NCAA Men's 1st and 2nd Rounds: Columbia Thursday, March 21, 2019 Columbia, South Carolina Mike Krzyzewski when players get hurt, it forces you to respond in a Javin DeLaurier different way, and it just makes us closer as a team because we've been through so much, and the fact that R.J. Barrett we're here now, I mean, it's a brotherhood. We bonded through it all, and it just makes us close. Q. Zion, does the location of these first two games have any extra significance to you beyond just the THE MODERATOR: We have the student-athletes from NCAA Tournament because it's in your home Duke University. We will introduce the players. Zion state? Williamson, Javin DeLaurier, and R.J. Barrett. Open ZION WILLIAMSON: Yes and no. Yes, because I didn't the floor for questions. think I would ever like have a chance, once I committed to Duke, to play in the state of South Carolina in a Q. Zion, you played AAU ball with Devontae Shuler. college game. So that's obviously a You've known him for a while. What was he like as blessing, so I'm very excited about that. And no, a player then, what was your impressions of him, because I can't like put my personal excitement ahead and how far along has he come, do you think? of my teammates because, at the end of the day, I'm on ZION WILLIAMSON: He has come a long way, a team, and I want to win with my teammates, and we obviously. But for me, when I played with Shuler, I was have to focus on just winning. a ninth grader, he was a tenth grader, and I was like, yeah, he's the best player in the state. He would Q. Zion, did you have an opportunity to watch any impress me with so much, like he'd get steals but act of the North Dakota State game last night? If so, like he got faked out by a spin move and just turn right what were your impressions of the Bison? back. He would be a very explosive scorer, like score ZION WILLIAMSON: Yeah, I got to watch some of it. 15 points straight. I used to just watch in awe of him. My impressions were very good. They play as a unit. So, yeah, he has come a long way. They can really shoot, and they remained calm, like they got the lead, and then Central cut it down. But Q. This is for all of you. Notwithstanding the even with that momentum swing, they didn't like fold. Number 1 seed, this team has gone through a lot They held their composure, and they got the win. this season, injuries and a tough schedule. How has this team evolved? We keep hearing Q. Zion, you've been like the biggest story in brotherhood. How has this brotherhood evolved all year. How have you for all of you? maintained your composure through that? And R.J. BARRETT: Yeah, it's been a challenging year, how excited are you for this chapter of playing in going through adversity, going through injuries, the NCAA Tournament? different stuff like that. Like you said, brotherhood, we ZION WILLIAMSON: I'm going to thank my parents for remained together, and that's what's really helped us that because, when I told them I wanted to be a along. basketball player when I got older, they told me everything that would come with that, like all the on JAVIN DELAURIER: I would agree with that, and I'd court and off court stuff and the media. So I was say the adversity that we've gone through has in a way prepared for it. I'm very excited to be here because I made us closer, just because, when one guy goes watched March Madness as a little kid, and to actually down, we feel like we owe it to him to continue to be here playing for Coach K, playing for Duke, I produce on the court. And then when they finally get couldn't ask for a better situation. back and join us, we're just happy to have our brother back playing with us again. Q. Zion, coming back to your home state, has there been any buzz amongst your family and friends the ZION WILLIAMSON: To add on to what they said, like, last couple days? How many people do you expect to be here to be able to watch you?

