it was really I thought it was the best fit for me overall.

[00:33:23] How did that dialogue work as a guy that's been in the portal before is this a situation where you're reaching out to teams or you're kind of a recognizable name. Like I said, you're a double digit score last year.

[00:33:33] You have excellent three point shooting numbers was the dialogue more one sided or were you reaching out to him to issue how did that work.

[00:33:39] No, well, why are the portal few days after or maybe night a few days after a MCSU they reached out to me and then actually it was coach West long he reached out to me and then he got me on the phone with coach Mcdevitt.

[00:33:54] And then we just talked from there, set the official visit and then since I visited I knew it's going to be the place for me. So. So again back to kind of what drew your eye here.

[00:34:05] I think when you look at this team on paper from last year they struggled and Nick doesn't shy away from that but you're kind of a key vital part of what could change the program.

[00:34:14] I'm not making out any lineups for Mcdevitt that's for him and his staff to do for you, but I'd have to believe for my perspective you're going to be a starter if not first one off the bench for this program because of your capabilities of scoring at the shooting art position.

[00:34:26] The length that you offer at my opinion at a wing so when you're when you're measuring yourself up to where you fit into this team what it was Alex perspective on what MTSU had available for you.

[00:34:37] Yeah, like you explained to me that he's struggling with shooting last year and bringing me in as a shooter myself. I really thought I can really feel that that whole so that whole and there what they weren't as good as last year.

[00:34:49] So bringing a wild cable I'm a great shooter so bringing that into their team will be very helpful to the roster things to the next up. Tell me about the shooting prowess you have.

[00:35:00] I mean, a 40% career in college from three point range is practically unheard of obviously it's something you take pride in. What is kind of the preparation for a season go into where is that a number that you even think about.

[00:35:11] I mean, it's I don't really think about it but I always see having in mind every day of work on my shot. I was just a thousand the reps. Fakes every day for work and it's just really I've been really detailed all my life.

[00:35:27] Going back to when I was at a child with my dad my dad taught me everything I know about shootings just going back just everything's been detailed throughout my life when I came back. I said so yeah now I'm here. 4% 3.2% 4 years.

[00:35:39] I guess you could say it's pretty good so I love the dynamic that you and your father have he's obviously a big supporter on social media and I've got a few questions about him coming up. At the end, but I want to know.

[00:35:51] What is the transition been like for you and your teammates? I know that like again you're learning all new faces once again how are you fitting in with the guys how do you feel about Murphy'sboro. Not me I think it's been a really smooth transition.

[00:36:03] I really enjoy my teammates. My teammates so a Vulcan new open arms. I've got a lot of each and every one of them. I mean they're great guys. It's been the guys we brought in and they got some last year. Everybody's the great guy thing.

[00:36:14] We've really messed with a lot of them. How long have you been in Murphy'sboro? I probably say about a month and a half. About a month and a half so yeah I really like Murphy'sboro like city so it's really really enjoyed it so far.

[00:36:28] For the timeline for those recording day that's about mid May you've been here. So I'm just interested to hear your perspective on Murphy'sboro. I'm sure you've had plenty of good places to eat. What's the spot you found so far? Murphy'sboro actually there is a spot.

[00:36:42] I actually went to not too long ago. Think it's called Jonis. Jonis and I really enjoyed their burgers they had there so. And I'm not always a big burger fan but they had a really good burger. Really good burger there so that was really nice.

[00:36:57] Is the burger that go to is that kind of like a cheat meal for you? Yeah that's definitely a cheat meal for me. That's definitely it. It was I think I remember what burger was. I think it was like a whisper.

[00:37:07] It was a Joni but it was another one that was like a twist with mushroom and bacon on it. So it was really good. Now have you been to Jack Browns? I have not. All right you're getting official advice not not a sponsor of the show.

[00:37:21] At least not yet anyways but you're going to hear first. You're going to want to go down to Jack Browns on the square and Murphy'sboro Sunday. They've got I don't know if your big sweet sky but they've got a burger that has donuts for buns.

[00:37:31] You've got it you've got to hit it up that's the spot at least for me if you're a big burger guy. Jack Browns yes sir that's the place to be. Well let's let's transition to the next. Let's let's transition back to your dad. It's it's an interesting story.

[00:37:43] He's a huge fan of you on social. I know that he's a coach at your previous high school spot there at the Rock School in Gainesville, Florida. Tell me about him. What's that dynamic like? I'll instrumental. He's been to your career.

