NCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP: FIRST ROUND - AKRON VS UCLA

March 16, 2022

Mick Cronin

Johnny Juzang

Jaime Jaquez

Moda Center

UCLA Bruins

Media Conference

THE MODERATOR: Our next press conference for practice day is with UCLA. We have student-athletes Johnny Juzang and Jaime Jaquez, Jr. Gentlemen, welcome to Portland.

Q. Really for both of you, but I'll start with Jaime since you've been here longer. You guys have had so much success late in the year all three years you've been here. First year, won 9 out of 11, one of the hottest teams in the country. Last year went to the Final Four. And this year you won 8 out of 10 while playing at a high level. Has there been any common thread about what has helped this team late in each of those seasons that you can pinpoint?

JAIME JAQUEZ JR.: That's a great question. Going throughout the season, we started to figure things out, figured out what we needed to do. It's a whole learning experience throughout the entire season. So as you go on you get better and learn from things that you've made mistakes on in the past.

I think that's been a trend that has happened in the past, learning from our mistakes and getting better throughout the year.

JOHNNY JUZANG: Yeah, I think it's just Coach developing us through the year and continually improving. And then by the end of the season, you know, last two years I've been here, we've been sharper down the stretch.

Q. For both of you, when you look at the Akron Zips, what do you think is the biggest concern for you guys?

JAIME JAQUEZ JR.: We have been watching a lot of film as of late, getting prepared for this game, trying to do everything we can to learn about this team and how they play.

They got a lot of great players on their team, you know. They came off a little win streak coming into the tournament. We just got to stay solid and play our game, not get out of control. We've got to pressure them, make 'em uncomfortable, just kind of like same game plan for any other team that we play. Be the enforcer.

JOHNNY JUZANG: Yeah, they're a talented team. They're well coached. They're hot. They're playing well, playing with a lot of energy. And on this stage, it's always going to be a battle. We're just going to be prepared and be ready.

Q. This is for both of you, off the court, away from the games and stuff, was there ever a moment that kind of you looked back on that was a turning point within the team, something you guys went through or experienced that helped you guys as a team?

JAIME JAQUEZ JR.: I think a lot of our guys got healthy. I know Johnny had an injury, I have had many throughout this season, Jaylen Clark had some injuries.

Going back, I don't think we had a game this year where everyone was 100%. God bless that we are all healthy now. And I think that's really been able to help us going forward, being able to play as one cohesive unit and try to go forward and win as many game as possible.

Q. I was talking to Coach Savino this morning, and he was talking about how Coach Cronin has helped keep you guys fresh late in the season, cut back on practices between games, stuff like that. In what ways has he helped each of you stay physically and mentally fresh this time of year when the games are their most important?

JOHNNY JUZANG: Shoot, that might be a better question for him. Yeah, I mean, we're always -- we are held accountable and stay sharp and held to high standards, which is huge, and that's what you want as a player when it comes to growth and professional development.

You've got to improve as a unit, but also as individual players, everybody improves, too, that's just going to lift up the unit. I think that's a big part of it.

JAIME JAQUEZ JR.: I guess on my side, going through and dealing with injuries on my end, really just taking my time in practice, you know, kind of taking some reps off, being on the bike, getting in early, getting in the ice bath, hot tub, everything I can to better improve myself and my health.

Q. Jaime, for you, the locker room is pretty much the same, but there's got to be a different feel, obviously the opponent is different. Can you pinpoint a couple of different feelings coming into tomorrow's game?

JAIME JAQUEZ JR.: I think we're all excited that there are going to be fans here, first of all. We're in a way better environment or I should say way different environment. We're here in the city of Portland. We're not all condensed in one place in this hotel. It's a little more exciting now. This is what March Madness is all about. We're not confined to the gym and the hotel. We can go out, see people, do things like this.

And we are really excited to showcase what we've been working for this whole year.

Q. I'm working on a story on Michael Lewis, a great player at Indiana, now assistant coach for you guys. Give me a player's view, if you would. When you look at Michael Lewis, you see what?

JOHNNY JUZANG: Coach Lewis is a great coach, really sharp, brings energy and enthusiasm, passion. And then off the court he's a fun guy to talk to, mess around with, joke with.

He's just a great energy, I would say. We're excited to see him, and he definitely teaches a lot and so impactful. We're lucky to have him and get to play for him.

But definitely very energetic, very passionate, super sharp, yeah.

JAIME JAQUEZ JR.: To go along with everything Johnny said, which is spot on, Coach Lewis is a great coach. Always brings out the best in us. Very energetic, getting into practice early, talking to every single one of us.

