NCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP: SECOND ROUND - MEMPHIS VS GONZAGA

March 18, 2022

Mark Few

Drew Timme

Andrew Nembhard

Anton Watson

Moda Center

Gonzaga Bulldogs

Media Conference

THE MODERATOR: We are joined by the Gonzaga Bulldogs. On the dais are Andrew Nembhard, Drew Timme and Anton Watson.

Q. For Drew and Anton. Big match-up with Jalen Duren here, good, big man. What are your thoughts heading into that match-up?

ANTON WATSON: We have been talking about it a lot. He's a big dude, physical, so I think that's one of the main keys is keeping him off offensive boards and being physical back to him. Definitely been focused on that a lot.

DREW TIMME: I would say he's a neat talent, pretty sure he could be in high school playin' or something, he's a lottery pick so it's just a credit to him, the hard work he's put it, he's just a talent obviously going to be a fun match-up for sure.

Q. Drew, Memphis is known as a good defensive team what concerns you most about their defense?

DREW TIMME: How hard they play on the defensive end combined with their athleticism, it makes them a dangerous team. They like to run and jump and utilize everything they have with this that. If you're not smart and play in control and let them speed you up it's going to be a long forty minutes for sure.

Q. I would like to hear your favorite Chet highlight of the season and have any of you watched the games back with his dad? His dad is up there with a camcorder. Your teammates answered this the other day and you can say something that happened in practice that we might not have seen.

ANTON WATSON: I would say San Diego when he was like -- he started to cook. I literally was just running down the court and giving him the ball at that point. That was probably my favorite part, when he was cookin'.

ANDREW NEMBHARD: I can't think of one in particular but a block on one end to a bucket on the other end. That's probably one of his better plays, just his versatility.

DREW TIMME: He makes so many good plays it's hard to pick one. I think UCLA where he blocked it, went behind the back and dunked it, that was an exclamation mark on our win so probably that one.

Q. Andrew, there has been a great lineage of point guards at Gonzaga. What's it like to be part of that? Do you think about you have the chance to be the point guard that wins the first national title for this team?

ANDREW NEMBHARD: It's a blessing, honestly. It a culture built there and those point guards have always talked to me and given me their advice and blessed to be part of that lineage and hopefully we can make it happen this year.

Q. Andrew, the St. Mary's backcourt with Logan and Kuhse? What makes them so effective?

ANDREW NEMBHARD: I think their age and maturity is what makes them effective. They understand the game at a high level. They've been in that program for three, four, five years, I think. Just their poise when they have the ball, they never speed up, they manipulate the game, especially Kuhse and the ball screen, and Johnson uses his athleticism and gets to the rim and makes plays for others. Two really tough guards, best of luck to them in the tournament for sure.

Q. Drew, Memphis is physical. Who is the most physical team you have played this year?

DREW TIMME: We have played a lot of physical teams. I would say probably Texas Tech or St. Mary's. They pride themselves on the defensive end and pride themselves in what they do, seeing what they have done in the tournament so far. Probably one of those two teams.

Q. Do you see similarities in the film that you've watched of Memphis so far?

DREW TIMME: Yeah, of course. I would say they're in the gaps a lot which is what both those teams I mentioned do, and they're really good at being in the gap and also being on your man. So you look open, but you're really not open in reality, you know? So they do a good job of disguising their defense and playing defense as a whole and a unit.

Q. Andrew, as the guy who gets your guys into the offense; we saw that with the 11 assists yesterday. What do you think are the one or two most important things that you guys must do against Memphis' defense?

ANDREW NEMBHARD: I think we have to play with constant movement, keep the ball popping. I think we have to limit turnovers, especially with their run-and-jump type style. We have to take open shots and don't let them force us into any tough, contested shots that we don't want to take.

Q. Anton, Drew touched on this yesterday but this was really your first NCAA Tournament full experience with a full crowd. Last year bubble, year before cancelled. Were there jitters, any nerves for you? If so how long did it take for you to settle down and get into a rhythm?

ANTON WATSON: I would say a little bit, yeah, for everyone, getting used to playing with that many fans. Once we settled in and got back to playing like us, kinda worked out for us, so I would say a little bit at the beginning.

Q. Drew, you've talked a little bit before about people slandering the WCC, obviously yesterday was a good day with St. Mary's going out the way they did and San Francisco going toe-to-toe with Murray State. What was it like for you to watch the conference have a day like that?

DREW TIMME: San Fran didn't have have Massalski. He's one of their best players, and they went into overtime with them. We're just cheering for them. They're great teams. They play us well every time we play them, and it's about time people see how really good they are.

It's just funny, everyone slandering our conference and what did we go, 2-1 yesterday? And maybe 3-0 if Massalski is healthy for them and Bouyea was incredible last night. And I see a lot of people on Twitter saying, who is this kid, talking Bouyea, and he's been doing that his whole career. We have nothing but respect for him and their program at St. Mary's. I think it's time it that our conference gets more national attention and respect from people.

