NCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP: FIRST ROUND - DAVIDSON VS MICHIGAN ST.

March 18, 2022

Gabe Brown

Joey Hauser

A.J. Hoggard

Tom Izzo

Bon Secours Wellness Arena

Michigan St. Spartans

Media Conference

Michigan State - 74, Davidson - 73

THE MODERATOR: We'll get started with the Michigan State press conference. A reminder, when you ask a question, to please state your name and affiliation. We'll start off with a comment from Coach Izzo.

TOM IZZO: It was a helluva basketball game. We made our share of mistakes, and we made our share of great plays. I thought it was a little bit of a roller coaster, but that's a helluva team we beat. Bob's a helluva coach. I've known that for many years, and I was impressed.

But I was impressed with us, too. We did a pretty damn good job on some of their key guys. We did a decent job on Foster. We did a really good job, he hit the last three, but on Lee. I thought we did a great job, and I thought we did a great job on Jones.

We didn't cover the post as well, but it was kind of what we were trying to do. We were making sure we were running guys off threes because that's the way they seem to beat most people.

I'm proud of these guys. There was a stretch, and A.J. included, Gabe included, where we weren't playing as good, and they bounced back and made some big time plays down the stretch.

So long way to go. You can open it up for questions for those guys.

Q. Gabe, you think I should ask Joey first? All right. Joey, obviously you had a big game tonight. Just try and walk us through that. What you were feeling tonight. Obviously offensively you were very good, but also you had to defend those big guys, too, and kind of held your own there. What got into you tonight?

JOEY HAUSER: It's a new season. That's the beauty of this tournament. Anything can happen. I thought we had a really good plan offensively, so I felt really confident in that. Offensively, I've been struggling this season, just trying to let it fly and not worry about missing shots. So tonight I really just let that happen, and good things happened.

Q. A.J., those maybe last seven minutes when you guys found -- you brought Tyson in. You guys were running. Joey was hitting, and Gabe and I think Marble were in there. What went into that run when you guys had those ten straight points?

A.J. HOGGARD: I think just us coming in focused. The things that Joey did during the whole game kind of freed up a lot of people. He was hitting shots all over the court. So it allowed us to get downhill and be aggressive and feed the post. They couldn't double as much with Joey on fire like that. Joey helped us a lot in a lot of ways, defensively, offensively. Just our team overall, we were just focused and wanted to go out there and give it our all for the last seven minutes for our seniors. We know what's on the line, it's one-and-done time. So we just gave it our all and fought back.

Q. Joey, for you with the journey that you and your brother have been on, to finally get an NCAA Tournament win, through all of that, what does that mean to you? Has that even sunk in yet?

JOEY HAUSER: I thought about that coming to this tournament, but I try to look at it as Game 36, whatever it's been, that we played now because they're all just as important. But I got one win, and he doesn't. So I'll probably give him a call about that.

Q. When you thought about the tournament, is that a sense of relief?

JOEY HAUSER: Yeah, you could say relief, but I'm hungry for another one, that's for sure. Looking forward to the next game, that's for sure.

Q. Joey, you're down three, 6:15 to go, and Brajkovic has been scoring it well. You confronted him at the rim, blocked the shot, they called the foul, but missed the free throw. You came back and got the tying three eight seconds later. Can you talk about the decision to go for the block there and what that turnaround meant?

JOEY HAUSER: All game, we talked about our four and fives helping each other. Marcus stepped up. It was a ball screen they slipped or something like that. I had to get his back and at least try to contest it. If I fouled him, then I was going to foul him. I think it was a huge swing in the game for sure.

Q. Gabe, I just want to ask you about Joey. You've seen him go through this whole process. What was it like for other guys tonight to see him have the night that he had?

GABE BROWN: I'm just so proud of him. Joey worked his nuts off every single day. He comes in, every single day. So I'm just happy he hit his shots tonight, and I'm proud of him.

Q. Gabe, during the 10-0 run, you hit a three-pointer. There was also a time when you passed up a good three-pointer to give Joey a better one, if I'm not mistaken. Take me through that one and also the drive that A.J. drove and found you in the corner, the two plays you made during that sequence.

