NCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP: FIRST ROUND - WINTHROP VS VILLANOVA

March 19, 2021

Jeremiah Robinson-Earl

Indiana Farmers Coliseum

Villanova Wildcats

Postgame Media Conference

Villanova - 73, Winthrop - 63

Q. Just talk a little bit about defensive effort, what you put together tonight.

JEREMIAH ROBINSON-EARL: Thought it was a great defensive effort for us. We all played together, we played hard on the defensive end. We made sure we'd get every rebound that was possible.

I think it shows the amount of work we've been putting in from the week that we've had off, and we were able to pay attention to the details and just really work on those little things to make us a better defensive team.

Q. This game you were able to pull away in the second half after the Georgetown game, what were you able to do differently this time?

JEREMIAH ROBINSON-EARL: We were preaching about weren't playing the score, just playing one possession at a time and just playing Villanova basketball, and we'll live with that result.

Q. How about Bryan Antoine in the second half, coming in, making those threes, and also playing great defense? How important was that?

JEREMIAH ROBINSON-EARL: It's so important. When he's out there doing that, it's nothing new to us. He does it in practice every single day, and he plays so hard out there. He shoots the ball really well. He does a lot of great things. He can do a lot of great things for us, and it's nothing new. And it's a lot of fun to see him out there playing that great.

Q. The defensive work, this program gets a lot of defense, it's been kind of an up-and-down battle. Where do you see the team at defensively?

JEREMIAH ROBINSON-EARL: I think we're in a great spot right now defensively, and we're not settling for that. We're still trying to get better every single day, every opportunity we have. And I think we can be so much better than we were tonight.

Q. What were the keys to controlling the pace against Winthrop? They like to get up and down. You guys were able to control that.

JEREMIAH ROBINSON-EARL: We knew they really liked to push the tempo, and we didn't want to fall into that trap about we get a stop and just push it and maybe get an unnecessary shot that we didn't want to take. Just really being solid and under control every possession, don't waste any possessions.

Q. What was your first NCAA Tournament experience like?

JEREMIAH ROBINSON-EARL: It was a lot of fun. I've heard from Coach and the seniors, it's usually crazy with the fans and the media at the hotels and all that. It was a lot of fun going out there and playing with my teammates and my coaches.

Q. A lot of fans in the crowd; I'm sure you heard them. Just what did it mean to have some support from Nova Nation?

JEREMIAH ROBINSON-EARL: Yeah, it was great. It's always great having Nova Nation around, especially this season and not seeing anybody at all. It's nice seeing them in the postseason where we've been really working for all year.

Q. Short turnaround time. What do you do, go back and rest and try to get and get ready for Sunday?

JEREMIAH ROBINSON-EARL: Yeah, for sure, try to get as much rest as we can, as much recovery, and just really just be smart about what we're trying to do because we know we've been playing basketball for six months in this bubble and pandemic, and we're really trying to be smart and just go out there and have fun and play Villanova basketball.