CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – With his first game at the helm of the University of Evansville men's basketball program just hours away, head coach Walter McCarty reflected on the excitement surrounding his program along with the winding road that began and would later lead back to Evansville, Indiana.
 
The native of Evansville embarked on his basketball career in 1993, heading to the Lexington, Ky. to play for the University of Kentucky.  Following an NBA career that saw him spend time with the New York Knicks, Boston Celtics, Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Clippers, McCarty began his coaching career.  Following a stint as an assistant at the University of Louisville, McCarty worked on the staffs of the Indiana Pacers and Boston Celtics before coming home.
 
Following over seven months on the job, McCarty is ready to roll.
 
"I am looking forward to it and am excited on what we have done so far as a team.  I feel confident in what we are trying to do," he said.  "It is not just me, I have an excellent staff with Todd Lickliter, Matthew Graves, Terrence Commodore and Logan Baumann.  I feel really good because we have prepared very well." 
 
"Now it is about going in there and executing the things we know we are good at.  If we can do that, stay the course and do the things we are capable of, I feel good about what we will accomplish."
 
Anyone who has ever been around Coach McCarty knows the energy and charisma that he brings into every room that he steps into.  It was that personality which almost led him on a different road after his NBA career was complete.
 
"In my playing career, I never really thought about being a coach," McCarty explained.  "The first time I gave it a lot of thought was when I took the job at the University of Louisville.  I was getting ready to get into TV, I was just a few days from signing a contract."
 
"I was like "you know what, I'm going to try it"; I flew in and checked it out for a few days and decided that this was the way to go," he said.  "Developing relationships with our players and seeing the impact you can have on them told me this is what I want to do."
 
McCarty has been around some of the best to ever coach the game of basketball.  He spent extensive time with Rick Pitino, Jim O'Brien and Brad Stevens while also gaining valuable knowledge while playing for others including Jeff Van Gundy and Mike Dunleavy.
 
"On the floor, I am just myself.  I have taken a lot from each coach, whether that be offensively or defensively," McCarty pointed out.  "I think I have really touched on all of those guys with the things we are doing here.  Even Jeff van Gundy; Mike Dunleavy when I played for him.  I have learned something from all of these guys."
 
"Obviously being with Brad (Stevens) for the last 5+ years, there is a lot that is reflected on how his teams play, practice and watch film."
With the wealth of experience and knowledge, McCarty detailed his primary goals each time his team steps on the hardwood.
 
"We want to be able to score the basketball and have more possessions than the other team.  We want to play fast and take the first good shot available," McCarty exclaimed.  "We want to come down, get in our action and make teams really have to guard us.  We want to have a lot of possessions and have a balanced attack where our guys all of our guys are scoring 10-15 points per game."
 
"If we can do those things, we will be successful."
 
At 7 p.m. tonight, McCarty, his staff and his squad will be ready for the challenge.
 

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