A lot has changed in Sam, Dave and Jake’s lives since the last pod. They break it all down, Crespo dissects the Eagles’ ‘Chalk Talk,’ and the fellas discuss a busy offseason of recruiting success for American.

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With Sam in town for the weekend, the fellas hold an impromptu podcast from Jake’s couch covering a variety of topics including Sam’s basketball heroics, Crespo’s fitness, exciting future podcast plans, and of course the Eagles and the upcoming 2016-17 season.

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The fellas convene on March Madness Eve to discuss Sam’s viral “Thirteen Shining Moments” video that made him an Internet Sensation in a day, while also watching Holy Cross represent the league with an NCAA Tournament win. And, of course, they sprinkle in some talk about the Eagles’ progression to a successful season and the program’s bright future.

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The fellas dissect AU’s amazing turnaround from 0-6 in the league to 9-9 and tied for fourth place and are joined by hall of fame journalist and Eagles super fan David Aldridge to discuss the Eagles’ progression and their Patriot League Tournament hopes.

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0-13:00 — AU’s turnaround from 0-6 to 9-9 in league play

13:12-20:30 — Crespo on Senior Day and AU’s nailbiting win over Loyola

20:34-44:30 — David Aldridge

44:30-55:00 — American at BU, breaking it down

55:00 — Closing thoughts

MARKO
“Obviously today’s game was special for so many reasons. Coming into the game we tried to focus on the basketball. We were gonna think about the thing after the game and after the season ends. Right now we have an important game (Thursday). Obviously it’s a different game, you have to focus and make sure you don’t show your emotions as much like any game. But at the end of the day I think Jesse and I and all the guys handle the pressure well.”

JESSE
“I don’t think it really kicked in until we started walking out in the pregame with our parents but it’s starting to kick in now that this is probably our last time in Bender and we’ve had some good years here, had a lot of fun here, so we’re definitely gonna cherish those memories. ”

On the journey from the Minnesota game freshman year to now
JESSE
“I think I can speak for Marko and myself by saying that we were both a little nervous and scared as freshman, a little more timid and quiet just because it was all a new game for us but I think over the years we’ve both kind of grown experience-wise, confidence-wise to where now we want to be those guys that help lead the rest of the team. We want to be the guys that people come to whenever they need anything. We really take pride in being the leaders of the team and helping out the younger guys, help them come along and hopefully get to where we’re at one day.”

MARKO
“Four years ago we were just trying to play hard, listen to what coach told us to do, and year by year we got more and more responsibility, obviously a new coach and coaching staff. Coach Brennan has really led the way for us in helped us grow as players and as people. Really we’ve taken more responsbility each year and yeah it’s been a  long journey and a good run, too.”

On all the great games and moments they’ve had. What will remember most and how will senior day and the last-second win stack up?
MARKO
“This game is definitely one of the greatest ones that’s going to be in our memory, (and) it happens to be the last one. Maybe two years ago Holy Cross game in the semis of the Patriot League we … came back from what was it, down 10 to go to the finals. That was a really special game, too.”

JESSE
“That same year too the BU game at home where we shot lights out and beat them by 30. That was probably one of the funnest games we’ve had besides our championship game but I think that game was something you experience once in a lifetime in basketball where everybody’s clicking on all cylinders. But this game will definitely be up there.”

On 4th trip to the tournament and what matters most
JESSE
“Who’s better on that day.”

MARKO
“Having to do all the small things. The margin for error now is thin, very small. That’s it, this is it. This could be our last game so we can’t afford to make some mistakes. We have to play hard, go after rebounds, play for each other, pass the ball. The margin for error is very small this time. Luckily we’ve been here three years, Jesse, obviously Charlie’s gonna be there very important, Jalen, it’s up to us to really lead the team and even if things go bad at moments, make sure we’re calming down and playing our game.”

