NCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP: REGIONAL SEMIFINAL - ARKANSAS VS TEXAS TECH

March 26, 2025

Jonas Aidoo

Johnell Davis

Chase Center

Arkansas Razorbacks

Sweet 16 Pregame Media Conference

Q. Coach Cal just talked about how rewarding this season has been for him, just in kind of the grand scope of his career. Have you guys kind of felt the same way? How rewarding has this been this year been for you guys?

JOHNELL DAVIS: I feel it's been rewarding going through adversity. Now you see where we're at, we're in the tournament. Just not taking none of this for granted and just trying to enjoy the moment.

JONAS AIDOO: I would say the same thing. I mean, nobody thought we would be where we are right now, starting 0-5 in conference play. So just the way we all responded as a whole team, whole program. I just feel like not another team could have really done what we went through and responded and bounced back the way we did.

Q. Johnell, a lot of guys thrive during the regular season and take a step back in March, more spotlight, more pressure. You're kind of the opposite. You really get going in March, not just here at Arkansas but at FAU. Why do you think that is?

JOHNELL DAVIS: I don't know really. It just shows my work ethic and just the work I put in, trying to not let the season get long and just try to enjoy this whole season.

Q. I don't know if you guys saw the video of Cal's wife and his mom, his wife and daughter, just the emotions. What was the last week for your mom and y'all's family, just getting through all of that after the regular season?

JOHNELL DAVIS: The same. Just shows the passion they've got for us and the love and just shows how much they want us to win.

JONAS AIDOO: I'd say the same. I mean, obviously our parents love us, loved ones too as well. Just to see what we both went through, we both went through injuries and we kind of weren't the same. We came back and for us to respond the way we did, everybody is just so proud and thankful for the moment.

Q. Curious your thoughts, any impressions you've gotten of being around San Francisco and also being in the home of the Warriors where Steph Curry plays?

JONAS AIDOO: This is great out here. I'm looking around the pictures. It's just incredible. Growing up, you always play like 2K with the Warriors. You've got Curry, Klay, K.D., it's great being in a facility like that. I'm from North Carolina. We don't have In-N-Out. I'm over here begging for In-N-Out, In-N-Out. It's fantastic. Grateful for that.

JOHNELL DAVIS: Wish we could meet him, though.

JONAS AIDOO: Curry, all of them, shoot.

Q. You're saying that when you guys were 0-5 that no one believed you guys could get here, did you guys ever lose that belief? Did you see this could be coming?

JONAS AIDOO: No, we always had faith, for sure. We know we're a really talented team. We just had to put the pieces together and learn how to play together on the court. We knew Coach picked us out individually knowing who he wanted and all it was, was a matter of just bringing it all together and playing as a team.

Q. How much do you FAU guys keep tabs on each other during the tournament?

JOHNELL DAVIS: I always talk to him. We had contact. We had a group chat we always talk in, we always Facetime sometimes.

Q. What's it like seeing the success?

JOHNELL DAVIS: Just amazing just seeing my buddies win, just in general.

Q. Johnell, you mentioned jokingly wanting to meet Steph Curry. I don't know if you know this but Moses Moody played at Arkansas. Has he reached out to you all in any way, wishing you good luck playing in this building tomorrow?

JOHNELL DAVIS: Not right now. We know that he has his whole season, things he's worrying about, and we've got our own.

Q. What is it that you appreciate about Steph's game?

JOHNELL DAVIS: Just way he scores the ball, off the ball, on the ball. It's just the way he plays, hard and in shape.

Q. Last week, in Providence, Cal described you as one of the nicest players he's ever coached. Yet you don't play like that on the court. How do you kind of balance it on the court versus off the court?

JONAS AIDOO: For me, I've always liked to show my personality. And a lot of people told me that on the court I needed to tame my personality, have an alter ego on the court. That's what I've been trying to do more, have an alter ego when I'm on the court. But when I'm off the court, just being myself.