NCAA Men's Championship: Final Four Monday, April 1, 2019 Minneapolis, Minnesota of his way to be nice to me. So today talking to him on the phone was just really cool. People talk about Final THE MODERATOR: Coach, this is David Worlock with Four moments, and I'm sure there will be a bunch this the NCAA. Congratulations on winning the West weekend, but it's pretty cool having a chance to talk to Regional and advancing to the Final Four. Coach Izzo.

Q. Coach, I'm wondering if you had a chance to We have so much respect for his program. We're a reach out to after you guys qualified for program ourselves that try to be blue collar and the Final Four and his reaction and what has been rebound and play defense and try to be as tough as your interaction with him during this tournament anyone. To me, in my opinion, that's Michigan State and also during this particular season? basketball. CHRIS BEARD: I have not talked to Coach Knight personally to date, but I have heard back from several Q. Is this part of some other media event, or did he people that he sent his congratulations. As always, just reach out to you or you to him? Coach has been very supportive. He's really been CHRIS BEARD: I actually reached out to him this great the past three years since I've been back to morning just to congratulate him on another trip to the Lubbock. Final Four and tell him how much respect I had for him. Sometimes at the Final Four, you just kind of run into Just this morning, I was talking to about his somebody at the hallway. It was just important to me fund-raiser for the Jimmy V. Foundation in May, and I that I was going to try to reach out to him so, when I do think Coach Vitale -- Dick talked to Coach Knight and already see him in the hallway or something, that we said that Coach was really pleased with the way we've had already talked. He was gracious enough to return been playing. the call, I think what's happened. Somebody else handed me the phone, but it was pretty cool. Q. Just a few minutes ago, Coach Izzo was saying he had spoken to you today and had talked about Q. You've got a veteran lineup and kind of guys getting your tickets taken care of and all the that have come from all parts and different ways auxiliary things taken care of. I apologize, I don't that they got there. I'm wondering, what benefits know of your history with Coach Izzo. Are you have you seen from having veteran guys that guys long-term friends? How did this conversation maybe aren't in your program but have played a lot come about? of college basketball in differing styles? CHRIS BEARD: No, Coach Izzo is always one of my, CHRIS BEARD: Yes, it's always been a part of our you know, idols. He's somebody I look up to. He's plan, not just as Texas Tech, but other schools we've been great to coaches. When I was a junior college been at. We basically just try to stay old. What I mean coach, small college coach, and a young assistant, I by that, I'll never forget the night we got the Texas Tech watched his teams practice any open practices at Final job and sitting around thinking, okay, how are we going Fours for years. In our program, we have terminology, to win a game? Are we going to outcoach people? Michigan State toughness, rebounding. No. , , , all of them -- These are things we tell our teams. It's almost surreal that's not going to be our plan here. that we'll be having a chance to coach and play against him. Number two, are we just going to outtalent people? No, that's not our plan. Recruiting is improving, and Just to his experience at Michigan State, when Coach we'd love to get to the point one day where we have Knight was in the Big Ten at Indiana, I think Coach Izzo four or five McDonald's All-Americans. But right now, has always gone out of his way to say nice things that's not who we are. So as we went down the list and about Coach Knight, and I've always respected that tried to get an identity. One of the things we thought from afar. I did have a chance to talk to him one time, was trying to be old. I think experience is everything. and he probably doesn't even remember it, but it was at a Peach Jam on the recruiting circuit, and he went out Last year's Elite Eight team that lost to Villanova had

Rev #1 by #206 at 2019-04-01 19:28:00 GMT page 1 of 4 the five seniors, and this year we have four seniors. because you inherited some stuff that he built. The way we had to stay old was the graduate transfer market and just getting our guys better. But I think So I have the ultimate respect for Coach Smith and his sometimes to beat really, really good talented teams, wife, Mrs. Smith, and I love Coach Smith so much, I experience has always been part of our equation. bought his house from him.

