NCAA Men's Regional Semifinals and Finals: Washington D.C. Thursday, March 28, 2019 Washington D.C.

they have down low in Naz Reid and Kavell Bigby- Tom Izzo Williams and some of those other guys? NICK WARD: They're huge down low. That's going to Nick Ward be a challenge for us. And we'll have to box out, rebound, stick to the game plan. They're one of the Matt McQuaid bigger teams we faced this year. So we're going to Cassius Winston have our hands full. Q. Cassius, I'm staring at your backpack right now Michigan State Spartans with the green bear on it. Can you explain where you found this backpack, what it's of and why you THE MODERATOR: We're joined by the student- bought it? athletes from Michigan State, Cassius Winston, Matt CASSIUS WINSTON: Oh man. Well, it's from China. McQuaid, and Nick Ward. We're going to open it up for My mom went to China earlier this year. She saw the Q&A right away. Coach Izzo will join us following the backpack she thought of me. So I love cartoons and student-athletes. the cash money thing so it was just a play off that. I love the backpack. Q. Your team is comprised of juniors and seniors mostly now. But being in the position last year, like Q. Matt and Nick, what do you think about the LSU is in now, how does experience really help a matchup at point guard? team this far in the tournament? MATT MCQUAID: Like Cassius said, it's not individual CASSIUS WINSTON: Experience, we've been in a lot matchup but Tremont Waters is a great player. Like of situations as a team. I said it all year, there's really you said, he does a lot for his team. He can shoot. He no situation that we've come across that we feel like we can drive. He can pass. But they've got a lot of other haven't been in before. So we've seen it all. We've good players on their wings and we've just got to be made it through a lot of situations. So that experience, ready. just being comfortable in those situations just kind of helped us along the way. NICK WARD: I totally agree with what Matt said. It's not really a individual battle because they both do a lot MATT MCQUAID: Like Cassius said, we've been for the teams. But I feel like we've got to come out and through a lot together. We've gotten a lot closer this execute. Cassius will have to play well, and Tremont year, just through everything we've been through, and will have to play well for his team. It's going to be a it's really just brought us closer together. battle. Q. Cassius, how familiar are you with Waters? And Q. Nick, can you describe what this team's do you look at this as a challenge? Arguably the character is like, to be able to keep on an even keel two best point guards in the country playing in this when so many guys are going out this year? game. NICK WARD: That's a great question, because it CASSIUS WINSTON: I've seen him a lot at AAU and speaks a lot about our character. Our character has I've been watching him this year. I don't get into been very high this year. Missing me, Josh, Matt individual battles, you know? We both do a lot for our McQuaid four games, Kyle -- that's a lot of injuries. teams. And if we're playing our best then usually our That's our core people. team is playing their best, too. So the victory in itself is just winning the game. So we just battled adversity all year and we pushed through it and we were able to overcome it. Q. You've never played him in AAU or anything? CASSIUS WINSTON: Not that I remember. Q. Matt, 10-1 against ranked opponents this year. How much is that in the back of your mind Q. Nick, what are your impressions of LSU, what tomorrow against LSU, and how important will that