GABE BROWN: I seen Joey out of the corner of my eye, and I knew he was hot, so I wanted to give him one. A.J. was a good look, and I happened to knock it down. It was good looks. A.J. did a good job of distributing the ball today, and Joey was just hot all day. So I'm just proud of both of them.

Q. For anybody really, any one of the players, how great was it to get back to an environment with fans and really kind of felt like a road game for you guys. How great was it to even get that win as well?

JOEY HAUSER: I mean, this is like -- we really haven't had this environment since my freshman year of college basketball. So the past two years have kind of been just a blur really. Last year was tough playing with no fans, playing the first four.

So this experience that we've had down here and just coming out and playing in an environment like that, it's memories right there for sure.

Q. (No microphone)?

JOEY HAUSER: Absolutely.

Q. This question is for A.J. With about five minutes left or so, it was late in the shot clock a play where Marble was trying to come up and set a screen for you and waved him off pretty adamantly and went and got a bucket, a runner. It was kind of a clutch bucket in that run. What's your mindset in a play like that? Was that something you felt in the game where you felt hot and you wanted to get a shot or do you feel like you could always make that type of shot?

A.J. HOGGARD: I just kind of read their coverage. It was a late shot clock and they kind of had been hard hedging and switching all day. I just wanted to get downhill. I didn't want to settle for a jump shot. I just kind of got him out the way and just lift up with the shot, getting downhill. Was just trying to get to the rim, making guys draw fouls, get to the foul line for us late down in the stretch. So I just got downhill and made the shot.

Q. Gabe, can you kind of walk us through that last minute as everything kept -- like the rest of the game, tightening up and getting closer. Then also on top of that, second part, what it will be like to face Duke again.

GABE BROWN: That last minute, it was a lot of pressure going on, but Coach, all the coaches and all the players handled it very well. Coach drew up a couple press breakers that helped us out later on.

But, yeah, we got Duke coming up. We're not worried about Duke. We're worried about ourselves. We're going to watch film tonight and just try to get better.

Q. Joey, I wanted to go back to what I asked you before. You said you thought about it before the tournament that you guys had not won as a family. What was going through your head before the tournament? Did you and Sam talk about -- walk me through those thoughts, that conversation, if you had any with him.

JOEY HAUSER: Like I said before, it's just every game is just as important as the other one. Just because it's March Madness, for me, you've got to look at it the same way. Just coming in with the same mindset I've had all year really. Just get out there and do my job when I'm open, knock down shots. If we win the game, we'll talk about it afterwards.

Q. A.J., after Brajkovic missed those two free throws when you guys were down three, it sort of looked like you flipped a switch offensively. You had those two layups and kind of sparked that 11-0 run. Mentally, do you feel like you flipped a switch down the stretch, or is that just you being part of the offense?

A.J. HOGGARD: I was just trying to be aggressive and help towards our run. I was trying to do everything in my power to get us going and get us back on track. It kind of got a little hectic in there with their fans, kind of had a home game for them. I was just trying give them my best, be aggressive, and things worked out.

Q. Gabe and Joey, this is for you. How much does it mean to both of you guys that, when you look here at this game, Joey you were the leading scorer, Gabe you also had quite a few points, and Marcus tied for the game high in rebounds. How much does it mean this senior class is really what powered this victory tonight?

GABE BROWN: It means a lot. We are the upperclassmen of the group, so we have to step up in every way. We have to rebound, run, and defend. We have to do it all out there, and all the guys got to follow along. As a captain, I have to bring energy, communicate, just do all the little things, and guys are going to follow. Marcus did a good job rebounding today and Joey.

JOEY HAUSER: For Marcus and Gabe, they were part of the Final Four run. I know they both didn't play a ton during those games, but they were able to see that. They were able to experience it. For them, stepping up big in the game, a tournament game, I know it's probably just -- it means the world to them to be in that spot now. So me as well, just helping them out.