Q. Chris, congratulations. It wasn't a banner year Q. I know you mentioned coaches are calling you for the Big 12 otherwise in the NCAA Tournament and talking to you about getting tickets out of the with you guys the only ones getting out of the first way, and you mentioned Coach Knight and Coach weekend. I'm wondering, just the way that -- with Smith. Is there anyone else or any people that you the conference play and the complete double can kind of lean on for advice this week and going round robin and the coaches that you just through your first Final Four? How do you try to mentioned, just how the conference helped you approach it? guys get to where you are today? CHRIS BEARD: Yeah, absolutely. Great question. I've CHRIS BEARD: I think that's what makes college gone to the Final Four every year for my career. I just basketball unique and special. It's a one-shot deal with never coached there. The logistics of just getting our tournament. I'd be pretty quick to tell you that last around to practice and things like that, and I'm dealing year I think we had four teams in the Sweet 16, three with a whole other issue. But, no, in all seriousness, teams in the Elite Eight maybe. I think that's true. absolutely. We have two guys on our coaching staff Texas Tech, Kansas State, and Kansas, and Kansas here, Glynn Cyprien and as an advisor, went to the Final Four. So I think year in and year out both participated in Final Fours, at Oklahoma State the Big 12's proven that we're one of the best with Coach Sutton, and I think Sean played in a Final conferences in college basketball. Four at Kentucky. Right here in house we rely on those guys a lot. Chris Ogden was on our staff last year, and In terms of the round robin, it's brutal when you're he was part of a Final Four at Texas. going through it, but it's just cool, man. The rivalries exist because you play everybody twice every year, So, yeah, it just starts kind of within the family, and then home and away. The coaching in this league is just the Big 12 family. I've gotten a text from, I think, every ridiculously good, and everybody has NBA players. coach in the league, and I actually had a chance to talk But I think for sure, no doubt about it, I always kind of to Coach Self and Coach Weber. I got some other grew up studying this stuff and being a student of the calls out to some guys. game. You hear about the grind helping you, but I think it does. The. Absolutely, you make calls. Simply stated, if a coach's job was put into one sentence, it would be to do The last two years, when we get to March, no matter everything he can to help this team win. With that, it's who's in front of us, we've played against a team just not just the Xs and Os, it's the Final Four, the event, as good in the Big 12. So as good as Michigan State how big this is, and just trying to give my guys all the is -- and believe me, they're really, really good, information they need. Even though I've never obviously -- we have played teams this year, Kansas coached in these games, I'll do my work, and I'll spend State and Iowa State, we have played Duke in the time on the phone talking to guys that know what nonconference. So for us, it's another great game. they're doing, and I'll get the information to the players.

Q. Coach, just a lot of people that people don't Q. Stemming off your earlier answer about getting think that Texas Tech, this is the height that Texas your roster older, can you speak to the specific Tech basketball could reach before this, but what impact of Matt and Tariq, your two grad transfers? do you think of the state the program was in when And what were you able to sell to them to lead you took over this job? them to choose Texas Tech to conclude their CHRIS BEARD: We inherited a good situation. Tubby careers? Smith had gotten Texas Tech back to the NCAA CHRIS BEARD: Simply stated, those guys have had Tournament. When we walked into Tech, there was a great seasons. In my mind, they're all -- they're both culture of defense, there was a culture of All Big 12 players. They've made their impact here accountability. Coach Smith is in the basketball Hall of from day one all the way to the Final Four, and they've Fame for a reason. It was really cool inheriting done it in ways far beyond the stat sheet. They're something that he has built because you really get to really good players. Tariq, shot block record at St. know somebody in the coaching. You feel like two days John's; Matt, over 20 points a game scorer. When they on the job, two weeks on the job, you really get to know came here, they kind of put their egos to the side, and the coach before you, even if you never talked to him, it was just about one thing, winning.

