NCAA Men's 1st and 2nd Rounds: Jacksonville Wednesday, March 20, 2019 Jacksonville, Florida Tony Benford

Tremont Waters Q. , obviously a scorer, the leader of this team. What have you seen from him on film and Skylar Mays what makes him so difficult to guard? LSU Tigers SKYLAR MAYS: He's a great player. He's been an integral part of a team that's made it to the NCAA Q. Tre, how far did you grow up from Yale in New Tournament, so you can tell the talent that he brings, Haven? And did you ever as a kid maybe think and he's unbelievable in transition. So we're going to about playing there? try to keep him out of that, and again, just try to make TREMONT WATERS: Yeah, I grew up about -- like if I shots hard for him. had a strong enough arm, I could probably throw a rock to Yale's facilities. Q. What have you guys learned from the SEC Tournament? Obviously that loss against Florida. Growing up playing basketball, I didn't necessarily think What have you guys done over the last week to try about playing them in the tournament, but it's a great and pre-prepare and refocus, especially know that feeling to be able to make it this far and be able to play is not going to be here? against someone who's from back home. TREMONT WATERS: All season we've been saying, we are a family, we are going to grow together. Keep Q. I've heard you played some pickup games pushing through everything, all that adversity that's against some of those guys when you were in high been thrown at us. But nothing has changed since the school. Do you remember any of them? Florida game. It was a game that we lost. We didn't TREMONT WATERS: I used to play on the same AAU execute down the stretch, and we know that we have to team as Azar Swain and Jordan Bruner. He was a guy come together as a family even more now because we that was on his way there like to start his school don't have our head coach. process, but he had sat out one year, so we had put up a couple shots together. Nothing crazy, but yeah. Coach Benford is our new head coach and everyone respects that. We totally loved the change of Coach Q. This team, their starting five has four players Benford being there, Coach GH, Coach Armstrong. that average double-digit scoring. They're a high- But like we say, we've just got to come together, just be flying scoring offense as you guys are. How do one and not let anything break us apart. you guys plan to keep up, or is the mindset kind of the same, you're going to try to stay the same and Q. Not having your head coach, has it bonded you score, as well? guys as a closer unit? What has it done to bring SKYLAR MAYS: Yeah, it's going to be a big challenge you guys closer as a basketball team? for us. You know, when you see that balance on the SKYLAR MAYS: Yeah, you know, the ideal family is scoring end, that means they really pass the ball well, when one person is down, the other person has to pick so everybody is a weapon. We're just going to try to them up. The huge part of our team and Coach Wade, stick to our defensive principles and try to make shots with him being out, we knew that we'd have to come hard for them. together even more, and we probably didn't show it as much in the Florida game, but looking at that film and TREMONT WATERS: Yeah, obviously like when you learning from that loss, we understand that's going to come into this type of environment, you've got to play be a big part of us being able to move further down in against guys who either push the ball, slow it down. this tournament and getting past Yale. It's just a bunch of type of different offensive schemes and defensive schemes. We can't shy away from what Q. Now that y'all have worked with Coach Tony and we've been doing as a program, we've just got to Heiar and Armstrong as that collective co-coaches continue to do what our jobs are and just keep doing unit for a couple of weeks now, how are you getting what we do. used to that in terms of only having it for one day for the first game?