Rev #1 by #181 at 2019-03-21 19:29:00 GMT page 1 of 5 ZION WILLIAMSON: There's going to be a lot of think about his future playing here at USC? people here because, at the end of the day, this is R.J. BARRETT: He can shoot. Anywhere over half- Duke University, so people will be here just because court is his range. I remember guarding him, and he we're Duke. Yeah, I had like a lot of friends and family would pull in my face at half-court. I think he'll be good telling me like good luck and they're happy for me that here. I'm able to play in my home state. Q. Kind of fun question for all of the gentlemen. Is Q. R.J., this is your own journey, but your godfather there a particular song on repeat on your playlist has played in the tournament. Your dad had a long right now that's kind of getting you pumped up and career playing in college basketball. What advice in the game? did they give you at a time like this? Not THE MODERATOR: For this, we'll start with Zion and necessarily that you need it or not, but do you move down the table. listen, and what might they be saying? R.J. BARRETT: Just it's been a great year so far, and ZION WILLIAMSON: You're asking for just -- not to stop, but just to keep doing what I'm doing, stay even keeled. We have six more games to win, so just Q. The song that you have on repeat that's kind of stay together as a unit really. getting pumped up for tomorrow's game. ZION WILLIAMSON: Mine would be A Dream by Jay-Z Q. (No microphone). and it features Faith Evans and Notorious B.I.G. R.J. BARRETT: We've been texting back and forth, and he told me just to remain calm and don't really change JAVIN DELAURIER: I've been listening to a lot of what I've been doing all year. Roddy Ricch recently. I would go with Every Season.

Q. This question is for Zion. What is your most R.J. BARRETT: Anything Drake. favorite memory about South Carolina and maybe of this town when you were growing up playing Q. Zion, you mentioned that your parents prepared basketball? you to handle the pressures and all the attention ZION WILLIAMSON: My favorite memory from playing you would get. Have any players or coaches at Columbia would probably be my junior year, the reached out to you to kind of help you also Chick-Fil-A Classic. Playing against one of my best maintain that kind of composure that you've friends, Jalek Felton. Playing against Keenan High showed throughout the season? School, those three games we played, those were a ZION WILLIAMSON: Like former players or former very exciting three games. Each game, the gym was teammates? packed, sold out, and the energy that the fans brought was incredible. So that's my favorite memory from Q. I mean, like with last year, with Trey Young, the playing at Columbia. way he went through, not particularly him, but have any players reached out to you helping guide you Q. Javin, how has your role either grown or through that? Just any advice they might have changed because of the injury to Marques Bolden? given you. And what do you do, anything differently, to ZION WILLIAMSON: Oh, yes, sir. A few players have prepare for the games now? reached out to me. I don't want to say their name JAVIN DELAURIER: I wouldn't say my role has because I don't know if they want me to share that changed that much. The expectations that my private information, but, yeah, a few players have teammates and the coaches have for me remain the reached out. They just all told me what to expect, like same. The only difference is I just have to be a little bit it's college. You're going to have some good things are more careful, especially with fouls and whatnot, just going to happen, and there's going to be a time where because our rotation has changed because Ques, it's not so good. obviously, isn't here. But that being said, whenever I'm on the court, I always just try to do the same thing, play So I was kind of prepared for this. I had like a cheat as hard as I can and do whatever I can to help us win. sheet on what to expect, basically.

Q. R.J., a little off topic, but you played at Q. Zion, when you look back to last year, between Montverde when Jermaine Couisnard was there, the signing, being able to win another SC State who plays here at South Carolina. I think you guys Championship -- I know that brings a smile to your crossed paths a few times in those scrimmages, face. Obviously, everything's been going on crazy. post grad versus the undergrad team. What do you You have to get ready to go to Duke. Everyone is recall about him and his game, and what do you talking about what's going to be next for him,