Like you said, I never won a tournament game. So it was a really good win.

Q. Coach, it seems only appropriate on Coach K's final tournament that we're going to have another Duke-Michigan State game. What are your thoughts on having that one more game?

TOM IZZO: I like the game, I just don't like the record in that matchup over the years.

I was there at Madison Square Garden when he broke the record for the number of wins. Mike and I are pretty good friends. He's been the class of the class. I said I've got to be his favorite coach because he's beaten us like a drum when you look at the -- I don't know what we are, 13-12 -- I mean, 3-12 or something.

But then again, I think it's really helped my program that from the very second year, I found a way to schedule Duke probably more than a lot of people in nonconference because to someday be the best, you've got to beat the best. There's no question that that's been the best program, the most consistent program for 30 years.

So it is -- you know, I didn't want to look ahead, dream of the matchup because you get a chance at one more time to play against maybe the all time great, as they say about LeBron or they say about Michael. In the coaching world, the GOAT is the team we'll play. It's been earned. It's not been given. It's been earned.

I'm going to try my hardest to see if we can get a few more -- one more win on the positive side of that thing. But every time we've played, it's been a game I look forward to. It's been a game I respect. I think Mike has done more for our profession than just Duke basketball. This is about basketball. It's about the profession I chose. He's been the model. He's been the model of consistency.

When I got the job and won the National Championship in five years and people were ready to canonize you, at least for a year or two, I said come back in 10 years and then 15. For him it's been 42 years of consistency. That, to me, is the ultimate respect that you give a person, if he can consistently be knocking on the door year after year after year after year.

So I'm looking forward to it in a lot of ways. Not when I look at the record, but when I look at the coach, the team, and the position we're in, it should be a great day for college basketball.

Q. I think you've won 18 first round NCAA Tournament games. I'm not sure I've seen you as emotional. Can you talk about why this game was emotional? It looked like you had a lot of --

TOM IZZO: Well, there's a lot of weight. Let me say this. The story line, of course, in a lot of my interviews, was the Foster Loyer matchup. Foster did a helluva job. If you knew how we as a staff and our players feel about Foster Loyer, when I say we love the kid, we love the kid. So that was pressure on that. I'm sure it was on him, too.

Everybody wanted to talk about Duke and Michigan State. Of course you downplay it because I was so worried about getting through the first one. As you see, we made it by a point. It's not like we handled anybody. We played a great team, and we found a way to win.

Now preparing, there is nothing, nothing that I enjoy more than trying not to sleep after a big game and go home and work all night. That's my team prayer. Give me the strength to work another night. That's kind of what I get to do.

Q. You talk about the NCAA Tournament being a thing of matchups. It seemed like for Joey, this was one where you could take advantage and he recognized that early. Can you speak to his sort of recognition of what you could get done with him tonight.

TOM IZZO: You know, you have to be proud of him. He's been through a lot. We all know it. It's been well logged. So many people jumped off his bandwagon, and as you guys know, I never did. You never jump off somebody's bandwagon when you know they're working towards it, and every single day he brought it.

There has been a different Joey in the last three weeks, and I think part of it, it could be he's feeling better, more comfortable and confident. It could be the end is near, so it makes you feel a different way. But I think he feels better about the game.

I think the guys -- it was really interesting listening to A.J. and Gabe. Joey was a guy that was maligned part of the time, and some of it, hey, that's the nature of the beast that we participate in. But he did a helluva job in a lot of ways. I'm glad you all recognized it wasn't -- he rebounded the ball. He defended the ball. He went after blocked shots. He made some good passes. He played about as complete a game as any forward I've had here in a long time, if you look at all the things he did.

I got him sitting in there right now next to Miles. I'm hoping -- I told Miles just rub up and down on him all night long and see if we can get some of that jumping ability to rub off on Joey, and other than that, he did a helluva job.

Q. Seven turnovers tonight. You had seven in 2:30 against Maryland. Other than one play when Malik threw it out of bounds, he made 11 free throws and handled the ball in the last three minutes. How rewarding was that to see?

