NCAA Men's 1st and 2nd Rounds: Jacksonville Friday, March 22, 2019 Jacksonville, Florida Tony Benford Q. Kavell, Maryland has got a couple of big guys, Tremont Waters almost two of them twin guys. How difficult do they look on tape to match up with? Skylar Mays KAVELL BIGBY-WILLIAMS: It's going to be a pretty good match-up. Obviously they're great players, and Kavell Bigby-Williams like I said, I'm looking forward to the match-up. I know LSU Tigers they're physical, big, long, athletic, so it's going to be a good match-up, but I feel like me and Naz, we're going Q. Tre, did you guys take a lot of satisfaction, to be prepared for them. people thought you guys were falling apart with the coaching situation? Did you take a lot of Q. Tremont, when Will was coaching, he seemed to satisfaction in the way you guys performed and signal a lot of plays during the game and basically leading wire to wire in that game? communicating with you a lot. Just from watching TREMONT WATERS: Yeah, I feel like our team is the last couple games, doesn't seem like anybody definitely gelling with everything that's going on. I feel is doing that from the coaches. Are you doing a lot like we're getting a lot closer together, and we're just of the offense kind of on your own, what y'all have going to take it one day at a time, like we've been done all year? You're basically calling it? doing. That game is behind us now and we've got to TREMONT WATERS: Yes, obviously in the huddle move forward to Maryland, and know we have to take it Coach Benford and the coaching staff are giving us one day at a time, one play at a time and just do what plays to run and just basically on the fly, either I'll call we've been doing. the play or Skylar will call a set just based on what we see. It's just a read that we make pretty much Q. Until you actually play somebody else from the throughout the game, and if things break down, Coach SEC, did you take note of the fact that the SEC Benford calls a play. actually went 4-0 yesterday? Florida was a 10 seed and won. Are you rooting for the other teams, if Q. Is that working well? you're not playing them, in the conference? TREMONT WATERS: Yeah, as long as we keep SKYLAR MAYS: I think we as players who went winning, it's definitely working. through the conference understand how tough the conference is, and I think it's good to see all these Q. Kavell, who did you think was the biggest, most other teams do well and survive and advance, and I physical SEC team that you guys went against this think it just shows how tough the SEC is. You know, year? And is it going to be a similar experience to we want the best for the league. playing Maryland? KAVELL BIGBY-WILLIAMS: I feel teams like Alabama, Q. Skylar, maybe you could address how has the Florida are pretty physical, Mississippi State with all the transition coaching-wise worked in games? Are big guys on there. There's a variety of teams that are you hearing different voices? Do all the assistants pretty physical, but those teams were probably the have a ton of input? Logistically how is it working, ones that stood out the most to me. how is it different? SKYLAR MAYS: It's definitely different just hearing a Q. Tre, you had seven assists yesterday, you did a different voice as the head guy, but I think Coach Wade good job being a floor general. How important is it gave all the assistant coaches somewhat of freedom for you to lead the team and not turn the ball over? throughout the year, so it's not foreign for us to hear TREMONT WATERS: Well, as a point guard I feel like Coach Heiar or Coach Armstrong outside of Coach that's my job. When we first started the season Coach Benford. I think these guys do a great job of listening Wade pretty much said that the ball is like the state of to everybody and taking the big takeaway and applying Louisiana, and if I turn the ball over, then it's not good it on the court. for the state and obviously for our program as a whole. That just goes to show that like we have to take care of the ball, obviously, if we want to win. So

Rev #2 by #557 at 2019-03-22 18:17:00 GMT page 1 of 4 that's just my job. I believe I live up to it, and I'm going to continue to do that for my team because they Q. Tremont, you had a great first half and then kind deserve it and we deserve it. of in the second half it tailed off a little bit. What changed, and how do you put together a full 40- Q. Back to Tre, you were talking about how you've minute quality game? taken over a little bit of the play-calling, but is it TREMONT WATERS: Well, yeah, obviously going into new that after a time-out that you break the huddle the game we had a great game plan, and as the game and then have your own little huddle as a team? Is went on, we kind of slowed down in transition, and I that something new or is that something you've feel like that was our biggest letdown. For me I wasn't done all year? pushing the ball as much as I should have in the TREMONT WATERS: No, we've pretty much done that second half, and I feel like shots just weren't falling, so all year. We pretty much go out after we hear the play that was it. called and the defensive schemes and everything and based off what Coach is saying, we go out and just say Q. Coach, the SEC went 4-0 yesterday. Five years it again, so we keep it fresh in our minds, so we know ago, four years ago they only got three teams in the what we're doing when the play starts. tournament; last year eight; this year seven. Yesterday's games 4-0. What would you say the Q. You guys shot a lot of threes. I know you're not state of this conference in basketball is right now? playing Wofford, but have you seen Fletcher Magee TONY BENFORD: Well, it's a tremendous league. I shoot? And I wonder if you're envious of the think that's a testament to it right there, going 4-0. I've freedom he has to shoot threes all day long. been coaching a long time and been in some great SKYLAR MAYS: Wofford was actually the first team I leagues. I was in the Big East when they sent 11 played in my college career, so I'm very familiar with teams to the tournament that one year where UConn Fletcher Magee. And he's having an unbelievable won it. I think our league is comparable to any league season and accomplishing great things. I watched in the country and similar to that league back in the them yesterday, they beat Seton Hall, so he's a terrific day, where every night you have to come out and play player. great basketball.

