NATIONAL INVITATION TOURNAMENT: UTAH VALLEY VS UAB

March 28, 2023

Andy Kennedy

Orleans Arena

UAB

Semi Finals Postgame Press Conference

UAB 88, Utah Valley 86

ANDY KENNEDY: I was really pleased with the way we started the game. Our game plan was to be disruptive. I think Utah Valley is one of the most dynamic offensive teams we've played all season. They have got multiple guys on the perimeter that can make plays, and that was evident throughout the second half. And they have got two kids inside that are really good at what they do.

I thought we were really disruptive early, and then our offense allowed them to get back in the game. Poor shot selection, some looseness with the ball and they got out in transition and settled in.

Took the fight to us and we were able to in with a slim halftime lead, and then in the second half, it was just back forth, back forth, we're up five, I'm thinking we're going to salt the thing away and again, just some poor decisions. But a lot of times, their big kid inside, he's so disruptive with his ability to block shots and his presence at the basket, and I think he was certainly problematic for us in some of our poor decisions.

But our guys made the plays that we needed to make. I thought Eric was tremendous in a couple of decisions in the pull-up game. And Todd Brewer, what can you say? He really played big on the biggest stage.

Q. I want to start with you on this. So many close games this season, and I know not always going your way but to see the team pull this one away in such a close game and now punching history and making this first appearance in the Final, what does that mean to you, and truly what is the ultimate credit to these guys getting it done tonight?

ANDY KENNEDY: Well, we were talking about it in every time-out. We were frustrated because we knew that we had made some mistakes which put ourselves in a tough position but we have lived there all year.

As you said, we have experience in tight games and we have experience against quality teams, and we have to make sure that we execute at a high level. And ultimately teams that advance are teams that can make plays, and fortunately for us tonight we made one more play.

Q. Just what does this night mean to you, and on top of that for a second follow-up, all-Conference USA Final, what is that going to mean to play against North Texas for the NIT Championship?

ERIC GAINES: Tonight was a big deal. We needed to win. We got it going into the next game against North Texas, same deal. We just got to go in, dogfight and come out with the W.

TY BREWER: I mean, I feel like tonight was big for the program, for the team. That gave us an energy boost. We knew we needed this game.

As far as North Texas, I know this game is going to be a roller coaster, but I feel that like we'll come out locked in and focused and ready to take care of business.

Q. You were talking about how the game went back and forth, how did you guys stay focused and in the game, even not always in the lead, and watching the team come back on you time and time again as the game goes on?

ANDY KENNEDY: We have a next play mentality and we talk about it all the time, and every one of us, myself included, sometimes I'll get off the rails, and somebody will say hey, next play. We've got to move to the next thing. And then our huddle, it's controlled chaos to say the least.

But we are all trying to get everybody to get refocused on the task at hand and when there's opportunities in front of you, then you still have a chance to make a play that would change the outcome.

These two guys made huge plays for us. Certainly wasn't Jelly's best night, and we were still able to beat a quality team. When the fourth leading scorer in the country goes 5-for-23, it shows you that the team is more than just that and we can find ways to win despite not playing our best offensively. Which a lot of credit goes to Utah Valley, they came in as 25th best defensive efficiency team in the country, and we see why. They have got a really good team.

Q. Has it been a sense of urgency to the end of your career, being the motivation for you through this NIT run, big game at Moorhead State, matching your career-high tonight is that part of your mentality?

TY BREWER: My mentality was really do anything and everything I can, and just go hard doing it, and whatever happens, just happens, and that's my mentality about it.

Q. Aside from what you guys have seen from North Texas in the regular season, anything different you've seen from them in this tournament that you'll prepare for?

ANDY KENNEDY: Obviously the absence of Ousmane, that changes the dynamic of their team. He was an all-league player at that 5-spot, and now they have to have other guys step up, and to their credit, just like we have had different guys step up, they certainly have.

We know what they are going to do; they know what we are going to do, ultimately the champion will come out of Conference USA against two teams that have had a lot of battles. And it will be about the one that makes the most plays. They have got dynamic play-makers, as do we.

Again, now it's just about regrouping a little bit, getting your emotions back, get your body back, we have a day off, and I'm sure both teams will be locked in Thursday.

Q. You talk a lot about matchups, and with this matchup, did you see Ty having at least an opportunity to have a night like this?

