NCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP: REGIONAL SEMIFINAL: CREIGHTON VS GONZAGA

March 28, 2021

Marcus Zegarowski

Hinkle Fieldhouse

Creighton Bluejays

Sweet 16 Postgame Media Conference

Gonzaga - 83, Creighton - 65

THE MODERATOR: We are joined by Marcus Zegarowski, and we'll begin the press conference.

Q. Hey, Marcus. When you experience what it's like to play against Gonzaga, what's different about preparing for them versus actually being on the floor and just seeing the pace and the way that they go about doing what they do?

MARCUS ZEGAROWSKI: Yeah, they play so fast and so efficient with everything they do. Like there's no lapses. Like you just can't take -- not even a play, you can't take a second off versus them, or else they're going to make you pay. It's tough to beat. That's what it comes down to. It's a tough team. It's one of the best teams I've ever played. But congrats to them.

Q. Marcus, was it disheartening to not see some shots foul? Not necessarily you in particular, but your team, you guys created some good looks in the first half, but it just didn't go down. You look at the scoreboard, and you're down ten at the half. Did that impact you guys at all?

MARCUS ZEGAROWSKI: I don't think so. The game is a make or miss game. We're going to miss shots. I think we're good enough to still miss shots and still win games, and we've shown that this year.

It's just, obviously, against a team like that, at this time of the tournament, the Sweet 16, you want to have some of the shots go -- all of us, including myself. It happens. Like I said, congrats to Gonzaga.

Q. Marcus, it's been a heck of a two-year run from you guys, going back to last year with the Big East championship in the regular season, then losing the tournament, you having a surgery, coming back this year, dealing with all the stuff you've dealt with, the pandemic and everything. Can you just kind of talk a little bit about what this two-year run has been like for you guys?

MARCUS ZEGAROWSKI: Yeah, it's been incredible. I'm just so proud of everybody on this team these past -- even guys who were on the team last year, they're a part of this. They're the reason why we're here as well. I'm just so proud of everybody. I think -- I mean, we played our hearts out.

I just want to say thanks to all the fans who just kept supporting us through tough times and through everything. Especially for me, for my injury, you guys just always helped me get through it. Just sorry we couldn't go further, but it is what it is. I'm happy for my teammates.

Q. Marcus, obviously, this season has been anything but normal from the regular season to the tournament. So when you look back on this year and your tournament experience, how will you kind of remember this season?

MARCUS ZEGAROWSKI: It was a grind, and like I said, I'm just so, so proud of everybody involved. It was such a tough year. We didn't miss a game. I think we're one of the only teams in the country to be able to do that. Guys were really on point, not only on the court, but off the court.

My competitive side will probably be pissed off because we lost, but that's life, you know. You're going to lose in life. Now what's the next step? It happens.

Q. Is there something you guys were trying to take away from Gonzaga that maybe freed up some of their three-point shooters for a lot of open shots there?

MARCUS ZEGAROWSKI: We noticed that they get a lot at the rim. All five of their players, they get easy lay-ups and easy baskets at the rim. We wanted to really pack the paint in and try to make them beat us by taking jump shots. They obviously hit shots. They got hot early and kind of kept that going.

A team like that, you've kind of got to -- you know, they just don't beat themselves. It's tough. It's hard to explain, but we just -- it was their night tonight. That's life. It was their day.

Q. Marcus, we know the future is uncertain, especially with what you guys just went through, but is there something in particular that you're going to -- or a few things that you're going to appreciate about this run and just the kind of way you guys finished the season out? I know it was a goal to make history, and you did that. So even though it hurts right now, is there something you're going to appreciate about what you guys were able to do?

MARCUS ZEGAROWSKI: Yeah, everything. I appreciate everything. We'd be in hotels for 20 hours of the day. We wouldn't go outside for a few days. It was a grind, but I wouldn't want to do it with any other group of guys. It was something I'll remember for the rest of my life, what we went through.

It was definitely hard on the mental, and it's something that none of us have ever experienced, but like I said, I wouldn't want to do it with any other group, yeah.

Q. Marcus, I know we're asking the questions, and you're being respectful and answering them, but it does seem that you've been able to sort of take it -- like kind of see the big picture. Like knowing you, I know how competitive you are and how much this loss stings, but yet you've been able to sort of appreciate sort of the long run, the long journey that you guys have been on together. Does that surprise you at all, just that ability to kind of like see the whole deal here in this moment where it's really painful and it stinks, obviously, to lose?

MARCUS ZEGAROWSKI: Yeah, I've come a long way when it comes to that. The old Marcus would have been crying over here probably, I don't know. Yeah, it's just something that Coach Mac has talked me through since I've been here, and just being around people who really -- who know -- who's been in my position -- my parents, my older brother. In life, you're going to lose. That's just what it comes down to. You'll probably fail more times than you succeed, but you can't succeed without failing. That's life.

The character of a man is how you bounce back from this. Everybody in the locker room wants to bounce back. Everyone's hurting, obviously. As a competitor, you lose, and you have that fire inside of you, but bigger picture, we had a season, and we got to playing in a great environment in front of our fans. Like I said before, my twin brother basically got his season cancelled, and he's had like three games, just exhibition games. They don't really count for anything. So how can I complain about the situation I'm in when he's going through something like that?

I'm just happy to be able to have a season, and to be able to make history during the season is something special and something that I'll never forget. I'm just so proud of everybody involved.

Q. Marcus, I know you have some important decisions ahead of you, but what did it mean to you personally to be able to represent Creighton and play for the Bluejays on this national stage and represent the university?

MARCUS ZEGAROWSKI: It's everything. It's just the best decision of my life to come to Creighton. It was a gutsy decision. I was so far from home and something different. It's a whole different lifestyle out here, different people, but I fell in love with it when I got here. It will always have a place in my heart. It's just family over here. Everybody in Omaha, it's my second home.

I wouldn't be the man or player today without this program. I love everybody here. I love Coach Mac, I love the whole staff, all the players that came through here. I'll always have love for it.