NCAA Men's 1st and 2nd Rounds: Hartford Saturday, March 23, 2019 Hartford, Connecticut like our young guys did a great job this year of just coming along. I mean, they've been through a lot this year. I feel like through this whole year, ups and downs, they'll take that on to the next year and years to come and do a great job of it.

Purdue - 87, Villanova - 61 I mean, just feel like me and Phil just tried to show them what Villanova basketball is all about. I mean, it's JAY WRIGHT: I want to congratulate Purdue on just an about playing hard, and playing for your teammates outstanding basketball game. They are a very, very and coaches. And I feel like in the years to come, good team. We knew that coming into the game. They they'll be very good. just have great balance, inside game, iso game, drive, shoot threes, defend great as a team. Just really, really Q. So, what do you guys think that -- you know, impressive, and we wish them luck going forward. there was a lot of emotion at the end of the game They're a good team. Classy guys, too. and especially with the seniors. Can you describe what you were feeling at the end of the game and We just, as a staff, did not get our guys -- we tried to what is your advice for, you know, your advice make them understand their ability to hit threes and leaving the program, for the next age of students. execute their offense with great precision, and we just ERIC PASCHALL: I mean, my emotion, I was just sad didn't have them ready from the start. We just gave up, to not play in the Villanova jersey anymore. I thank to a team like that, a lot of threes early, uncontested Coach Wright for everything he's done for me. Without these. And then once you get a great shooting team him, I wouldn't be here. I guess losing in your senior like that going, and then you're overaggressive trying to year, but at the end of the day, I love Villanova. I mean, take away those threes, then they start slipping. They everything they've done for me, every little thing, that's get you on the inside, they get you on offensive all the emotions that were happening. rebounds. It became an ugly game. I thought it began with their ability to get threes and our inability to PHIL BOOTH: Yeah, just a lot of the emotion in your recognize where their shooters were. head, going through your head. Last college game, our last time with that special group of players we had. Q. I guess Eric and Phil, the only two returning This young group, they did so much and learned so seniors, there were no returning juniors. much. It's just a lot. It doesn't really sink in yet while Realistically this wasn't the national contending you're on the court, because you're still just losing. But team. Somebody didn't even think you would win a later on how much the University has meant to me, game in the tournament. Could you talk about the coaching staff, Coach Wright, players I played with. difference bringing along young players in the Couldn't have asked for a better experience. future, the job you two with all these freshman and sophomores and maybe making another run in a Q. Continuing with that , the legacy that you year or two from now? guys have left at Villanova, if you could reflect on PHIL BOOTH: They did a good job all year. They that and how this is just a loss, but the legacy you bought in tremendously. We won't be here without leave behind is probably bigger. Do you both feel them because of all the things they did, listening and that way? learning. Demanding sophomores be like juniors and PHIL BOOTH: I don't feel that way right now, I'll tell you seniors on the team; making freshman not to be that. You know, going out like that, just wish it could freshman. We asked a lot of them and they have been better. But that's just more credit to the responded. I think this team will be in years to come guys I played with, just been fortunate to play with a very good. Next year they'll have a lot of talent and a group of guys. Like this team here, just unselfish, all lot of experience and they'll learn from games like this. about the team, do anything for the team, for the win, or whatever it takes just to play Villanova basketball. ERIC PASCHALL: I mean, same as Phil. I mean, I feel Guys have bought in and this team is no different than

Rev #1 by #448 at 2019-03-24 03:25:00 GMT page 1 of 3 any other team I played on in the past in terms of power -- we got to keep the tempo down. We've done committed, wanting to play Villanova basketball. it all year. We don't have the man power to play from Wanting to be together, love one another. This group is behind and then speed up the game. Once we special in those terms. It hurts going out like this, but decided to speed up the game, it was desperation. We there's a lot here. I learned a lot from this year. knew we were going to be in trouble.