Rev #2 by #557 at 2019-03-20 16:27:00 GMT page 1 of 4 TREMONT WATERS: Well, they were a part of our SKYLAR MAYS: Yeah, he brings up how back in the coaching staff before, they were just an extension of day he got drafted by the Celtics, I believe, and said he Coach Wade, but now that Coach Benford is our actual was kicking butt back in the '80s. But he doesn't dwell head coach now, everyone is looking towards him, and on it too much. It was a long time ago. he's putting a lot of -- not pressure, but he's putting a lot of trust into the players now and just holding each Q. I don't know if you got asked this earlier, but other accountable more because when Coach Wade being from New Haven, what do you know about was the coach, he had more say so. But now that we Yale? Did you get recruited by Yale? Did you know we don't have him, everyone has been coming consider them? Some of the guys said you might together. We've been in the gym shooting a lot more. play pick-up games. Like we've been doing a lot of things together without TREMONT WATERS: Yeah, like I said before, if I had a the coaching staff pretty much forcing us to do it, like strong enough arm, I could probably throw a rock to throughout practice and stuff. Yale's basketball facilities. That's where I started playing basketball. My dad got a membership to Payne I would just say that they're giving us a lot more Whitney gym, and it was like the local -- not local but freedom to see what we're going to do, and I would say the facility where everyone could go in, if you had a we've stepped up to the challenge. We know that membership. So that's where I started. Actually one of games aren't going to be easy. We've just got to go my basketball videos, like my training videos is actually out, fight together and be brothers. in their gym, and that's when I wasn't being recruited by them, so it wasn't a violation or anything. Q. Kind of following that up, with all the off-the- court stuff, how much do you guys think about that Yeah, I just grew up playing there. Now that Azar other than when you're in press conference here? Swain goes there, I actually grew up playing basketball During the day between practices, between games, with him for the CT Elite Basketball Club, and just is it on your mind, and does it anger you what knowing that I'm from New Haven and that this team is people say about the program and about your from New Haven, it's an honor to be able to play them coach? in the first game of the March Madness NCAA SKYLAR MAYS: I think there's been a lot of outside Tournament. stuff throughout the year and we've done a great job of keeping that stuff outside. You know, once we step on THE MODERATOR: Coach, a few thoughts on the last the court, and I think our record shows that. We weeks and how it's gone for your basketball team. should be able to continue to do that, and me and Tremont as leaders, we trust all these guys, and we've TONY BENFORD: Yeah, first of all, our guys have developed a great bond over the year, and we expect been great. They've been working extremely hard. that bond to keep us together on the court. We've had some great practices the last few days, really focused, especially after the SEC Tournament. Q. Obviously this is a different team than Florida, After the loss to Florida, we gave the guys a couple of Florida more of a slow-it-down type of offense, and days off. Came back, had two really, really, I think, this one more of a high-speed offense. Coach spirited practices. The guys are focused, looking Benford talked about how paint touches would be forward to the opportunity to play here in the NCAA more important in this game. Without giving away Tournament against a very quality Yale team, and we'll the game plan, what do you think is an important to be prepared to play tomorrow. do in a game like this where it could be a shootout down the stretch? Q. is a local guy for us. What's his TREMONT WATERS: I would say we have to get back development been like on and off the court? in transition because Oni, he's a beast in transition. He TONY BENFORD: Great. I'll tell you what, I was just likes to push the ball, get out, and their point guard, No. talking to another media person about Naz. Naz has 3, he pushes the ball a lot, and as long as we're able to lost 30 points since he joined us in June, and he's stop those two guys and pretty much play everyone worked extremely hard. Out strength coach has done else inside, then I feel like we have a pretty good a great job with him. We all know about his skill set, chance to win the game. but he's been very coachable, he's got a high IQ, he absorbs the scouting reports and our film sessions. Q. Skylar, I don't know if you saw, but ESPN rated He's really good, and I'll tell you what, with our big guys all the coaches by their playing ability, and Coach he's like a coach on the floor with our big guys. He's Benford rated pretty high. Has he ever told you been good defensively. That's one area I think he's about what a great player he was, and does he still really improved is defensively. He's able to guard ball have any game? screens. You'll see Naz, we'll match him up sometimes