Q. Drew, do you feel like even now with all the success you guys in particular have had people still don't respect the conference? Don't you think it's gotten better or no?

DREW TIMME: It's always been that way, at least. Even the digs at us. It's always going to be there. At least since we've been here it's always been us and the conference. Some things never change.

THE MODERATOR: Thank you, gentlemen. Best of luck tomorrow.

We are joined by Mark Few, head coach of Gonzaga.

Q. With Rasir, how do you vet a guy like that, who has obviously been productive in college, but maybe not for the winningest program before you welcome him into yours?

COACH FEW: We talk to a lot of people. We talk to everybody, all the way back to his AAU days. Then probably more importantly than all that, we got to know and talk to Rasir and hear what he wanted out of this transfer year. We looked at guys and he was a guy that we were totally sold on. He's been better than advertised. He's someone you need to get to know. He's a really, really deep and special human being. Man, I give him credit how these new guys have had to assimilate and the maybe sacrifice some of the things that they did at their other places and even in high school.

Q. Memphis has a talented front court and specifically Jalen Duren?

COACH FEW: Pretty talented? Or extremely talented?

Q. What are your thoughts on that match-up and specifically Jalen Duren in this one?

COACH FEW: It's daunting. They are extremely athletic and big and play with force and that's going to be a real challenge for us. It will be a challenge for us keeping them off the glass. They're incredible, their physicality and their athleticism and nose for the ball. Reboundingwise and also we're going to have a toughness about us finishing around the rim, too, because Jalen Duren can protect the rim and some of the other guys can also come down. They're a handsy team and they really get their hands on a lot of balls and create turnovers off that.

Q. Memphis defense, what concerns you about it? How do you prepare for a defense you don't see like this on a regular basis?

COACH FEW: We have faced some -- Texas Tech's defense, we have faced them early and it's similar to this and we certainly faced size throughout the year, faced quickness and quick guards throughout the year. But you're right, the whole package, the pressing, the physicality, it's not something we're going to go hammer out here in an hour and 15 minutes on the court.

It's something that you try to prepare for all year. I would say we took the time this week prepping for who we thought we might -- obviously Georgia State but what we might play later in the weekend, too.

Q. Can you speak to the fact that Tommy's success at Arizona highlights the way that maybe long-time assistants that folks don't know about can step in and take over a program like you did or go somewhere else and take their team to the top?

COACH FEW: Everybody has to get their first chance, right? At some point it was everybody's, it was even Coach K's gig at some point. I wouldn't leave it at Tommy. Leon was here in this region and has had a remarkable run at Boise State and has an incredible year this year. So there's a lot of guys that are ready and to me it's about -- as I'm trying to help them, finding the right place and working for the right people and especially ones that are going to have the patience to -- these guys know what they're doing and circumstantially, it takes them a while to get going. Harkening back to Coach K's first three years, how smart it was I think Coach Butters that kept him around, and this day and age that would never happen. And frankly, no offense to you guys but I don't know if you would let it happen. You would be killing a guy at Duke. It's a matter of the athletic directors and the people hiring and understanding that there are worthy candidates out there ready for their first try at it.

Q. You said yesterday your son brings you the hottest stats and some analytics. Which son and where do you stand on -- what's your opinion on some of those things as a coaching tool?

COACH FEW: It's AJ, my eldest who is kind of a student assistant with us. Starting in 2015 with John Jakus who is now at Baylor and is with Scott down there, he was the one that kind of helped me start implementing analytics more into our preparation and how we play, but, again, it's a small piece.

I think you've got -- so many people use it now, almost overuse it and everybody is an expert now because it's readily apparent. There is more to just picking and choosing what you feel is the relevant numbers that apply to your team and just trying to accentuate those strengths and minimize some of those weaknesses that you feel matter in helping you win games.

Q. Mark, you were talking yesterday about Andrew's importance for everything that you guys do. He was obviously a pretty good guard when you got him from Florida?

COACH FEW: Yes, he was.

Q. Where have you seen him grow and develop and improve over these two years?

COACH FEW: He was really good when we -- when he came. He had two good years at Florida and Mike did a great job putting him in those positions to be successful. I think he's just kind of -- as you get older, he has added layers to what he already had, his brilliance in reading ball screens and reading and making basketball decisions. I think he's grown as a defender at our place, I think he's become a more confident shooter which has nothing to do with Florida or anything. It's just growing and sticking in college a while and I think for us, he's learned that we need him to score and want him to score. It's okay to score and even miss shots.

I think he finally kind of got over that hump. That was probably my biggest challenge through last year and this year was hammering that home.

Q. Todd Wilkins done was hired down there thoughts on him and what he was able to do for the Dons' program.

COACH FEW: Hey, I'm happy for Todd. I think he was somebody who was looking to move up. He's a young bright head coach and he'll do well.