Rev #1 by #181 at 2019-03-21 19:29:00 GMT page 2 of 5 making millions, NBA, all that kind of stuff. When playing time or whatever? you had your injury a couple of weeks back and MIKE KRZYZEWSKI: Yeah, well, they're great kids, everyone is speculating, did you have the time to and they're very secure about who they are. They're maybe reflect a bit and kind of, you know what, this really all about winning, and they've been terrific. And is my last go, this is why I want to play, because our upper classmen have been good with them, and some people were saying he should just sit this you would not know class on our team -- who eats next one out? together, who's hanging with one another. But those ZION WILLIAMSON: I did think about that. I always four kids are very special, and they've been parented knew I'd be coming back because I love playing the extremely well and prepared well for something bigger game of basketball, and I love my teammates. I made than them. They're always involved with something a commitment to them when I committed to Duke. I bigger than them. It's a pretty cool thing. feel like I would have been a bad person if I didn't come back. So coming back was not an issue. Q. Coach, to that point, in particular R.J. and Zion, with all the challenges this season, how have you But one thing I did think about when I was out was a seen them evolve? Not only as players, but people. year has gone by fast. Just last year I was a senior in MIKE KRZYZEWSKI: Great. I think they bring the best high school. My high school season was over at this out of one another on and off the court. The two of point. You know, you just think about life and how you them have become brothers. I've had a chance to just have to enjoy every moment. coach a lot of really good teams and coached the U.S. Team for 12 years, and a lot of times when talent plays THE MODERATOR: Duke head coach, Mike with talent, talent on both sides gets better. And also Krzyzewski. Opening statement and open the floor for because personally, you can become good friends questions. because you actually know what the other guy is feeling because he's also really good. They've not had MIKE KRZYZEWSKI: We're very excited to be here. a chance to do that, but we have other guys like that. Tournament is already going on. I know our guys are But the two of them, in particular, right away. anxious to play. We're coming off of a great performance in the ACC Championship in the I think a big part of that was our Canadian trip when we tournament. You'll see, if you watch our workout for 40 had a couple injuries. Trey and Cameron could not minutes today, that Marques will be ready to play. I play, so it was kind of all on those two guys, and they don't know how many minutes, but he'll be ready to forged a great friendship. play. He won't start. ; there's a good chance he will not play. He hurt his hamstring a little Q. Coach, did you have an opportunity -- bit against Florida State. He's close, but I don't MIKE KRZYZEWSKI: I figured you weren't from anticipate him playing in the first game, maybe in the Mississippi. second. If we win, maybe in the second. If we can continue to win, then hopefully going forward. But Q. The accent gives it away, right? Marques will play. So any questions that you all might MIKE KRZYZEWSKI: I thought the movie was coming have? on. Either that, or it's a hell of an impersonation. Do you do like improv? Q. Bill Foster preceded you at Duke and then came here to South Carolina. What do you remember Q. I do weddings and bar mitzvahs. about Coach Foster? And did you ever run into MIKE KRZYZEWSKI: You've got me next bar mitzvah. him after he left and was here? MIKE KRZYZEWSKI: Yeah. Coach Foster really is one Q. Did you have an opportunity to watch North of the outstanding coaches and guys in the game. Dakota State's game against Central? What were Great promoter. Really helped move the needle for your impressions of the Bison? Duke in those late '70s because, after Coach Bubas MIKE KRZYZEWSKI: I've watched them a lot. I've left in the '60s and the start of the '70s was a rocky watched both those teams before they played. time. When Coach Bubas did such a great job and Actually, last night was a big time game. Both teams then Bill put together a great team and almost won the were deserving of winning -- great pressure. I thought National Championship and left. We had a couple both teams responded very, very well. It was a heck of years of rebuilding and then were able to keep it going. a game. Coach Richmond, he's done a great job with his squad. They're deep. They share the ball. Q. Coach, why do you think your four freshmen Obviously, they shoot really well. have been able to work so well together here in an era of I've got to get mine, whether it's points, They play like one, and so I'm very impressed with

Rev #1 by #181 at 2019-03-21 19:29:00 GMT page 3 of 5 them. Q. Forgive me for not knowing, but it has to have been a long time since you were considered an Q. After last year's upset with Virginia, how and underdog in a basketball game. Is there a level of where are you that anything is possible? And how envy in what the Bison have coming into this, that has that influenced your preparation for tomorrow? free spirit, that nothing to lose that they get to MIKE KRZYZEWSKI: Well, I didn't need that upset. bring to a basketball game? We've been upset in the first round. I have personal MIKE KRZYZEWSKI: Why would you assume that the experience. Anything can happen in the tournament team, that we wouldn't have that? because there's so many champions. Like the team we play tomorrow, North Dakota State, is a Q. Because you're the Number 1 seed. championship team. They won the Summit League. MIKE KRZYZEWSKI: But you only win if you have that. It's different when you're playing a championship level So if you need to lose to have that, then you would team. So they know how to win. They've been in never win. So we try to have that while we're winning, pressure situations, and they've been in that moment, and that's how you sustain excellence, and that's what and they'll have that moment again tomorrow. We we're going to try to do. We will try to be as hungry respect that, and we'll be prepared to play a and as into the moment as the team that we're playing championship team. against. In fact, we'll try to be more.

