NCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP: FIRST ROUND - GEORGIA ST.VS GONZAGA

March 17, 2022

Mark Few

Drew Timme

Chet Holmgren

Andrew Nembhard

Moda Center

Gonzaga Bulldogs

Media Conference

Gonzaga - 93, Georgia State - 72

THE MODERATOR: Game No. 2, Gonzaga, the winner over Georgia State. With us in the post-game press conference, head coach Mark Few along with Drew Timme, Andrew Nembhard, and Chet Holmgren.

MARK FEW: It feels good to move on. I always say the hardest thing to do in our sport is get NCAA Tournament wins. It's hard enough to get to the NCAA Tournament, and once you get here, you know you're going to play a really good team. We really understood that. I think these guys understood it this week once we started breaking them down. I kept telling people that's not a 16 seed. I think they showed it tonight.

Georgia State gave us quite a fight, and I'm extremely proud of our guys, especially how we responded in the second half. We kind of flipped the script on the rebounding aspect of the game and then also got back to finishing the way we usually finish around the rim.

Also cranked up our -- our EER finally got down to where it usually is later in the second half. I think that was a big deal too.

Q. Coach, you've been in a lot of these first round "get the nerves out" type of games. Talk about what your message was in the locker room in a game like this. Also, Drew, talk about how being in this type of atmosphere was different than last year with less fans.

MARK FEW: We talked about it. I think it's really, really important to be the hunter and not the hunted. I thought we were trying to be that in the first half. We just weren't converting very good. It's a physical game.

Again, they got some experienced guards that can really, really play with ball screens and make plays and hit tough twos.

Then also just the rebounding aspect was what was really hurting. We talked about it at halftime and got all that out of the system now, then we just needed to come back and be who we are in the second half, and I think they did a great job with that.

DREW TIMME: You asked about fans, right? Yeah, it's great. Zag Nation travels so well, and we're so thankful for them always coming to our games, home or away. It's awesome to know they've always got our back. Yeah, it helps a lot. Fake crowd noise through a speaker does not sound too good.

So getting real interactions, real emotions, it really helps just kind of pump you up and really get into the game easier.

Q. My question is for Drew. Drew, what's the difference for you in the first half where it seemed like you were struggling, especially from the line? The second half you came out, barely missed any shots, and it looked like you really just took over the game. What was the difference from you?

DREW TIMME: I guess I just had some jitters, I guess. It's March, you know. My first true March, so I was a little nervous, I guess. Credit to my teammates for telling me to keep going.

These guys, everyone in there said you've got to be you. You've just got to post up and get to the basket and do what you do best. I just get a confidence boost when guys have your back like that even when you're struggling. I was pretty mad at myself for free throws, obviously. It's unacceptable. Nothing but just confidence coming from my guys and Coach, and that really helped me just get back to doing what I do.

Q. This question is for Chet. Chet, a first NCAA Tournament experience for you. What was going through the preparation for this game like, and how did you feel getting out there on the court for the first time?

CHET HOLMGREN: Yeah, obviously excited to get out there on the court, but the preparation is the same as any other game. It starts in practice. It starts with the film and the game plan and really trying to take that to heart. Coach said it all the time, no game slippage. So try and take that and apply it to the game.

I was just excited to be out there. Blessed to be in the position I am with the team I got. So I'm having fun with the ride.

Q. Guys, sorry to be live on TV. That's why I'm not in there. This is for Drew. Drew, I know that second half -- or that first half probably wasn't up to standards for yourself. What kind of talk did you have to yourself in the locker room about going out there in the second half?

DREW TIMME: Again, just my guys had my back and the coaches believed in me, and just that confidence from them is really reassuring and really can help give you a boost when you get a little down on yourself.

It's a credit to this team and just the bond we have. They trusted me when I was down, and just how we trust anyone when they're not having the best start. It's just what we do.

Q. My question is for Andrew. What's it like just watching these two when they start dominating a game like they did in the second half?

ANDREW NEMBHARD: I see it every day, so it's nothing new. I feel like, when those situations happen, we've just got to keep feeding them and work around them, move around them. It's just a great thing to watch.

DREW TIMME: Let's not take away from us going --

CHET HOLMGREN: This guy makes it easy on us.

DREW TIMME: He's the one that runs the ship, gets us going, gets everything in the right position. You all don't give him credit for what he does. Without him, we wouldn't be here. I mean, 11 assists?

CHET HOLMGREN: 11 assists.

DREW TIMME: How many dudes are doing that? Like come on, give him some more credit. Golly.

Q. Coach, on the matchup, your thoughts with Memphis? And for Drew and for Chet, the matchup with both Durham and Williams?