Rev #1 by #206 at 2019-04-01 19:28:00 GMT page 2 of 4 Division I, or Division II coaches even that get into In terms of selling Texas Tech, you got to start by giving becoming head coaches in Division I, and you're a last year's team credit, with Smith and Evans leading unique exception. How much do you feel like us to Elite Eight. Our tournament run last year opened you're carrying a torch for those guys? Because I up a lot of doors recruiting. I don't want to speak for think you've probably said it, there's a lot of good Matt and for Tariq, but I think f we're not an NCAA coaches down there that never get this opportunity Tournament team last year, they're probably not you're going to get. attracted like they were to our program. CHRIS BEARD: I think I take that part of my past and the reality of who I am very seriously. I'm very proud of At the end of the day, we have just sold the idea of that. For a long time, I would just kind of shy away coming here and trying to make history again, like in from that, but now I understand that I represent a lot of the outside world, no one gave us much of a chance, people, and I take it seriously. I felt pressure last even in our own league. I think we just kind of set our season, and I'll feel the pressure for the next season to own vision, and it started by eliminating any negative get back in the fight and do it again. noise outside of our locker room. I'm very proud of my path in coaching, and I feel like I We said, look, last year's over. Let's try to be a part of represent a lot of guys out there. I grew up going to the fight again. I think Tariq and Matt understood that. these open practices on Friday. I was the guy that In other words, I think they knew they were coming would always get there early and stay for all four down, and we weren't going to talk much about last practices and take notes and just dream of maybe one year. It was a new day. I told Matt Mooney, look, I'm day being down there. I'm sure that will be the case as hungry as I've ever been. Don't get this wrong. It's Friday. There's going to be a lot of coaches in that just like we didn't win a game. Nothing will change with arena Friday, and maybe deep, deep down inside they me. I'm going to bring it every day, and that's my know: I can do this. I'm going to do this one day, even promise. though the whole world kind of doesn't give you much of a chance. Q. Coach, piggy-backing on that last question and answer, can you think of any old moments in this But there's great coaching at every level. I'm speaking tournament, maybe even a last game, where being from experience. This isn't my opinion. This is the old really helped on a play or during a part of a facts. When I was in the , it's game? very, very hard to beat Tarleton State. When I was in CHRIS BEARD: Absolutely. The first game, guys on junior college, it's very hard to beat West Tarleton. our team -- Northern Kentucky was really good. First When I was at Little Rock, Louisiana-Lafayette is really game of the tournament is always the scariest. Even good. There are coaches that can really do -- you though we had some guys that had never even played know, it's just all about opportunity. Sometimes the in an NCAA Tournament game, we got some trend changes, and sometimes it's kind of hard to hire experienced guys that I thought looked experienced. a major assistant, sometimes it's hard to hire the guy that's already been a , but what I would tell One thing about being a leader and being an ADs out there -- nobody's asking, but if anybody did experience guy, sometimes you've got to follow. I think ask me, which they don't, I'd go out and hire a guy that Matt and Tariq's big deal is, hey, we've never played in knows how to coach. And I wouldn't worry about what the NCAA Tournament. Tell us about it. Even though division it is and I'd get a basketball coach. Matt and Tariq are older in years than Jarrett Culver, they're listening to Culver because he's played in the Basketball is basketball. Three years ago I was trying tournament. to win a game in D-II, just like Saturday I'll be trying to win a game in D-I. I think there's a poise to our team. Every team we've played to this point gave us a real punch in the face, Q. Chris, congratulations. Look forward to seeing but we got ourselves back up, whether it be Game 1, you in Minneapolis. For those of us who don't Buffalo, certainly Michigan was so talented, and then know much about the history of Matt, can you tell Gonzaga, one of the best teams in the country. I would us about him, how you found him at South Dakota think we have to look like an experienced team out before the transfer portal? And beyond what we've there at times. read, did you know anything about his past at Air Force? Q. Hi, Coach. In college basketball coaches, CHRIS BEARD: Yeah, so Matt Mooney is one of the there's almost a caste system where you don't find best stories in college basketball. Just like I guess very many junior college coaches that get into myself, when they talk about how kind of we've worked

Rev #1 by #206 at 2019-04-01 19:28:00 GMT page 3 of 4 our way up, and Matt's no different. To my knowledge, Matt had one Division I offer out of high school at Air Force. He actually played at Texas Tech when he was a freshman. I wasn't here, but I went back and watched that game when I was recruiting Matt. He actually had the game-winning shot here in Lubbock. The ball went in and out on him.

Just like a lot of guys do, they make a decision to transfer, and he ended up in a great situation and just did about everything he possibly could in South Dakota in terms of individual accolades, and the teams were really good. They could just never win that conference championship game to get you in the tournament.

So when Matt chose to be a grad transfer, it wasn't an easy decision for him. It wasn't a man who was running from something. It was really hard because he loved South Dakota and his program and his teammates, but I think at the end of the day, simply stated -- you'd have to ask Matt this, but he just wanted to play in the tournament. It was all about getting to the tournament.

He's a self-made player, in my opinion. He goes from one Division I offer to really one of the best players in college basketball. He's an All Big 12 defensive player. Second Team All Big 12 player. He's just really good. We're in the Final Four because of Matt and others.

But he's kind of -- you know, he's just a guy that works, man. He outworks people, and he loves the game. I think most impressive thing for Matt is just he's all about winning. I've never seen the guy one time look at a stat sheet or ask about individual minutes or shots. He just wants to win, and it's been great coaching him. It's really been the ride of my life coaching these guys. I've loved coaching Matt. I want to coach him two more games. That's all I want. I mean, one game, I'd just do anything to be able to coach this guy two more games.

THE MODERATOR: Coach Beard, thank you very much for your time. Safe travels. We'll see you in a few days.

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