[00:37:53] No I mean he's really passionate about the game. I mean he's like I said he's really trained me since I was a little kid and he's been really helpful in my journey to where I'm at today.

[00:38:05] And like I say he's very passionate as a coach as a person and what comes. He loves the game he loves being around it every day's in the gym you call them right now.

[00:38:14] If I call him right now he would probably be in the gym training five, five, six kids and balls bouncing everywhere. So he's just he's really passionate in the gym 24, seven and that's really translates to me as well. So I kind of taken off from that.

[00:38:28] I know that he does the recruiting side there too at Rock School, at least according to the school webs responsibilities are there along with being a shooting technician. I'm sure as I would describe it. Have you come across any cool names?

[00:38:38] I know I know one in particular like Joel and B is one that went to the Rock School stuff like that but I think one that might be closer to home here is Brian Greenley.

[00:38:46] He was actually your teammate in 2019 he was a part of the FAU Final Four run. You know what kind of connections do you have with with Greenley and have you heard any stories about him and his Final Four run? Yeah, no yes. That's my guy.

[00:38:56] You know, BJ he's we played together for a year and every about every summer we see cherry play pickup workouts together all that stuff. But yeah, he's been he's a real cool guy, real cool guy, hard worker and a very faithful man as well.

[00:39:10] So man faith and he's he's a really good guy. You ever get the opportunity to go back home to Gainesville and ever train with any of these guys? Yeah, of course I mean we have about every summer go back to Gainesville.

[00:39:23] A lot of guys come back, you know, train at the rock and we play pickup. So but yeah, it's really good with especially from that 20 day 2019 team we had about seven division one guys. A lot of guys still go back to his base. So it's really good.

[00:39:39] I mean that's that's a it's a cool story to be a part of like a program quite like that. I mean, especially like you say you're having the opportunity to go back and play pickup games with this kind of talent and stuff.

[00:39:49] As you've gone through your college career and you develop as a player what are some things that you've picked up along the way that have been instrumental to now.

[00:39:56] This is your final year, you know what it's kind of the culmination of all these things that you've picked up and where do you expect to see yourself this year. I mean I picked up a combination of things.

[00:40:07] I think some of the big things I picked up from an college standpoint is playing on both ends.

[00:40:13] Not just about offense, not but especially being able to play defensive same time, you know, a lot of people can be good offensively, but they're not they can't also lock it well there.

[00:40:22] And another thing I wanted to just playing off my shot, maybe game simple, you pay as little dribbles possible being efficient and where you get to. So that's where I learned a lot.

[00:40:31] I see myself really just helping to team win and bring on winning of mentality, whatever I got to do to help to team win I'll do it.

[00:40:40] For someone that watched a little bit of film from the stats in year this last year if you're working on the shooting off the pass, I mean you definitely did that. You have quite the quick trigger, I think it's something again that we kind of lacked last year.

[00:40:52] In your conversations with the coaching staff, you know, where do they again back to that conversation? Did they see you as that guy that's going to be quick trigger all the time?

[00:41:00] Obviously I know defensive something that may dev it emphasized late at the season last year as the offense dwindled. But what are kind of those conversations like with you and the coaching staff in regards to your role?

[00:41:10] Yeah, and of course I mean they really see me as a piece of just like be able to shoot the ball. Really shoot the ball at a high clip and bring that to the team to be able to spread the floor.

[00:41:20] And also like you said, playing the defensive end as well, which is going to be really big piece. See my length and they have fits into their style of defense. I want to hear your expectations on the team this year. It's all new for the most part.

[00:41:34] I mean we got you have a few key turning players like Justin and we know about cam Chris loose another guy that saw some quality time last year.

[00:41:40] What is kind of your take on the squad? I mean you kind of have a feel for the guys you've been at practice. Yeah, I mean we have a great group of guys and I mean expectations always to win the conference title. That's always the expectation.

[00:41:53] I think that's everybody that should be or I believe it's everybody else's expectation as well. We just have to be able to mesh together as the team played together as a group. And I think we can be. We do something special this year.

[00:42:05] What are kind of the things that you see that are different? I know you're coming from a team that was obviously a lot of experience, very talented team at Stetson University.

[00:42:12] Some things that you have valued from that group as a whole and you're now you're bringing it here to empty issue. And hopefully you're trying to garner some sort of leadership role in its tough. I'm sure as you can attest to it being the new guy on campus.

