NCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP: REGIONAL SEMIFINAL: OREGON VS USC

March 28, 2021

Isaiah White

Bankers Life Fieldhouse

USC Trojans

Sweet 16 Postgame Media Conference

USC - 82, Oregon - 68

THE MODERATOR: We're joined by Isaiah White.

Q. As well as you guys are playing right now, how confident are you that you guys cannot only play with Gonzaga but beat Gonzaga in the next round?

ISAIAH WHITE: I don't know about what everyone else is saying. All I know is that this team is special. And we believe we can beat anybody. So we're going to play our game. We're going to listen to what the game plan is and we're going to execute.

Q. When did you know that you were really in a zone tonight and the ball was going to go in?

ISAIAH WHITE: Probably after the and-one, after the and-one, I get to screaming and feeling myself then I knew it was going to be a good game.

Q. When this team came together so quickly during the offseason, what is it about this team that it was able to really come together despite all the different new parts and reach the Elite Eight?

ISAIAH WHITE: I'm not sure. Probably just how everyone doubted us. Once we found out that we were ranked or they had us at, like, sixth in the Pac-12, I think we came together just to prove everyone wrong. I think when everyone doubted us, I think we really latched on to each other and grinded it.

Q. Through this tournament, against Drake and Kansas, you held them to 29 percent from the field. Oregon was only a little bit better at 34 percent. What has it been about your guys' length and defensive effort that's really turned up over these last few games?

ISAIAH WHITE: The energy of March Madness, the crowd. We know what's at stake. It's do or die. So everyone is just going out there laying it all out on the floor.

Q. When you made a decision to transfer to USC, what did you realistic think the season would become for you and the team?

ISAIAH WHITE: I wasn't sure. I just knew that we had talent coming in, we had Evan Mobley and a couple of grad transfers. I knew we had winners on the squad from last year. I knew Coach Andy and the coaching staff were a good coaching staff. I was just excited and I was ready to learn.

Q. Seemed like the other guys were anxious early in the game. Did you feel like you needed to take it upon yourself early when you got a couple of those baskets to go?

ISAIAH WHITE: Of course, when we start off the game I feel like the team feeds off my energy. So I make sure out the gate I come with that energy and come with that heart. And hopefully it makes everyone else comfortable. Then we just get to playing our game.

Q. What does it mean for this program to be able to get to this stage?

ISAIAH WHITE: It means a lot. We were overlooked a lot. I know it's been a minute since the USC program has gotten to the Elite Eight. So we're making history. And it just means a lot to this program. And as a team we're just super excited and we worked for this. So I'm glad that it's paying off.

Q. After you hit the go-ahead 3 in the first half, looked like you turned and looked at the Oregon bench. What kind of message were you trying to send with your first-half play?

ISAIAH WHITE: That we just weren't backing down. We came out kind of flat. And they were kind of leaving us open or leaving certain people open. And we just weren't -- I just wanted to let them know that we weren't letting down. We were going to come at whoever and we were going to keep battling. That's what we did.

Q. I know it just happened and you're in the moment, do you have any immediate perspective on just what this means to you personally in the big picture. This is the moment you're always going to have the rest of your life.

ISAIAH WHITE: Yeah, I don't know. I'm just living in the moment. I'm not sure. I can't even -- I don't know. I'm just having fun and enjoying right now. I'm not even thinking about that right now.

Q. What has this NCAA Tournament brought out in everyone as a whole? Seems like everyone is playing with a ton of confidence and shooting the ball well. What is it about this setting and this environment that's made you guys really lock in the way you have?

ISAIAH WHITE: I think the energy. I think the energy from the crowd. All year we didn't have a crowd. So we had to make our own energy and that's kind of tough, especially for players like me who thrive off of energy. So I think the crowd and just being in March Madness and knowing that this could be our last game, I think everyone is just buying in and doing what it takes as a team to move forward.

Q. Is this the best game of your career?

ISAIAH WHITE: I would say so. I would say so.