Q. Skylar, have there been points in games like this I attribute it to great coaches, got great players and got last game where y'all's lead went down a little bit great environments. Every gym, every arena you go to, and then Florida where you lost the lead where you you're going to play in front of a sellout house. So I were thinking, I wonder what Coach Wade would think it's just a tribute to the great players and great do at this moment or what he would do at that coaches and great fans in the SEC. time? SKYLAR MAYS: I think all the way throughout the Q. Just got out of the locker room, and Skylar game, I try to think what would Coach Wade do, not pointed out it doesn't show up in the stats sheet, just when things get a little hectic. But there's not but when Emmitt dove into the media row in the really a game that I can remember where we had a big front row, he just gave his entire body; didn't care. lead and we got back close and we were able to pull it He didn't get the ball, but it almost said it kind of out. I think the Florida game we had a good lead and it fired up the team, Skylar said. What do you see got away from us. from Emmitt and also the team that they'll give everything, break a body bone, whatever it takes But that's something that we definitely have to do a for LSU? better job. The great thing about us is that we're able TONY BENFORD: Yeah, Emmitt brings a toughness to to get a big lead in the beginning and now we just have us. You talked to him, he never shuts up. But no, he's to work on sustaining it. got a great personality, and that's his game. That's his role on this team. He's going to do all the intangibles, Q. Kavell, the match-up with the front court is and he's going to get all the 50/50 balls. He's going to going to bring a lot of attention. What have you take charges and he can finish at the rim. He's just a seen out of the two bigs, and then how important is great teammate for these guys. He's great to coach. I it for you guys to get quality minutes out of Emmitt love coaching him, and he's always got a smile on his and Darius in a match-up like this? face, and we're very fortunate to have him. KAVELL BIGBY-WILLIAMS: It's important because they're physical bigs, well skilled. They can post-up He needs to play well tomorrow because he's going and make plays inside the post and also on the against some grown men tomorrow. perimeter. Having those other guys come in to bring minutes is going to help us a lot. Q. Tony, you've been in this game most of your life.

Rev #2 by #557 at 2019-03-22 18:17:00 GMT page 2 of 4 You're sitting in the chair you are now because your boss was accused of paying a player Q. I know you've said a few times that all the potentially. Do you believe that assistant coaches and you are helping a lot. Which players should be paid? coach would you say during the game is working TONY BENFORD: That's a good question. I mean, I most with the offense and with Tremont? think this thing is -- changing rules have made a lot of TONY BENFORD: Well, I pretty much cover, do most changes to try to help them as far as giving them of the offense, okay. Coach Heiar really concentrates different stipends and things, to try to help the athletes on the defensive end, and then Coach Armstrong he'll because some of them come from tough environments. handle our substitution. It depends on the game. Like I mean, I'm kind of on the fence on that. I'm not tomorrow's game against Maryland, it is Coach leaning one way or the other, but I want to make sure Armstrong's scout, so he'll do a lot of defensive stuff for we take care of the athletes. I think you have to make them and then handle the substitutions, too, and Coach sure they have everything they need to be successful, Heiar will help him with that. and I think we're trying to do that through the different stipends that they're getting right now. So we kind of do it by committee. One thing with Coach Wade, he delegated that, too, even when he Q. The team had its doubters coming into the was here, we split our scouting reports for different tournament. Did you sense that that motivated opponents and whoever had that scout had a lot of your players, and did you feed into that at all to input on the game plan, on what we're to run keep them motivated? offensively and what we do defensively. TONY BENFORD: Well, the thing I really preached to these guys is they know we can only control what we Q. But Tremont is doing more himself, right, than can control, and that's just getting better every day with when Coach Wade was here? our preparation, our focus. There's no doubt they had TONY BENFORD: I would say probably a little bit more an edge to them because obviously they know the because Tremont -- we trust Tremont because he noise is out there, but I've tried to -- just got to keep knows -- not only Tremont but Skylar, too, with those blinders on and have tunnel vision and focus on the guys as far as they have a feel sometimes on what to task at hand and that's to prepare like we were run. I'll may make a call to run this, and if he sees preparing for Yale, that's the task to prepare for something else, he can change the call. I have no Maryland, a very quality Maryland team. problem with that because we trust him with the ball.

That's what we try to do, just try to stay in the moment Q. Follow-up to that, how does your prep change right now. now that you have three coaches working on it instead of four? Q. What particular challenges does Maryland pose TONY BENFORD: Well, that's a good question. We for you tomorrow? have not changed a whole lot, okay. One of the things TONY BENFORD: Well, first of all, I think Mark is a we tell our players is to narrow our focus. We have to great coach. He does a tremendous job. When you really concentrate. What we've done again as far as look at their numbers, especially on the defensive side, our scouts, Coach Heiar had Yale, Coach Armstrong they do a great job. They're one of the top teams as far has got Maryland, so he'll lock in on that, and then as scoring defense and field-goal-percentage defense myself, like we all look at tape regardless of who we and one of the best rebounding teams in the country. play, the upcoming opponent, the coaches, we all You look at Bruno, I think he scares you once you look evaluate tape. So I've looked at Maryland about four or at him. He's really good, a good player. Then Smith is five games and I have a pretty good feel for what they playing really well, and Anthony got a great quality do offensively and defensively and different tendencies point guard. and stuff like that, so we're doing it by committee.