He's got a good personal relationship with everyone on the team. And sometimes you don't always get that from coaches. He's got a great relationship with myself, Johnny, top to bottom, great relationship with everyone. He's a guards coach, but he works with the bigs on their free throws. So he's very versatile. He knows what he's doing. And we're very thankful to have him as a coach here.

Q. Can you reflect on how your mindset is different this year going into the tournament based off last year's experience, how you can pull off that?

JOHNNY JUZANG: This year we're definitely in a little bit -- we are in a different position. Coming in as an 11 seed last year, 4 seed this year, the roles are switched a little bit. But staying with the same mindset, that helped us a lot last year.

And coming to battle, you can't worry about the early games you're playing lower seeded teams. You can't worry about, oh, are we going to lose this game. You just have to go out there and play with passion and fire, just like when you're trying to upset a team.

So coming from the same mind frame is big and playing with the same fire, not worried about anything else but just competing.

Q. I just wonder if anything stood out to you about Enrique Freeman. He's leading the nation in field goal percentage.

JAIME JAQUEZ JR.: Leading the nation in field goal percentage, obviously that's a big accomplishment, kudos to him. Going in we have our scouting report, our game plan, and we've got to do a lot of things to try and stop him.

But like we said before, Akron has a lot of great players. They're very talented, and we're going to do everything we can to try to stop them.

Q. Johnny, you talked earlier about this year getting to enjoy the trappings of the NCAA Tournament. You guys came out of the First Four in last year. If you had had to travel, would that have made that task that much more difficult, being in the same place? Did that help you guys accomplish that?

JOHNNY JUZANG: I mean, I wouldn't point to the travel or anything like that. I think that it's just a combination of having such great game plans and scouting reports from the coaches, and the players, just everybody competing, and the cohesiveness and with so much energy.

I feel like the flight, that still would have been there and carried over. I did think about that. That's tough. I thought about some of the First Four teams, they're playing on Tuesday and have to travel across the country to play on Thursday. That does seem tough.

Q. One of the things that struck me watching you guys last year in the tournament was there are some games where you will have a handful of guys locked in, but it seemed like pretty much literally everybody on the team was locked in, valuing every possession on offense, adhering to your defensive principle, and it was kind of mind blowing that everybody on the team was doing this all game long. How did you guys find that focus? How do you recapture that starting tomorrow?

JAIME JAQUEZ JR.: I think it was just a group understanding of what was at stake. We lose, we go home, and that's the same thing going into our game tomorrow.

We lose, we go home. And I think everyone understands that. And when your back's against the wall and you got guys like these, we're going to fight back and do everything we can to try to pull out with a W.

That's what happened last year, and that's what is going to have to happen again this year.

Q. Johnny, this season has had lots of highs for the Bruins, in particular beating a No. 1 seed in the season, in Arizona. How do you replicate the regular season success coming into the tournament?

JOHNNY JUZANG: Honestly, I think we try to replicate it and even take it to another level. So you come in, similar focus, that game you're referring to, right, a lot of energy, a lot of fire defensively, bringing heat, just mental focus.

Then also just a lot of presence playing the game. Everybody was there in the moment, and it's one goal, and we're trying to win the game.

So I think you bring all those things to these games and even more, because this is what you play for. March is what matters. I know everybody, we all know that. So we're all excited, and we're trying to take it to a new level.

THE MODERATOR: All right, thank you, gentlemen. Good luck tomorrow.

With us on the dais now is Mick Cronin. Mick, welcome back to Portland. We will begin with an opening statement

COACH CRONIN: Sure. It's great to be here. We will get a chance to play under Bill Walton's jersey. It's been a while since I've been in this building. Beautiful place.

We're excited to be here. Obviously different experience for our guys. We don't have anybody on our team that played in the NCAA Tournament with the public practice, seeing you guys in person.

This is all new to them. We were in the bubble last year, so that was all they know. They've been asking me questions the last couple of days about all this, you know, what's all this type of stuff.

So you realize, for me, try to not take it for granted. Because I realize I wasn't even thinking about, like, it's back to normal, but guys are wide-eyed to be able to experience this. We're excited to be here. Akron is a great team. They have won eight in a row, and John is a great coach. So we're completely focused on Akron.

Q. Is Hep Cronin here?

COACH CRONIN: Yes. Absolutely. And he is already 1-0 in big games because he went down -- Scott Davenport had him come down for their championship game. And Hep's already taken credit for Bellarmine's conference tournament championship. He lands this evening.