[00:42:23] How do you kind of fit yourself into that leadership role? Um, I mean one of the best things I do is just trying to lead by example, you know, be able to show that work harder to bring it every day.

[00:42:34] Whereas the weight room, where it's on the core just going hard, everything I do everyday. Just trying to bring that to the mentality like you know, not taking any like play off and not taking drill off Not taking anything off.

[00:42:47] So that's really one of my biggest things I'm going to be bringing when it comes from a leadership standpoint to this team. Well, I know bad segue here. I'm talking about being hard and practice and taking all your energy and effort there in the weight room as well.

[00:43:02] What do you do in your off time? I've got to know what a basketball place. You know, if I, I might give you like a not, I'm not saying an unconventional answer. Really my time relaxing. I really just I like to read.

[00:43:14] I like to even cook, you know stuff like that. I'm not really like a big video game. I've got my love last night. I love reading. I love cooking. Love maybe even playing pickleball. Pick ball. Pick ball. So yeah, that's the time for you guys.

[00:43:30] I like your five three times. Of your big pickleball guy, you haven't. I assume you haven't met coach born day in the tennis coach. He's trying to implement this whole pickleball tennis thing. Man, he, you could be instrumental in breaking pickleball and into into into issue. Okay.

[00:43:44] How do you know, you're awesome? So you're into reading. You're into cooking. It's always good stuff. I'm interested about your studies, man. You've been, you've been at it for a while. You've got obviously a lot of credits there. What are you going to school for?

[00:43:55] Well, I'm major in, um, I got bachelor's and health and science with a major in health science. Um, I'm actually playing on actually my master's in strategic leadership. And we'll having those two, I think, will be a good, good segue for me. It's in my life after basketball.

[00:44:15] Is coaching a future for you? Of course. I mean, I really love the game. I love being around the game whether that's a college, high school professional, whether it would no matter what level it is. I love being around the game.

[00:44:28] So I really do see myself in the future being around the game. And anyway, possible. So coaching could be a definitely adventure for me. Where do you view the NBA game? Do you like it? Do you not like it? You're more of a college guy. This stuff.

[00:44:42] I mean, I like the NBA game. I really do. I think the floor is really spaced out. Um, I think when you really watch the game, especially play off, it's really high level basketball.

[00:44:53] And being able to see the greatest players in the world play together and play against each other is really a special piece. I like it personally. I like it. But also like college basketball. And like I like basketball in general. So yeah.

[00:45:06] It's definitely polarized in the NBA game versus the college game. And I can, I can see why if you like more team basketball colleges obviously, if you're more into the Superstars, the NBA is kind of your taste.

[00:45:15] If you like the NBA game, I'm interested in, do you have an allegiance anywhere or use it more of you got a star player that you like to follow? Well, my favorite team, I would say Atlanta Hawks is a born out Atlanta, but obviously

[00:45:29] this struggling for a little bit. I mean, I like watching the few teams. Like I actually even now, I'm not fan. I was down with fan by really like watching like teams like the temperals.

[00:45:42] And then like watching, I would say the Celtics too is just good because they'll just play really good basketball. They play a really good team basketball. So those two teams I'll try to say, I like watching the most.

[00:45:53] You sound like a little bit of a recent, a recent sea merchant there with the Celtics and state to take the world. Yeah, take the world back from there. You like tray young a little bit.

[00:46:02] I mean, I could say if you start taking 40 foot three pointers, I don't know how much longer McDev will keep you on the court. But if you're hitting them, you're hitting them. Yeah, for sure. Yeah, I like, I like, I like watching tray young. I like watching tray.

[00:46:12] He's a really good player. Really good player. Yeah, he's an interesting piece to say, Lee's. But anyway, you know, I appreciate you taking the time of your busy man. Obviously all the socials out there for you. I just went before we sign off here.

[00:46:25] I just want to hear from you, you know, the expectations you got one last time for this team. What's kind of the feel you got for these guys? What should Blue Raider fans expect out of the squad? Um, really take a conference title. That's the biggest thing.

[00:46:39] It's to make a run-in, uh, the NCAA tournament. Those are always expectations. Excellent stuff. And I can tell you as a fan, I'm happy to hear that that's the mindset already. And here in June when we're doing this interview and in July when we release it.

[00:46:54] So we hope those expectations. We stick a lot of pressure on that grad season. Alec, but I appreciate you coming on. Um, one last time, man. Thanks. Thanks for coming. Thank you.

