Ray McCallum Chat Wrap

Nov. 16, 2001

Ray McCallum: Good afternoon everyone. I am sorry that I was unavoidably detained, but I am here to answer your questions.

Brian(Minneapolis): Do you think you have a realistic chance at the Conf-USA title by going against Memphis, Louisville and Cinncinnati?

Ray McCallum: Where we are as a program is that we have to focus on our team and to continue to get better. Last year, we began that process by getting six wins. We want to continue improving each and every year. This year we begin the season with eight scholarship players and Kevin Gaines will join in mid-December to give us nine. Memphis and Cincinnati are worthy of their preseason rankings. Every year we begin the season with the goal of becoming a champion. We will work very hard to achieve that goal each and every year.

Brian Cuff (Houston): How much of an impact do you think transfer Kevin Gaines will have on the program? I also want to know your expectations on the upcoming season?

Ray McCallum: Kevin has already a tremendous impact on our program. He was a highly touted prospect out of high school and one of the top freshmen in the Big 10. He is a tremendous competitor and has a great desire to succeed. This is an ingredient we needed in our program.
As I stated earlier, we want to play hard every night and I feel that will give us a chance to be in ball games. We want to play together and play the game the way it's supposed to be played.

Brandon Cunningham (Houston): First of all I would like to say keep up the good work you are doing to get this program going in the right direction!My question is, what is it going to atke to get this team to a winning season and maybe get into some kind of post season play?

Ray McCallum: We are on the right track with what we are doing internally with the program in terms of academics, weight training and conditioning and the demands we put on them in practice. The process is in motion. I feel that if the kids stay with the program, our goals of postseason will occur.

Selwyn Drain (Princeton, NJ):: Ray, I am proud of your accomplishments since graduating from BSU. Being a former class of '83 Cardinal, I have followed your career through the media. I will be relocating to Houston in late November and look forward to supporting the program. What do you feel will be the teams greatest challenge this season?

Ray McCallum: Our greatest challenge is keeping the players focused on the big picture as we go through a tough schedule this year. We want to continue improving our program by staying positive and continually to work. As you know that is what I believe in.

Barry Milner: Hi Ray: Memphis's Freshman guard is already attracting alot of attention and seemingly will be an impact player. With the signings you announced yesterday, it appears we may have our own to brag about. Could you compare the two guards?

Ray McCallum: Cedric Hensley is a very explosive athlete like Wagner. They scored over 100 points last year. Cedric is a great competitor who finds a way to win games. We are very pleased that he will be a Houston Cougar. Our fans will enjoy watching him develop during the next four years.

Stealthcougar: Coach. How do you feel the program is being received by the current crop of high school players in Texas? Do you feel that playing in CUSA is an advantage or disadvantage in recruiting this area? Thanks, and good luck to the basketball Coogs!

Ray McCallum: It is a real positive being in Conference USA. When you have a Top 10 program like Cincinnati year in-year out. We have high profile coaches coming into the league and we had six players drafted last summer by the NBA. It is a very good basketball conference.
The current high school coaches and players have been outstanding with our staff. We have had the opportunity to meet with every top player in the area. They know who we are and the goals of where we want to go as a program. I think it showed in this year's coaching staff. We received great support from the coaches this year.

ExCoog37: Coach,

What kind of year do you expect out of team leader George Williams, and how do the Cougars stack up against the rest of C-USA?

Ray McCallum: George is our team captain. We are counting on him being our leader. I always believe that your forming years are your junior and senior years. As a junior, I expect him to be one of the top performers in Conference USA.

Steven (Galveston): How well are we doing in recruiting, i.e. how well are we competing with other Texas schools, like UT and A&M, for top talent?

Ray McCallum: We have a great start to this recruiting class. We signed two of the most talented players in the Houston area and the state of Texas yesterday.

princeton tiger: How many more players do you plan to sign this year? What positions or needs to you look to fill with your remaining scholarships?

Thanks for answering.

Ray McCallum: We want to sign a couple of big players for our frontline this year.

ptown tiger: How does this year's team stack up against last year's squad? How about with your best from ball st?

Ray McCallum: Without Alton Ford, we don't have a player who can take up a lot of space on the floor. We are a quicker team this year and that should make us a better team in transition. We are a better passing team and I think we will be able to move the ball better.

Aaron Burns from Valdese,NC: What was your overall opinion of Bonzi Wells?

