SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE MEN'S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT

March 13, 2021

Santiago Vescovi

Tennessee Volunteers

Postgame Press Conference

Alabama 73, Tennessee 68

THE MODERATOR: We are going to start with Santiago.

Q. You were cruising there for 23 minutes, then a lot of turnovers. What happened?

SANTIAGO VESCOVI: I think we just had a lot of mistakes. They started pressing a lot in their pressure, got into our heads. Took us away from our games.

Q. In the first half when you really got off to the good start, what was the key to your offensive success? Did Alabama do anything defensively in the second half that caused struggles down the stretch?

SANTIAGO VESCOVI: Yeah, I mean, on the first half I think we ran the court a lot, just attacking every time in transition. That's what made us get, like, a lead. We were just attacking every time, going fast. I think we didn't do that much the second half. That's what cost us a little bit of juice, going downwards every time. They also stepped up the pressure. I think that's what happened.

Q. On the final possession, what were you all looking for trying to tie the game up?

SANTIAGO VESCOVI: I mean, we were looking for a three, so we had a lot of time. We were not trying to rush a three. I mean, the main thing was me coming off and trying to get a shot off. But I just felt the guy was right behind me. Then we just tried to play it. Y'all know what happened.

Q. What do you think you can take away from this? If there's one thing you could improve or fix before the NCAA tournament starts, what would it be?

SANTIAGO VESCOVI: The main takeaway from this tournament, positive thing, is that we are a really good team. We actually play as a team, we care about each other, we have each other's back.

If we had to learn something, I would say how to handle when the other team's pressure steps up. Just try to be more consistent in terms of running the court every single time.

Q. Everyone knows basketball is a game of runs, the other team is going to make runs during a game. There have been so many times this season where y'all have those six-minute stretches where it's turnover after turnover, no points. What do you have to do to prevent that from happening going forward?

SANTIAGO VESCOVI: Personally I just think we got to be more precise in terms of passing the ball and being more smart. Me personally, I think I got to do a lot better job on that.

I just think we got to be more smart, more precise on the passes. Just don't block out whenever they pressing.

Q. It's obviously a situation that Davonte hasn't been in much in his Tennessee career. What was the message to him?

SANTIAGO VESCOVI: Like coach said in the locker room, I think he did a great job. He did more than enough on the court I think in that position that he got in. He forced a turnover, then he got fouled. I mean, free throws, just part of the game.

But we would have never gotten to that point if he wasn't on the court. I really got to give him credit for that.

Q. You got a lot of good minutes from Uros in the last two days. How much do you think the way he's playing right now could potentially help you in the NCAA tournament?

SANTIAGO VESCOVI: Yeah, definitely he helps us a lot. Losing John also, I think having Uros and also having Olivier come from the bench having more minutes, I think they're doing a great job. They've been impacting the game in the right way. I think that's going to give us a lot of potential in the future from now on the NCAA tournament coming. I think we're just going to need everybody on the team. That's going to be a huge part.