On approaching the tournament differently as seniors now
JESSE
“I think it’s different because we wanted to give all we could for Pee Wee and John their last year and they really set the tone for us in the tournament, how hard we had to play and what all we had to do. So hopefully we can mimic some of their tactics, their hardness, their toughness, and really set the tone for the younger guys like they did for us to hopefully make another run in the tournament.”

———-

MIKE BRENNAN
On winning in late situation again and stopping Loyola from getting final bucket
“Well they didn’t have much time at the end there but again we tried to call a play for Delante and it was just up to him to sort of make a play but then the reason we won the game is because Andrija goes after an offensive rebound and gets fouled so it’s about everyone doing their part in games like this. You don’t really draw stuff up, you’ve just gotta go after rebounds and do all the dirty work.”

On the biggest differences the last 12 games after the 0-6 start
“I mean we’re just scoring a little more easily. I don’t want to say easily — we’re more comfortable. We know when our shots are coming, guys understand what we’re trying to do collectively on the offensive end I think better. It’s just getting to that point where you’ve got a certain comfort level.”

Did you expect to make such a drastic tournaround?
“No I didn’t. Even losing, we lost by a ton of points early on. We just kept getting better — we’d lose by 25, then 15, and eight and six. So it just took time, there was growth, we just didn’t see it in the win-loss column, we’re continuing to grow, we’re continuing to get better at this point in the season. So that’s what I’m happy about and that’s a testament to Marko and Jesse, the two seniors, how they — I say it all the time but it’s true — they come to work every day and the guys are getting better each and every day. I thought James was better tonight, giving us better minutes, and that’s what we’re looking for.”

On Marko and Jesse’s career progression
“Well they understand, they’ve played in important games and won, they know how important everything is, so they know how important practice is, they know how important each possession is out here and you see that but they also know how important every day in practice is and how important it is to make sure you’re accomplishing something each day so that’s the biggest part of their leadership is what I get to see every single day. They do a lot. It’s not  scoring points in games. It’s showing up every single day ready to work.”

On team’s defensive approach
“No, I don’t want them to be less aggressive, maybe just a little earlier, just recognizing stuff a little earlier so they don’t have to bite on that stuff — (getting beat is) just a function of being late (rotating).”

On approach to guarding Andre Walker
“A guy like that is just a really good player, good one-on-one player. And most of his baskets were one-on-one, individual-type plays. He’s just a really good player. He’s played a lot of basketball in his life. He’s seen every type of defender — small guy, fast guy, big guy — and he’s scored against a lot of them so we could do a better job but he’s a really good player and it’s easier said than done.”

Mike Brennan and players Jesse Reed and Jalen Rhea spoke to the media after American’s 72-65 win over Navy, the Eagles’ third consecutive victory to boost their record to 10-18, 8-9 in the Patriot League.

MIKE BRENNAN

On the 17-0 run in the second half
“I think we were just being more aggressive going to the basket in the second half and then Jesse made a couple shots that are just — step-back 3 with a guy all over him, it’s like he makes that and they drew up something against our zone where they got an open look and they just didn’t go in. Sometimes you just gotta be lucky where you make some shots and they miss some shots. That could be the difference. But our guys were just a little more aggressive in the second half.”

On switching to the 2-3 zone
“They were going inside and everyone’s about to foul out trying to guard the guy (Will Kelly). We haven’t played zone in a while so we tried it for a possession, looked OK, they called the timeout — they got that wide-open shot. They got open shots, they just missed against the zone. So that’s why it worked.”

Even a month ago is team capable of this kind of comeback?
“Yeah I told them that. That’s a heck of a thing to be down 14 and to be at this point of the season and to muster up the energy to fight back. I don’t think — a month ago we didn’t have the confidence to get something like that or just the experience. So it’s a big growth step for all of us.”

