‘We have a get better 101. That is the ‘class’ that I teach about life every summer’: Buzz Williams speaks after charity softball game

“I am just trying to think of ways to include all of the families that come from out of state to Buzz’s Bunch camp in the morning. So many of the families that travel from Virginia and Wisconsin, they make a weekend of it. So (my wife) Corey and I were trying to think of a way to, instead of meeting every family individually – how can we all go to one place, include our players, and make it fun?

I thought this turned out a little better than I thought. Our players were a lot better players than I thought they would be. But they had fun. We appreciate the people who came. I do not know if this is something that we will keep doing, but it was a good first try for sure.”

“I could not believe (Solomon Washington) was as good as he was. Obviously a great athlete, but sometimes his hand-eye coordination in pickleball and some of the other things that we do as a team, it does not always translate. I could not believe he was as good as he was.

I knew Jace (Carter) would be good. I knew Henry (Coleman III) would be good. I knew (Wade Taylor IV) would be fast. (Tyrece Radford) just has such great ‘baha’ – he can kind of do anything with any ball. But Solo is the one who surprised me.”

“I am so private about my friends. I try not to post pictures and allow some of the blessings that I have been a part of to make it seem egotistical. Ernie and I have been friends for a long time. He and his wife have adopted multiple special needs children from many different countries.

Their youngest son was Michael. Michael and I were really good friends. Michael’s birthday was yesterday. He passed away a year and a half ago. Ernie is one of the best human beings that I have ever met. Obviously, I got to know him through (Charles Barkley), (Kenny Smith) and when I have done TNT. We have built a really good relationship. I thought it was really cool.”

“I say this to every team that we have had. This is the 17th year that we have done this. So I always tell them how it started. I always tell them it is the only thing that has my name on it. It is part of the legacy that Corey and I want to leave. I ask them to have great energy and to be friends to young boys and girls who may not ever be on a team, and they think this is their team. It speaks to the character of our guys.

There are three former players here this week. Zach LeDay, who played for us at Virginia Tech. Every staff member and every player who has ever been a part of our program has been a part of a Buzz Bunch weekend. It speaks to who our guys are and their character.”

“I think we have done a good job, the stuff, in regards to the NCAA allowing you to do different things because you are going on a trip. We thought through how to utilize the month of June – how to utilize the month of July with some creativity relative to the trip, not wearing our guys out, not making it seem like practice. But at the same time, laying some level of foundation of how we want to play on both ends.

And looking back on how we planned it, it could not have been any better. This week has been busy. Our guys are not in good cardio shape, and rightfully so. We do not want any soft tissue injuries from playing three games in four days. So we have practiced a little more this week, trying to get their wind.

We play FIBA rules. They have never played FIBA rules. We brought in officials this morning and played a half with FIBA rules just to get used to it. We have broken up the categories of, we do not want to teach them everything. We do not have time to teach them everything. So what can we teach them so that when we get back to work, that we can build from?

Obviously having a lot of returning helps, because they can teach Jace. They can teach Eli (Lawrence). That has been good. So we have balanced all of the things – not trying to over-coach, not trying to over-teach. But still having some level of structure. I think it has been good.”

“Part of our restructured summer has been – every other Tuesday, we have a get better 101. That is the ‘class’ that I teach about life every summer. And then every other Wednesday, we have done a team activity. So that has broken up the weeks.

We work on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday. Every other Wednesday, we go play paintball, we go play pickleball or do something fun. And then every other Tuesday, we try to do something specific to life. Any time you work together, there is some level of bond. But I think any time you can do things other than your work, it creates the relationships that you want to begin to build off the floor.

Our returning guys are really good people, as you know. Our staff has been brilliant in regards to being very, very thorough in making sure who we recruit, that their character, belief and the values that their parents and those around them, fit how we operate. And Jace and Eli – (freshman guard) Bryce (Lindsay) as well. Bryce has not been able to work. But they fit in very, very well.”

“It is interesting how all of that has taken place. Our trainer the first 10 years of my head coaching career is the director of sports medicine for the (Orlando) Magic. John Hammond, who (was) the GM of the Magic … he was the GM for the Milwaukee Bucks while I was the coach at Marquette. So some of that is what led to Dex with the Magic. Obviously, I know some of the important people with the Mavericks.

The NBA rules have changed a little bit. Their ability financially with G-League guys, the number of Exhibit 10 contracts that they have – so there is a little bit more recruiting going on in those positions than has ever happened in the NBA. And over the last couple weeks, that is what has happened with Dex.

“He should be there today. He is going to be there for five weeks training with their coaches, their staff in preparation for training camp and all of those things. So the stability of that chance for him going into that opportunity as an undrafted free agent rookie, you could not ask for more.

I do think that there is a high likelihood that it will be similar to Quenton Jackson – hey, if it is a fair opportunity, I will figure out a way to impact winning. I thought Dex was the swing vote for us in being 15-3 (in SEC play). Not to take anything away from anybody else.

But he did so many things that were not in the box score that impacted winning. I am cheering for him. But I also think he earns everything that comes his way. And if it is a fair opportunity, he is going to have a really good shot.”