NCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP: SECOND ROUND - RUTGERS VS HOUSTON

March 21, 2021

DeJon Jarreau

Lucas Oil Stadium Unity (South)

Houston Cougars

Postgame Media Conference

Houston 63, Rutgers 60

THE MODERATOR: We are joined by DeJon. We'll take questions.

Q. Can you tell me, describe how bad you wanted this? How does the hip feel right now?

DEJON JARREAU: I can't even tell you how bad I wanted it. It's just a will to win, will not to go home. I been through so much, with myself and with this team, with this crazy year we been through with COVID, not having fans, with all the pauses. Man, just everything.

My hip hurt so bad. I just ain't want to go home. I told Coach Sam put me back in. I just did what I had to do to try to help my team get this win. Shout-out to my team for having my back.

Q. How do you think you were able to stay in the game? You were down almost the entire second half. Describe the team's mentality.

DEJON JARREAU: Just our culture. Coach Sampson did a great job building this culture we have here with toughness, just a will, just to find a way to win. Everything leading up to this point from June, the hard practices, the film sessions, all the sprints, that's what we do it for, we do it for March. I'm happy it's paying off.

Q. Was there any way you were coming out of that game? Watching on TV, it was clear that you were going to play and try to finish that game and win that game no matter what it took to you and your body.

DEJON JARREAU: There was no way I was coming out the game. Coach Sampson kept asking me, was I all right, am I okay. Inside I wasn't okay, but I just wanted to win so bad. I don't want it to end that way. I love this team. We so close-knitted. We a family. I just didn't want to let these guys down. It's my last year playing with this group.

Man, just like I said, a will to win. Shout-out to our training crew for helping me get back within two days. That was incredible, from yesterday to today, all day getting treatment, getting treatment. My hip was the best it was to play the game. I was happy I was able to finish it, grind it out and get the win.

Q. When you saw Tramon fly in for the offensive rebound, what is going through your mind? What does it say about him?

DEJON JARREAU: Tramon, he a warrior. That's actually my roommate when we on road games. Me and him always talk, just talk about the game, just talk about life. That's my little brother. Just seeing him fly in, get that rebound, make the free throw, the and one, shows his toughness, how important he is to this team.

Man, that was a culture play, culture play, toughness play. Happy he was the one to do it. It paid off for him. He been through so much this season. Just to see him just come in and fly and get the offensive rebound, that's just stuff we work on. I'm happy the stuff we work on is coming out in the games.

Q. We talked to you the other day about what was your biggest win. Back then it was your biggest win. Where is this one now?

DEJON JARREAU: It's No. 1. This is crazy. Man, best game I done played. Credit to Rutgers, they played hard, made shots. Great school. But culture win games. We just showed how great our culture is, how great this team is, how many weapons we have. Marcus was off today. Tramon stepped up again.

Man, it just shows all the work that we have put in, it show in March. Just the best days for you to succeed. Man, just shout-out to this team for fighting, finding a way to win. Like I say, we found a way to win.

Q. Can you take us into the huddle when you were down nine. I believe there was four-something left in the game. You haven't been in this position a lot this year. What were you thinking? How were you able to get back into it?

DEJON JARREAU: We never thought the game was over. Credit to Coach Sampson for being in our ear, just telling us we're one stop away, as soon as we do this or do that, we'll be this close. That gave us confidence when you have a coach like that. Man, Coach Sampson, just a great coach. He gives us confidence.

I try my best along with the seniors to give the young guys confidence because it's never over till it's over. Anything can happen, especially in March.

A will to win. Came together. That just shows how close we are, how much we love each other. We don't want it to end so soon. Like I say, it's all about the culture. Houston has a great culture.

Q. How much do you feel your presence on the court playing hurt inspired your teammates down the stretch?

DEJON JARREAU: Man, I know that just raised my respect level way more. Those guys respect me so much. They love me. I know me doing that, that just raised the bar just a little more.

I told them I wasn't coming out the game. I told them this wasn't my last game, that's all I kept saying in the huddle. Even when I came out, this not our last game. Each one of them looking at me like, We got you, this is not our last game, man.

I'm a warrior. I wasn't going to go out like that, even if we did lose. I was going to lose with me being on that court giving my best with my teammates. I'm happy the outcome was different, we was able to get the win.

I love this team. Man, culture.

Q. Towards the final play, it seemed like Rutgers kept trying to switch off and attack you on defense. How did you react to that? How did you attack them whenever they would do that?

DEJON JARREAU: You know, just trusting my defense, trying to sit down, even if my hip was hurt, I trust my defense, trust my feet. They kept going at me. Marcus kept asking me do I want to switch. I'm like, Bro, we have to switch. Something bad will happen when you don't communicate, when you don't trust in yourself. I just believed in myself, tried not to think about my hip, just tried to play the game. Whatever happens happens.

That last play, I actually get subbed out, it was hurting so bad. That goes to show you the depth of this team. I told Coach Sampson put Jamal Shead in. He got in, gave us great minutes, played a great defensive possession. We were able to will ourselves to this win. Shout-out to the team.

THE MODERATOR: Thank you.