NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Final Four: UCLA vs Gonzaga Saturday, April 3, 2021 Indianapolis, Indiana, USA Lucas Oil Stadium - Unity Court (South) Gonzaga Bulldogs of in any sport. And it was crazy. This is a moment I'm Jalen Suggs going to look back on in a while and re-watch. Semi-Final Postgame Media Conference Q. Talk about just the level, high level of play in that game, both offenses just functioning at a high rate. What was it like to be involved in something like that? It was like an instant classic. Gonzaga - 93, UCLA - 90 JALEN SUGGS: It was great. UCLA is a great team. Q. I can see the emotion on your face, man. What are They deserve a lot of credit. A lot of credit. Coming from you feeling and then can you walk me through that the First Four game to the Final Four, putting up the fight final shot? they gave us. They deserve all the credit in the world.

JALEN SUGGS: Oh, my God. I don't know. I don't know. They have shot makers, and big-time shot makers in I saw Johnny got the miss and got the miss and put it back Johnny Juzang, Jaime. Tyger played great. Cody played in. And Corey took it out right away, "Corey, Corey come great. That team is special. But I don't think we lost our here," and I got as many dribbles as I can. Tried to get as identity all night. We came out a little slow. But it's the close as I could. Final Four and teams are going to make runs, and they're here for a reason. He was actually like right under me. But I just put it up. I was fading away with it. And it went off the backboard and But we stuck together, kept turning on offense and kept it in. I don't know. I've always wanted to run up on the table moving and stuck with it, man. It turned out to a great and like Kobe and D-Wade and go like that, and that's the team win. first thing I did. Q. Where does this rank among the best moments of Man, that is something that you practice on your mini hoop your life? as a kid or in the gym just messing around. And to be able to do that, it's crazy. JALEN SUGGS: So I've always said a football game, section championship against Benilde-St. Margaret's my Q. I know this is kind of early to talk about, but you senior year was my greatest sports moment I've been a now have a play that's going to be forever remembered part of. It skyrockets above that. I mean, it was nuts. And in Gonzaga lore. That shot is going to go down as one I still can't speak. I have so many things going on in my of the best shots in program history. Just how does head. I just can't believe that happened. I don't think it's that feel for you? really going to hit me until I wake up tomorrow. But, I mean, tonight was special. JALEN SUGGS: I mean, it's amazing. Again, like I said, stuff like this is something you dream up as a kid and you Q. Could you sort of explain the challenge that you practice on a mini hoop. But it was a great shot. Crazy had in trying to run both the offense and deal with shot. It was special. But, I mean, I can't say enough about defending a player as creative and as energetic as this group, the way that everyone fought all night long in Juzang is? regulation and over time. Andrew came up huge as well to get a great game. Corey, Drew, Anton. A.C. came in gave JALEN SUGGS: Johnny is a special player. He is. No us a spark in the first half. other way to put it. A special offensive talent. I tried to stay solid. He took a lot of tough shots, made a lot of It was one of the most special games I've ever been a part tough shots. That's what great players do. But on the

106416-2-1001 2021-04-04 04:39:00 GMT Page 1 of 3 offensive end, it makes it a lot easier when you've got guys him a free bucket. Either I was going to find him at the line like Corey and another point guard like Andrew can take or make a play on the ball. I went to the corner, it was some pressure off, a beast in the paint like Drew and Joel tough to get it. I got it. I saw Drew running, and Tyger knocking down shots. Campbell is fast. I wanted to throw it. It looked wide open. And then as soon as I let it go out of my hands, he had like It made it easy for me to key on the defense, give it my all. another gear. It made it a lot closer than I wanted it to be. And the offensive end, just cut, get guys open and take I knew Coach was maybe a little pissed that I made the shots when I feel like I have a good look. So, yeah. pass, but it got through. Drew made a great catch, finished it off. That was a huge play. Q. You guys have been on a collision course with Baylor all year. You were supposed to play them And my favorite buzzer beater, I don't think it gets much earlier, didn't get the opportunity. Now you get for all better than Kris Jenkins, National Championship game, tie the marbles. What's your early thoughts on being a game, comes out and drills it. As it goes in, cannons go game away from a national title and playing against off, confetti is falling. That was the one for me. that team? Q. I don't know if you've had time, but I'm curious, JALEN SUGGS: I can't wait to get there. I'm extremely have you had a chance to watch the replay? If you excited. It's just something we've put as an haven't, how many times do you think you'll watch it accomplishment that we want to get to at the beginning of before you go to bed tonight? the year. And to be here, it just shows all the hard work and effort that we put in all season long. JALEN SUGGS: I've seen it once, once or twice after the game. I mean, it's crazy. Again, like I said, to actually live And Baylor's a great team. They've got great guard play. out that moment, oh, my gosh, I still don't believe it right They play really hard, have great defense, bigs who give it now, honestly. Like I said, it's not going to kick in until I their all, play above the rim. So it's going to be a dogfight, I wake up in the morning. think. There's no other way to put it. We're going to go at them. It's going to be a game of runs and I mean it's going But that's a special one, one that I'll always cherish. That to be a battle. was super fun.