Q. Mike, I know you and Johnny Dawkins talk Q. Coach, as far as -- what was the tenor of the during the season. How soon after the bracket advice that you gave Zion from the time he was out came out did you guys share anything? until the time he came back in the ACC MIKE KRZYZEWSKI: You know, I haven't really talked Tournament, and what ultimately led him, in your much to anybody. I've been under the weather for mind, to be ready to come back and play? about nine days, so my texting and Bitmojis and all that MIKE KRZYZEWSKI: Well, the very first thing is he have been tabled for a little bit. But Johnny and I talked always wanted to be back. He loves Duke, loves his quite a bit during the season. He's done a marvelous team, and he's playing great. His parents are terrific. job with his team. I'm proud of him and really happy Not so much advice, I just told him, look, if you don't that he came to Duke about 37 years ago. want to play, if you're concerned, don't play. Don't ever feel like you have to play unless you want to play. And Q. Follow up on that. Can you just talk about what so it started from there. Johnny meant to your program in those early stages when you were building it? We were very, very cautious in making sure that he MIKE KRZYZEWSKI: Johnny meant everything. He was -- he's a different -- much different player than was the first great player that believed in us. He anybody, and so I wanted to make sure that he was started it, along with that class, with Alarie, Bilas, ready before -- where he could be instinctively reactive Henderson, and then Tommy Amaker joining them. because that's what he does. Once he was ready to That served as the foundation for our program. We've go, he went. I was shocked, really, with his endurance tried to recruit youngsters just like them because we during the ACC Tournament, for him to play 35-plus found that those type of youngsters can win at Duke minutes in three consecutive games was absolutely and win at a high level. remarkable.

But Johnny, Johnny's like -- they're family. So, so But, no, it's always been what's in the best interests of important to us, no question. the player. Always, and always should be.

Q. When Marques was out last weekend, Javin got Q. NDSU likes to spread out the scoring a lot, a lot more minutes, and Tony got a little bit. What have of different guys who can lead the team in scoring. they showed you during that time that can help you Is that a lot tougher when you can't just key in on going forward, even with Marques coming back? one guy to shut them down? MIKE KRZYZEWSKI: It does help. I thought Javin MIKE KRZYZEWSKI: Yeah, it just depends on if it's a played his best basketball of his career, and maybe his really good team, and they're a really good team. So best game against Florida State. But that whole it's not just that they spread the scoring, but they use tournament, he played well. And then for Antonio to the court. They use the three-point shot to create come in against North Carolina and do so well, it really good spacing, and then it creates more scoring means that all these kids have been ready. They've opportunities for more people. So they'll be difficult to had great attitudes, and the more depth that we have, defend. I don't know if it's more difficult, but they're the better. difficult. We play a lot of teams where it's difficult to defend, and hopefully we'll be successful tomorrow.

Rev #1 by #181 at 2019-03-21 19:29:00 GMT page 4 of 5 Q. First of all, sorry you're not feeling well. Curious how you have evolved or modified your coaching approach and messaging, if at all, when you get into this tournament with a team that has so many young players. MIKE KRZYZEWSKI: I think we've been -- this is our 35th time in the NCAA Tournament. You have to adapt to the type of kids you have, the culture -- '80s, '90s -- and then to the age and the -- it's not just the age, but the experience. You might have an older team that isn't experienced in the tournament.

For us, we try to approach every game the same, not just in the tournament, but in season. Every game is huge for us, and so that, when we get here when everyone else says it's huge, we already know what huge means, and we don't have to let the ambience or the environment of the tournament determine that. We've determined that. So if we played North Dakota State on November 23rd, it would be a huge game for us, so it's not going to change. The more you keep things similar, when you get into the habit of performance -- I think our guys are ready to go.

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