BIG EAST CONFERENCE MEN'S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT

March 11, 2021

Marcus Zegarowski

Creighton Bluejays

Madison Square Garden

Postgame Media Conference

Creighton - 87, Butler - 56

THE MODERATOR: Questions for Marcus Zegarowski.

Q. Chuck Harris has been hot the last -- down the stretch of the season here and last night against you guys. What was the game plan defensively to slow him down and break his rhythm?

MARCUS ZEGAROWSKI: I thought Denzel and Reef (phonetic) did a great job on them but I thought our boxing defense was good for him. We were going to Jimmer him, meaning bring our big guy out and stay until he picks it up. I thought Christian and Ryan did a great job making it tough for him as well as Reef and Denzel. But it was a great effort for us on both ends of the floor.

Q. You put up 93 points against them in Omaha. I am sure you knew they were going to make adjustments. How did you try to tweak your game at all or did you in terms of getting ready to play them again five days later?

MARCUS ZEGAROWSKI: Our coaching staff does a great job telling us how they're going to guard us, whether they're going to switch. Whether they're going to hedge the screen or just try and drag it out.

We had a game plan for all three of those and we just have a lot of unselfish guys who make the simple easy read tonight. That's what we did tonight and that's what we need to do moving forward.

Q. Curious about that start, 23-7 to begin the game. Why were you guys so good out of the gate?

MARCUS ZEGAROWSKI: I think everyone in that locker room was really hungry to get going, play in one of the greatest arenas in the world. And I just think we had some juice going. That's what we've got to do going forward. It's March. Having that mentality early on and then it carries throughout the game, for sure.

Q. I don't know if you know this but in your last three games against Butler you're 16-for-19 from behind the arc. What is it about playing against Butler that just breaks out the best in you from 3-point land?

MARCUS ZEGAROWSKI: I just think my teammates do a great job of finding me when I'm open. And I think Coach calls great sets for me to get separation from the person guarding me. And just, like I said, playing with a lot of unselfish guys who just make the right play every single time down the floor.

And sometimes it's going to be my night. Sometimes it's going to be Mitch's night. Sometimes it's Denzel. That's just the way our offense is. And it's really fun to play like that.

Q. Obviously we can't go into exact details of what's been going on this week, but I've got to ask, what makes Coach McDermott an elite coach in this conference?

MARCUS ZEGAROWSKI: He's not only a great coach; he's a great person to have in your corner, great role model for all of our guys. He cares about basketball, but he really cares about me and my teammates off the court. He cares about how we're doing in school. He keeps in contact with our families. He's just a great mentor to have, just a great coach. There's nothing else to it.

He's a great coach on the floor. Someone he'll be in my corner the rest of my life. And it's great to have him on our sideline. I feel really good when he's out there running the show.