David Cordero: All things considered, what are thoughts on lastyear’s team? Did you get the most out of the talent you had?
SteveFisher: I think they worked as hard as they could and we were justnot capable … three or four people short of being able to competeat the level we were asked to compete at. It wasn’t one’s fault otherthan us not having enough players.
DC: Jim Roban, your first recruit, missed last year due to backproblems. Although he won’t return until December, do you think he’scapable of making the same impact you envisioned him making?
SF: He’s like a car that’s been through a wreck in a head-oncollision; you can fix it, but will it respond the way it was beforethe wreck? He had major, major back surgery. Now he’s had themisfortune of having back-to-back shoulder dislocations and then asurgery. He hasn’t played competitively since his junior collegedays, a year and a half ago. I’m worried about him. We’re hopinghe’ll be able to get back to where we thought he could be.
DC:You have only two players listed at 220 pounds or more Does that meanyou’ll have a more athletic team that likes to press and play thetransition game?
SF: We’re a team that lacks height and size. So we have to make upfor that in other areas. Offensively, we can’t get in and root andgrind and overpower you in the post. But we should be able to flash,slash and cut and screen and get people in the post and score inthere in other ways. I’ve always been a person who has believed inpressure defense; pushing the ball to get easy scores. You can’t winon this level by grinding it out on every possession. It’s like infootball, you can’t win by running every time you have it; you haveto mix up the run and the throw. We have to get some easy baskets.The flip of that is that we have to make sure we can rebound againstthe good big team. We have to make sure we don’t get eaten alive bythe big strong teams in the conference.
DC: You questioned your team’s toughness last year. What makes ateam tough?
SF: What that means is don’t let others intimidate you. Be acompetitor. That doesn’t mean trash talk, cheap shot or fight; itmeans you’re not going to get pushed around, physically or mentally.I believe you develop a toughness, both physically and mentally bydoing some of the things we’re trying to do with our guys.
DC: Last year Myron Epps played well inside but had troublehitting perimeter shots. Where does he fit in on this team?
SF: I think Myron should be a better player because he’s going tohave better players alongside him. That should relieve some of thestress and pressure. If he can consistently shoot the 12, 15, 18 feetbaskets and not have them bury him inside all of the time, he shouldbe much more effective inside with a smaller player guarding him.
DC: Do you think Epps is more of a small forward or power forward?
SF: He’s a guy who all his life has functioned best inside. Heneeds to change his mentality, saying I’m going to be a guy with ballskills, and can put it to the floor a little bit, slash and run. Hisstrength is his athleticism. He needs to use it to the fullest.
DC:Does it wear on you that you must go through exhausting measures topromote the team, in an attempt to boost attendance?
SF: I’m one who knows that the role of a head coach at this levelis more than just sitting at an office, with his door locked, lookingat tape. There’s more to it than that. Part of my responsibility isto be out and about, be a part of the community, to speak at theseevents. I think I’ve spoken at 75 different functions from April of1999 to June of 2000. I’m not bragging or complaining. That’s justpart of the process. I told the marketing department if you need me,let me know, and I’ll do things that will help, whether that be raisemoney, sell tickets or glad-hand.
DC: What type of fan do you think this program needs to attractmost?
SF: If I had my wish, we’d have a core base of 6,000 students thatwe could get for every game. That’s college basketball; young kidsdoing nutty things and enjoying the atmosphere. Then you blend in theprofessional group that is in the work world. I think the youngerkids help the older folks enjoy it more. We need to have both.
DC: USD is on the schedule for the third consecutive year. Is thatsomething you want to continue year-in-year-out?
SF: I hope so. That could be a wonderful community rivalry, wherewe fill both of the buildings. Hopefully they won’t say, ‘wellthey’re not good enough for us.’ They beat us bloody (73-45) lastyear. I didn’t like it. I wanted to leave at halftime. We weren’tcompetitive with them last year. But I think we’ll be this year.
DC: The MWC Tournament is in Las Vegas again this year and thefollowing year too. Do you think it should be rotated among thedifferent schools?
SF: I don’t know if rotation is the thing to do because our goalis to attract. We want to get a national audience. We want people tocome. Vegas has a good atmosphere. To some, the game might be asidebar. (San Diego) is a perfect place to have it. Ultimately, Ithink it’ll probably move around. If Vegas wins it every year, forsure it will move around.
