NCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP: REGIONAL SEMIFINAL: FLORIDA STATE VS MICHIGAN

March 28, 2021

Franz Wagner

Bankers Life Fieldhouse

Michigan Wolverines

Sweet 16 Postgame Media Conference

Michigan - 76, Florida State - 58

THE MODERATOR: Welcome to the NCAA March Madness post-game press conference featuring the University of Michigan here at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. We have Franz Wagner joining us.

Q. Hey, Franz, you guys had 50 points in the paint tonight. Can you talk about how you were able to get opportunities inside as well as set up your teammates?

FRANZ WAGNER: We knew coming in that they were going to switch a lot of ball screens and basically everything. So we tried to move the ball. I think a lot of times people get in trouble just holding the ball and dribbling the whole time. So I think we moved the ball pretty well and then attack close-outs.

Yeah, I think getting the ball inside, outside, and moving people on defense. I think that's how we got open and got able to drive them and then make plays from there.

Q. Hi, Franz. If you could give some insight into the preparation for this game, you know, what Coach has told you, maybe film study. It just seems like some things that maybe Florida State had an advantage in just weren't the case tonight.

FRANZ WAGNER: I think everyone knows, I think they're the tallest team in the country, so we know they press a lot. So that's one thing we kind of went over in practice a lot. And like I mentioned earlier, the switching and how we can attack those close-outs. Yeah, look at some weaknesses that they have on film. I think, like we always do, we analyze what the other team does and try to look how we can exploit it.

I mean, the scout team did a great job again. I think the coaches had a good game plan. I think everybody who played watch film, like they always do. We also talked about what to do when they read the post, when they front the post, and stuff like that. That's something they've seen all season with Hunter being so good down there. So those are probably the main things we talked about.

Q. Franz, after the last year of not having the tournament last year, how rewarding is it now to be in this position after the performance you did today to get closer to your ultimate goal?

FRANZ WAGNER: Yeah, I think it makes it that much cooler. Like every team in America, I think -- or in the world, this year was tough with COVID and having to test every day. Obviously, the last year being cut short. We wanted it that much more because of that, I think.

You've got to give credit to all the teams that made it this far, I think. That in itself is a great accomplishment to stay healthy and keep testing negative and stuff like that. I think this year has been extremely hard on everybody, especially mentally. Like I said, I think it makes it that much cooler to now be in the Elite Eight.

Q. Franz, did you make a concerted effort to attack more, attack the basket, even dishing out as well? With this team right now, it doesn't seem like we know who's going to lead the way on any given day. It can come from anybody at any given time. Is that the secret sauce to you guys right now?

FRANZ WAGNER: I think it's been all season, to be honest. Actually, without Isaiah, we have another weapon that's not out there, but I think we've seen all season that we have multiple guys that can score a lot of points. They're great shooters from the outside and a threat offensively.

For myself, I think I always try to attack the basket, be aggressive. But like I said, I think all that only happens when we move the ball and don't dribble too much. That's when really everything opens up.

Q. Hey, Franz, I know you have experience playing with older teams, based on your pro experience back home. I just wonder if you can kind of explain what it's like when it's older groups like that, and if this team's kind of collective age and experience is showing itself in this tournament run and navigating Isaiah's injury?

FRANZ WAGNER: Yeah, for sure. I mean, with experience, I think, there also comes confidence to kind of adjust to new situations. So I think with B. Johns, you can see that, I mean, from the first game, really, the Ohio State game, he played really well there and hasn't stopped since.

But that's kind of been our identity all year, that next-man-up mentality and being confident out there no matter what your role is. And I think being an older team, I think that shows in those games when maybe you give up a run or something like that and then you find a way to score a couple easy ones or get a couple important stops to then make a run of your own, I think. That mental toughness, I think, has been a challenge in this tournament especially, but it has been all season.

Q. Hey, Franz, talk about how you had five assists, and how are you guys able to move the ball so well against such a big team like FSU? 19 assists versus just 10 for FSU. How were you guys able to move the ball against such a big team?

FRANZ WAGNER: I mean, I like to give the coaching staff some credit. I think we made some good plays that really put us in good positions out there. I mean, like I said, we basically knew how they were going to play us all game with fronting the post and switching everything. So we kind of knew what to expect and did that in practice.

Then I think we did a really good job, like I said, of not allowing them to speed us up and dribble against the switch itself. That's how we got moving and got them to move and to adjust to us. And we attacked our close-outs. That's when they pressure so much and can attack the paint. That's how I got my assist today, and that's when good things happen for us.

Q. Franz, I was wondering, between the final seconds of the LSU game and tonight's game, what impressed you the most about Juwan's coaching and anything he taught you guys this past week?

FRANZ WAGNER: Just the way he can lock in on every single game. It's really easy to lock out during this week, or just in the hotel. I think he finds a good balance of making sure we're relaxed, but once the game starts, we're all ready to go.

Then I think the confidence part of it, before basically every game, he tells everybody to shoot even if we miss the last one. I think you can see that out there on the court that people are really confident out there and just confident and comfortable within their role out there.

Q. I just checked the Boston Celtics schedule. They're off Tuesday. Any chance your brother is going to show up?

FRANZ WAGNER: I'm not sure. I'm probably going to text him or call him later. I don't know how much time he has. He probably has some things to figure out with being traded and being in a new city and stuff like that. So I don't know yet.

Q. You mentioned that Brandon has stepped up right from the beginning, when he was starting in Isaiah's place, and yet he has a much different game from Isaiah's. Is it at this point where you guys are now feeling totally comfortable with Brandon in the starting lineup, in terms of knowing where he wants the ball, he knowing where you want to get the ball, and how you work on rebounds and double-teams and things?

FRANZ WAGNER: I mean, yeah, he's a different player, but we've been confident with Brandon at the four and starting at the four for us since that first game. We've been in this position before last year when Isaiah got hurt a couple times. I think everybody remembers the Rutgers game where he stepped up big time.

I mean, he's so talented. We always tell him that he can really be the best player out there when he steps on the court. So we have huge confidence in Brandon. I think he does too. You can see, he played a stellar game today, got some key offensive rebounds, and those little things, I think, are very important when you try to win the championship.

Q. On paper, this seemed like a difficult matchup for Mike against Florida State's height. How would you evaluate his performance today and his ability to bounce back from last game?

FRANZ WAGNER: I think Mike is so important out there every single game for us. He does so many good things offensively, just reading the game, putting every player in their best position out there. So he deserves more credit for that, I think, even when his own stats maybe don't show that.

We talked about it actually before the game. He's been counted out his whole life, so this is nothing new for him. I think he showed that chip on his shoulder is always there. I mean, yeah, I'm very confident with him at the point guard with every matchup that we have.

Q. Four Elite Eights for Michigan since 2013. Pretty safe to say you guys are a basketball school these days, isn't it?

FRANZ WAGNER: I mean, the basketball court has done a good job, a great job these last couple of years. I'm very confident in the football team. It's going to surprise a lot of people next year. I don't want to forget all the other sports too that have gone through these struggles that we have and don't get the same attention.

I think sports in general, the athletic department at Michigan, you can see how we make steps forward every single year, and that makes me really proud.