August 21, 2014

Head men's basketball coach Steve Payne reflects on trip to Dominican Republic

Back from a over a week abroad in the Dominican Republic, head men's basketball coach Steve Payne barely had a chance to catch up on some much-need sleep before we asked him to recap the Golden Eagles' summer trip.

By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information Coordinator

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Back from a over a week abroad in the Dominican Republic, Tennessee Tech head men's basketball coach Steve Payne barely had a chance to catch up on some much-need sleep before we asked him to recap the Golden Eagles' summer trip.

Here were his first thoughts:

I think the first thing that stands out in everybody's mind is just how well our guys adjusted to leaving behind some of the everyday comforts they are used to.

We designed the trip to be a nice trip, but also to have some struggles early with our schedule, where we stayed, and with our travel. We wanted to use this to test our guys with their mental focus and toughness, and I thought they came through with flying colors.

It's not easy going to a foreign country and leaving behind all the comforts you're accustomed to. We had no air conditioning for three nights in one big dorm. There was no wifi most of the places we went. It was entertaining to see the guys all flock to a hot spot when wifi became available so they could check their social media.

We just got to grow together as a team, and that was the big thing. We really learned how to communicate with each other, both on and off the court. We get so distracted with all of our comforts back here, but there we just got to know each other so well. That's the first thing that stands out.

Going into the games we wanted to see how our young guards would perform against good teams, strong pressure, some physical contact and some quickness. I thought both Shirmane Thomas and DeOndre Haynes had very good trips. Jordan Johnson started a bunch for us last year and we expect a lot from him this year. Josiah Moore played particulary well until he came down with a small injury. Our three freshman guards, Savonte Frazier, Aleksa Jugovic and Josh Bougher, played up-and-down. They had some good moments and some bad moments, which is to be expected from freshmen.

The next part of our game we wanted to see was how our post guys would react without having a couple of guys available. We had just Charles Jackson, Anthony Morse, and Mason Ramsey with us and both Charles and Mason were seeing their first Division I action. I thought all three of those guys really gave us some bright spots. I was really pleased with the performance from them.

We learned a lot about ourselves while we were down there. We still have a long way to go execution-wise, which is to be expected in August. Defensively we're not near where we'll be during the season, but there were just some huge bright spots that we saw as far as basketball goes.

One of the things we kept stressing on the trip and to the guys was that it wasn't about how they felt. This trip was about other people. We asked them what our purpose was down there and we told them we were there to serve others first. And then the second thing was to grow as a team.

I don't think Tennessee Tech could have asked for better representatives than those guys with how they performed and acted. I was truly pleased with them.

We went to a place called 'the Hole,' which is one of the tougher places to live. When our guys got there, you would have thought Michael Jordan pulled up. The kids rushed the bus and were so excited to see our team. Our guys were carrying kids around and playing with them. We then went to a feeding station and our guys helped serve the community the one hot meal they get each day. The interaction between our guys and the people from the community was just really special to see and experience.

We also went to a different neighborhood and put together a small basketball camp with the community. Our guys really looked to be in their comfort zone when we did that.

I'm really happy and proud of who our guys are as people and with how seriously we take the responsibility of being from Tennessee Tech and representing the Upper Cumberland area and the state of Tennessee. I thought they did a phenomenal job on this trip and can't wait to really start grinding and getting ready for the season.

Take a look at some photos from the trip:

Freshman guard Aleksa Jugovic gives one of the children a lift.