Rev #1 by #188 at 2019-03-28 16:53:00 GMT page 1 of 6 be down the stretch? help us get to the next step. He's been pushing for it MATT MCQUAID: It's good for us and like during the every step of the way. regular season, but it's a different time of year. We know we're facing a really good LSU team with great Q. I'll go back to the backpack because you started players through the board -- really big, that rebound laughing at it. Do you guys have an opinion over and quick guards that can do a lot of different things. Cassius' backpack, and do you think it fits his personality well? So, like Nick said, we know we'll have our hands full the MATT MCQUAID: I think it definitely does. Like he whole game, and they're a good team. said, whenever I walk into the Brez in the morning he always has cartoons on, it just fits him well. And the Q. You guys guard the 3 pretty well. This LSU team cash money thing, I think it all flows together. hasn't shot the ball very, very well this season. Mostly get the ball inside. How does that kind of NICK WARD: I completely agree with everything Matt play into your guys' strength especially at a stage said because he does watch cartoons all the time. I like this? live with him. I hear all the little gunshots, the little MATT MCQUAID: Yeah, I mean, like you said, they're "Looney Tunes" stuff. But for sure it fits his personality. kind of a streaky team. But they still have guys that can make shots. You saw Mays hit that big shot Q. Nick or Matt, with all the injuries you guys have against Maryland and Waters can shoot. They have dealt with this year, how important has just guys that are capable of stepping up and knocking Cassius' consistency been to the success of this down shots when they need them. team? MATT MCQUAID: It's been huge. Cassius has played Q. Cassius, you and Tremont have both been uber every game. He's kind of been the stable guy. But it's productive this year despite kind of bucking the not a one-man team. We kind of just had that -- it's not trend of taller point guards in college basketball like a next-man-up mentality either. It's a group effort and the NBA. What attributes in you or Tremont's and everybody stepping up and stepping up and doing game do you point to to explain that production? more in their job and role. CASSIUS WINSTON: He does a good job of using his quickness, changing speeds and things like that to get But Cassius has been great all year, consistent all year to his spot. He does a good job of just staying poised doing a lot of things for us and just keeping the core and staying in control during the whole game. group together.

He does a great job controlling that team, pushing NICK WARD: Completely agree. Cassius has been tempo, doing a lot of good things for that team. really consistent this year. Between me and McQuaid, we missed ten games together. I missed six and he And I guess in my case, I play within myself. I know missed four. That's a lot of games missed this season. what I'm good at. I know my spots. And I don't try to So Cassius has led us and he's been really consistent. play outside of my strengths. Q. Nick, you all don't play a lot of zone, right? Why Q. You play for a guy who is regarded as one of the is -- LSU struggled at times against the zone. Why top coaches in the history of the game. Just what is it you all haven't played much zone? And do you are some things you see on a day-to-day basis -- think you might try some in this game? practice, offseason, in-season -- that make him the NICK WARD: I don't think we're going to try any zone. great coach that he is? But that's not -- we're a man team. We press up. We NICK WARD: Coach Izzo is never satisfied. That's do our principles. Zone isn't really our MO. great, because he wants you to be the best. He pushes you to be the best every day. Q. Why is that? Why isn't it, do you think? NICK WARD: You know what? I don't know. That's up We watch film every day, see what we can do better. to our coaches. We just do what we're told. We go over plays, typical coach stuff. But Coach Izzo is a hall of famer for a reason. CASSIUS WINSTON: Like he said, that's what we do here at Michigan State. We've got a good system. You CASSIUS WINSTON: Like Nick said, he always wants help your helper. You are there for your teammates. you to get better. There's no point of the season, no Man has been working for us all year. We guard a lot point of practice, no point where he's just I feel like of good teams and good players. I don't think it's time we've done everything. There's always something we to throw away our principles now. can get better at. There's always something that can

Rev #1 by #188 at 2019-03-28 16:53:00 GMT page 2 of 6 Q. Cassius, you piqued our interest. What was that think -- I'm proud of the way the guys have been and trip to China about that your mom took? And are they've dealt with some adversity this year with all the you a world traveler, too? injuries we've had. But they've just kind of hung in CASSIUS WINSTON: No, I don't really have the time to there. be a world traveler -- pretty occupied a lot of times. But, yeah, she does -- she has a job at Delta that And I think it has been a bond that's grown them allows her to fly to different places. So she's just taking closer. And I know that there's been a couple advantage of her time, going out checking out different storylines with LSU, losing a player that was shot and places. She was there. the coach and different things you've gone through.

