Tennessee assistant coach coach Gregg Polinsky met with the local media on Monday afternoon before the Vols host Georgia Southern on Tuesday night.
Polinsky served as the Eagles head coach from 1995-99 and has the Georgia Southern scout for Tuesday night’s game. The second-year assistant coach discussed Georgia Southern, the Vols’ win over Illinois and much more. Here’s everything Polinsky said.
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On the defensive intensity Zakai Zeigler and Jahmai Mashack brought in the second half of the Illinois game
“I think we can probably throw everybody in there but I think Zakai obviously had a big moment in there too. (He) Kind of electrified the building here which is always a big help with this crowd. I think we came out (in the second half) and we knew what we needed to do. Coaches talked about it at halftime. The defensive effort, the game plan was great. Rod did an awesome job preparing us in here. But I think when we got through the first few minutes of the second half, I didn’t think we quite had our edge as energetic, as focused as we needed to be. And then I think as it went on, we kind of got into a rhythm defensively, if you will. Everybody talks about that on offensive times, but defensively we got into a rhythm. We got some matchups. I know they were keen on it because of their size, trying to take advantage of some of our guys with how big their guards were. But I think we got to where we found a rhythm, how we were gonna play and where we could help from where our rotations were got much better as the game went on.”
On the challenge of having college kids not look at an opponent’s record
“I think you gotta be real with them and understand like if we’re talking about Georgia Southern at 0-9, they’ve also played every game but one away from home. So I’ve been in that situation literally and that’s a very difficult thing to do with your basketball team. They’ve been in games, they just haven’t been able to get over the hump. They’ve got a few talented guys. But I think for our basketball team, what we talk about and coach talks about this, whether it’s them, Illinois, Purdue– we’ve gotta be who we are, play to our identity and improve.”
On how Josiah-Jordan James has benefitted from playing by Dalton Knecht
“I’ll go back to maybe one of the silly NBA terms we had. We talked about certain guys being great blend players and connectors and I think that’s what Josiah is. He, obviously, he to me has elite hands and is a tremendous defender because of his versatility, his high strength. You guys have all seen it, you know, obviously since he’s been here. But having Dalton I think has taken a little more pressure given Joe a little more life, space and freedom to do what he does and he’s adapted really well to it.”
On how important the next four games are for the freshmen before SEC play
“Well, one, we have to do — everybody on this team, their part. There’s no guarantee that those guys will get in and have the opportunity to play. I mean that’s all dependent upon, like coach talked about for the Illinois game, what they do in practice, have they earned their minutes? That’s where you earn your minutes. And second, do we play well enough or find time periods or lineups where these guys can get in there, get some experience and excel.”
On getting back into coaching at the college level after working in the NBA
“Well, I think the NBA got tired of me. So, my parachute opened again. Coming here to Tennessee has been unbelievable. It’s been a privilege and I’ve said that before, but it’s genuine. It’s just not for here, the media. It has been a privilege to be in this program, the whole thing. I could go through it.
“It was exciting. I did enjoy my time other than the losses when I was coaching at Georgia Southern. It was a great experience for me. Still have relationships, close friends, players that, one was here for the last game, that I stay in touch with. But I think the opportunity then to take what I learned along my path of 23 years of working in the NBA, and I’ve said this before, what value can I add to this program? That’s how we should all view this as people, coaches, etc., whatever you’re doing. Time has taught me that, that it is really not about me, it’s about us. And so it’s exciting for me to come back and lend whatever experience I can to the guys and the people we have here. Whether it’s coaches, players, managers, whatever I can do. It’s exciting. And believe me, I don’t take myself that serious. I take what I do serious, but I don’t take myself that serious.”
On if Saturday was the best example of this Tennessee team’s identity
“Yeah, I would say for the the full 40 minutes, I’d say that’s fair. I think there’s been other games this year where we have, I would say Wisconsin was, as you look at it, they took a tough loss at Arizona, but you know, those of you that have been out there, we’ve been out there, hard place to play. And (Arizona is) exceptional this year. I think (ranked) No. 1 right now. But having gone on that road to play the places we played, the teams we played, you can still still see where Purdue is, I thought with what was it, 2:34 left in that game, we’re tied. So we’ve been right there kind of at the precipice of getting things done other than Carolina, which we got back in. But I would say for the full 40 (minutes), that’s probably accurate.”
On Tennessee’s increased assist numbers in recent games, what has led to it
“I think better ball movement and us understanding like where our shots are coming from. Also we’ve done a much better job of playing downhill. I think if you guys watch, if you’ve ever seen Josiah or Santi play with the assertiveness and the willingness to get to the basket, a lot of that is Coach (Barnes) saying hey, we gotta get paint touches because that creates opportunities for lobs, spray outs, finding guys in open windows for shots. And it puts pressure on the defense. So I think that’s why we’re playing a little bit
On Tennessee’s increased paint touches, the production recently from Jonas Aidoo and if it’s sustainable
“Yeah, I think it’s sustainable. I think for Jonas, the maturity from his freshman year and you all saw, I can’t remember if everybody was here his freshman year, but he has just matured a lot emotionally, his preparation, his approach to things. And I think what Coach Barnes has done with him probably over the last two weeks and pushing him, promoting him, giving him confidence, having us play more through him. So some of that was probably us finding a balance. And I think we have found it now. And I think Jonah, yes he can sustain it.”
