Tom Izzo Matt Mcquaid Kenny Goins Xavier Tillman Cassius Winston
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NCAA Men's Regional Semifinals and Finals: Washington D.C. Sunday, March 31, 2019 Washington D.C. CASSIUS WINSTON: It was shocking. I knew I was Tom Izzo going to get fouled. I was preparing my mind to knock down some free throws and stuff. But I got the ball and Matt McQuaid got away. And I was, like, I'm like about to dribble it out, and this is really happening. It was crazy. It was a Kenny Goins crazy moment. Xavier Tillman Q. Kenny, on that 3-pointer you hit late, Duke had done a great job tightening the window on you all day. When that one came open, how did you get Cassius Winston open so clearly? And tell me about how it got Michigan State Spartans drawn up and as you saw it go through the rim. Take me through the whole process. Michigan State - 68, Duke - 67 KENNY GOINS: Coach did a great job. We ran it earlier didn't work. Went back to it. Coach was like, it's THE MODERATOR: We're joined by Michigan State going to be open. This guy next to me has been head coach Tom Izzo and student-athletes Cassius making my job easy all year, finding me when I was Winston, Kenny Goins, Matt McQuaid and Xavier open. Tillman. Coach, an opening statement? As soon as it left my hand I knew it was good. I was COACH IZZO: I can't tell you how proud I am of these kind of planning my celebration already, but I knew I guys for what they've gone through and how they've had to get back on defense. handled it. And even the prep yesterday, this morning. Q. Kenny or Xavier, what was the game plan to stop It doesn't hurt when the Magic man came in and gave the entry passes to Zion on the block? them a little pointers, and I just stayed on the side. XAVIER TILLMAN: To try not to let them get it. You could say -- But I also want to say that had to be a crushing loss for Duke. They had such an incredible year with the Q. Was there, like -- injuries, at the end it's tough. But I told my team, the COACH IZZO: That sounds complicated. way that Mike Krzyzewski and his players handled it was so classy, I was almost -- not embarrassed, but I Q. Just what was the strategy for defending Zion said I had to really look at how I make sure my team down in the paint? handles losses. I think we do a decent job, but that XAVIER TILLMAN: Just not to let him do his tendency. was off-the-charts classy. He's a heavy right-shoulder guy. So just try to limit him from going right shoulder as much as we could, to So big win for us. I can't tell you how many times in make his touches tough, and not to give up any lobs those huddles they didn't quit. They didn't give in. And either. I say we might not be as physically as tough as some teams I've had, but I think mentally we might be Q. Matt, your first take, you looked like you could tougher than any team I've had. And that's a big credit have banged it. Second one, you definitely did. to the guys next to me and the guys in the locker room. Third one got the crazy circus shot. Just tell me what those three plays were like for you? THE MODERATOR: Questions for the student-athletes. MATT MCQUAID: It was the basketball gods, I guess. I don't know what got into me. Yeah, I just, the first time Q. Cassius, could you just describe what the I went up it was kind of soft. Second time I was like, I emotion was like for you as you were dribbling have to go up strong. I decided to cock it back and away from Barrett and Zion and you kind of know dunk it and executed it. you were going to end the game that way? Rev #1 by #188 at 2019-04-01 00:33:00 GMT page 1 of 6 And the second one, I just drove baseline and then I just adjusted my body to avoid getting my shot block Q. Kenny and Matt, you've been through a lot of and threw it up. And basketball gods did me good. these battles. How do you draw on your experience against a team that's young, very Q. Cassius, before the game, talking with Coach K, talented obviously but young, in a crucial situation he said that you were not only the best guard in the like that? Big Ten but the best guard in America. I'm curious KENNY GOINS: I think it goes to the testament to our about that. And then tonight after the game, he entire team, our maturity and our experience because talked about with this team, the way they're we've been through battles like this before and we've playing, with you leading them, certainly with a lost a couple like this too. Just learning through great chance in Minneapolis. For you, it's been a experiences like that. And even past years to take it road that you've been given nothing; you've earned into this game and make the winning plays like Cassius everything. What does it mean to not only get the said at the end. praise from your fans and Coach Izzo but from a fellow hall of famer in Mike Krzyzewski? MATT MCQUAID: They're a great team, great players CASSIUS WINSTON: It's just an honor. Like you said, and they're well-coached. That was a tough team to nothing was given; everything was earned. Just play. Like Kenny said, we do have a lot of experience working hard, constantly getting better and better. This and we've been through a lot of adversity also. I feel guy right here trusting me. These guys right here it's helped us on and off the court. We're a close group trusting me to do what I do for the team. and well-connected. Knowing we'll have each other's backs out there helps. I think I took 20-some shots today; they didn't say a word. They encouraged me just to keep going, keep Q. Coach as a tough coach you stay on your guys, doing what I do best for this team. It's just an amazing but you clap them up a lot too. Talk about mixing environment for me. criticism with support and could the players follow that up too? Q. Cassius, I was wondering what Magic's COACH IZZO: That's what we do. They say we're a message was, or at least what your takeaways family. And you're family, you've got to push people were from Magic's message prior to the game? and you've got to compliment people. It's kind of sad CASSIUS WINSTON: He was big. He just talked about that certain things happen and nobody sees 95% of the things we had to do, get out in transition, boxing out what goes on. And in that 95% of what goes on, early, all type of things that help us win these games. there's a lot more pulling and hugging than pushing. He talked about their run and some similarities they And I really believe that. And I have for years. had in the same situation. And these guys have been awesome. I guess they We were a faster team. We maybe were a smarter take what I give them, but I take what they give me, too. team tonight. We executed our game plan in the best Once in a while I said you guys have meetings and say way. Like I said, they were a good team too. It was a "those damn coaches." Well, we have meetings every battle the whole night. And at the end we made some day and say "those damn players." It's a mutual love winning plays. That's what it's all about at this point of affair here. the year. But I'm so proud of them. And I'm so proud that they Q. Kenny, you struggled from distance in DC this persevered. I heard Rudy Tomjanovich -- I went down, weekend. So coming out of that timeout, you know one of my former assistants was at Houston when they the ball's going to be in your hands, and the way it won two, and he talked about having the heart of a lion. played out Zion, who can jump out of the gym, was And the heart of a lion is what they have. bearing down on you. Where are you at mentally before that shot? And can you just describe the I'm telling you, the mental toughness, even when we elation? were down 30-21, there was no panic in the huddle. KENNY GOINS: Yeah, just all weekend, all last We just said, we didn't do some things right. We quit weekend, just all season, really, my teammates, my rebounding and getting the ball inside. We turned it coaches have been doing a great job of keeping me around. confident, telling me to keep shooting, next one is going down, stuff like that. When Cassius has got the And Cash has a lot to do with it.