NCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP: SECOND ROUND - PENN STATE VS TEXAS

March 17, 2023

Myles Dread

Seth Lundy

Andrew Funk

Jalen Pickett

Wells Fargo Arena

Penn State Nittany Lions

Media Conference

THE MODERATOR: Pleased to be joined by Penn State. We have Myles Dread, Andrew Funk, Seth Lundry, and Jalen Pickett. Questions for our student-athletes.

Q. For Andy and Myles, could you talk about how Coach has developed as this season went along? It's only his second season as a head coach. What have you seen from him in terms of development?

ANDREW FUNK: He's been incredible. We don't get to this point without him, and to be honest, you said development, but he's been lights out from day one.

Even when he was recruiting me I kind of saw and was amazed at how good of a coach he was, X's and O's and how well he's been able to develop relationships. Like he said, we are not in the place we are without him.

Grateful to have him leading us and leading the program, and obviously a huge part of our success.

MYLES DREAD: Yeah, I would completely agree with Andrew. I would also say that he's just in game coaching, learning our team, learning who to talk to certain ways and how to help guys individually is definitely one of his biggest strengths right now, and it's paid dividends throughout the rest of the season.

Q. Myles, Seth, you guys got your season cut short in 2020, and this is the first time you've played in an NCAA Tournament game. What did it mean to you guys to wear the Penn State uniform for the first time in an NCAA Tournament game?

MYLES DREAD: Felt amazing. I felt the love and support from back home. I did it for those guys that were on that team back then, you know, after the Big Ten tournament. When we got our name called I texted all those guys on that team and told them how much I appreciated them and I was going to give everything I got for those guys.

SETH LUNDY: Yeah, it definitely feels amazing to be here in this position wearing a Penn State uniform. It's like a dream come true. It's the NCAA Tournament, but, you know, wearing that blue and white it feels a little bit more special.

I'm excited for our fans as well. Our fans have been waiting for this moment for a very long time, and to get to this point is like a big relief. We still got more games to play and stuff like that so we're going to try to do our best tomorrow night.

Q. Andrew, how have you been able to at least statistically improve your three point shooting this season? You talked about how having a guy like Jalen setting you up has been big but what have you appreciated about being in this offense with these guys.

ANDREW FUNK: Yeah, I think I slid into a different role than I played my previous four years. Definitely much more specialized here. Obviously I can put the ball on the floor a little bit, but predominantly cutting and shooting, coming off screens.

So I think that focus in on that specific area has helped me. It was a large focus in my off-season and whatnot, and playing with great guys. It goes back to Coach, too, playing in this offense. Just creates good shoots, and when you get a bunch of really talented players that are unselfish and don't care who scores the points, good things are bound to happen for good players.

Q. Jalen, the unique way that you play offense, the way that you can initiate offense by backing down, how did you develop that? Is that the way you have always played? Is it with the system here? How did you decide that's the way you wanted to play?

JALEN PICKETT: I think it's just something how I've always played. I always used that way, it helps with little guards trying to get underneath you. I can turn my shoulder and look over them and see the floor better that way. So I try and use that to my advantage.

Q. Going back to City Rocks and those days, I was talking to some people from back in Albany and back in those areas, Rochester, about how you developed that game. But it looks like an old man's game, and I'm sure you've heard that a bunch of times. Do you understand that, that it looks like 1971 to people like us when guys were actually afraid to straighten up and cross over on people?

JALEN PICKETT: Yeah. I get that a lot. I've heard that a lot. I love it. It's different now. Some people don't know how to guard it. It's just an adjustment. But, I mean, I believe it's a very effective way to play.

Q. Guys, I was talking to John Harrah yesterday and he has said Myles, you had texted them that you guys were doing this for the 2020 team who couldn't get here. How big and important was that not just for you guys, but for the 2020 team, everyone else, how much responsibility did you feel as a team going into this?

MYLES DREAD: Yeah, like I said, I put the onus on myself to make sure those guys felt the appreciation and got the, you know, like, support that, hey, I'm going out there and this is an extension of you guys.