Q. On the Zips, the challenges they present? Things you are concerned about?

COACH CRONIN: They're just a rock-solid team. Obviously Castaneda is a great guard. Ali Ali can make guarded baskets. Freeman does a lot of things.

Obviously they're not maybe as big as some Pac-12 teams, but I only look at who they are now. They went through some attrition. And since they had the last guy that was off their team for whatever reason, I didn't pay attention to that, but they're 8-0.

So they have done everything well. They've got a great guard who can make tough shots. They've got a go-to forward that can make shots over people. He makes real shots. He's playing unbelievably well. I was looking at team stats, their last five, last ten, they're shooting over 41% from three in that group of games.

And John has always been a great coach. They play tremendous defense. They don't have any liabilities as far as guys that can't guard the ball.

And they had to beat probably the three best teams at the end of the year besides them to get here, in Buffalo, Toledo, and Kent State. And I know Kent State had issues, but still, they've had to beat good teams to get here. They've got our full attention.

Q. Coach, I'm working on a story on Michael Lewis. When you interviewed him, you decided to hire him because why? And as you have worked with him, what impressed you about him?

COACH CRONIN: I've known Michael for a long time. So we go back to our days in the OVC when he was in the metropolis of Mattoon, Illinois, and I was with the Racers. That's when we first met.

And then in our part of the world back there, recruiting, we had seen each other quite a bit. He was at Butler, I'm the head coach at Cincinnati.

Michael's got a great personality, as you know. We spent a lot of time talking basketball together and really got to know each other well. So I was fortunate that he was available.

Darren and I have been together so long, with Rod and Michael, I wanted -- I believe in hiring guys from winners. Rod is coming from San Diego State, tremendous program, great coach, Brian Dutcher. Michael had been with Tim Miles who won big at Nebraska in spite of the way it ended. It should have never ended. But anyway. And he was also with Brad and Chris. So he could bring me fresh ideas.

But I don't expect to have Michael much longer. Again, I'm biased. The Ball State job is open. You couldn't possibly draw up a better candidate to be the next head coach at Ball State than Michael Lewis in my opinion.

He is talented. He's got everything it takes, from the basketball experience to the coaching. He fits that job, his personality. He just needs a chance. I think that's -- hopefully he will get that chance.

But I don't expect him to be with me much longer, but he's done a great job for us.

Q. What was the hardest point of your season, and what did you learn from your team in that time?

COACH CRONIN: I mean, aside from the injuries and the COVID, the schedule sometimes does it to you. We lost 3 out of 4. Now, one of those was at Arizona, one of those was at USC. Great teams on the road. And both those games, we didn't get blown out. We missed a shot to tie USC at the buzzer. We lost in triple overtime to Arizona State.

We're not used to losing. I'm proud our program is at a point where we just don't accept that.

So that was the toughest part. But I think it helps you as a coach to evaluate the job you're doing and how do I make sure -- we've got to improve somehow. We weren't scoring enough points. Get it, we were dealing with injuries, but still, we had to make some offensive adjustments.

We came out of it a better team. That's what happens when you play good teams on the road in a big-time league. You're not going to win every game. But you've got to use it to get better.

I think we have improved immensely from the last one of those, that 3 out of 4, was the loss at USC. You look at us statistically, we've improved a lot since then.

Q. Has there been a defining characteristic that has defined this team throughout this season?

COACH CRONIN: They get along extremely well. Like we have great team chemistry. These guys really like each other. They're all tremendous guys. We don't have overwhelming size and athleticism like some other teams. So we have to execute and play great team defense.

What I would tell you is they're just a really, really good group of guys. Like they're really intelligent. They're good people. They really enjoy each other, which I think is important. When we have had tough times, we can look at each other and what do we got to do to get better instead of pointing fingers.

I think that's why we've been able to get through the COVID and the multiple injuries that we've dealt with this year, and I think we're -- we played great basketball in the Pac-12 Tournament, albeit not winning the last game.

Q. I assume when you were talking about the go-to forward who could make real shots --

COACH CRONIN: Ali Ali.

Q. Does he jump out on film?

COACH CRONIN: Oh, yeah. You don't see a lot of guys on film that can create their own shot and make it, in college basketball.

I would say in college basketball, back -- it's been 20 years since I've been an assistant, but I used to tell Coach Huggins and Coach Pitino all the time, there is a rare time when you're going to give a scouting report that a guy can make shots when he's guarded.

