Villanova's Collin Gillespie on adjusting to life without the NCAA tournament
The Wildcats guard spoke with Yahoo Sports' Krysten Peek and former UCLA & St. John’s coach Steve Lavin about going through March without the madness.
Video Transcript
[CHEERING]
KRYSTEN PEEK: I'm Krysten Peek here with former UCLA and St. John's head coach Steve Lavin. And we're joined by Villanova guard Collin Gillespie. Collin, thank you so much for joining us. I mean, it's March. You're supposed to be playing, and you're not. What is happening?
COLLIN GILLESPIE: Thank you for having me. I mean, a lots going on the past couple of days last week. That was tough for our guys because we worked hard all year. But we were just trying to stay positive. I mean, coach was trying to just keep our spirits up. This isn't just about us and playing games. It's about the safety and health of everyone.
KRYSTEN PEEK: What are you doing with all this free time now?
COLLIN GILLESPIE: I really haven't had a lot of time to really think about it. I kind of just been trying to get focused on school now, because that's been a difficult process adjusting to that, now, all online classes-- trying to still find a gym somewhere where I can work out at. I have my grade school and see if I can work out somewhere. I've been rewatching a lot of our games from this year I came home. My family has a DVR. So I've just been really just rewatching games.
STEVE LAVIN: Collin, shifting to basketball, what are some specific aspects that lead to this continued enhanced play, as players go through their career at Villanova?
COLLIN GILLESPIE: Yeah, I think that's part of the reason why I chose Villanova. I looked a few schools. But Villanova really jumped out at me because of their player development. You see guys' red shirt and then become big important pieces in the team.
I want to go somewhere where I could have guys in front of me to look up to, play in front of. I had Jalen my freshman year, Phil, my sophomore year, McHale, Dante, all those guys-- I really got to watch my freshman and sophomore year grow and learn from them. And then the coaches-- they're there for you. They help you get in extra work every day. And they're really huge on just developing your game and trying to become the best player that you can be by the end.
STEVE LAVIN: What led to this team gelling and having such a strong finish to get a piece of the big East championship along with Creighton and Seton Hall?
COLLIN GILLESPIE: We're a young team going in originally. But then I think we got more comfortable as the season went on playing with each other, communicating with each other while we're out there on the court. And I think as the season went on, we just got tighter as a group.
Things started getting easier for us, just communication on the defensive end, knowing where we were going to be at on the offensive end. So it was just getting easier playing each other. Guys who are playing with confidence.
KRYSTEN PEEK: Is there a game or is there a moment that sticks out to you as something that you'll always remember this junior year?
COLLIN GILLESPIE: I mean, the Kansas game was a really big game for us. I think that's where a lot of guys got our confidence. We knew we could play with anybody in the country. But I think towards the end of the big east when we went to Seton Hall, that was a crucial game for us. And then, I mean, the Georgetown game-- it kind of was out of our hands.
But after the game riding at home on the bus, we were watching Creighton and Seton Hall and just, we talked after that game was over. And we realized how far we've come since beginning the year. And to get a share of the East championship for the regular season was important for our guys. And it was special for our group.
STEVE LAVIN: As you know, Jay Wright has authored a book called "Attitude." And I know you guys have the bracelets that have Attitude. But in your words, what does the attitude mantra represent?
COLLIN GILLESPIE: What we're going through now is attitude. You have to deal with it, face it, and then try to move past it. And that's just-- that's what we talk about a lot that we're not-- this isn't-- we're just not learning basketball. We're learning how to be men and how to practice life situations and deal with life situations.
KRYSTEN PEEK: How excited are you about the season coming up?
COLLIN GILLESPIE: I'm excited for next season to be a senior, lead this group again, and try to make a run again.
KRYSTEN PEEK: Collin, I appreciate the time. Thank you so much for joining us on Yahoo Sports.
COLLIN GILLESPIE: Thank you guys for having me.