Me and John talk here and there and he's just always telling me, you know, just keep leading and do the best you can. We got here, and, you know, we're here to stay.

SETH LUNDY: Yeah. Being a part of that team was definitely something special. Me and Myles' relationship with those guys is like no other. It was a very connected team and we're still connected to this day, honestly.

We stay in touch with those guys, and, you know, being on this journey and making it to the tournament, I feel like they're part of this. So like Myles put me in a group chat with every single player on the team, and it was like a big family group chat. They was proud and happy for us and stuff like that. We felt like they deserved to be in this moment with us.

Q. Jalen and Andrew, what have you been able to learn about Texas with this quick turnaround? I know you haven't had a lot of time, but what can you tell us about what you know about them so far?

JALEN PICKETT: They're a really good team, really good. They really get to the glass. They have really good guards. They can shoot it. They're disciplined. Their bigs are really athletic. We're going to have to do our part to try to keep them off the glass, keep our turnovers down, like almost every game.

But it should be a dogfight and we're looking forward to it.

ANDREW FUNK: Just continuing off that, their guard play is excellent. Have some really good bigs that complement them, get out in transition. Obviously I just -- throughout the year I just kinda watch college basketball, and obviously you're not watching games like, oh, what if we play them.

But definitely a team that I've watched throughout the year that I've been impressed with, so we're going to have to bring our best self tomorrow night in the game and hopefully beat them.

Q. Andrew, I was talking to your high school coach earlier today and he said when he saw that first shot go in he thought Texas A&M might be in for a long night. I know a lot of shooters get in a rhythm when they see a deep one go in and feel they might be on. Was that the case for you last night? I'm not asking you to rank your best shooting performances, but obviously this one is going to be up there. Have you felt that good a lot in your career? What did it feel like?

ANDREW FUNK: Yeah, definitely seeing that first one go in made me feel good for a couple reasons. Like it's my first NCAA Tournament game. I wouldn't call it nerves, but there is anxiousness to go along with that, so easing that up as well.

And, yeah, to do that on that stage and for me and for my team to be able to do that -- and it's lucky I've played with coaches that have let me take the shots I take. I'm happy you talked to my high school coach, because I know he lived with the crazy shots I take.

Coach has let me continue with that a little bit, and I hope it paid off for that. But, yeah, seeing that first one go in definitely makes me feel good and alerts my teammates when they find me I'm going to be confident in knocking it down.

Q. Myles and Seth, y'all have played against Marcus Carr before when he was at Minnesota in the Big Ten. What are your thoughts on his game and what you guys are going to have to do to make him have less of an impact on the game tomorrow?

SETH LUNDY: Yeah, Marcus Carr definitely is a very good player. Played against him a few times my freshman year. I believe he's a strong guard as well. He can shoot the ball. He can score the ball. Pretty much in every way. He tries to get his teammates involved as well. So I feel like he's a great overall point guard but I feel like we contain him, then we can do a good job with them.

MYLES DREAD: Yeah, Marcus Carr is a great player, three-level scorer. Like Seth said, strong guard, gets to his spots well. We're going to do our best to try to contain him.

And, you know, I mean, great players make things happen, so we're going to do our best to try to contain them.

Q. Jalen, wondering your first impression of Andrew when he joined the team and you got in the gym with him, how quickly it took for you to realize this guy can shoot?

JALEN PICKETT: Yeah, actually I played against Andrew earlier when I was at Siena, and I knew then going over the scouting report that he could really shoot the ball.

But actually seeing him in one of the workouts, we were shooting partners in one of the drills and we won the shooting contest. I didn't make many shots, but Andrew made most of them, and I knew he could shoot it so I have the finest -- I see him working on his game all the time and he really puts a lot of time into his jump shot.

Q. Jalen, are you aware that the field of 68 is now marketing booty ball tee shirts? Are you going to get a part of that?

JALEN PICKETT: I am aware of that and, hopefully we can set up something with NIL that -- it's funny, I'll take it.

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