NCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP: SECOND ROUND - FDU VS FAU

March 19, 2023

Dusty May

Alijah Martin

Johnell Davis

Vladislav Goldin

Nationwide Arena

FAU Owls

Media Conference

Florida Atlantic - 78, Fairleigh Dickinson - 70

COACH MAY: Hats off to FDU. Incredibly hard to prepare for. Such a tough matchup. And their scrappiness, physicality, was exceptional. We just made enough plays to win. We settled in against their press and just had enough in us.

Q. (Off Microphone)?

VLADISLAV GOLDIN: My biggest was not get in foul trouble because often what happens is when they're physical I try to be the same physical as they, and that's when they get my personal fouls. But rather than that I didn't have any different thoughts about -- just played the same level as they and don't get in foul trouble.

Q. It was tight, back and forth in the second half, but you guys did close the door, and it wasn't quite as crazy as the other night. After that steal and dunk, did you feel that was the end and you guys were going to clench this one?

JOHNELL DAVIS: No, we just have to play through until it's :00 on the clock.

Q. You guys are going to the Sweet 16. Take a minute and how does that feel to hear that and know that you're going to be playing in Madison Square Garden, one of the world's famous arenas, if not one of the most famous basketball arenas, playing in the Sweet 16?

JOHNELL DAVIS: It's just like a blessing, too. But we're going to work still. It's a nice place, but we've still got to go in and put the work in as every other gym.

VLADISLAV GOLDIN: I cannot describe this feeling because it's Sweet 16. We've been watching it on TV every March. So I cannot describe this feeling. It's something that I would love to accomplish, and we did it as a group. But I don't think we're finished.

Q. What was it like going against a team that was sort of the Cinderella? You're playing a team that made history. You guys made your own school's history, but playing a team that I assume a lot of the nation was cheering for as a 16 seed, did that change anything in your preparation or how you approach this game?

JOHNELL DAVIS: No, it just brings the best out of us.

Q. Johnell, you had 29 points, 12 rebounds, only six missed shots. At what point during the game did you know that whatever you were putting up, it was going to fall regardless?

JOHNELL DAVIS: I really don't care about the stats. My team just kept feeding me the ball. Shots going in. I put the work in. And it shows in the box score.

Q. Johnell, I think you were the last guy off the court after you did the interview on TV. What did it feel like running out there with the band playing and everybody kind of going nuts, and you just did what you did? What did that moment feel like for you?

JOHNELL DAVIS: I can't really explain that moment, really. I'm just living in the moment, really. That's all.

Q. Johnell, I actually played against you at Marquette Catholic. And I've seen you and felt you light up gyms before. Talk about your composure and how maybe that helped and just how it has to be different. I know you say it's like any other gym, but --

JOHNELL DAVIS: Just being patient. That's all. My composure, patience since day one. My coach believed in me, team believed in me. I just stayed patient, waited for my turn.

Q. When you have a team like this -- the tournament's about matchups -- seems like you guys were somewhat mirror images. How do you handle that? Is that a whole different dynamic than when a team is, you really have to prep for?

COACH MAY: You said it best. When we saw them advance, we obviously we didn't predict they were going to beat Purdue, but we said they're going to be a very tough matchup for the Boilermakers. And we thought we matched up a little bit better with them.

But Vlad really impacts the game, this is our 36th game, I believe, 38 including the scrimmage and exhibition, and he's had a major impact in every game that he hasn't been in major foul trouble. So this was probably the first game where their game plan, their speed, their quickness really exposed us by playing big. And we were with Rosado.

When you play a center that has a low percentage and he knocks down a few against Purdue and starts getting his rhythm and confidence, obviously two days later he feels very good going into the game. I thought Moore was a major, major X factor for them.

Q. This is an odd question, maybe, but did you ever think at any point in Columbus, Ohio you would be booed by the team or against the team that you were playing, thinking maybe you would be the Cinderella that everybody was backing up? But tonight you were the ones being booed?

COACH MAY: It's a great question. We never felt like we were a Cinderella team. Our league was tough this year. We went into an SEC school and won and have been in some very tough environments. We never felt like we were a Cinderella story because of our record, because of the players in that locker room.

But we did feel we would be able to get the common fan or the extras on our side if we did play Purdue. But obviously when you're playing FDU and they're on the run they're on, they're easy to root for, especially the way they're playing.

Q. You mentioned you didn't feel like a Cinderella. Is there anything that happened with this group, whether it's something you learned last season or offseason that has elevated the group where they are right now, do you think?

COACH MAY: I've said this several times lately. We won 19 games last year. Nick Boyd was out all season injured and we felt we were much better than our record. And as soon as the season was over, their work ethic, their attention to detail was elevated.

And I think we were 8-8 last year early in the season. And then we played well down the stretch. We played the younger guys. They started feeling good about themselves -- Davis and Rosado and Nick Martin and those guys. We felt we were on the verge.

And once we got a couple of wins early then I think we believed that we belonged. We played against Detroit Mercy. It's one of my mentors, Mike Davis. And we played really well in a couple of games in the MTE. And he came into our locker room and spoke to our team.

And he told our guys this is one of the best teams in the country. You guys may not believe it, but there's only going to be about five real basketball teams that are all about the team, no individual ego. And where you guys are right now, if you keep going, you could be one of those five and you could be one of the best teams in the country.

And everyone in our locker room, their eyes were as wide as eyes could be. So at that point they started to think, like, maybe we are better than what we thought going into it. We're picked fifth in our league preconference.

So, yeah, there's been a lot of moments. But I think as we won, our work ethic, our work capacity increased instead of feeling too good about ourselves, and I think that's a testament to our character.

Q. Obviously there was a couple times in the past two games that you guys went on insane runs after being down. But you guys have been in every type of situation. Do you feel that sort of helped, that game-time experience in the regular season helped for games like this?

COACH MAY: Absolutely. Just the belief we've been in these situations before numerous times and we found a way. And usually it's different ways. So absolutely I think our guys believed, even when we were down seven points, I think they believed we were going to find a way.

Q. Now that you have Madison Square Garden to take on Tennessee in the Sweet 16, how are you guys approaching that matchup?

COACH MAY: We're going to study Australian rugby rules and get ready for the Vols.