NCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP: FIRST FOUR

March 18, 2024

Seth Towns

Bryce Harris

Jordan Hairston

UD Arena

Howard Bison

Media Conference

Q. Jordan, can you talk about the excitement and making it here, the 24-hour whirlwind?

JORDAN HAIRSTON: It's a blessing to be part of this experience, a blessing to be part of March Madness. And just my teammates that have been connected and I've been able to trust them. They've been able to trust me, and we've been able to accomplish a lot of great things. It's a blessing to be here and compete with a bunch of great teams.

Q. Seth, your thought on the excitement that's March Madness?

SETH TOWNS: We're all incredibly blessed to be in this position. This is what you play basketball for -- to compete at the highest stage. So we're all really excited and looking forward to doing that.

BRYCE HARRIS: I piggyback on what Seth and Jordan said. It's huge. I feel like you go up (indiscernible) to playing at the highest stage, competing against the best. To be able to do that in the tournament not only just to do that but to do it night in, night out, have an opportunity to keep playing basketball and giving your school exposure is priceless.

Q. Seth, every player who goes to this tournament, it means something to them. When you've invested as much of your life as you have into this game, can you put into words what it means to have this opportunity at this stage in your life?

SETH TOWNS: I didn't know if I would be removed from it completely for a while. And just kind of facing that was obviously really challenging. But being back in the mix of things now, it's just like it was. I've thrown myself into the fight as we often say as a team.

Having overcome some of the particular obstacles that I have and being here on this stage with this amazing group, I mean you've asked me if I could put it into words, the answer is probably no. It's remarkable and it feels amazing.

Q. Where you guys were in your league and to win the tournament, Seth, to go against those odds, you've beat other odds, what did it take for this team to beat those odds to get here?

SETH TOWNS: That's a great question. I think we faced a ton of adversity this season through injury, through a lot of guys going through really, really tough individual things. And you go in with certain expectations and this year was just like really rocky for us in a lot of ways.

So to come together at the end of the year, like we did, in the last five or so games and then in the tournament, I think it's a testament to the leadership of the coaching staff and just to the incredible guys who were never willing to give up.

We can go down the line from 1 to 18 in our team but there's just complete buy-in at the end. And our culture was so enforced on us, and I think that came to light at the end of the season.

Q. Bryce, you talked about being able to represent. How does it feel to be able to represent Howard and HBCUs in a giant tournament like this?

BRYCE HARRIS: I feel like it's huge. I feel in regards to not just Howard University but HBCUs, I feel this type of exposure isn't common. I feel like especially the athletic programs, I feel like talent level can really go against anybody in the country, honestly.

I know for our team, the amount of time we have and the amount of discipline we have, just having this type of coverage is beautiful for us, beautiful for our university. And it's beautiful for all different types of HBCUs in the country.

And like you said before, in order to get here, we have to beat a lot of good teams in the tournament. I feel like a lot of those teams, a couple of those teams could just as much be here in terms of who they are. (Indiscernible) basketball team at Morgan State and Norfolk State and also Delaware State.

Q. Seth, you kind of touched on it just now, but I wanted to ask all of you guys -- what is it like playing for Coach Blakeney? What was it that drew you guys to come to Howard, and how has that experience been?

SETH TOWNS: I don't know if I've played for a coach as intense as Coach Blakeney. And it's been a remarkable thing to be a part of his program. And I'm saying this for a fact, he's challenged me on the basketball court in a way I've never been challenged. And the growth that's come for me individually just from being a part of this program is incredible.

And the type of camaraderie and the type of buy-in and the type of dedication that he fosters on his team is unlike anything I've ever been a part of. So it's a blessing to be a part of a program that's so well-coached.

Q. Jordan, your thoughts on playing for Coach?

JORDAN HAIRSTON: Playing for Coach is nothing less than amazing. The amount of trust he puts into us, the culture he instills into us, the discipline and perseverance. Everything that we've been able to overcome and go through this season has been a tale of what he's been able to teach us.

He doesn't just teach us things on the court, he teaches things off the court. And the growth we're able to make as teammates and the growth we're able to make to affect the community has been great. So it's just a testimony of who he is as a person and as a man.

Q. Bryce, your thoughts on Coach?

BRYCE HARRIS: This is my third year being with Coach Blakeney. Since he's been here, he's established a culture that has enriched on EGBs and doing the small things, doing things like running the floor in 6 seconds, defensive rebounding, offensive rebounding -- all these things require no talent whatsoever. All it is is just effort.

Since I've been here, he just added guys to the program who embodies those principles, who embodies that way of playing.

And just seeing how far we've come, how far he's taken this program and making sure that the culture doesn't only start with him but finishes with his players, finishes with the staff, and how it even seeps into the community with our service events and things of that nature.

It's honestly been a blessing watching the process, but also being a part of the process as well.

Q. What did you guys learn from last year's trip to the NCAA Tournament? And the second question is, what is it like representing the whole state of Maryland and the Washington, D.C. area, being the only team in this area in the tournament?

JORDAN HAIRSTON: Based on representing the whole DMV area, I would say it's great. It's great to be able to put the DMV -- DC, Maryland, Virginia -- on your back and be able to go out and showcase and compete for what everyone wants, which is a national title.

SETH TOWNS: I wasn't here last year. Bryce is the one who was the seasoned vet in this context at least. Clearly I'm 26 years old. (Laughter).

But in terms of representing the DMV, it's been cool -- I've been to a lot of places and it's been cool just to see the kind of basketball culture that is the DMV and that is D.C. And just to be able to represent that here, it really means a lot.

Like, you can see it at our games. You can see it at Georgetown games. You can see it at, what they call it, the state championship game; it's a little controversial to call the D.C. championship games. But you see the culture, the deep and serious basketball culture everywhere.