TOM IZZO: The seven turnovers, we've had seven, seven, and four in three of the four last games. That's really critical for us, I mean, to get more shots, get more opportunities. I thought early in the game we hit some threes, and then we started settling. They're the three-point shooting team. At halftime, I think we took 13 or 14. They took 8 or 9. I thought we got a little trigger happy there for a while.

It was hard because my never-ending battle to keep Marcus in the post where he rebounds, where we had two free throws the first half and didn't deserve anymore because we're just not doing what we got to do. Julius is pretty good down there, but he got in foul trouble.

So I think those turnovers are big. It's been something that has helped our improvement, I think, in the last two, three weeks.

Q. The last maybe seven minutes when you went to A.J. and Tyson together, how much did you see the energy level of the guys change, and what was it that allowed that combination that you had in there to put together that run? I think you guys went on a 10-0 run and then a 16-3 at that point.

TOM IZZO: Having two real ball handlers -- Max was tired, man. They run that offense. They're running people off everywhere. You've got to be chasing all night long. We decided to do something we don't normally do. We chase guys off threes over handoffs usually on DHOs, on those handoffs, we go under.

I knew Coach Loyer would know that, so we made some adjustments since we had four days, but that caused us to have to chase a lot more, and that wore some people down. Even poor Jaden, he missed that dunk. Those are big plays. Malik missed that little bunny in there.

You don't know, when you go through the -- I love playing on the second day because you can see so many things that happen in the tournament.

Somebody's not going to sleep good tonight because we did miss a free-throw cutout tonight that cost us big time, and that's a mortal sin at our place right now. But in general, I'm just proud of the job they did. I'm proud of what they came back from from three weeks ago.

Who knows? Now we get a shot at something against a really, really, really good team and see what happens.

Q. I was asking Joey about that first tournament, winning for his family. How cognizant were you of that? And completely secondary off topic, Coach K was talking about the slipperiness of the floor. It seemed like some of your guys were struggling with that. Did you notice that? Was that something you knew about or warned about?

TOM IZZO: Yeah, I watched their game, and I saw some of it. I played in a game a couple years ago, quite a few years ago at Richmond, and we had to cancel the game at halftime because of that. So I've been there, done that before. I was thinking, man, let me see, a 9:40 game. If we delay it an hour to get the floor right, we could have breakfast here and have a helluva party.

I was a little cognizant of it, but I didn't say much to my players. I didn't want to say anything to them.

As far as Joey goes, his brother Sam's an unbelievable kid, too. I recruited -- I didn't recruit Sam out of high school, but I recruited him the second time, and I recruited Joey, of course, out of high school. But I know the family really well. I bet you Sam is happy for Joey. You know, is there pressure because you haven't won a tournament game? I wasn't cognizant of it. I didn't go, hey, Joey, we going to win our first tournament game? The only reason I didn't do that is he doesn't need that kind of pressure on him.

I bet you right now out in Boston, Sam's smiling and happy and his mom and dad are. I don't get a chance to see Joey smile a lot. He's got one of those personalities that I tell him to stick it where the sun doesn't shine because it's kind of, you know, just kind of mellow. But he even -- when he put our name on the board that day, God, he even slapped it and smiled. So maybe he's coming into his own here.

Q. During the run, the 16-3, obviously you guys hit big shots but you only gave up one field goal over six minutes. What did you like about the way you guys defended against a really good offense during that key stretch?

TOM IZZO: I thought we started putting more pressure on the passer. They were picking us apart a little bit, getting into the post. We made two adjustments. We fronted in the post a little bit more. I thought Julius did a helluva job with that.

We have different guys that played in different little pods that were really good. So we had a little trouble because they went to him, and that kid's impressive. We've got a lot of good centers in our league, and Bob does a great job of getting the ball at the right spot.

So I was impressed that I thought we picked up the energy, which is disappointing because where was it earlier? The pressure on the ball wasn't there after the start, and I thought that was a big difference. I thought guys were really, really staying close to their guys and finding the post. Those two things really helped us.