She always tries to bring something back from each But it just depends on the different rallying abilities of place she goes to and that caught her eye. She got each team, of each individual person. And that is so me and both my brothers one too. Different bags. individually rated. It's hard to say that this team should be able to handle it; this team shouldn't. I've had a lot Q. Cassius, the LSU Coach and Wade, they both of good teams. I'm not sure I've had any that would said that they see a lot of Kemba Walker in your handle this adversity this year with just those injuries. game. What do you think of that comparison? And it seemed like we got one guy back and another CASSIUS WINSTON: That's high praise. Kemba could guy lost. And I guess that's what I'm proudest of our do a lot of really good things. I wouldn't say I'm Kemba team about. Walker. That would be farfetched, but that's really high praise. Q. You just mentioned you're happy to be back here. Coach K and Duke are also here. What is it THE MODERATOR: Thank you. like managing the expectations in leading such a storied program where this is, getting at least this COACH IZZO: It's great to be back in the Sweet 16 and far which is an achievement, is the expectation? we're excited to be here in Washington. We think we COACH IZZO: I've learned to manage expectations. have a completely different foe than any we've faced so And I always complain about it. I complain about our far -- probably the most athletic, with size, team we've media having them. I complain about our fans having faced. them. I complain about our alumni having them. And then I realize that my expectations are probably bigger Earlier in the year we faced UCLA and Texas team that than all the above. So then I'm mad at myself. And so had great athletes and great size heighth-wise, but that I have to deal with a little bit. these guys are linebackers on the perimeter and huge size inside. I said I love watching them if I didn't have But those expectations are a privilege and an honor to to play them because it reminded me of our teams have. You work all your life to get your program to the back in 2000-2001, with Richardson and Randolph, point where people are expecting you to be some and just guys that attack the boards. certain places. And, yeah, you have to deal with it with your kids, and you have to tell them that you don't win I say they go with vengeance. They almost go violently because you show up; you win because you earn the to the offensive boards and have done an incredible job win. with that. Once in a while the missed shot becomes the best offense. And that's near and dear to my heart. But I look at a lot of good programs. Mike's got So I've been very impressed watching them on film. arguably the best as far as consistently doing something. I look at football programs. I look at pro And I think the two areas that concern me is the sports. And I try to steal things from them that I think turnovers -- because we've been a little more turnover- can help my team understand that those expectations prone, and they do a great job of that -- and, of course, can be a burden or they can be a joy. And it just the offensive rebounding. So I'll take questions. depends on how you approach it and how you look at it. Q. Michigan State and LSU have both gone through a lot of adversity, albeit very different. What about But for me, when I look back at 20 years ago, I'd die to tough times can bring a team together and sort of have my program where it's becoming. It's not there make a team tougher mentally this time of year? yet, because we still have some finished business. But COACH IZZO: You know, it can. I think it all depends it has taken a monstrous step, and I think that's all on the players that are there and how they handle good. I really mean that. It's all good. certain things and what are the issues. I think for us we've gone back-to-back years of winning 30 games. I Q. We're in an interesting moment in time right now

Rev #1 by #188 at 2019-03-28 16:53:00 GMT page 3 of 6 in basketball and college athletics. There's three the game that I got into for the reason I got into it ongoing federal investigations. You're about to remains equal where everybody has the same chance play a team in a Sweet 16 that doesn't have its to be successful. coach because of a suspension. I'm wondering as someone who has fashioned himself as a guardian And the hypocrisy, again, again I don't know all the of the game over the years and cares about it facts to all these things. And so I'd be insane to deeply where you think we are right now in college comment on something, nor would I comment on basketball? something when I don't know all the facts involved. COACH IZZO: I'm glad you said that, because I do feel like a guardian of the game. I worked for a guy named Q. What's it meant to you personally over the past Jud Heathcote who thought that was more important week in the face of some criticism about your than anything he did. approach that so many people came to your defense, both as coach and man? I'm saddened by what went on with the federal COACH IZZO: You know, hey, listen, my old boss told investigation and what's going on. The problem I have me the game makes fools of us all. And I'm sure today since I'm not a big Twitter guy, what is reality and there's been times that, if I had to rewind something, I'd what isn't? Do I think there are some problems in find a different way to do it. But in the heat of the college basketball? I definitely do. Do I think that moment, when a 30-second timeout -- I'm not going to people are wrapping their arms around it and trying to let one incident, one snippet, determine two years of a make a difference? I do. relationship with somebody.

