NCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP: FIRST ROUND - FURMAN VS VIRGINIA

March 15, 2023

Kihei Clark

Jayden Gardner

Amway Center

Virginia Cavaliers

Media Conference

Q. Kihei, Furman likes to play at a fast tempo, and obviously you guys want to control the pace like you've done for forever. What do you have to do to make sure that the game is at your pace and not their pace?

KIHEI CLARK: I think on the offensive end, just grinding them with size and hitting them with screens, getting the shots that we want. And then on the flight of the ball, if a shot is taken, just make sure we get back, try to get at least two to three guys back so they can't run out, and set our defense. I think once we set our defense, I think we're pretty tough to score against.

Q. How successful has that been this season? Do you feel like you've been able to do that more than expected or more often than not are you successful controlling tempo?

KIHEI CLARK: Yeah, I think we try to just get the game to a Virginia type of basketball game, and I think our pace is one of the slower in the country, so I think that's just how it happens. Teams take the whole shot clock to try to score against us, so I think we've had some success this year.

Q. Jayden, just curious, what have the past 72 hours been like for you guys in terms of trying to prepare, in terms of trying to focus and realizing what this opportunity is that's in front of you?

JAYDEN GARDNER: Yeah, I mean, going from getting your name called and figuring out where you're going, it's an exciting feeling. Then for us, getting back to work yesterday, practicing, and then practicing a little bit today and then got this shootaround after this. But for us it's just been getting ready mentally and getting ready for the challenge we've got. Furman is a really good basketball team, so we've just been mentally preparing, and we're going to go at it.

Q. Kihei, since the National Championship game, you have not won a game in the NCAA Tournament. What kind of feel does that give you coming into a brand-new tournament that has been three years, the COVID year, NIT, and then the loss, as well?

KIHEI CLARK: Yeah, excited for sure. To just be in this position that we've worked to get here. But it feels good to just be back in the NCAA Tournament, and one last run. Hopefully we can make it a good one.

Q. One last run, so Kihei, you're not coming back for a 10-year deal at UVA?

KIHEI CLARK: Nope.

Q. Jayden, for you, more seriously, your first chance to play in an NCAA Tournament. Last week you told us how excited you were to finally play in the ACC Tournament. What does this culmination mean for you that you're finally here on the big stage?

JAYDEN GARDNER: I mean, it means everything. It's the reason why I came here to Virginia, to play in games in environments like these. Just ready to go at it with my brothers with everything we've got, and hopefully we get the right outcome.