NCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP: FIRST ROUND - GRAND CANYON VS GONZAGA

March 19, 2023

Mark Few

Rasir Bolton

Drew Timme

Julian Strawther

Ball Arena

Gonzaga Bulldogs

Media Conference

Gonzaga 84, TCU 81

MARK FEW: Man, we beat a really, really good TCU team tonight. They are athletic. They're strong. They're quick. They're smart. They really move the ball extremely well. They're very, very well-coached. It's just a heck of a win, and we're just -- I'm ecstatic for these guys, to get to another Sweet 16. That's eight in a row, which is just an incredible testament to our program and what we've been able to do these last eight years.

Q. What was the difference there in that second half? Obviously they're trying to go at Drew being physical in that first half --

MARK FEW: I mean, I thought we were -- you can ask these guys, but I thought we were very tentative in the first half, and they were definitely really up into us. And much like the first half of the first game, we just were not being who we are. And then I thought we were back on our heels defensively when we had seven deflections, I think, at the half.

I really challenged them, listen, this isn't how we've been playing and who we are and it's not why we've made this run this last month and a half. We've got to get back to being the aggressor and playing our style of basketball.

They deserve all the credit. Like I was telling Rasir walking back here, he did not play great in the first half and came out lights out in the second half. What an incredible character trait to have that. He's done that a lot for us this year. But on the biggest of stages to have that kind of belief in yourself and not cave in, which I think a lot of guys would and say it's not my night, it's unbelievable, and that was a microcosm of our whole team effort in the second half.

Q. That was your third three-pointer of the season. How big was that, and are you going to ask Coach for the green light from now on?

DREW TIMME: Rasir and I work on those all the time. It was a low clock, I guess the opportunity presented itself. They hit some crazy threes, too, so I guess the balance of the scale you could say. It was huge, late clock, two-point game, just kind of launched one up there and it went in. All you can do is smile and laugh.

Q. Drew and Mark, you guys have been down a lot this year and the resiliency you guys have pulled off against Kent State, Michigan State, the WCC road trips. What do you think factors into the poise and being able to dig out some of these wins in the second half?

MARK FEW: First of all, these guys sitting up here have won a lot of games and been in a lot of situations and have played everybody there is pretty much in college basketball. I think there's a tremendous confidence from all those experiences that they have in them. And then I also think there's a confidence and a fortitude to our belief that we're going to be fine. We've just got to get back to doing our thing.

Again, they deserve all the credit for doing that. That's hard to do in sports when it's not going so well.

Q. Nolan airballed and all the players went up to him immediately after and showed support. How important is that?

JULIAN STRAWTHER: I would say that's who we are. We got each other's back no matter what. We don't want to see anybody hanging their head especially in a game like this. There's no time to dwell on the last play.

We all got so much love for each other, and sure it was a big shot and it didn't fall, but we've just got to let him know it's the next play mentality and we got his back.

Q. Ras, we heard Coach Few talking about how big that was in the second half for you, but 1 for 7 in the first half to come out and hit those two big threes, how much courage did that take to keep firing them?

RASIR BOLTON: It was big for me to see it go in, but everybody in the locker room was telling me to keep shooting. I have confidence in myself. I work out every day, so it was just a matter of when it's going to go in for me and just not to think about it, just to stay confident in myself.

Q. Coach, you guys have played here now a few times in the Mile High City. What did you think of the crowds Friday and tonight? None of the teams are super close to hear, but obviously a packed house.

MARK FEW: Look, we've had great success playing here the last two times, and it's a basketball town. We've had some great players from here. When you look at Matt Bouldin and Josh Perkins, those are two legendary Zags, and I thought that the arena was electric tonight.

Obviously Gonzaga travels really, really well, but I thought it was really, really a great atmosphere both nights.

Q. Mike Miles hit a three-pointer, made it 55-50, and I think for about the last part of the second half, you doubled him once he came to half court. Was it a case of don't let Mike Miles shoot?

MARK FEW: To be honest with you, we were trying to double him all game on the ball screens when we could. When we did it, we did it -- when we did it right, it worked pretty good, but he's so good. If we were just a shade soft or a shade late, he was by us, and he hit some really, really tough shots too. He hit a three where we were all over him. He had a couple pull-ups we were all over him.

