March 21, 2014 Stanford – 58 they've been here. And they had a fantastic year New Mexico - 53 this year. And got to give Stanford a lot of credit. They played very well. They are a very good team. An interview with: They play in a good conference. And, you know, I thought we were up for the challenge, we just couldn't get over the hump. So that's about all I've got. THE MODERATOR: Questions for all three members of New Mexico. Q. The first 6 1/2 minutes when you guys fell behind 20-4, was there anything that stood out to either three of you guys about what went wrong at the beginning? COACH NEAL: I think they went 7-7. And we allowed them two easy lay-ups and didn't have very good defensive pressure. I thought our guys THE MODERATOR: Representing New were tuned in on what we were doing. We had Mexico from the Mountain West Conference, tried to rest them the last two days and they played Cameron Bairstow and Kendall Williams are the with high energy and played with toughness, but, student-athletes. Coach Craig Neal is here. I'm you know, we just got off to a bad start. We going to ask Coach Neal to make a statement couldn't make any shots. And they got some easy about the game and then we'll go to questions for ones. all three participants. Like our guys always do, we battled back COACH NEAL: I thought it was a very and got it tied 45-45, we just couldn't get over the good game. We just had a hard time scoring the hump. basketball, which we haven't done most of the year. Q. Actually for any one of you guys. I thought Stanford played a really good There was that initial run that they made game. We just didn't -- we weren't able to make obviously. I am curious if there was any kind enough baskets and get enough stops. I thought of shock factor or stun factor, maybe a "here our defense was pretty good. Held them to 38% we go again" because there had been so much field goal shooting except for threes. They made 8 pressure put on this tournament for you guys. of 15. KENDALL WILLIAMS: No shock factor. And so just feel really bad for our guys, Like Coach Neal said, they went 7-7 to start and especially these two seniors and another senior in we battled back. They didn't put any pressure on our locker room. They've given our program and us, they just executed a good game plan and we our fans everything you could ask for out of two didn't make enough shots. It's pretty black and guys and three guys as seniors. white like that. Not a lot of fun, and we've been here before and, you know, just really proud of what Q. For Cameron. You guys got back in they've done for our program for the four years the game, you tied it at 45-45. And after that, by my count, I think you guys were about 1 for New Mexico 1 visit our archives at asapsports.com 13, something like that. What happens after At the end of the day that's what it came you've battled back to that point and then slip down to. And they managed to put the ball in the behind again? hoop down the stretch when we couldn't. So I CAMERON BAIRSTOW: Yeah, I think we don't think you can really attribute it all to that. did a good job to battle back. And to that point, in the second half I thought we were playing Q. For Kendall, you have been a pretty reasonably well offensively. Unfortunately, we just dynamic offensive player your whole career. couldn't knock down shots down the stretch for Today was it the combination of the zone and whatever reason. And I think we did take a the length inside that made it difficult for you to number of good -- we had a number of good looks, find a shot? unfortunately they didn't go down. KENDALL WILLIAMS: You know, I shot But I thought our defense after that, 20-4 the ball 10 times, so I thought I had good looks. run was pretty good. To hold them to 32 or And some of them were short. The first one was a 35 -- wait, 38 by the end of the game, especially long air ball and I just couldn't find the hoop, so the last 35 minutes was outstanding. that's kind of the end of that story. Unfortunately, we couldn't knock down the shots we needed to to get ahead. Q. Coach, this is something you have been asked coming into this game and you Q. Craig, was Alex's no field goal in the said the unfinished business tag was for the first half, was that a byproduct of the foul program as a whole not this team. I am curious trouble or something else they were doing to if there is a tag that will be put on the program keep Alex out of the game for the most part? moving forward if there is any regret for using COACH NEAL: I think it was a byproduct unfinished business to put on the program. of foul trouble. You know, he only played 26 COACH NEAL: No, I don't have any minutes, and I don't know what he played in the unfinished business. I mean, I've not -- it doesn't first half, I don't have the first-half stat. But very concern me. We've done about everything you similar to the Kansas game earlier in the year. can do. It is just getting better in the tournament. And, you know, it's just one of those things We've won championships, regular-season where he couldn't get it going, couldn't get in a championships, won conference tournament rhythm, and I think the foul trouble hurt him. championships. We just haven't found our rhythm in this game or the second game. Q. For either of the two seniors. Give And, you know, hopefully we can continue us your emotions right now, second year in a our program in an upward direction. Very proud of row you have a great year and then get upset in what these guys have done with our program and the first round. left their footprints on our program at a high, high KENDALL WILLIAMS: Obviously you level. Not only winning, but also in the community don't like to lose in the first round. You never like and what they have done academically. to lose. Like we said going into the game, it's a But, you know, it's just part of it. I just win-and-go-home tournament and we didn't win, wanted to get these guys back and have another so... chance, it just didn't work out for us this time. Q. This is for Cameron. Was there Q. Cam, Kendall, seniors, the tag was maybe too much energy expended in bridging “unfinished business.” Kendall, you are a the gap and catching up and you were maybe senior, not used that. I am curious what you spent at the end of the last couple of minutes? two think of the tag that was on shirts and the CAMERON BAIRSTOW: It's possible. I kind of phrase used all season long. mean, to finish the game shooting-wise as we did, CAMERON BAIRSTOW: Yeah, I think it you might have to attribute that somewhat to was something more for the fans, that tag. I think maybe legs being tired. we as a team had, of course, expectations of But at the end of the day, their starting unit postseason success, especially after last year. played just as much as we did, so that's no excuse And unfortunately, we couldn't get it done. and they managed to make shots down the However, I don't think you can describe stretch. New Mexico 2 visit our archives at asapsports.com the year we had and the run we did have in the I remember vividly in my memory about previous tournament. And obviously we were when I lost my senior year and it stays around you. pretty excited and thought we had a good shot at I just wish they could have continued their journey this and the bracket we had and in the first round and could gather some more experiences and the team we were matched up with. memories for themselves. And it just didn't work Obviously it is pretty disappointing. But at out. the same time I think often it is overlooked how successful we have been in the regular season Q. I asked you about the Alex struggles and even the postseason when you count in and I am curious about the Kendall struggles. winning the Mountain West Conference Was it the length Brown covering him or what Tournament. I don't think it can be overlooked. went on that they were able to take Kendall out I think we took care of a lot of business this of the game? year, unfortunately we just couldn't take care of it COACH NEAL: It is just one of those in the one area where we struggled in the last two things that you can't play great every game.