[00:47:04] Our final guest on the summer series of the BRP episode on basketball season is joining is our leading score from last season over 14 points per game, uh, highlighted by a 41 point game against UTEP in February. Joining us from Houston, Texas is Justin Porter, J.P.

[00:47:20] How's it going, man? Going on, man. Everything's good. Much so. I can't complain. And like I was saying before we came on the recording, I'm super excited to sit down and talk with you.

[00:47:30] And I'm really excited to hear a lot of Blu-Rater fans, especially you're excited to hear a little bit about you and the insights you about what you got going on in your life. But, you know, I don't want to beat around the bush with it.

[00:47:39] I think a lot of guys are really interested to hear about you in regards to you hit the portal. You broke a lot of hearts when the season came to a close. And now you're back.

[00:47:47] And there's a lot of things to be excited about the team and what's happened amidst your time in the transfer portal. Tell me a little bit about your experience there.

[00:47:54] We know what went into the decision to come back and you know what was life like out in the portal. My decision coming back was, you know, long talks and long talks of my coaches I

[00:48:06] was saying during the process while into the portal, they still were recruiting me and trying to make sure I'm still good and make sure everything's good. My family checking in on me making sure I wouldn't go to a wrong school.

[00:48:18] If that was the case of me leaving going to a wrong school, they wanted to know about literally just everything I was going on in my life still. We still was so tight and so close. My plan wasn't to really leave.

[00:48:30] You know, I still wanted to stay there as a family but I wanted to, you know, wait my options a little bit you know, because that's how the, it's really how the game goes down. But you know, the rate is my home.

[00:48:39] So my decision coming back and I talked to Coach McDavid, we had long talks every day. We talked about a lot of things on how we're going to change this program around basically. And so what we talked about is kind of between us too.

[00:48:52] But we had some great talks and I think really going to make a big change in the big difference. There's a lot to dissect with that and I kind of felt I understood the constant, you know, what's going on there in regards to

[00:49:03] I know NIL is a huge thing and you know anyone keeps up with you on social media.

[00:49:07] You've got quite a bit going on there and it was it a matter of your looking for it for that little bit or you're looking for a team that may even fit your

[00:49:13] Your playing style because you know, it took you two seasons really to get your feet underneath yourself and Junior College, you know, your 20 point per game score and then tell their junior college we saw that, you know, come to fruition this last season with the position change.

[00:49:26] And again, I don't want to get, you know, overloaded with this question, but when you're talking about seeking out those other opportunities, You talk about was it the coaching fit that really brought you back to MTSU was at the NIL opportunities that are still available to you.

[00:49:37] What was kind of, he had to tear it as far as what was most important to you. How would you list that? I'll say the most important thing to me was winning, you know,

[00:49:45] I wanted to play the way I played last year and you know, just win because that's really going to get you noticed. If your team is winning and you're playing good, you're going to get noticed.

[00:49:55] So that was really my plan and I thought the coach would be dead. I was like, we're going to need some guys, you know, we're going to need some guys. I really want to make a run this year with my last year.

[00:50:02] So I want to make a big jump in my numbers, efficiency and everything, you know. And I think we got the guys for that, though.

[00:50:11] Well, that's what I thought was interesting when we were when the portal list was coming through of all the other six editions that coach McDev it was able to make.

[00:50:20] I did make the the comments a lot of my guys ever go middle like wouldn't just in just kind of be the cherry on top to this because we've got we know we've got the backup point guard that we were looking forward with jail and counter you've got some more guard depth with with Alec and obviously you're getting more forward depth with eSOM.

[00:50:35] Yeah, basically that's what I was doing. You know, talking to him a lot, he's telling me whatever crew knew who's coming in and just stuff like that and I was just keeping me in a loop still even though I still was an portal which is very good.

[00:50:53] It doesn't sound like there was any love loss. I think it's another awesome aspect. A lot of people will think that you enter the portal and it's like that guy's good as gone. I think it's a very interesting dynamic that you and the coaching staff have here.

[00:51:04] Yeah, because me that was like you come back with on the streets of the same. You leave. We're going to treat you to saying because you know I still love here. And that's why we like the most about him.

[00:51:13] Yeah, and I can't speak for other ones, but I'll tell you this again you haven't had in your back. I think is an outstanding thing.

[00:51:19] I want to talk about what came to life last season. Cam goes down really early in the season. Those talks. I'm sure with McDevitt at some point about hey, you're going to take a different role from that shooting guard that we recruited you as more for car position. Tell me what, well, you know, what did you learn? How did you gain grow from that transition?

