Fast Fox Facts

(*Note… that was a misleading blog title, but who can turn down a bit of alliteration on a Tuesday morning?)

I talked to Mark Fox a few days ago for a story that ran in today's Telegraph (more on that later today) but figured I'd pass along a few other notes of interest from our conversation...

The story in question was on how much the team was able to rejuvenate fan interest this year. I asked him if he thought his approach with fans this offseason at Bulldogs clubs, etc. might change now that the program has momentum...

"It's a different situation," he said. "We're a year in. We're still going to go out and try to garner more interest for our team and our program, but I think for us, we can still make progress and so we have to continue to work in every area to do that. … The message just this year will be that we're building forward. We've got a lot of things we want to accomplish and we need everybody's help to do it."

On recruiting, he said the wins the team had over Florida, Vandy and Tennessee this year were huge...

"I do think we have some quality wins that for recruits, they were able to see it. That's important because it shows the direction of the program, and that's helped us. But we have to continue that to create that message through those kinds of successes."

But almost as huge, he said, was the impact of Travis Leslie's dunks and Connor Nolte's blog...

"That plays a big role. That's been a part of it. Winning certainly has been the biggest part, but to have Travis on a top 10 or my trick shot on a top 10, we've had a lot of comments about that. Travis' plays have not only been on 'SportsCenter' but a lot of college basketball highlight shows. That's attention that has been good for us and our program. It's been good publicity, it's been national recognition, and that was very healthy for our team."

On the transfers of Drazen Zlovaric and DeMario Mayfield, and the impact that might have on recruiting...

"They're great kids and I don't think it was expected or unexpected, but it's something that would change our plans. It's not going to change what we're doing. It's just the right thing that will be healthy for those kids, and we wish them well."

And finally, on any progress on the decision making of Leslie and Trey Thompkins, with regards to their NBA futures...

"They're a ways away from that. The undergraduate committee from the NBA will provide feedback, and that won't happen until mid-April, so there's plenty of time left on that. The deadline to enter the draft if you want to isn't until like April 25, so there's plenty of time ahead of us before all that gets worked out."