ERIC PASCHALL: Definitely not thinking about any We needed to keep that close and grind it out. That's type of legacy right now. I mean, it's just hard going what we needed to do. When they started drilling out like this, but everything comes to an end. Again, I those three and got up 19 at halftime, it was not a good just feel fortunate enough to play with great guys situation for us. So, I don't think we were that far, but I throughout my whole career and them teaching me think we ran into a really good team and a really tough things to help me this year. I hope I did a great job of match-up for us. teaching our young guys how to continue this tradition of playing Villanova basketball. Q. Jay, I wonder if it almost felt like a Freaky Friday situation for you. Because this game -- the Kansas Q. Phil, I saw towards the end you were kind of game you won in the Final Four last season went talking to Jermaine. He was a little emotional. the exact opposite way. I mean, you guys came out What kind of advice were you giving him, you so hot. Felt like Purdue did the same thing, too. I know, him and Collin, and Dhamir? wonder if that came into your mind and as a PHIL BOOTH: Just telling them how proud of them I veteran coach, when a team like that comes out was from this year and how much I've learned from and does this. It's a devastating end for Eric and them, and how much they bought in to Villanova Phil, but sometimes it's is just not your night? basketball and would do anything for anybody on the JAY WRIGHT: I would be lying if I said that didn't come team. I just told them to keep your head up. You'll be into my head during the game. You job as a coach, is back here again. You'll learn so much from this. Try to get it right out of your head. But it did come in there, keep their spirits up. Those guys have done so much and you just have to compete. You have to continue to for me, for this team. Became brothers, you know, compete each possession. And this game is a connected with a group, maybe younger, two, three humbling game. You could be on either side of it. And years younger. But we became very close with those it's one of the things we said to the guys after the guys. Just told them how proud I am and how thankful Kansas game: Give those guys respect because we I am for them. came out and made every shot. It doesn't happen every night. Q. Now that the tournament is over, and when you get back to campus, Coach Wright, what are you And they did it tonight and when it happens to you, you looking forward to working on in practice and give them their credit, and you learn from it. But if you going forward from here? get in them early and don't let great shooters get hot, JAY WRIGHT: We have a really young crew next year. and you keep the game tight, that's what you have to No seniors and these sophomores become juniors. learn from that. That's what we didn't do. We didn't We got a couple of these freshman we got to develop. get up on Edwards early, didn't get up on Cline early, So we've got a lot of work to do, but I'm looking forward and when great shooters get hot, you're in trouble. to it. I like these young guys a lot, and tonight will That's what happened tonight. teach them how hard you have to work to prepare every game and to play against the top teams. I hope Q. Jay what was your message to your seniors Purdue's a Final Four team. I think they're good especially the last few guys that have been there enough to be. But we have a lot of work to do. But I for you during that first National Championship run look forward to it. in 2016. JAY WRIGHT: Thank you. And from me personally as Q. You said you thought you were in a little bit of a the head coach first, thank you for keeping the culture race against time, you know, maybe try to buy strong and the tradition alive this season rather than another week of working with these guys, maybe going for your own personal glory. And then on behalf get to that next level. Tonight didn't look like you of the whole Villanova community, thank you. On the were that close. Are you rethinking that or do you court, off the court, they were gentlemen, leaders. think maybe with a few more days and the right They were the consummate Villanova basketball match-up, it could have swung a little differently? players. JAY WRIGHT: Yeah. In these games, match-ups and the way things go, the score's not always indicative of Q. Jay, kind of piggybacking off of Matt's question, where you are as a team. We don't have the man does this Purdue team and program kind of remind

Rev #1 by #448 at 2019-03-24 03:25:00 GMT page 2 of 3 you of Villanova in the way that you guys have built how he grew and what he means to the program. your program, the way the offense can click, JAY WRIGHT: Yeah. He comes so far. Last year he especially along the perimeter with someone like really struggled picking things up. Then he broke his or Ryan Cline at all? hand. It was a really tough year for him where he didn't JAY WRIGHT: Yeah, it does. It reminds me of our team really get the experience we needed him to get, so he last year. Just great perimeter skill, but still have a had to go through it all this year. And he did it under drive game and a good post-up game. Really fire and has done an amazing job. Has really become unselfish. And you could see they had a confidence a really good player for us. He's going to be a big part shooting the ball, no fear of failure, very impressive. I of our team and a leader. We have no seniors next did think of that. year, so he's going to be a leader on this team. He's very important to us, he's a great kid, and he will take Q. Jay, obviously two of the last three years, your the responsibility of being a leader very seriously. I team was cutting down the nets. Worst NCAA think he's got a great upside. Tournament loss in program history for you all tonight. How do you process that? And what do you tell the guys going forward about the highs and lows of this game? JAY WRIGHT: Yeah. The game's humbling, you know. And it's good for us sometimes. You don't choose to be in this position. But when you win, you've got to realize that there's guys on the other side that are working just as hard as you, and you've got to be respectful of them and understand you could be on the other side of it, and today we are.

And it doesn't mean we can't get back there, but we have to be respectful and give Purdue credit, and we have to get back to work. Stay hungry and keep getting better.

Q. Coach, this was a rebuilding year really for the whole Big East not just Villanova. It's been so strong for several years. Looks very strong again. Is there any chance just not having quite the same level of competition throughout the year made you not as prepared for going up against a team like this today? JAY WRIGHT: I don't know. That could be. Our league was a really young league this year. A lot of young teams who will have everybody back next year. There will be a lot of really good teams. We could be one of the younger teams next year.

But I think we were prepared for this game, I think in terms of competition, you know. I think St. Mary's is a really good team. We played Florida State during the year. I just think you saw a lot of young Big East teams this year just get worn down at the end, and when you get to this tournament, you run into experienced teams and that's what happens.

Q. Jay, may be one of the lone bright spots in this game, seemed to be really effective in the first half and also grew through the second half of the year. I saw you coaching him throughout the game quite a bit one on one. I wanted to get your thoughts about Jermaine and

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