NCAA Men's First Four: Dayton Tuesday, March 19, 2019 Dayton, Ohio Bobby Hurley Remy Martin Zylan Cheatham communication with them. I reached out to some of my former teammates, Malik Arizona State Sun Devils Pope, some of those guys, just to get a feel how they went about approaching each day. And everything's THE MODERATOR: We're joined by Arizona State been pretty consistent as far as effort, and just student-athletes Remy Martin and Zylan Cheatham. maximizing each moment you're on the floor. And I'm Questions? extremely grateful to be here. Q. Remy, can you give us an update on how you Q. What is Bobby's best quality as a coach? feel and maybe just from the game last week to ZYLAN CHEATHAM: My personal favorite thing about now just how that progression has been? him is just the way he relates to us from a player's REMY MARTIN: It's been very well. John, our standpoint. Obviously he played at the highest level. tremendous trainer, has been doing very good, working He's done things that we want to accomplish as on me and getting me ready for tomorrow. Today, we players. So he relates to us. He knows when to turn it took a light practice. I'm on the court. And I'm feeling up and expect more of you and when to put his arm good. I'm feeling good. around you and comfort you to a certain extent. We're at March Madness. I'm healthy. I'll be healthy He's just a very relatable guy. Even practice-wise, he when I get on the court. I'm just here to help my team knows when he's going too hard, and when I was win. But I'm feeling good. Took it light today, felt nice. playing I know I would be tired in this case. So he I'll be ready for tomorrow. knows how to tailor things like that. And he's changed my life, to be honest. So I love him as a coach and Q. Just the way that you came back on Friday and player. obviously pushed through when you weren't 100 percent, could you just talk about how much it REMY MARTIN: Same here. I mean, everything. means to you, regardless, to be on the court with Everything. Whatever I need, on and off the court, it's your guys? not only about basketball with him; it's how you're REMY MARTIN: It means a lot to me. It means the doing outside your basketball life. And he relates to us. world, just to go out there and compete and play the game that I love, but also for my brothers. I know that And I'm a point guard. He was a point guard. He's they want me on the court. And I just did whatever I done everything that I want to do in my life. So what could to -- nothing will stop me. We're too late in the better guy to have than him? season. We're in March Madness now. I'm going to do whatever I can to help this team. But I'll do whatever I Q. Zylan, you referred to this, but I'll ask both of can. It's now March. It's win, lose -- or go home. And you, growing up and throughout your life, you we're here to stay. watched March Madness. What is it about it that it really appeals to you? And what are your favorite Q. Zylan, this being your first NCAA Tournament, moments from having watched it all your lives? have you leaned on any teammates that might have ZYLAN CHEATHAM: I think what makes this so special been here or a coach or maybe a different mentor is I mean everyone has a season. There's 300-some to give you any advice or guidance on just being odd teams in the Division I level that have a season. on this stage? But not everyone gets to go to this event. There's a ZYLAN CHEATHAM: Considering how much select few handpicked teams that get to go to this tournament I've watched just over my five years of event. That in itself is special. college and pretty much my whole life, I mean, it almost seems to a certain extent like you've been here. Like I But just the competitive atmosphere. Everybody is said, I've talked to my guys. I got to experience it with pretty much fighting for their lives. It's almost like a them last year -- not actually here, but I was in constant Fortnite HUNGER GAMES type of thing. It's just an Rev #2 by #188 at 2019-03-19 18:20:00 GMT page 1 of 5 unbelievable experience, a special moment for me. find positive in every situation. And to be here and have that quick turnaround doesn't give us time to rest, I recall watching that UConn game and just seeing doesn't give us time to kind of -- I mean lose our Kemba Walker, that whole conference tournament sharpness to a certain extent. leading into the NCAA Tournament, just that whole run, it was unbelievable. And I can recall vividly the shots And we're going to try to turn that into an advantage for he made, just some of the moments he had. So I'd us as far as coming off of a really good game in probably say that. Oregon. Obviously we lost, but we played really well. We competed really hard. And we want to try to carry REMY MARTIN: One of my moments was just last those type of qualities over into this tournament. And year, being my freshman year, how we were watching with this quick turnaround, I think it's going to be a lot Selection Sunday and just seeing our name come up better for us. there and everybody, especially Coach Hurley, jump in the pool and had a good time. REMY MARTIN: Yeah, definitely. Just looking at the positive things, I mean, like I said, other teams are not So as a freshman coming into this school and being playing right now. So, like you said, just look at the able to experience that your first year with seniors that positive in everything, literally. We're happy. We're overachieved and definitely worked as hard as they having fun. could and learning from them, like, it was an amazing experience for me learning, and now we're here again. THE MODERATOR: Thank you. We're joined by Arizona State head coach Bobby Hurley. Q. Can you just talk about what this last 24 hours has been like since you got on the bus and came COACH HURLEY: Travel was very smooth and out to Dayton? Has it been just a lot of we're everybody was very welcoming. We're thrilled to be in focusing on the game, or playing some games with the tournament and had a great practice earlier this each other to -- some card games or something morning. Really geared up to play. you brought to ease the mind? Or what's this 24 hours been like? THE MODERATOR: Questions? REMY MARTIN: 24 hours has been fun. I mean, just being able to know that our season's still alive, while, Q. When you guys won and got into the NCAA unfortunately, some other schools are not playing. But Tournament last year, in what ways did it change we're focused. We're definitely focused. But we're the program? What ways did people see you guys enjoying the moment. We're enjoying every moment differently? that we have with them. I'm definitely enjoying every COACH HURLEY: I think anytime that you haven't moment I'm having with this guy right here. It's his last consistently gone to the NCAA Tournament, it year. So everything has been smooth and fun, but we becomes a little bit unexpected. But now for the also know what we came here to do. players who were in the program last year, they went to the tournament, they experienced it. ZYLAN CHEATHAM: Dating back to Selection Sunday, I'd say it's pretty much been a roller-coaster ride Going into this year, that's on our list, our goals, to emotionally for me to kind of have some uncertainty, make the tournament again. And that's what our guys not really knowing if you're getting in, not really expected to do going into the season. So it kind of sets knowing how you're going to go out. the tone and the standard for what you're trying to do. And then to get selected, obviously that was a joyful Q. How about the way that people outside see you moment. And then to just kind of get back to earth and -- recruits, transfers, alumni? realize like, okay, it's time to work, it's time to make this COACH HURLEY: Our program is pretty energized at moment even more special. So pretty much like, to the moment. I think people are very enthusiastic about piggyback off what Remy said, it's a very joyful what we're building and where the direction of the experience, but we're really focused and ready for the program is going. Our attendance numbers were next step. outstanding again this year at home. And there's great enthusiasm in our community about the team.