On late offense
“We were just trying to get stuff going to the basket, post-ups — we were posting up a few different guys, post up Jesse, post up Marko, post up Delante and then we got some drives too. It wasn’t just launching threes. With Jesse and Delante, pick and choose, and Charlie got a couple big drives too. And Jalen at the end of the drives sometimes we had to kick it out and we were able to make some shots off that stuff.”

On Delante’s fourth foul and him needing to realize value to team
“Yeah, absolutely. You’d rather give up the two, have Delante out there, but that’s another thing that he has to learn, get used to, he’s trying to defend, he’s trying to make a play on the ball. That’s something that a veteran — a veteran would be able to make that play and make that determination.”

On the back and forth, unpredictable nature of the Patriot League
“Yeah, I mean every team’s equal. Every team plays really hard, they run their stuff, they’re well-coached at this point in the season, everyone knows what the other team’s gonna do. So it’s just a matter of just toughness. They were driving by us and they were finishing a lot of their drives and we weren’t — I think we stopped their drives with the zone a little bit so that helped us a lot but at this point in the season it’s just make shots, get rebounds, play harder each possession, stuff that coaches say all the time.”

On what’s been the biggest key in winning 8 of 11
“Obviously Delante and Jesse are scoring points but I think everybody’s contributing on a given night. I mean we don’t know — we need something from everybody, Andrija got two big rebounds in the last few minutes there, Jalen comes in and makes some big 3s, and Charlie just gives you what he gives you every night. So you just need everybody to be ready at any given time.”

On Jesse’s progression this season and finding the balance of looking for his offense vs. creating for others
“I give Jesse a ton of credit. He’s been so consistent throughout the year and it was tough early on when I’m telling him, ‘Pass the ball, pass the ball,’ because he’s wired to score and he feels like, ‘I can score.’ But he’s gotten much better as a passer, and that’s allowed these other guys to contribute and help him. So I think for him, for his game to sort of expand the way it has this year, it’s just a testament to him and what he does on a daily basis in practice. It’s hard to change your game but still have the scoring. He’s done that.”

On Delante shooting 70% at the rim, getting to the free-throw line frequently and showing poise like on the game-winning possession vs. Holy Cross
“He’s got a good feel for the game, good knack for when to drive, he’s usually pretty much under control when he drives. (If) he gets cut off, he doesn’t sort of — he’s got a counter. But he’s just a good player and I thought he was — teams are playing us a little harder (on perimeter), so it’s a little difficult to maybe pick and choose your spots. I think he was trying to drive a few times when he shouldn’t have but him and Jesse have found a good balance. We need them to score, we need them to be aggressive, we need them trying stuff — so if they have a few turnovers here and there trying to do stuff, you’ve got to live with that because those are the guys who’ve gotta make plays.”

More on the Patriot League and AU having a legitimate chance in the Patriot League tournament
“Everybody can beat everybody, we’ve known that. So we’re just trying not to be the one to get beat. I mean, that’s about it.”

———-

Is team capable of this kind of comeback even a month ago?
JESSE
“I mean I think we’ve grown a lot on the court and off the court. Our chemistry’s been great. We’re starting to learn how to play for each other and fight for each other, dig in a little more. It just comes with experience. I don’t know if a month ago we’d be able to pull that off; I don’t know if yesterday we’d be able to pull that off. But today we dug deep and we found a way.”

JALEN
“I think it’s a just a matter of playing together and everything coming together. We practice it every day and just waiting for that time for the pieces to fall together.”

On holding Navy without a basket for 6 minutes down the stretch
JALEN
“Just communicating and being there. When somebody gets beat, trying to help our teammates out and once they put a shot up, just rebounding and boxing out and making sure that we got the ball back and we’re ready to go down and get a good shot on offense.”

On holding Will Kelly (22 points) without a point the last nine minutes
JESSE
“That’s tough to do. I don’t know how to explain that one.”

