Jon Rothstein: Q&A with SMU coach Larry Brown

[Harry0569]

http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketb ... arry-brown

Larry Brown has made SMU nationally relevant. The Hall of Fame coach has led the Ponies (24-6) to an American Conference title in only his third season at his current post. CBS Sports Network and CBSSports.com's Jon Rothstein talked with Brown about this season, Nic Moore and how the Ponies might fare in the NCAA Tournament.

Jon Rothstein, CBSSports.com: Did you think when you were 2-3 after losing to Arkansas on Nov. 25 that you would be able to win 22 of your next 25 games and win the American Conference regular-season title?

Larry Brown: I thought we'd be pretty good having Markus (Kennedy) come back. We didn't play our best against Arkansas and got way down early and then came back, but that was something that we hadn't done in the past. I kind of thought getting Markus back and then with the development of some of our young kids, we'd be pretty good. I had no idea we'd be able to win the conference. I was hoping that maybe we'd be good enough to get into the NCAA Tournament and hopefully get better. When we lost Justin (Martin) and then lost Keith (Frazier), I got a little nervous because we're not very deep. I haven't done a good job with either Ben Moore and Ben Emelogu. We need to get those guys to play as well as they're capable of playing.

CBSSports.com: There was so much disappointment when you missed out on the field of 68 a year ago. What is the feeling like now knowing that you're going to have a chance to play in the NCAA Tournament?

Brown: Well I'm not taking anything for granted. I look at last year and looked at our resume -- we were 4-6 against Top 20 teams. I thought there were some great teams in our conference and when we didn't get in, I told our kids that we can't take anything for granted. I remember Coach (Dean) Smith when North Carolina was playing Georgetown in 1982 and they were down one late in the game -- he told them, 'Guys, we're exactly where we want to be because it's on us.' Then Michael (Jordan) made that shot and the rest is history, and I kept telling our guys the same thing. It's not about what anybody else does -- it's on us. We've been trying to approach it that way.

CBSSports.com: The group you're coaching now has had some bumps along the way. Emmanuel Mudiay, your top recruit never made it to campus and Keith Frazier, your starting shooting guard was ruled ineligible midway through the season. Why has your team been able to respond so well in spite of all that adversity?

Brown: I think some kids have played at a high level. Nic (Moore) has grown up in a lot of ways. He's not perfect, and sometimes his competitiveness gets in the way. You know, I ask so much of him and it's not easy for him, but he's played at an unbelievably high level. We have four really good big guys. When you come off the bench with Markus Kennedy and Cannen Cunningham, I think they're two of the best guys in the country at their position. Our depth inside has helped and I also think we try to defend night in and night out. We ran into UConn when they made everything and made shots late with people hanging all over 'em. Then Tulsa -- the kid Jordan Woodard -- had a great shooting night, but we managed to get by. I think night in and night out we play hard and try to defend and rebound.

CBSSports.com: You've been very candid throughout your career about the relationships you've had with your point guards. How would rate that dynamic between you and Nic Moore after this season compared to where it was after last?

Brown: It's better, but it's day to day and maybe even minute to minute. His heart's in the right place. I love guys that want to win and have a passion to compete. I've been lucky. I've been around some great players and none better than Allen Iverson in terms of his will to win. So many of the kids that I've gotten to coach have cared so much and have tried so hard. I've got to do a better job of overlooking some of that stuff when Nic may get off on a tangent and realize that he just wants to win so bad that it causes him to do some funny things. But the dynamic between the two of us is much better. I'm more direct with him. I think he handles it a lot better in terms of accepting what I say. It may not happen immediately, but he understands. He's had a phenomenal year.

CBSSports.com: There were moments in last Sunday's win over Tulsa where Markus Kennedy looked like he couldn't be guarded. Is he the biggest key for your team as you get ready for the stretch run in March?

Brown: He's our most talented kid. When he's focused, he's as good as they get. He can really score on the block. He rebounds in traffic at a high level and now he's in shape. The most important thing with Markus is we've got to have his family at games. He plays great when his mom is there. I've got to figure out a way for her to be there because he's a different player when she is. He might be more comfortable. He's been really good lately though. There's no doubt about that.

CBSSports.com: A year ago you were confident that you'd be able to advance in the NCAA Tournament, but you didn't make the field. How would you rate how you feel about your team right now compared to how you felt about it a year ago?

Brown: I really don't know. It's so hard to get on to anything beyond the next game. I just know when you get into the tournament or any one and done type of situation -- if you don't change who you are -- and you defend and you rebound the ball and you compete at a high level then you can do some really good things. That's what I'm trying to get these kids to understand. If that's constant with you with the pressure and how important each game is -- if those things are the things that you value then you have a chance to play pretty good basketball and that's what we need to try to do.

[ericdickerson4life]

"I haven't done a good job with either Ben Moore and Ben Emelogu. We need to get those guys to play as well as they're capable of playing."

If those two could figure out how to get things going moving forward, we will be extremely dangerous.