But what it's going to come down to I think it's very Q. Tre had a great first half and then kind of tailed simple: It's going to be who wins the paint and who off in the second. How do you bring out a full 40 wins the rebounding battle. I think it's going to be that minutes from him of quality basketball, and is that simple. They're really strong in the paint and we're something you stress to him going into tomorrow pretty strong in the paint, and we're good on the glass night against a tough point guard like Cowan? and they're good on the glass. I think the point guard TONY BENFORD: Yeah, good question. I think with play is going to be huge. Tremont and Anthony, that's a Tre, I really thought he was focused. Not only Tre but I great match-up. So I think it's going to come down to thought all our guys were in the first half yesterday. We that, paint and , who plays best at the point talked about it as a staff and we talked to Tre about it. I guard position. think going on out in the second half, we've just got to

Rev #2 by #557 at 2019-03-22 18:17:00 GMT page 3 of 4 kind of stay aggressive. I thought he was a little bit blocked a shot, he ran, got a lay-up on the other end. passive in the second half. We want him to stay in that And that's what he's got to bring, that energy that rim attack mode, and that's what he's got to do. I thought protection he's going to really have to bring it tomorrow he pushed the ball in transition. He was very and really defend his position and hold his ground, aggressive in transition in the first half. The second especially against Smith and Bruno. half I didn't think he was as aggressive, and we wanted to be more aggressive. And we may try to run some And then Naz has been great to coach, guys. I mean, different plays for him to try to get him going. like I say, he's in great shape. He's smart, very smart player. He's got a great skill set, play inside, outside, Q. Picking on a couple of questions ago, how did and he can rebound the basketball. So he's got to do a the division of labor change without Will? How great job defensively on Bruno or Smith and then we've much does each guy have to do more of to make got to have him score in the paint and also be able to up for it? make some jump shots for us tomorrow. TONY BENFORD: Yeah, well, I think the one thing is -- one thing with our staff, we've all got a great Q. Does he have a green light to shoot? relationship with our players and we spend a lot of time TONY BENFORD: Pretty much. We'd like to corral with them as far as that. Spend a lot of time with them that. I like him to shoot close to the basket sometimes, as far as the responsibilities of the scouting reports, a lot more, so we talked about that. like we say, and preparing for the next opponent, we're all doing that. One guy may have the opponent and Q. How much harder would this be if you didn't then I -- we all are doing that. have a point guard as mature and trustworthy as Tremont? As far as going back to the game plan, as a head TONY BENFORD: That's a really good question. It coach I'll try to prepare that game plan and be more would be a lot more difficult. Because the thing with detailed in exactly what we have to do, and I try to do Tremont, guys, is as a coach sometimes you get in that as a head coach. your players' way, and some coaches do that. I think when you have a guy -- the better your players, the less Q. I just want to know, how well do you think the sets you have to run offensively. team is adjusting to your system currently? TONY BENFORD: Well, it's not my system. I haven't You've got to trust him because he can go make plays. changed a whole lot. That's the one thing I learned Sometimes he throws the ball somewhere you didn't when I became the interim, keep it the same, keep it want it to go, but he's going to be aggressive and he's the same because there's no reason to change it. We going to make the right decision the majority of the went 16-2 winning the SEC, so there's no reason to time, so he makes it a lot easier. come in here and say, hey, I'm going to run my offense and stick my chest out. It's all about these players, so Q. For guys like Naz and Kavell, this match-up, how I've kept everything the same. much is on the line for them to really show out on a huge stage against two talented front court guys We have the same playbook. Everything is the same like this? as far as what we've doing and as far as sets what TONY BENFORD: Well, they've played against some we're running offensively and what we're doing quality big guys in the SEC. PJ Washington is pretty defensively. And like I say, Coach kind of delegated a good. He's a pretty good player. Grant Williams, lot of stuff to our guys, so the other coaches are really Schofield, those guys are good players. But it's helping in that preparation, too. important because if we don't win, we go home. So this is the most important game of the year for us, and Q. You talked about the paint match-up being key; they understand that. There's no more tomorrows. can you just give us a little bit more on Kavell and We've got to play well tomorrow or we go home. But I Naz and what kind of players they are and whether think our guys will be ready to play, and we're looking they're ready for it? forward to the challenge. TONY BENFORD: Yeah, that's a good question. There's no doubt I think Kavell is our most experienced player obviously, and he's had a great year. I mean, he has improved a lot. He sat out last year. Transferred from Oregon and stood out. He's gotten bigger and stronger and he's one of the best shot blockers in the country and he's gotten better offensively. You saw last night he made a great play against Yale where he

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