MARK FEW: First, I totally, totally echo what Drew and Chet are saying. Andrew's had just a phenomenal year for us. Literally, we wouldn't even have made the NCAA Tournament or even been close without -- I mean, it's unbelievable how comforting and reassuring it is going through a preparation week and even putting your head on the pillow the night before a big game like this knowing you have the best point guard in the country.

So that is how these guys end up scoring it so well. Obviously, they have incredible skill and talent, and they're able to make moves and deliver, but they're right, Andrew sets the table.

As far as Memphis is concerned, what a great job Coach Hardaway's done. The hardest thing to do in sports, I think, is when it's going bad, to flip the switch, whether you're coaching or playing, much like Drew did tonight. I mean, it takes incredible fortitude, incredible belief, and not many people can do it in any sport.

For them to flip their season the way they did, and I think he did a great job of taking the heat off the team and put it on himself. That was a brilliant move but probably really uncomfortable.

And they're playing great. I think my son, who's always up on the hottest stats or analytic crap, has told me they were the second most efficient team after January 19th or something like that, behind us.

Obviously, they're physically imposing. They're a great rebounding team. We're going to have to rebound the way we did in the second half, as opposed to the first, to give ourselves a chance. They've got some guys who can really shoot it, and we know we're in for a heck of a ball game.

THE MODERATOR: Drew and Chet, the question on the matchup?

DREW TIMME: Yeah, they're a great team. They would not be here if they weren't good. Like Coach said, they really turned their season around. It's pretty remarkable. It's going to be a battle, but that's every single game in March. You don't get a game off. Every single team that's here has earned the right to be here. It's not easy to get here.

Just like any other team, we've got to prepare for them and lock in because, if we don't, anybody can beat anybody.

Q. Because of NCAA rules, your dad could not film, couldn't record the game today. I think it was the first one in your entire playing career that he couldn't. But what I wondered was, of all the times that he has done that, of all the times that you've watched tape with him, do you have a favorite highlight of your own? Your teammates answered that question yesterday for me.

CHET HOLMGREN: No, I wouldn't say it's one particular thing. It's definitely a lot to pick from, to just pick one thing, but I'm just happy that my dad does that so I'm able to go back and watch everything. Sometimes, back when the games weren't on TV and stuff, it allowed my grandma to watch all my games too. So I'm just happy he does it.

Q. My question is for Andrew. Your role is a little different than it was this year. Your role this year is different than it was last year. Just describe kind of how you are approaching this tournament and the rest of this run going forward.

ANDREW NEMBHARD: I'm trying to approach this tournament with an aggressive mindset. I know the team needs me to be aggressive, whether it's scoring for myself or distributing for others. Also take on a bigger leadership role this year and helping the younger guys, the new guys we have on the squad.

Q. Mark, you guys got a lot of streaks going in the NCAA Tournament, but first round wins, it's 13 in a row. I don't know where that fits in all the things you've got going, but to pull that off, did that game remind you of Southern in any way back in 2013?

MARK FEW: It did a little bit. Yes, I appreciate you noticing. Like I said in my opening remarks, I think it's one of the hardest things to do in our sport is just get a win in the NCAA Tournament. I know there's a stat floating around out there -- again, I'm a bad stat guy, but we far and away have the most wins in the NCAA Tournament, and I don't know whether it's over the last five years or ten years or whatever it is.

We don't take that for granted. I think within the program we understand just how special it is to make it here but also how hard it is to earn a win. We certainly earned one tonight. These guys pushed us, and again, Georgia State deserves a ton of credit. But I'm proud to keep that streak alive. We've got a lot of great streaks that these groups have been able to accomplish, and it's something that I take great pride in.

Q. Coach, you spoke to some of the seniors in the handshake line with Georgia State. Could you just share what you told those guys.

MARK FEW: I just congratulated them on, first of all, on giving us all we could handle. Then also just on amazing careers. I mean, they've all -- they were scary to watch on film from a coaching aspect. Then with Kane Williams and what he's been able to do with all their career marks, it's what being a great college player is all about. So I just congratulated him on that.

Q. Andrew, I'm hoping you can take this, and then the other guys maybe too. At about 11 minutes in the second half, you had a three-pointer. You were trading punches at that point. And up until that point, the crowd was kind of nervous, jittery, as you guys put it, sitting on their hands. But you guys never changed body language at all. Take the fans into the mindset of a team, is it the same with you guys? Is it different? Do you guys just have that inner calm and confidence?

ANDREW NEMBHARD: Yeah, I don't think we try to -- we don't try to change our mentality throughout the games. There's lots of ups and downs. You've got to stay even keel and have a neutral mindset. That's what we did. I think we've been in this situation before, and we just handled it with maturity.

THE MODERATOR: Gentlemen, thank you very much. We'll see you for practice session tomorrow. Good luck on Saturday.