Gene Keady Takes On The NBDL
November 13, 2003 - NBA G League (G League) News Release
NEW YORK, November 13, 2003 -- The NBDL is sending its teams to barnstorm some of the nation's best collegiate basketball programs. Over a span of 10 days starting Friday, six NBDL teams will play preseason exhibition games against seven teams from five of the top college basketball conferences in the country. Recently, Purdue coach Gene Keady, whose Boilermakers face the Hunstville Flight on Nov. 18, chatted with NBA News.
Q: How did it come about that your team would take on an NBDL team?
Keady: We were looking to play a team that would give us a lot of competition prior to the start of our season, and we felt like this development team would be that type of team. Mateen Cleaves is on it, Ken Johnson from Ohio State, Erick Barkley from St. John's, and I know that have more guys on that team that will give us all we want. We had some trouble getting good competition in our exhibition games the last few years, so we just felt like this would be the best we could get.
Q: Being that you're familiar with some of the guys on the Hunstville team, how will you handle game preparation?
Keady: It's going to be hard to scout them, because we're the only team they will have played. What I know from my previous experiences coaching against some of their players is that they were really hard to handle. We hope we can stay in the game and do some positive things that will help our overall confidence.
Q: What do you think of the concept of having college teams face off against the NBDL?
Keady: I think it's good, because it's going to show our kids what it takes to get to that level. Most players think they're better than they are, and now they'll get an idea what it's really like. That should be a good experience for them, and just the overall competition should really help us.
Q: Have you followed the NBDL over the first two years of existence?
Keady: A little bit on television. I know a lot of the players. I was one of the guys that always helped picked the All-Star teams at the Final Four, the NABC games. I used to manage that and pick the players. I've seen a lot of these players play quite a bit over the years, so I know they're good players.
Q: What do you think of the NBDL in general?
Keady: I think it's a great concept, to have these kids develop and see what they need to do to get the NBA. Not all of them are ready for the next level when they leave college, and this is a chance for them to continuing playing the game and working towards a goal.
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NBA G League Stories from November 13, 2003
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- Wizards Announce First CBA-NBA Call-Up of the Season - Dakota Wizards
- Gene Keady Takes On The NBDL - G League
- Flight Makes First Training Camp Cuts - Huntsville Flight
- Lowgators Release Four - Charleston Lowgators
- NBDL College Tour Cranks Up Friday - G League
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