Ray McCallum: Bonzie Wells is an outstanding player and what I do know about him is that he is a tremendous competitor. He is showing that every night in the NBA.

Aaron Burns: What players on the team are role models?

Ray McCallum: Andre Owens, who is sitting out this year as a transfer from Indiana, is a tremendous competitor. He has one of the best work ethics I have ever been around and he takes care of his business in the classroom.

Aaron: Who is the greatest athlete you've ever coached?

Ray McCallum: The greatest athletes are Bonzie Wells and Michael Finley.

Aaron Burns: What is your proudest moment?

Ray McCallum: When we won our first championship in my second year at Ball State. We were placed on probation that October and limited in scholarship players. We went on to upset Miami-Ohio in the semifinals of the MAC Tournament and went on to win the conference championship.

Ben (Birmingham,MI): Coach, where is Kevin Gaines? I know he transfered there after his 1st year at Michigan. Is he in some more trouble or is he out with an injury? Whats up?

Ray McCallum: Kevin is a four year transfer who will become eligible in December.

Jeff (Leawood): What do you look for while recurting a player?

Ray McCallum: First, we evaluate the talent and his basketball skills, speed and quickness, size and his academic background. We also look at his character, his goals for his life and how he wants to achieve those goals. Then, we try to make the decision if he fits in well with our program. We want a player who feels that his family is important because we are bringing them into our family. We also want a player who works hard with his academics and want to be the best he can be.

Aaron Burns from Valdese,NC: As the UH head coach, do you lean the offense toward running, or halfcourt sets?

Ray McCallum: We want to run, but if the break is not there, we have to run our sets effectively. I would like to get to the point where we don't have to run a lot of sets.

chicago: can you honestly say anything has equaled your days of high school basketball in indiana ?

Ray McCallum: That is tough to top. Obviously, it was great to be a part of two state championship teams. That was a thrill.

Aaron: Who is the best athlete ever at UH?

Ray McCallum: Elvin Hayes.

grand rapids, mi: From your cousin Rosevelt and his family..Good luck and best wishes for a winnig 2001 season. We know you can do and we'll be watching against UCLA on the 19th

Ray McCallum: Thanks for the support. We really appreciate it. We are looking forward toward the opportunity and experience. UCLA is definitely worthy of their top five ranking and presents a major challenge for us.

Matt K (Muncie): Describe your emotions if you would face Ball State in the Maui tournament?

Ray McCallum: It will be a very difficult and emotional challenge for me because of the special feelings I have for the university, coaches and a special group of players.

eastern PA: What is one of your teamm goals this season?

Ray McCallum: Our teams every year are to win a championship.

Ryan(Janesville,Wi): Hi. Do you think you will have the same perceptive with the style of play as you did in Ball St. and now in Houston.

Ray McCallum: It's going to take time. We need to get some more players here to improve our depth so that we can play the style we like.

Bill: What type of relationship do you have with Guy Lewis and his old players?

Ray McCallum: We have a great relationship with Coach Lewis. I talked with him an hour and a half ago. He attends every game. Former players have been great and we are working hard to make them a part of the program. We are having a Lettermen's Day here on January 26 when we play Memphis.

Eric Rohloff - New Jersey: What are your personal goals for the season and what is the best thing about being a Coach at Houston? thanks

Ray McCallum: I liked the challenge of getting the program going after being on the bottom. I want to see us improve by going against the best teams every night.
As far as this year, we would like to build off of last year when we won four out of our last six Conference USA games down the stretch. I want us to keep improving and hopefully, compete for a championship someday.

Aaron(NC): Ray, Do you think UNCC will be tough without White?

Ray McCallum: Absolutely. They have one of the top perimeter shooters in Joby Thomas, an outstanding coach in Bobby Lutz and outstanding depth.

Aaron: What are your favorite ice-cream flavors?

Ray McCallum: I have been heavy on the Blue Bell vanilla lately.

aaron: how many players are we going to sign this year Coach?

Ray McCallum: We signed two yesterday and would like to sign five this season.

Aaron Burns from Valdese,NC: What players at the pro level have you coached?

Ray McCallum: The two most notable NBA players I coached are Michael Finley and Bonzie Wells. Of course, we also coached Alton Ford last year at Houston.

Ray McCallum: Thanks everyone for the interesting questions. I have to run to practice. We look forward to hearing from you later this season. Go Cougars.

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