[00:51:37] My game grew a lot all the same because you know, I had to step up, you know, basically run a team, you know, coming out of Jukego, I was still shooting guard and I wasn't really is the point guard as needed.

[00:51:48] When Cam got hurt, it was a lot of weight on my back, you know, I had to fill a lot of, fill a lot of boy for, you know,

[00:51:57] to run a team, we actually changed the offense too. We did a lot of picking roads and a lot of going up and down transition wise to make it.

[00:52:06] Making more kind of my style of play a little bit and have everybody go on instead of the other offense we had, which really helped us out. Because you know, before December was playing, it wasn't a plan how we should have been playing.

[00:52:18] After December, we found a new offense, a new gateway to start winning games, and that's where we started doing winning games after that.

[00:52:26] The other talks this season about you kind of moving back into that comfortable shooting guard position. I hate to call it uncomfortable because they're near the end of the years, you already touched on you got a lot more comfortable at the point guard spot.

[00:52:38] But as he's going to transition you back into the shooting guard position where you're a lot more comfortable and it is comfortable really the best way to describe it is that where you feel like that's home a shooting guard.

[00:52:47] I mean, I can play point guard or shooting guard. I mean, whatever he needs me to do, I'm the guy to do it, you know, I was saying that.

[00:52:53] Basically, the plan is for me and can be in a changeable, you know, he's a point guard or I'm a point guard. It really like whoever brings up the ball basically trying to play real fast this year too.

[00:53:03] So another thing last year was that 41 point game and others are big highlighted your season for you.

[00:53:08] I want to hear your breakdown on something like that because you know, you average 14 a game but 41 points. I mean, I know it's a double overtime game, but 41 to 41. So I want to know and you are eight for eight from three in a game like that 3 point shooting is something that again kind of picked up for you there at the end of the year.

[00:53:24] I gave my that because amidst that winning streak you guys were on things were really rolling. So what did you take not only from that 40 point game, but what was what were you seeing out of your team and that stretch where things started to turn around for you guys.

[00:53:36] It really started with coach, you know coach me that was being real hard on us and practice it was going real hard every day. So and we knew every game that we lost.

[00:53:45] It was like real close it was just like a couple points off or just a possession or two so we knew what we had to do.

[00:53:51] And during the 40 point one game I'm not even though I didn't even know I had to at many points until the end of the game. I didn't even notice it.

[00:53:59] It's like a baseball player when you're not trying to hit a home run, but it just flies off the bat. It seemed to be that every time you put something up it just happened to go in.

[00:54:09] Yeah, that's about you know standing in a gym and then they work.

[00:54:12] So tell me a little bit about the summer now. I know you're traveling out of your back home and Texas area awesome you said you know what is the training style look like for you in regards to preparing for this next season with a whole bunch of new guys on the squad.

[00:54:26] We just recently got our break so we got a break for two weeks but I'm be out here for a week or so.

[00:54:32] I'm gonna go back and do my same routine. I'm gonna keep my same routine out here. I just take scows jobs because we're going to do a new start coach to see me work out plan for for lifting so I just did that today.

[00:54:43] And later I'm just put up some shots and now do my same routine. I'll do it in too. So saying that one.

[00:54:49] One thing about you that when you look at you, you're I mean your physical specimen dude you got like zero percent body fat for the most part of this training something that you naturally take a hold to that you really enjoy is it is it nutrition.

[00:55:00] I'm interested about it. I'll just say something like dude. All right, another another question for you that I just something I've always picked out because I went to school as a physiology major so I'm

[00:55:11] going to get it sitting back around the calves and the high socks are the high socks or fashion choice or is that just something that you think you have to wear in game.

[00:55:19] Nice really because my calves used to be tight like they're real tight. So those like compression kind of like compression sucks so it kind of Release the you know the stress on my calves a little bit so I'll creep up in the games.

[00:55:34] Well back to last year your second team C USA you know you had a great year 14 points for game. I never feel like a little bit disrespected by the second team C USA finish.

[00:55:44] Yeah, I'm pretty sure I did I'm not going to lie. That was when we get first team but you know I didn't play is I didn't play is good the first half of the season so kind of expected that but during

[00:55:54] Congress I think I played really well to get first team but it's alright though we got this coming up.