He's a player. I mean, he's a big, big, big-time player. He can hit tough shots. He's quick. Then he really made some -- I was very impressed with some of the ball screen passes he made that I hadn't seen on film that were really into tight windows.

Q. Drew, I know you've known Mike for a while going back to your days in Dallas. How much respect do you have for his game, and how long have you known him? Was it fun to go back and forth with him on this big stage.

DREW TIMME: Yeah, it was great. Obviously love to see him do well. That's my guy. We've known each other for a long time. I actually played against probably half those dudes that played in high school in Texas, and never really beat any of them. Their teams were better than mine. So the game was a little personal for me. I wanted to get my lick back because one of those teams always beat us or something, so it was nice to get it back.

But Mike is a hell of a player, but he's a better person. We were always working out in the summer together, always just hanging around each other, he's just a good dude and I love to see him do well. So it's always fun to play against your friends when you can be so competitive and want to beat each other so bad, but after the game you just leave it on the floor and still be friends after.

Q. I know this hasn't sank in yet or given thought to UCLA, but what kind of challenge do they present?

MARK FEW: They have a lot of guys back from the Final Four game, especially with Tyger and Jacquez. I've seen them play a lot. We played them last year, and obviously played them the year before. There's definitely some familiarity. Mick has done a great job of just instilling his personality and toughness into that program, very defensive minded, and a lot of isolations. Ball is going to be in Jacquez and Tyger's hands a lot.

Q. Mark, I think this is Drew's ninth 20-point game in the NCAA Tournament. What about this stage has allowed for him to shine so much?

MARK FEW: I mean, that's who he is and what he does. He shines on any stage actually. It's not like he's not getting 20-point games when he plays for us regularly.

Listen, I think he's the best player in college basketball. I've said that. I think he's going to go down with the amount of success and the wins and all he's been able to do. I think he's one of the greatest college players that's ever played. When you think about that stat we were looking at earlier in the year when he had spent as many weeks ranked No. 1 as he hadn't spent weeks, these are just crazy numbers. He's racking up all kinds of NCAA Tournament wins, and he delivers in the NCAA Tournament.

Again, I just think he's going to go down, when you really look at all his accomplishments, as one of the all-time great college players in the history of the game.

He still wasn't supposed to shoot that three, but that's what makes him good is he does it anyway every once in a while.

Q. Drew, you've played with a lot of great players, Jalen, Chet, Corey Kispert. What about Julian sitting next to you makes him such a good counterpart out there for you.

DREW TIMME: The beauty about this program is it's not one player that makes this program work. It's not five guys. It's not ten guys. It's the whole program as a whole. I mean, without Coach and the staff believing in each and every one of us, we wouldn't have the confidence to come out here and fight back when we get knocked down.

There's games he plays bad, I play bad, everyone plays bad, and our teammates are always there to pick us up and they have the utmost confidence in us. While Coach brings in great players, he brings in people that fit his ideal of what a team should be, and I think we all feed into that culture.

It's more about the culture rather than the individual players I'd say as a group. We ride with each other until the end, and I think that's what makes each of us special individually is how we unite together.

Q. I was thinking about the four teams that played tonight. There were two Christian schools and two Jesuit schools and the two Jesuit schools advanced, you guys and Creighton. How much do you folks rely on just your faith when you're kind of down in the games, when you're struggling, when you need a pick me up? How much does that play into your program, what you focus on and how you get through the tough moments in these games?

MARK FEW: Well, I rely on it 100 percent. I'm a son of a preacher, preacher's kid, so that's engrained in me and it's 100 percent, these guys will tell you. But they can answer that, too.

RASIR BOLTON: I think faith plays a big part in my life. I pray all the time. I thank God for all the blessings, just being able to wake up and come out here and do the things that we can do. Faith plays a huge part in it for me.

Q. Drew, 28 points tonight. Really looked out there like you were giving your absolute all. Not saying that you don't every game. But where does this rank in performances for you.

DREW TIMME: Well, I saw some nice things on the internet before, maybe taking some shots at us, me and our program. Throw a little lighter fluid on the fire if you wish. I thought TCU was a highly educated school, and they didn't sound so smart with their comments pregame, so you know...