ANDY KENNEDY: Ty came from East Tennessee State, and East Tennessee State, he doesn't like me to say this -- cover your ears -- but he played the 4-5. That's what he played. And he plays kind of the 3-4, hybrid-4 for us, so when I start him at the 3, you know this, you've seen us play a lot. Typically I'll go right to him because he's comfortable in that mid-post because that's what he did throughout his career. So we try to get him going early; and when he makes one, he makes two; and I'm not as dumb as I look: We're going see if he can make three and four, and he certainly delivers.

The play at the end, you know, again we were trying to get their big guy away from the basket. We were not having any luck inside finishing over the top of him. So we were trying to get him spread in ball screen coverage and then cut behind him, and it was up to Eric to make the right read. A couple times, he got the pull-up, he; got to the rim a couple times; he got in No Man's Land and the ball got away from us. But then on the off-side, Ty's guy was the helper, and we were trying to find Ty in that mid-range and he delivered.

Q. Did you have Jelly miss that free throw on purpose, and what would be the thought process?

ANDY KENNEDY: No, I didn't. And if you know anything about Jelly, if you think he's sacrificing one point for anybody, you have not watched us very much.

He was trying to make that and we were trying to make it because with five-tenths of a second, we have all seen crazy things happen, a three beats you. It's not as if they can run a design play. It's going to be whoever catches it has to turn and shoot it in less than half a second.

The design was for him to make it. I thought that he acknowledged that, and then the outcome was a little bit different. But again, if you've been a part of our journey now for about 70-some odd games, me and Jelly, a lot of times what I say and what he acknowledges are not quite on the same wavelength.

Q. Can you talk about the success of Conference USA in the postseason, five teams and one loss so far?

ANDY KENNEDY: I hate to quote Twitter because I'm sure it's all fact-checked, but I think 17-1 or something like that, Conference USA in postseason play. That's pretty good. For a one-bid league. I know North Texas, I heard Grant earlier, they are the highest net-rated team not in the field. I don't know if you've heard about that program in Boca Raton, but they have done pretty good.

So yeah, we're proud of the fact that there's good quality basketball. It was a Top-10 rated league and it's been good from top to bottom, and now I think the nation is seeing that.

Q. Your first team was more of a grind-it-out team last year. Jelly really came on the scene, but this season is find-a-way-to-win, whatever-which-way. Do you feel as though that has been the identity these guys have been able to establish and something that they acknowledge?

ANDY KENNEDY: Yeah, I don't think there's any doubt. I think it's who we are. We have got a number of different guys that can rise to the occasion. Some nights we're dominant in the paint, and we try to win the free throw line. Some nights it's a defensive struggle, and some nights we have to outscore you, and we've had a number of different guys step up for us. I like to term it eclectic. We have an eclectic group.

Q. Eric, we hear Coach talk about history, and you guys have different goals this season and you've proven that conference, just how competitive it is and what this team could have done. But with this opportunity what does that mean in the Final run to possibly bring a championship back home?

ERIC GAINES: Remember. That's one thing coach always says, if you can't make history, be that team that's remembered, you know what I'm saying. Come out, get that W and make UAB history.

TY BREWER: I second that.

ANDY KENNEDY: I don't know who we are playing tomorrow but I'm all for beating them (laughter) I'll take a couple more.

Q. What, if any, experience do you have with Mark Madsen prior to this, and what's your impression of him as he's got a reported offer to move somewhere else?

ANDY KENNEDY: I like Mark. Obviously he game famous or infamous with his post-celebration dance. I watched that. I know he was part of two NBA Championship team; his role was a little less than Shaq and Kobe's, just a little. He was a terrific college player at Stanford.

We actually have a connection because when I got the job we had a young man from California, and it was the COVID deal, and I never even met the kid because they had all gone home when I got hired, and the kid was going to transfer and he transferred to Mark. So Mark and I established a rapport over the phone, and to this day we talked about he my appreciating my candor, because I told him the truth. Sometimes that's not as common in our business as you would think.

And I didn't really follow them throughout the course of the year. They are in a different time zone. You know we don't play a lot of the same teams. But when they got in the NIT, I really started locking in and dove into the tape, and he does a tremendous job. He's a good guy, genuinely, I feel, a good guy. He's done a great job at Utah Valley and I just with wish him well with whatever's next.