Just to bring bits and pieces of that and to represent that here, it's really cool.

BRYCE HARRIS: Honestly, like coming back here, really just is understanding the magnitude of this type of event. My first year coming here, I was just in awe by -- it didn't affect who we were as a basketball team, but it was just interesting. You think you understand how big this world is and all the cameras and the lights and everything like that, and you're really just telling yourself and your teammates as well, you know, let's not get intoxicated with this; let's understand what we did to get here.

Coming here kind of understanding now, second time around, it's like, okay, you understand how many fans are going to be in the stands. You understand that you're going to have a couple more people than you expected in your corner, being at Howard University.

You understand that in certain times and spaces that you're going to have cameras around you and things of that nature. So I feel like, honestly, it's just making sure we stay solid and consistent with who we are as a basketball team. Like I said, understanding the culture that coach Kenny Blakeney has given us, and really just be focussed on winning basketball games. You win basketball games, everything else will take care of itself.

Q. Bryce, being there three years, Seth comes in, been all over the world, so to speak, all these different places, here in Ohio even and being from Columbus, he's back home. What's he brought to you guys? What's it been like having an older player like that? Do you guys kid him about being older? What's it been like seeing him and thinking about everything he's been through to get here?

BRYCE HARRIS: Honestly, like, it's everything. All of it comes with it. Him coming here was huge, and I'll just speak selfishly for me because a lot of times talking to him I'll be asking him questions. Sometimes he knows, and I'm like picking his brain. Sometimes he doesn't. You know what I'm saying?

But I feel like a lot of people on our team ask him questions, even though he hasn't been on this team, he's seen a lot of basketball. He's been around a really huge talent. He's a huge talent himself.

Even on the court, trying to see what he sees, trying to see, we'll shall watching film together, what we should do with this team or that team considering our circumstances.

But there are some funny parts to it too. We gig on him a lot for being older, you know what I'm saying? I know sometimes we'll be on the court and he'll do something that's a highlight play or something like that, we scream, yeah, Unc, yeah, Unc.

He's priceless to our program. The type of impact he's had in this short amount of time. Honestly, it's been a pleasure playing with him. It's been a pleasure.

Q. Seth, it was just mentioned that obviously you're a native of Ohio. Are you excited to play a tournament game back in your home state?

SETH TOWNS: Yes. I'm in the O. I'm playing in the tournament. I don't think you could have written this any better.

I will have people here tomorrow. They will be rowdy. So prepare for that. And yeah, let's get this thing done.

Q. Jordan, could you talk about your performance here in the back end of the season, and what's maybe changed that you were outstanding to the point of being the most outstanding player in the MEAC Tournament. Seven in the last eight games you've been in double figures. Talk about your role.

JORDAN HAIRSTON: My role for me is basically just to get the others involved. So I'm going to do what I have to do defensively, whether it's guard full court or whether it's being help side, make all the rotations, talk, keep our team connected.

But my main role is to be there defensively and give get these others involved. The chef can't eat his own food. I want to get the others involved. And if things happen offensively, things happen.

But it's been a blessing the last seven and eight games. It's just been trust. My teammates have been able to trust me. My coaches have been able to trust me and we've just been consistent. And it started with the practice.

Q. Jelani Williams, he's a guy that's been there before, won -- unfortunately he wasn't able to be with you guys physically right now. But talk to me about him. What's he meant to you guys as players? And what has he done to help you guys on the sidelines?

JORDAN HAIRSTON: Jelani Williams is a great role model. That's point-blank, period. Throughout the whole tournament nobody sees the background scenes, but he's over there help guiding me and seeing the things that I don't see on the court. Whether it's offensively, defensively, he's helping me lead the team.

He helps me out on every situation, every game we've been in thus far he's helped me see different reads. He's helped me see different options. He's helped me get through these different like slumps or areas that we have to overcome. And he's helped me be able to try to push this team to a championship and just keep collecting wins. He's a major part of this.

Q. Seth, obviously the question on Jelani, but I think maybe you wanted to touch in on Jordan, too?

SETH TOWNS: Quickly before I speak very high praise of Jelani, Jordan Hairston has had one of the most remarkable stories of basketball in college that I've ever witnessed.

He's faced a lot of challenges. And just where we started in the program and how he fought and the resilience that he's had, and for him to be able to come out to come out in the most crucial part of the season and do the remarkable things that he's done, I cannot let that go unnoticed.

Like this is a remarkable thing that we're witnessing. I talk about it a lot with others, but I wanted to make sure I said it in this kind of setting. This guy is incredible right here.

It's a testament to him. It's a testament to the culture that's enforced at the leadership level. Obviously next man up. But I mean for him to do what he's done after starting the season not knowing when he would get spot minutes is incredible. Huge, huge kudos to this guy.

Q. Then your high praise of Jelani.

SETH TOWNS: Yeah. Jelani is, I don't know if I've been around someone who has installed a winning mindset in all of his teammates like Jelani Williams. He doesn't take losing culture. That will never exist around Jelani. So to have that on your team, again, it's priceless.

BRYCE HARRIS: Jelani is the epitome of a leader and a winner. I can't tell you how many times he's changed the course of the season. He's changed the course of a basketball game around just by challenging guys in the locker room, letting people know, you're not doing your job. And understanding that for him it's unacceptable not to do so.

Jelani Williams is a winner, man. It's point-blank, period. When he was here playing, if it was (indiscernible), if not, he was doing the dirty work. We've got to get a rebound, He's grabbing a rebound. Gotta get a stop, he's getting a stop.

Jelani is the epitome of toughness -- mental, physical, emotional toughness. You have a guy like that around it's going to get to everybody in the program, not even just the players.