Q. Drew and Chet stuck up for Andrew on the podium and you were smiling as that was happening. What is it like watching them talk about him and his play and what does it say about the culture of your program?

COACH FEW: I think it says a lot about those guys. If you watch them one of the first things they always do is try to defer credit to their teammates, which always makes a coach smile. Again, it's extremely sincere when they're talking about Andrew. They know how much Andrew means to this team.

Q. Mark, Tara VanDerveer at Stanford, the defending national champ pledged to donate $10 for every made three in the women's NCAA Tournament and put that money toward humanitarian efforts in Ukraine and she challenged every men's and women's coach to join her?

COACH FEW: I would love to hear more about it. Obviously that's all on our minds. I've not heard but I'm not a huge follower of stuff. I just kind of hunker down and do what I've got to do here with my guys. Sounds like a worthy endeavor and we will look into it. Hope that the money that's being raised actually does go to some people that could really use the help.

Q. Coach, some of the players from Memphis were talking about they feel like it's a 1 versus a 1 because of the way they finished the season and the talent they have on the team. I know that you have preached over the years and it's been proven that those numbers this time of year don't matter?

COACH FEW: Right.

Q. Do you see confidence in them when you watch their film? Not just the talent but the confidence of a team that can knock off anybody?

COACH FEW: In Memphis? Yeah, absolutely. Again, these are highly, highly successful high school players that have garnered a lot of attention. They have a lot of confidence and have had a lot of success over the years, all the way back. Again, I mean, I think like I said yesterday, Coach Hardaway has done a great job of flipping that switch and got his team playing their best basketball at the right time of the year. Combine that with the physical ability and the experience that they have, that's a dangerous combination.

Q. With St. Mary's and their backcourt with Logan and Kuhse, what is it about them that makes them so effective?

COACH FEW: First of all they're really, really old and experienced. I mean, I think Kuhse, I swear he's played 150 games for them. I mean literally. He's one of those guys even from the jump that played a lot of minutes. He's improved so much. All of Randy's players and teams do.

If you don't understand how to play St. Mary's, you're going to be in for a long night, because they stick to their plan and nobody is better at their plan than them. When Randy has a guard like Kuhse that has that much experience, and he's going to put the ball in his hands 90% of the time, and he's improved so much now with his shooting and his finishing and all that. They're going to be a handful. I think people are kind of finally seeing what we see all the time.

Q. Gonzaga women won today. How cool is it to see Lisa and how she has continued to carry on the success for that program?

COACH FEW: Yeah, no, that's great. That's a great win for them and to go all the way across the country and get it done. That's awesome.

Q. Along the WCC vein, a pretty good day yesterday for the conference. What is it like for you to watch the conference starting to make waves like that?

COACH FEW: I'm happy for the conference, I'm happy for Gloria and Aaron. They have worked incredibly hard to keep pushing the profile and raising the awareness of just how good the WCC is, and obviously the coaches in it, the players in it. There's great players in it. It's a shame it takes an NCAA Tournament win for everybody to figure that out. It's been a lot of work put in, and I really have always been totally impressed with Gloria and her whole group with how they have raised the level of the WCC.

Q. You said AJ is the analytical junky in the family.

COACH FEW: I don't know if I totally said that. There's more to him than that.

Q. Of course, but what I wondered was, I don't know if you fill out a bracket with your family, have a family challenge. I wonder if he gives you a hard time ever, like, dad, you shouldn't pick this because here is some random stat you should know about?

COACH FEW: There is one thing that is always prevalent in the Few family; it's always giving somebody a hard time. I think I take the brunt of everybody's stuff, even down to sweet little Colt. And I now am a father of a just turned 15-year-old daughter, so that was a game changer with family chemistry! (Chuckles.)

But, yeah, no. He's got a lot of opinions, some are good. Some aren't quite as good. It's also entertaining. We have great debates, they have their favorite teams, favorite players, him and Joe especially.

Q. Coach, you used to have a February series.

COACH FEW: Yes.

Q. -- with Memphis. You did it with John Calipari and Josh Pastner?

COACH FEW: Not really. It's been harder and harder to figure out how to get games in midseason, quite frankly. That was born out of Coach Cal and I are really good friends. We put that together ourselves, and it was on the books when Josh and I played. Those were fun games. Remember that Adam Morrison game? That was crazy stuff.

Q. Coach when a big upset happens in this tournament, do you use that as a teaching moment for your guys?

COACH FEW: We're not walking around with our chests pumped out thinking we're all high and mighty because we're a 1 seed. We get it. We live that life every day out here, out west. We watched how excited Duke was when they beat us in Vegas, okay? So, no, not really. These guys are pretty good about moving on to the next game and understanding, okay, this is going to be different than what we just got done facing and they totally 100% get the legitimate threat and how talented and physical Memphis is.

THE MODERATOR: Thank you, Coach. Good luck tomorrow.