Not knowing different things about different programs, And I don't think many people can understand -- you there's a million rumors about everything. I will not know, I've heard people say, well, in business you judge anybody until I see the reality of it. But it does couldn't do this. No, because it's adults to adults, you make me sad. I think we're at a point in time when know? We're still talking adults to players, just like my college athletics, in general -- and football and own kid, who is an 18-year-old. basketball since they're so visual -- you know, we've all got to take a deep look at what we're doing and what is And all that matters to me is, you know, I could say it's it suppose to be and what can it be. And maybe if nice that the former players -- I'm sure they weren't there's problems we've got to eliminate the problems. happy with some things when they were there either. We all, as we grow up -- I always heard the saying that And so nervous, scared, excited -- probably all the your parents are the dumbest people on the planet above. Sometimes when things happen, that leads to when you're 17 to 23, and then they get a lot smarter change that's positive change. And if that happens, as you get older. I think coaches are in the same boat, that would be good, too. you know?

Q. Just to follow on Pete's question there, do you And when people have success, when they've been think there's anything good about what's going on through a lot and they have had success and they've now, and that it will clean up the game and then we been pushed to levels that they didn't think they could can move on from there? Also, is there any be pushed to -- now, in saying that, do I need to figure hypocrisy involved when a team has their coach out what approach is right? I think we do, because sitting out, but the player who was involved in that every player you do treat differently. You don't treat situation is allowed to keep playing? everybody the same. Some need different things than COACH IZZO: Boy, I will answer it because it's my job. others. And I do feel like I'm on the NABC board and I care about what the NCAA and NABC have done. And I But that thing is -- I'll say -- is my fault if I offended don't have a great answer for that. somebody. And, yet, it's not an easy job to try to take 17-, 18-, 19-year-olds and push them to places they've But I think everybody should be held accountable in never been if you want to accomplish the things they everything we do. I think coaches should be held want to accomplish, not that I want to accomplish. This accountable. I think players should be held is about their goals. accountable. And I think whether it's the NCAA -- I mean, we all need to be held accountable. Players make a set of goals every year, five things they want to accomplish. And I tell them at the end of that, It's hard to figure out what that accountability is, but it that's my job to hold them accountable to their goals, saddens me that we're even talking about it, but it is a not my goals. reality, and I understand that. I just hope and pray that So, you know what? We'll work around it. We'll grow.

