Maui Jim Maui Invitational Wednesday, November 21, 2018 Zach Norvell Jr

RUI HACHIMURA: I think he did, he switched on me Rui Hachimura and then he tried to play one-on-one against me. And then I was like, okay, let's do it. I have to, you know, we're the best team in the country and I'm going to be Gonzaga - 89, Duke - 87 like, you know, I'm the best player too, so I have to guard him. MEGAN GODFREY: Give us your thoughts on the game, coach. MARK FEW: Amen, brother. Now you're getting the message. I like this, yeah. That's, let's continue on MARK FEW: Yeah, hey, it was just a fantastic game this line of thought here. and you just, you just got to love this tournament. I love this place, I love Maui, and it's just been an RUI HACHIMURA: Yeah, my thinking was like I had to awesome, awesome experience for our team and our do it. I got to do it. fans and everybody involved with our program. Q. Rui and Zach, in a game like that, how much But what a game. Duke is everything that does it help when you have won so many games we thought they were and probably even a little bit already with this program? I mean how much does more. They got no quit in them. Those are really, it help you kind of not panic in those moments? really talented, high character, tough dudes to stop and ZACH NORVELL JR: Experience plays a big role in they made a heck of a run. But what I was most proud had this. Perkins, with him being one of the top guards of is we ended up winning this game on the defensive in the country, him controlling the pace of the game end those last two stops. So obviously we can really was huge for us. We came down the stretch and got build on that. some stops, we knew we were winning it on the defensive end. Things were kind of a little shaky down MEGAN GODFREY: Take questions for the players. the stretch on the offensive end, but we locked into our plan and sat down and got some stops, it will be, it will Q. For both you guys, can you just tell me what come out good for us. was going through your mind as they were making that run toward the end there? RUI HACHIMURA: Yeah, I think we have more ZACH NORVELL JR: Just stay positive, confident. experience than those Duke guys. And also I think we Perkins and Geno, they did a good job in our huddles like practiced those like those five minutes, like the last keeping us together, not letting us waiver at all. It was five minute situation, so that's why that's, yeah, we did big time for us. pretty good job.

RUI HACHIMURA: Honestly, I lost my like focus and Q. Rui, you looked surprised when they announced everything like that minute. And then but I came back the MVP. Were you surprised? because of those guys who are trying to make me go RUI HACHIMURA: Oh, no. I didn't know what they back to the game. So I kind of, I think I did. were talking about.

MARK FEW: You were fantastic. It was only a little (Laughter.) two-minute stretch. You were fine. Q. Did you think you earned it? Q. Rui, in those last two drives that Barrett was RUI HACHIMURA: No, I didn't know about it. I didn't coming down the gut there, it seemed like to me know like we had a MVP and stuff, so I didn't know like, your eyes kind of lit up a little bit like if you were yeah. And the people just, the teammates and stuff thinking in your head bring it a little bit, but how started doing stuff for me, so I was like... much do you look forward to that one-on-one battle when you know he's coming down to try to win this MEGAN GODFREY: Take questions for coach. game?

Rev #2 by #228 at 2018-11-22 01:50:00 GMT page 1 of 3 Q. I know coming in here in early in the season you arena there was a moment where it's clear that this were having some issues or some questions about team is one of those teams that's going to your rim protection. Seems like a lot of those challenge for the championship. How do you keep questions got answered this tournament, full focus in the moment when you have a big especially today. victory like this? MARK FEW: Yeah, some. I think we still had some MARK FEW: I think that's going to be a huge issues there in that stretch from about the 10 minute challenge. My good good buddy Jay Wright, I think he mark down to the 2 minute mark. But certainly when used the term we just, we got to stay away from the Brandon's jumping up there and providing that and I poison, last year when his guys moved up and were think Filip still is kind of learning. Obviously Rui did a No. 1 early in the season and what a phenomenal job nice job down the stretch. But obviously when we get they did, man, they just kept their eye on the prize and Killian back that will continue to get better and better. kept getting better and better and their culture was But it was good, not great here. But we got a lot of strong. So we got to learn from them and follow that stuff on film we can go home and really spend some lesson and we made so many mistakes this week I time with. mean when we get them in the film room it's probably not going to be the most pleasant experience. We'll Q. I know it's early, for not even 2019, but is this the get back to just kind of coaching the way we tell them biggest, one of the biggest regular season wins and practicing what we do, but it's a long, long haul. that you can remember in your career? I know it's Hopefully we can get healthy here with Killian and that been a long career but would this be right up there will change us and help us even more and certainly we towards the top? have been able to really grow with him out but he's an MARK FEW: Yeah, I mean I would, shoot, I guess. My integral part of what we do and keep it moving forward. memory is not what it once was, so I just kind of deal day-to-day and move forward. But obviously if you can Q. I know you struggled sometimes with Rui being win this tournament, the premier tournament, every a little too differential sometimes. To hear him say year and with this kind of field and everybody was what he just said, what does that, what can that do saying was the greatest ever, I think that it's more a for you your program if he starts to think that way? culmination of the three wins and how we did it. We MARK FEW: No, I mean, it means everything. We certainly didn't play perfect in games one or two, but have been working on this, I've been working on him to figured out ways to get through them. We had some truly believe that and he's not a great -- he doesn't great kind of performances from guys like Jeremy show his emotions great, he doesn't, he's not, he Jones and obviously yesterday and doesn't share much, but much more comfortable that got us to this point. And we played good. The talking like that and for him to voice that means he's lights were on us tonight and we played good, which getting it and I think on this stage he showed it too. He you have to against Duke. You have to pretty much was wanting the ball and when we got him the ball for play great. I thought we played great. We left a couple the most part he was delivering against some high, points on the board with the free throws but other than high level athletes and some damn good defenders that we were pretty good. around the rim. So that's a really, really good sign for us. And I think it's another great sign that Brandon Q. Obviously players in those moments, they feel Clarke's really starting to figure out that he can do a lot the energy and the emotions of the game. But of great things at the highest level too. So those guys what about coaches? You're looking at Coach K and you know Snacks (Norvell) is always going to be on other side of the court, do coaches feel some of hunting shots and making plays and I really think Perk that in those final moments as well? Did you? has really, really grown up and that was two MARK FEW: It's a real serene like calmness about it, unbelievable floor generals going at it tonight, Jones is, actually. You just kind of are in the moment and you're I mean it looks like he plays like he's 30 or something. just watching the basketball and not really -- I'm more I thought Perk did a good job of managing that game just kind of, that's kind of some of the calmest times, also. it's a heck of a lot better than the pregame feelings when we were trapped in the locker room waiting for Q. Duke has never lost here until now. You guys the game to start, I can tell you that. You just trust your have a pretty special relationship with Maui know guys to run the right scheme and we defended it the how much you enjoy the island as well, you talked right way and then just live with the consequences. It's about it yesterday, how special is this win going to a nice little calmness, actually. be in the next 24, 36, 48 hours for you guys? MARK FEW: Hey, the best thing about when the Zags Q. There are moments in a program where you kind come to Maui is we get tomorrow off. So I'm going to of reach those milestones and it felt like in the enjoy every hour on this island tomorrow with my family

Rev #2 by #228 at 2018-11-22 01:50:00 GMT page 2 of 3 and friends and we'll have a nice Few type of day where we do a little bit of everything and get out and about and have a great time. The players are going to do the same thing and then we have a big Thanksgiving dinner at night and it's awesome and pretty powerful because obviously we have a lot to be thankful for and then we head home, so it has the makings of a great day. For me at least.

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