ASHEVILLE CHAMPIONSHIP

November 14, 2021

Payton Willis

Jamison Battle

Minnesota Golden Gophers

Harrah's Cherokee Center

Press Conference

Minnesota - 87, Princeton - 80

THE MODERATOR: We're welcoming Payton Willis and Jamison Battle. Congratulations to you both. We're going to let Marcus ask a couple of questions, and then we'll wrap this up.

Q. First off, guys, congratulations. Jamison, first off, talk about the job they did on you defensively, but also the way that you kept fighting in other ways to keep the game close?

JAMISON BATTLE: They obviously were keying in on the three, from me hitting five threes last game. So I knew that was going to be an issue, them keying in on that. So I knew I had to switch the game up, whether that's starting with a pump fake, hitting a three, or driving and creating for other teammates.

It's just about playing your game and not getting sped up and not getting drawn into what they are trying to do. It's about creating for teammates, creating for yourself, and helping the team win.

Q. Payton, when you see, obviously, Jamison drawing those double-teams, how important is it for yourself and other guys, Sean and others, to make plays?

PAYTON WILLIS: It's great. He took a lot of pressure off us when he is attracting so much attention. I think Sean and Luke had a couple and-ones in the first half. Him being able to shoot the ball so well opens up the floor for us and opens up gaps for us to take the basket.

Q. One question for both of you. What does it mean to start the season off with a championship?

JAMISON BATTLE: It's a great feeling. It's the first preseason -- not preseason, but beginning of the season. It's the first time I've ever started 3-0. It's just sending a message to Gopher Nation that Coach Johnson has us on the right track, and we're here as a team together. We play together. We love each other.

I think this is just a culmination of what it shows. I think we showed on the defensive end and on the offense, and we just showed grit today, going double overtime with a good Princeton team, a good Ivy League team that will be top four for sure in the Ivy League. I thought we showed a lot of heart today and a lot of grit.

PAYTON WILLIS: It means everything. That's a good, disciplined team. They might end up in March at the end of the year, so wins at this time of the year mean everything.

THE MODERATOR: Thank you, both, so much. Appreciate your time.