Rev #1 by #188 at 2019-03-28 16:53:00 GMT page 4 of 6 Who says that I'm -- I made mistakes in my life. I made a lot of mistakes in my life. But the one mistake I don't And so I think the reason they've had some success in make is my players and the coaches are usually on the those overtimes is they've got the ball in the right guy's same page and understand because we spend time hand. He made the big play against Maryland, just with them. And that's what I'll say to that. Thanks. incredible, like, one on two play, because they switched off with a big guy and he found a way to get around Q. What are your thoughts on -- the point guard that. So I've been very impressed with him. matchup could be arguably the two best in the country? And will there be any part of you looking Q. When covering LSU football, when Nick Saban forward to see how the two guys handle each came to town, he would talk about you a lot. Tom other? Izzo says this; Tom Izzo says that. You maintain a COACH IZZO: I am. I really am looking forward to that. relationship with him over the years? You guys Waters is heck of a player. He's jet-quick. They're just like a greatest-of-all-time club? similar in some ways, completely different in others. COACH IZZO: Just talked to him the other day. Nick is Cassius is not the greatest athlete. They're both about -- we came together at Michigan State as assistants the same size, but Cash can score it. He can pass it. and then we came together at Michigan State as head Waters can score it. He can pass it. coaches. If he says that, there's a lot of times I say the same thing. I just love people that have been able to Waters is a little more disruptive on defense. I think sustain stuff over a period of time. And Nick's a very Cassius is -- his ability to shoot the ball from outside passionate guy. with consistency is a little better. He's from -- as he used to call it, a hillbilly from West So it should be a heck of a matchup. And usually Virginia; I'm a Yupper from way up. We kind of had everybody hopes for two good quarterbacks. And in similar backgrounds and we've kind of shared similar the world champions of Super Bowl you always look for things. two good quarterbacks. We've got two great quarterbacks here, and I am looking forward to seeing But I've always been a big Nick Saban fan, because I how it works. believe how he does it. I believe that every day he's trying to get better himself and make other guys better. But it won't be where, I think, it will be Cassius against In fact, just text him, I might try to get down see a little him or Waters against Winston. It's still going to be a spring ball, try to -- I love learning from guys and I love team. It's five guys. We're not guarding any one of learning from some basketball guys. But I really like their guys with one person. They're too big and athletic learning from some football guys because when you go to do that. So we'll be cheating and having people on to a football -- like spring ball or OTAs, like when all sides of him. Mariucci was in it -- all those assistants are head coaches at those positions. And I think it helps me Q. LSU has played in seven overtime games; give a better way to handle my own assistants. they've been able to close out in a lot of late games. Is there a common ingredient in teams Just like I believe that I'm not crazy about players that when they're able to finish when it counts? play just one sport, I'm not a coach that just worries COACH IZZO: Usually a good point guard. Usually a about basketball. I look at other sports and learn from good quarterback is going to make that play at the end all of them. And Nick's helped me. of the game. So as we looked at that, we tried to find a positive to it. And that's what we came -- boy they can Q. So you made a comparison of this LSU team to do the things -- then we found a negative. Why are teams of yours in the past. Looking at your team they in that many games if they're that good? right now, how would you stack them up against some of your teams in the past and the talent of And you've got to have to be able to sleep at night. If this team? you look at the positive side of it, you say, oh, damn, COACH IZZO: Well, talent isn't as good, especially with this is not good. But if you look at both sides -- we've the injuries. I mean, that sounds like it's going against been a little up and down in some things; they've been the players I've got. I just mean I've had teams with a little up and down in some things. four draft picks on there. And this team isn't there yet.

Sometimes shooting the ball, although when they miss But the connection, the grit of this team, the physical it -- they used to say on my teams early in my career, power isn't quite as good as some teams I have, but the best offense was the missed shot, because they the mental power might be better than a lot of teams got three guys looking down at that rim. I've had. They've been able to redevelop their team

Rev #1 by #188 at 2019-03-28 16:53:00 GMT page 5 of 6 and analyze and figure out a new way to cover ball screens or do this to get away from fouling too much because we don't have as much depth or this or that.

Back when I was comparing them to us, you know, we played nine guys. We had guys coming off the bench. I mean, Jason Richardson, Zach Randolph came off the bench. They ended up pretty good players at the next level. That either shows how dumb I was or how good they got the next year.

But I love watching teams. And they've got depth. They play their depth. But they play hard. I mean the one thing I love about LSU is they play really hard. I think we play hard. I just think right now we're going to have to beat them a different way than maybe some of my other teams would have beaten them because their size and athleticism is a little superior. But we've got some things we've done right to beat other teams that were better in that area, too.

Q. We saw Winston stand in between you and Aaron during the game against Bradley, trying to calm the situation down a little bit. How do you view his leadership this season, especially helping the young guys communicate? COACH IZZO: Cassius was a guy that -- we voted for captains early in the year, and it was McQuaid and Josh Langford. And Cash is one of those leaders that he leads by example, which I think is really good. I've always enjoyed people that led by dragging other people with them.

And I think that was an area when I was talking about levels he has to get to, that's another level, you know? And, boy, when we lost Nick and I told Cassius that next morning, now, I need you to -- because you have the experience -- nothing, nothing -- he's flawless as far as being under pressure. He doesn't see pressure.

And so I said, these other guys are going to be a little more nervous. You're going to have to lead now and talk to them. And I think he's done a phenomenal job of that. The kid has gone beyond where I thought he could go so far. But I still think he has another level we're going to keep pushing to. But as far as his growth as a player and as a leader, it's taken great, great strides.

THE MODERATOR: Thank you.

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