NCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP: FIRST ROUND - UCSB VS CREIGHTON

March 20, 2021

JaQuori McLaughlin

Lucas Oil Stadium - Unity Court (South)

UCSB Gauchos

Postgame Media Conference

Creighton 63, UC Santa Barbara 62

Q. I just want to talk about that last play where you were able to make the extra pass to Sow there. What were you seeing when they trapped you in that situation? Can you take us through that play?

JAQUORI MCLAUGHLIN: Yeah, I was looking to come off and shoot it but they were on me, double teaming me and Amadou was wide open. So I made the right pass right there, and he's money in the paint.

Q. Can you just kind of tell us how they were defending you early? You only took two shots in the first half because they put so much emphasis on you. Starting the game what was your attitude getting the extra pass and what adjustments did you make earlier when you had to get points for your team later on?

JAQUORI MCLAUGHLIN: Yeah, I think just early in the game, just doubling me off ball screens and things like that, being aggressive off cuts, so later in the game just being more aggressive when I'd catch the ball, one more pass things like that, coming off the screen, not just looking to pass. So just being more aggressive in the second half was my game plan.

Q. Kind of just describe this whole experience for you. I know the season didn't end the way you guys wanted it to, but you're AP All-American Honorable Mention, you guys made the tournament for the first time in a decade, won a Big West championship. Kind of describe what this senior year has been for you and your teammates.

JAQUORI MCLAUGHLIN: Yeah, it's been great for me, for my teammates. We started in the summer on Zooms on the tennis courts and we put a lot of work in as a team, so it was great to be able to get here. It didn't end like we wanted it to, but I love this team, and they're my brothers for life.

Q. Can you talk a little bit about your experience here in Indianapolis, what it's been like playing in this unique environment?

JAQUORI MCLAUGHLIN: Yeah, yeah, all in the same hotel, we've got our own rooms, things like that, kind of just been in the hotel the whole time. But it's been a great experience for me, my team, just being able to get here and share in this experience, and like I said, it didn't end the way we wanted to, but it was a great experience coming here.

Q. Can you talk about what it means to you in your senior season to have this kind of run, make it to the tournament and make such an impact on the future of the program at UC Santa Barbara?

JAQUORI MCLAUGHLIN: Yeah, it means a lot to me and my teammates, just all the work we put in to get here, and these were some of our goals that we had, and it just feels really great to be able to get to this point.