Rev #2 by #557 at 2019-03-20 16:27:00 GMT page 2 of 4 on the wings. He's guarding 6'4", 6'5" wings. have any sense for what players think about it, but also what do you think about it? I've been really pleased. He should be a lottery pick, in TONY BENFORD: Well, I mean, in college athletics, my opinion. I don't see how guys pass on a guy with things happen. That's just part of life, in any walk of that size and that skill set. life, any profession, things happen. So we can't worry about that right now. I'm just focused on these kids Q. Tony, given the unforeseen circumstances of the and making sure that we're prepared for Yale, and season, being thrown in so late, what does it mean making sure that we're going to represent LSU the best having been a head coach so recently? Do you way we can at this moment. think it would be -- has it made the adjustment easier for you? And if you hadn't been, would it Q. I asked one of the players this: You saw ESPN have been more difficult? ranked the coaches by their playing ability, and you TONY BENFORD: That's a good question. First of all, ranked pretty high. You were not Chris Mullin, but we have a quality group. What I mean, a group of one of the pretty good coaches in the tournament. character kids, and they've really bought in. They've I was just wondering if you had seen that, and what really taken ownership of their team. They've had to do you take from your playing days to help you unfortunately go through a lot of adversity this year, relate to players and what they're going through losing one of their teammates in Wayde Sims, and that and what they're thinking, that sort of thing? really made these guys a tighter knit group, brought TONY BENFORD: Yeah, that was about 100 pounds them closer together, more trust and respect for one ago with that. But anyway, I saw that. One of my subs another, and it made easier for us to coach them. They sent that to me. dedicated the season to Wayde Sims. That's the reason we were able to win in overtime. Had six But anyway, I had guys -- I played my senior year -- overtime games in the league and we were 5-1 in well, I played a couple years in the NCAA Tournament. those games because of the closeness of this group. I played at Texas Tech, and we lost a teammate, and I related this to my guys. We lost a teammate when I For me to step in, Coach Wade really delegates a lot to was in college while we were playing at the rec center our coaching staff. We have a great staff - Greg Heiar, on the floor, had a heart attack and died. That brought who is ready to be a head coach. He was at Wichita back -- I still stay in contact with those guys. That State. He does a tremendous job. Then Bill brought us closer together, that group that I played Armstrong, who was in the SEC for 13 years. That's with. That's what I see with these guys. I shared my made it easier, having really good -- I say we're co- experience with these guys, and you can see like these coaches but really other good coaches on the staff, guys have went through the adversity, obviously the and that's helped our transition and our relationship adverse situation with losing Wayde that we've gone with our players. through there, a lot of people talk about being their brothers' keepers and all that stuff. These guys are Q. Following that up, how difficult has it been for living it. They are truly their brothers' keepers. you to not only try to coach a basketball team obviously but keep players focused on basketball So we've got to continue to stay focused and continue as opposed to everything swirling around the to stay together. program? TONY BENFORD: Well, first of all, we talk about Q. Tony, your history with the tournament, you narrow focus, narrowing our focus, controlling -- we know there's upsets happen in these early-round can't control the outside noise and what's going on. All games. You're playing an early game tomorrow. we can control is our locker room and our huddle, and What's your message to your team? How do you the players, they've taken ownership of the locker keep your team loose and not get tight as a top room. They're holding everyone accountable, their seed? teammates accountable, too. So that's huge when you TONY BENFORD: Well, Yale is, first of all, they're well- can narrow your focus. Kind of have to have tunnel coached. Coach Jones is a tremendous coach. He vision and put blinders on. But they're aware of what's does a great job, and those guys are -- they have more going on on the outside, but inside when we walk in experience. We have one guy that's been in the those doors, hey, it's about preparing for -- for instance, tournament. That's Kavell Bigby-Williams. They have Yale. We've got to prepare today, guys. We can't five that have played in it just recently two years ago, control what's going on on the outside. and beat Baylor. They played Duke really, really close that second game I remember. Q. What are your thoughts about the program just being shown in such a negative light? And do you But you look at their numbers, they scare you.

Rev #2 by #557 at 2019-03-20 16:27:00 GMT page 3 of 4 Offensively they're off the chart. They really push the understand that. basketball. But also defensively they're pretty sound. I think they're holding teams to 41 percent And then again, I just get back to the ownership. I percentage on defense. So they're a quality team. think every championship team that I've been a part of, associated with, it's always about the players. Players But all we can control is what we do. We're not going have taken ownership of their teams, and that's the to change a whole lot. That's one thing, I think, is reason we were able to win the SEC championship is we've kind of kept our routine the same. We've got to because of our players. do a good job of pushing the tempo. They want to push the tempo. But we've got to do a good job, make sure we get back in transition defense and get to their shooters, and they've got some guys that can make some plays, obviously Oni and Copeland and Reynolds all can make plays.

So we've got to do a solid job defensively. We've got to be solid on our ball screen coverage, on the defensive end, and then we've got to the ball, and then we've got to get on the glass. We're one of the best offensive rebounding teams in the country, so when a shot goes up, we've got to make sure we get on the glass, too, for the next possession.

Q. As a coach, you've obviously been thrown into a very unusual situation. How do you as a coach impart to 19, 20, 21-year-old kids trying to navigate this with all the outside noise that comes in with a situation like this? How have you handled that with them? TONY BENFORD: Well, earlier I was just mentioning to a couple of the members in the chairs that we try to talk about today. We can't control what happened yesterday. But we're mindful of the fact that there's a lot of noise out there. You know that, but what we try to do is focus in on Yale right now. That's what we've done, preparing for Yale, and we've talked about that. Unfortunately guys have great leadership in Skylar Mays, Tremont Waters. You guys just visited with those guys. Kavell Bigby has been a great leader for us. So we just really try to have tunnel vision and just concentrate on the task at hand, and that's to play a really good Yale team.

Q. Has it become maybe a little bit easier now as time goes on, maybe I'm sure the first few days it happened, there might have been a little more of a chaotic feel to it, but has it become easier has time has moved on? TONY BENFORD: Well, I don't know about easier, but it's helped, and I think we're settled into a routine I guess is the right answer to that. I think our guys -- we haven't changed our routine at all as far as our preparation and as far as the amount of time we spend with our guys and stuff. I don't think it's gotten easier, but the guys I think now are accustomed that Coach is not around right now. They're hearing my voice, Coach Heiar's voice and Coach Armstrong, and they

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