On going to the 2-3 zone. What did coach say about going to the zone?
JESSE
“I mean, he didn’t really say why — he just said, ‘Run 2’ and we just stuck with it. At first he said, ‘Run 2 for one possession,’ and once we got a stop he was like, ‘All right, stay in it.’ Yeah, my guess was (to) try to neutralize them down low, we were getting beat up pretty bad down low and we couldn’t really guard their post that well. So kind of packing it in a little bit and making it a little harder for them to catch the ball or get good position I think really helped us a lot.”

Jesse, are you thinking about fact that games are winding down your senior season?
“Nah, I’m staying in the moment. I’m just trying to enjoy each day as it comes. I’ll think about it being my senior year after I’m done, but right now we got games to play, we got practices to go through. I’m just trying to enjoy ’em as they come each and every day.”

How important was getting dribble penetration late in the game?
JESSE
“Yeah, our offense works great whenever we’re working inside-out instead of just hanging around the perimeter. A lot of us were making good drives and finding guys wide open for shots. Jalen was able to come in and give us a spark — really knock down some big shots to help us get back in it. Just working inside-out really helps us a lot instead of just staying on the perimeter.”

On being a game from finishing .500 in the league after starting 0-6
JALEN
“It just comes back to coach Brennan telling us he’s not going to judge us by wins and losses. It’s just a matter of if we’re getting better every day and I think the games down the stretch attest to that, that we just do what we practice, we’re trying to win games and it’s working out for us.”

On how good Jalen is shooting from the corners. What is it about those spots?
JALEN
“I think it’s just in our offense where I happen to end up and drives come and the defense collapses and Jesse and Charlie and Delante and everybody are able to find me somehow in the corner and I just happen to be right there in the corner. I’m gonna keep shooting them, I know they’ll keep finding me. I don’t know what it is about the corner, but I’m going to try to stay close to the corner.”

Jesse on if at all playing his final games as a senior is in back of mind and playing like it
JESSE
“I mean it’s hard not to think about but I just focus on hanging with these guys every day. I know the days are numbered so I’m really just trying to make the most of it. I’m not really thinking about, ‘This is my last game here, this is my last game there.’ It’s more of just enjoying each and every day as they come and if unfortunately it does come to an end, I’ll worry about that when the times comes. But until then I’m just gonna enjoy having fun with my brothers.”

On feeling confident beating anyone in the league with tournament just around the corner
JALEN
“Yeah I think the Patriot League, it’s pretty much just whoever’s night it is, it’s pretty even. If it happens to be our night, I think we can make a run. We’ll just have to wait and see.”

The fellas break down Delante’s heroic game-winner vs. Holy Cross and dissect Patriot League Tournament scenarios before being joined by Eagles all-time great and 3-point shooting contest record-holder Andre Ingram to discuss his professional career and his four years at AU laying the foundation for the Eagles’ back to back Patriot League championships.

0-10:00 — Delante’s game-winner, AU’s Patriot League Tournament seeding possibilities

10-34:00 — Andre Ingram

39-47:45 — Patriot League talk. Can Bucknell hold on?

47:45: Closing thoughts (high school hoops and who Kobe’s Tweeting about).

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Links
American article and video links of Ingram winning 3-point contest
Recap of 2007 heartbreaking Patriot League semifinal

The fellas break down the differences between AU’s winning and losing streaks, assess where the Eagles will finish in the Patriot League, get a Holy Cross report from Crusaders fan Sam’s Dad, and more.

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Head coach Mike Brennan spoke to the media after American’s 65-59 loss to Army, which dropped the Eagles to 7-17, 5-8 in the Patriot League.

BRENNAN
On the team’s comeback from 15 down to within 61-59
“All year we’ve gotten to these moments where you get hit in the mouth and the team goes on a run and we’re done. Today it happened and we battled back. They went on a run but we still battled back again so that’s progress in my mind and despite Army’s league record (5-8), they’re one of the better teams in the league, they’ve been together, they know what they’re doing so they’re a really really good team. So to put yourself in a position to be there at the end, us not playing well — not making shots — and still fighting and being there in the end, I feel good about our guys and where we are. Despite our record, I like the team and I like what they’re doing on a daily basis.”