Q. You said when you committed here that the goal Q. What set the stage for your big moment was 30 was to win a national championship. How does it feel seconds from Andrew Nembhard when -- makes a being one game away from coming through and great defensive play, the 3-on-1, and he has that making that goal a reality? 3-pointer. What did you think about his composure leading up to your big moment? JALEN SUGGS: Again, it feels great. It's things you dream about. When dreams start to become realities and JALEN SUGGS: We all have the utmost trust in each you're able to experience those things, it's special. And other, especially in Andrew. He's a player. Like I said this those are things you've got to cherish. You're never going is why I was so excited and happy to hear that he got to get another moment like this. You'll never be able to cleared to play because I love playing with great players. relive this. He's one of them. I told you guys one of the best guards in the country. My mentality is I'm going to give it my all 110 percent while I'm here. Try to come out on top for the guys on this team, I don't think he gets enough credit that he deserves. And for the city of Spokane and for everyone involved and the just a big-time shot. That's a huge shot. He made huge fans of Gonzaga basketball. plays down the stretch. I mean, that's my guy. I mean, we rock together, and to see him hit that, I was extremely Q. Could you walk us through the block and happy for him. Big shot. Big key. My shot was great, but one-handed bounce pass to Drew with two minutes in there was a lot of plays from Drew, Corey, Joel, Andrew regulation? And there will be kids mimicking you on down the stretch that really made that happen. hoops all around the country tomorrow. Who did you grow up -- do you have a favorite buzzer beater now Q. I know a lot of people have said that they'll never that you're going to be part of? see anything like this before, but there was something similar that did happen here in Lucas Oil Stadium. It JALEN SUGGS: I was in the corner, maybe a grace slit, was Gordon Hayward back in 2010. He did not make Cody Riley, had a wide-open lane, and I couldn't just give his shot. Did that run through your mind as time was

106416-2-1001 2021-04-04 04:39:00 GMT Page 2 of 3 ticking down, or after you made yours?

JALEN SUGGS: Oh, not at all. I was just thinking, please, please go in. I don't want to go to another overtime. I want to get this over with. But I saw something afterwards, Gordon Hayward walked, so Jalen starts to run. That was pretty funny. That's the one I've seen before as well. Exact same situation. Got it with three seconds. Ran down the court, right side of the floor, let it go hit off the backboard, and went out. I mean, mine went in, which was great. So, no, yeah.

Q. Coach Few said as soon as he saw the ball was in your hand, he was not nervous anymore. He knew it was going to go in. How much does it mean to you to know that your coach believes in you so much?

JALEN SUGGS: It's the main reason I came to the program. Could have gone to a lot of places, and people ask me why Gonzaga? Why is this a place you want to come and a small city in Washington, small conference in WCC? It's not like the Big Ten or Big 12 or anything like that.

For the people and for the culture, that's why I chose to come here. I knew Coach had the utmost trust in me and belief in me to make plays at all times. I don't know that he really believed it was going in. Because I didn't. But I appreciate it.

THE MODERATOR: Thank you.

FastScripts by ASAP Sports

106416-2-1001 2021-04-04 04:39:00 GMT Page 3 of 3