Post guys need an angle to score. Shooters need to be freed up to make a shot. He doesn't need any of that. He makes some Kevin Durant shots. Just bang, bang, create a little space, and shoots it over you. He's really, really good.

Q. Just being an Ohio guy, I know you would like to see another Ohio team in the tournament?

COACH CRONIN: Happy for John. I know a couple of guys on the staff as well. Good for them. I know how hard it is. The Mac -- being from where I'm from, I have explained to our team, like, look up NBA players from the Mac Conference. It's really a hard league to win. There's really good players. It's a well balanced league, it's like a mini Big Ten.

There's great coaching and historically some great players. Ali Ali may be the next NBA player out of the Mac, so I'm well aware of the quality of play in that league.

Q. Given that you guys went on a run last year, do you think that momentum has carried over into this year?

COACH CRONIN: Early on, I think it was almost like a little bit of a hangover for us. It was such a euphoric run for our guys that -- we had guys that had never been to the NCAA Tournament. I think it took us a while to get it out of our system. So much talk about the great game against Gonzaga, the way we lost, that we needed to get that behind us and get our focus on this year and this team.

So I think that took us a while but hopefully now with the experience of winning games in March and our guys understand how we won last year, which was attention to detail, execution, toughness, defense, focus on one game at a time and a game plan. We had the mentality like -- we were not overconfident and it helped us. We have to make sure we are not overconfident this year.

Q. Enrique Freeman of the Zips was named Mac Defensive Player of the year this year, and Akron was the best defensive team in their conference. How do you anticipate challenging the Zips defense?

COACH CRONIN: Well, we'll see. He's quick off his feet and an impressive player. And they're a young team, by the way, which -- I can see why they've improved so much. He can block shots, both hands, very, very quick off his feet, high energy player, just a very, very impressive player, but I would say their whole team -- they don't have the weakness of a guy that they need to cover for.

They all seem to be able to guard their man really well. They have lateral quickness is what I'm trying to say as well as they are extremely well coached. All five guys are engaged for Akron on every possession. That's what jumps out on film to me. We're going to have to execute and be at our best. They're not just going to give you baskets.

Q. Coach, you just mentioned your guys being a close group. Obviously you're there to take care of business on the court, but can you talk about maybe what the guys are doing just to stay loose or in the downtime?

COACH CRONIN: Well we didn't get in until last night so there's not a lot to do right now, go out to eat. There are so many commitments here. The guys from Beaverton, obviously we're new with Nike. We're a Jordan school. I would have liked to take them down there, but we don't have time.

This day and age, man, these guys -- they're going to be up here so if you get back in, I know I there's arguments about Smash Brothers, does that sound right? Whatever it is, you know, they're -- so that's the big -- the big argument on our team right now who is the best player at that. And I don't know if I'm saying the game right. That's the big thing right now.

Q. Watching the team during the run last year, you played with an edge that every guy seemed locked in and valuing every possession defensively, adhering to your principles. How do you get that from basically 1-10 on the team? It wasn't just a handful of guys; it was basically everybody on the team. How do you get that?

COACH CRONIN: Well, we try to be -- being that I'm wearing this replica jacket, we try to channel things that Coach Wooden taught. Starts with humility. If you have humility, you're going to pay attention. Hopefully the Akron film has got their attention, because they've got some very good players.

And then experience should tell us that we need to make sure that we have humility. If you have it, then you're going to prepare your best for every game. It's like my friend Chad Brownstein says, show me a guy that's not humble and I'll show you a guy that's getting ready to be humbled.

We taught some people that last year. It's a little different, we're obviously a different seed this year, but we need to make sure we have the same level of humility and respect for our opponents. That's how you stay locked in and that's -- to me that's why people stay focused. Whether it's in business, in life, anything. To me, the minute you lose that edge, you start to lose your humility is when you're not going to be at your best.

Q. Coach Cronin?

COACH CRONIN: Where are you at, man? Is the budget hurting or something?

Q. I'm there in spirit. I wanted to ask you about that jacket, if you're trying to channel the John Wooden spirit wearing that jacket?

COACH CRONIN: Same one as last year, man. Actually this is a new one. Don't send me e-mails. I can't get you one. Doug Erickson at UCLA -- he's the guy not me. Yeah, look, when you're part of the best tradition in maybe sports, but definitely college basketball, um -- I might walk out in a Bill Walton jersey tomorrow, especially since we are here. We try to embrace it every way we can.

THE MODERATOR: Thanks, Coach. Best of luck tomorrow.