NCAA Men's Championship: Regional Final: UCLA vs Michigan Tuesday, March 30, 2021 Indianapolis, Indiana, USA Lucas Oil Stadium - Unity Court (South) Q. A lot of times after a tough game like this, one of the seniors will say something that touches the team. Can you share something one of your guys shared Coach Juwan Howard with the team? Elite 8 Postgame Media Conference JUWAN HOWARD: To be honest with you, our locker room, what is said basically stays in the locker room and it's just a very disappointing game, and the emotions right UCLA - 51, Michigan - 49 now is not where -- like the other locker room, at an all-time high. JUWAN HOWARD: Just want to say that it was a great run this year for this team, for this staff. Very disappointing Just want to say this; that I'm so proud of our group and loss to end our season this way. I give a lot of credit to the how they fought so hard, not only in this ballgame but all UCLA Bruins, their , players, for fighting hard to season long. earn a victory to advance to the Final Four. Q. Wonder if you can walk through those last two It's very disappointing for our guys, working extremely hard time-outs, the plays that you drew up and what you this year, coming down to, you know, one possession. And saw play out? that's how it goes sometimes. In the game of basketball, there's one or two possessions that can really either help JUWAN HOWARD: We got the look, got the shot that we you or hurt you, and for us, we came up short. wanted. Unfortunately there's not much you can do with :05, but that shot it, was a nice little heave. Unfortunately it But I'm so proud of this group and how they competed all just didn't go in. Before that we got an open look and just season long during some very difficult times, it's been a fell short but overall, I love the fact how our guys executed very challenging year but at the end of the day, we all need down the stretch. to walk out of this building with our head up with nothing but humility, gratitude and dignity. Yeah, both teams missed some shots that we normally make, if you look at the shooting percentage, you know, it Q. You talked a lot about April 6, being the last team was truly a Big Ten style of play with 51-49 and with UCLA standing, but obviously that didn't happen. You won a shooting 38.9, 39 percent and Michigan shooting 39 Big Ten title and did a lot of good things. You just percent from the field; they shot 23 percent from field, we touched on it a little bit, but I guess what is the shot 27 percent. Fortunately enough for them, they were 6 message to the team when they are probably for 7 from the line and we were 6 of 11. So we heartbroken but you had a good year? missed five free throws. They got seven offensive rebounds; we got 11. They got eight turnovers. JUWAN HOWARD: The message is, you know, we should Unfortunately for us we had 14. Reading that out to you be very proud of each and every one of them on how they guys, that was the difference of the ballgame. But it was a have sacrificed, worked extremely hard throughout the hard-fought game on both sides. year back in June and making all this work. There are a lot of folks that deserve a lot of credit that is outside of this Q. Offenses on both sides, hard to get going all game team that have really breathed a lot of life into the group. long, but you guys shooting uncharacteristically, was that your defense? Were your guys tight at all? What But at the end of the day we learn from this and we will led to the difficulty shooting, do you think? grow from it, and definitely we all will get better, starting with me first. JUWAN HOWARD: We played so hard, and UCLA, they

106250-1-1222 2021-03-31 04:43:00 GMT Page 1 of 3 have perimeters that are very good one-on-one of creating dealt with it. Every student athlete has dealt with it. It's their own shot. They also do a very good job of attacking been challenging, but we all have learned and have grew the paint. And we're similar in a lot of ways, too. Both from it. The key is we look forward to living a healthier life. teams expend a lot of energy on the floor, just fortunate for I've dealt with it from a family member and losing family them they were able to win the game by two points. members during COVID. So it's been challenging.

Q. You threw everything out on the floor tonight. I'm a non-excuse individual, but I will continue to keep What are you hoping to take from this season into the playing for all our loved ones that is out there throughout next one? the world that is facing this very challenging time.

JUWAN HOWARD: There's a lot to be proud of, and I am, Q. Can you just go through what you saw on the and I know I can speak for the staff which I'm extremely defensive matchup with Juzang and what he was able proud of our staff on how we stay connected. I'm also to do and how you were trying to adjust or adapt or proud of the group how I felt we were one of the most whatever it took to slow him down? connected teams throughout the season during a challenging time and I'm sure a lot of coaches in college JUWAN HOWARD: Juzang, he had a very good game, basketball can say the same thing, too. You can learn a lot but every shot or every that he got, he worked hard from this year, which I'm sure there's a lot of things we're for it. Our guys, different guys that was guarding him, was going to take away and grow from. making everything tough. There were some shots that he made, which was a runner, I recall in the first half. It was Our goal is to be better next year. We understand they are very challenging, difficult, but he was capable of getting it going to be, you know -- some guys moving on because in. they are seniors. We are going to truly miss them. Whoever is returning, we are going to welcome. You know, other guys like Bernard, Jaquez, which are very Newcomers that we are going to do our best to develop, good offensive players, they also shoot the ball extremely which we pride ourselves on player development and well. It wasn't their night but Juzang had it going. growing guys in our culture. Our guys really guarded very hard. Our goal is to be prepared for next year, and this summer we are going to work extremely hard in preparing our guys, Q. You mentioned it's going to be hard to sleep and then also in the fall so we can play for next season. tonight, of course, when a season ends like this. But right now, it's hard for me to start thinking about next Because there were so many good looks down the year because right -- on my brain, this game is very fresh. stretch, shots seemingly open, does that make it even It's going to be tough to sleep tonight, but I'll get through it. more difficult to stomach because you did get lots of shoots, inside shots, too, that you wanted? I wonder if there's something wrong with the audio. I don't hear anything. JUWAN HOWARD: When you lose, it's very challenging. It's hard to start thinking about, you know, would of, could Q. I don't know, I'm just going to unmute myself. Can of, should have. It's not about that. It's about how can we you hear me? improve and how can we get better.

JUWAN HOWARD: Yes, now I can. Let me deal with this loss right here, and -- this place is messed up. It's dirty all over this place (chuckling). Q. I'm wondering if you can speak, now that the season is over, I don't know if there's anything you Q. I know Franz had a rough night. Can you take me didn't share during the season about how hard this through what you saw from him? What made you trust season really was with COVID, just dealing with this him down the stretch despite the struggles? stuff. I know it was something you spoke about throughout, but I don't know if there's anything else JUWAN HOWARD: Franz is one of the reasons why we're you could share about the difficulty of navigating this here in this position. I always have trust in all my players, particular year. and it's never one guy fall because he doesn't shoot the ball well. Together as a team, you win together and you JUWAN HOWARD: Well, you know, I don't think there's lose together. anything else I can share that I haven't already shared with you guys early on throughout the year. Every coach has FastScripts by ASAP Sports

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