Before Eric Paschall was drafted by the Warriors, he spent the final three of his collegiate seasons at Villanova University.
Prior to joining NBC Sports Bay Area as a Warriors analyst, Chris Mullin served as head men's basketball coach at St. John's University -- his alma mater -- for four years, the last three of which coincided with Paschall's in the same Big East conference.
So, when Paschall tallied a career-high 34 points -- he was initially credited with 36 -- and 13 rebounds to lead Golden State to its first home win of the season over the Trail Blazers on Monday night, Mullin wasn't all that surprised. In fact, due to their head-to-head experience in college, it was quite the opposite.
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SIGN UP HERE "When we played you and you drove, we had five guys hanging on you," Mullin said to Paschall on the set of Warriors Postgame Live following the win over Portland.
It was the third time in four games that Paschall scored at least 20 points, and he's now shot better than 50 percent from the field in every game thus far. The rookie has been able to take advantage of a major change going from college to the pros.
"This NBA spacing, I love it, man," Paschall said with a big smile. "In college, getting double, triple-teamed, and now it's just a whole bunch of space out here. I love it.
"Coach Kerr has been doing a great job just giving me that confidence to go play my game. We have a great young group of guys that's just been doing a hell of a job just competing, man. To go out and beat a team like this, that's special for our young group of guys."
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Paschall's 34 points weren't just an NBA career-high -- he never scored that many points in college, either.
"31," Paschall responded to Mullin when asked his collegiate career-high, "and it was against a D-II team."
Mullin clearly knew it didn't come against St. John's.
"You know what? I feel a little bit better as a coach," he said. "You didn't get 36 against us."
NBC Sports Bay Area's Garry St. Jean then reminded Paschall of Mullin's coaching strategy against him. "Mully said when he played you guys, five guys with a foot in the paint. Give up the jump shot."
"See, but I hit a 3-ball against them," Paschall reminded. "I had 25 against them."
"Not 36," Mullin quipped.
[RELATED: Steph flexes after Paschall, Warriors grab first Chase win]
Jokes aside, you can bet Mullin enjoyed watching Paschall dominate for his former squad, rather than against it.