What was the difference in how AU played vs. Army this time vs the first time?
“More aggressively offensively, we got better looks. It sounds funny we only scored 15 points in the first half, but we were way more aggressive and we were getting open looks, we were just missing. So that’s just part of the process and then they get confident, they see that they’re gonna get open looks, so the second half they’re a little more confident and obviously Delante scoring playing the way he does is a big help.”

On the decision to foul in the last 3 minutes with Army in the bonus
“Well, I gotta get better too. It’s my first time with the team in close games at the end. We only had one timeout left. When we got it to I think it was maybe 7 with 2 minutes, it was right over 2 minutes, I didn’t want them to foul but I couldn’t get the message out there. We put them on the line, they made one of two. … I wish I had more timeouts. I wish the NCAA didn’t change the rule and take away the timeouts because we need them.”

On Delante showing poise and making right decisions down the stretch
“We recruited him for a reason. We knew he was gonna be good, and he’s been doing that every game. He’s been getting to the rim, scoring, shooting, scoring every kind of way. Obviously at the end of games it’s different, you’re going to the hole, the other team’s not trying to foul you so it’s a little different. But still to have a guy to be able to do it and be successful and he’s a freshman, and to be able to score layup, floater, behind a guy, it’s hard to do. He works every day. He works his tail off every day in practice. He’s gotten better at literally everything. We’ve just got to keep throwing stuff at him, keep working at it.”

On Army’s points in the paint advantage
“Ferguson, he’s a guy that has gotten a lot better over the years. He’s really worked and I give him a lot of credit — he’s one of the better centers in the league. We didn’t do a great job of making him work for position, but to be honest at the end of the day I’m more worried about the 3s because they get hot and they got up 19 or however many 3s they got up. They usually shoot a better percentage so we’re trying to take away 3s — it’s hard to take away multiple things. But we’ve got to work on our post defense obviously.”

Is Ferguson someone you can point to when talking to young big guys about where they can get to in terms of a big who’s really progressed from year to year?
“Well he gives me hope. They haven’t seen him, it’s hard for them to visualize that. For me it’s like, I like where our freshmen are. I think Andrija — I think those 3s are gonna go in. He’s going to be able to score with his back to the basket, he’s gonna be able to do things. Hopefully we can get him to do it a little quicker.”

On the past 4 opponents; Patriot League’s top teams starting to flex muscle and respond to ‘Patriot League being down’?
“I don’t think it’s down, I think everyone is good — there’s a bunch of good teams. So there’s not two or three really good teams and everyone else, usually everyone else is down and they beat up on the team that are down. There’s no down teams. There’s no bad teams. Everyone’s good, so everyone’s beating up each other. But we just got to stay positive with our guys. They’re competing, they’re in the game, they’re right there, it’s just part of the process getting over the hump — learning how important stuff in the first half is, how it affects the game. It’s a four-point game with however much time is left, a minute — there’s a lot of things you can do to change that. We got to continue to work on that.”

On team’s depth and different guys getting minutes
“Obviously we’re just looking for consistency, consistent effort and Andrija’s been getting better, I like what he gives us. Lonnie didn’t play a minute tonight but that’s — that has nothing to do with how much he’s gonna play on Wednesday, it’s what does he does in the next two days because I like some of the things that he gave us in the BU game. Maybe I should have tried him tonight, who knows? But I like all four of our freshmen, and I like our whole group. The upperclassmen have stuck with it. There’s a reason these guys are sticking with it and continuing — practices it’s hard, it’s difficult but they’re still, it shows their effort that they’re getting better.”

The fellas convene for a Saturday night session covering multiple topics including: the end of AU’s five-game winning streak; the ingredients of the Eagles’ success; the Patriot League 2nd-place logjam; a listeners’ mailbag; and more.

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