[00:55:59] So it does sound like that's something that you kind of work towards I mean obviously team success over individual awards but what are you doing if it was far as objective the numbers you know what are

[00:56:09] What are areas that you think that you should see improvement in in order to kind of make yourself stand out and that first team C USA.

[00:56:15] My efficiency I believe you know my 3-point with CNN is my field of opinion is I believe everything should shoot a lot this year because the work we've been putting in is kind of crazy.

[00:56:26] Do you expect the shooting numbers to go up like it and not necessarily importance but as far as total volume of shots is that kind of something that as far as the offense. Can change a little bit.

[00:56:36] The volume was shot no I'm not too sure about that. I mean I feel like if I take with the players we have this year

[00:56:42] I feel like my shots are like should be real good because I don't have to take as many shots. I think I would get some easy looks this year

[00:56:48] So yeah and you hit the nail on the head there is in regards to the efficiency numbers and they need to be a lot more efficient so as far as your off season are you looking to get up 300 400 or

[00:56:59] Is there something is a routine there in regards to what you're doing in the gym. Yeah at least try to get up 3-4 hundred shots a day. We have a lot of new GAs and trainers I mean new GAs and managers.

[00:57:09] Them guys we stay in a gym with them like call me any time of the day they hey we're there so that's what I love about that.

[00:57:16] You ever getting this is in game reps something like that you play a pick up ball is that something that you kind of value in the Off season or you more just I want to get in the gym and just get shots out.

[00:57:25] But I believe playing pickup helps you to so get you ready for it. I mean I GAs and trainers they come in a guard you like is real lives when you're working out you're asking my garden you making it good

[00:57:37] Contest and everything's that's they're super bold for them. I imagine I'm going to be brought me to gym for one practice and be my life to keep jp under 10

[00:57:45] Yeah, they make you miss they'd be like let's go and make you miss they hear a happy so I mean hey, I love it Absolutely jp as we as we close in the interview here a little bit. I want to know your expectations

[00:57:56] I know you don't necessarily have to put numbers to it, but I just kind of want to hear your perspective as far as what you think Blueator fans should expect from you this year, you know I for myself you've already got me back

[00:58:07] You want me back. I didn't have to do this interview to do it, but I'm excited about you. What are the expectations that we should be looking towards this year? The Blue Reddy fans should be expecting the 20 plus plan season this year.

[00:58:19] The CUSA what are we going to do about getting past the same mind? It's been our that's been our our threshold for the last couple years

[00:58:26] What's been taken from the get us an opportunity this year. We got the guys for so we should get to the tournament this year for sure make a run

[00:58:33] You think the the post play is really what did you ever have any opinion on the post play or anything like that is the link kind of where we need where we need those points out as well

[00:58:43] Not too sure. I mean it'll be good, you know at more points there, but I feel like the group of guys we have this year is all around like real talented So like in practices work, I was being competitive so much

[00:58:56] I feel like these guys are really locked in and ready to work every single day like they have their net and then my set like we want to win

[00:59:03] I'm not just them, they're not subject anything it's like a team thing like a brotherhood like we all want to win and every all winning we're all going to look good so

[00:59:12] It sounds it sounds like your mission really well with the new guys. I know it's a half half a new team tell me about your your your your your mission with the guys

[00:59:20] We are cool even off the court. I mean like some of us live at the same Parmesan complex, we always chill go to the pool play some ping pong or something like we're gonna get off the course

[00:59:33] We're you know, you're a little while now tell me where you you take the new guys to is our spot you take them to for food and I think outplay what's your where's the place you take these guys?

[00:59:42] I don't lot. I put them on kitchen way. Do you know about kitchen way? I don't but I've heard of it. Yeah, I mean you can go get breakfast food lunch like I put them on a day like where should I go eat lab

[00:59:53] I go to the kitchen way. What's what's the I mean it's far what's your favorite cuisine right now? doing Hmm, I get like the breakfast combo. I get like the frishtose the home fries

[01:00:04] 2 a.s. Grab with cheese. I get a sauce egg and cheese sandwich. Are you a breakfast for dinner guy? Huh, I mean I want to say that but I prefer breakfast over dinner

[01:00:16] You take you take the most important meal the day pretty seriously then. Yeah, yeah, for sure I got you all right well JP. I will close it in on the time here. I absolutely appreciate you coming on man at the Blue Raider faithful

[01:00:27] I would have no doubt that they're going to take you back without we'll open arms much like the coaching staff did an exciting season to look ahead I appreciate you again for doing this. Yeah, so appreciate you