NCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP: FIRST ROUND - NEW MEXICO ST. VS UCONN

March 16, 2022

Dan Hurley

Isaiah Whaley

R.J. Cole

Andre Jackson

Tyrese Martin

Adama Sanogo

KeyBank Center

UConn Huskies

Media Conference

Q. I would like to address this to Isaiah and R.J., if they're both willing to weigh in. UConn has a terrific body of work to this point with 23 victories, but considering how much disappointment there was at the end of last season and the 45:07 motivation that you took into this season, what's at stake for this program here in Buffalo and in this tournament? Do you have to win X number of games for this to be considered a successful season for you guys?

ISAIAH WHALEY: I mean, I think for us, we just really want to make sure we take the next step for UConn in general really. That's all -- that's a lot for this whole year just taking the next step, and each big game has just been another step for us, and this tournament is another huge step for us, and that's what we want to keep on doing. Just keep on taking the next step and build momentum for the program.

R.J. COLE: I would say just win a game. The first game would be cool. We just didn't get that chance through last year with the way it ended for us. Just winning one game right now, and thinking about the rest -- thinking about everything else later and taking it one game at a time.

Q. I don't know exactly who might guard Teddy Allen tomorrow. I assume probably Andre. Tyrese will get shots at him. If either one of you can tell you what you have seen from him on film, what makes him such a tough player to guard.

ANDRE JACKSON: He is a scorer and volume shooter. He has a green light and takes the freedom to take shots that he wants. Anybody like that will be really comfortable, also won player of the year and his confidence. That shows he is a really good player, and he has a lot of different tools, a lot of shooting off the dribble. Just going to be stand down and shots in the lane and also just trying to make every shot he is taking and make it a difficult shot. Make sure he is not getting easy layups or easy buckets. Trying to make every shot I can as hard as possible because at the end of the day, he is going to be taking shots, and he is probably going to score the goal, but my job and Tyrese's job and all of our job is to make it as hard on him as possible.

Q. Tyrese, we heard 45:07 time and again of the way last year ended. This is a time of year where Connecticut basketball has had signature moments in March. Now that it's finally here and the way that last year ended, what's your reflection on the kind of moment that this can be for you guys here this week?

TYRESE MARTIN: This could be a great moment, especially for this group of guys that are up here. We kind of are the ones that helped change the culture around to bring UConn basketball back to what it is. It hasn't been to where it needs to be at the championship level, but we're obviously still taking building blocks to get there, so just making sure we go out here and just win one game at a time. That's our approach.

The way we ended last year was very rough. I felt like we're not in that direction anymore. We've been playing really well, and we practice 11 months a year to make sure we're playing our best basketball come March, so we just want to make sure we are playing our best basketball at this time.

Q. R.J., how much do you relish that idea that this time of year a guard's game, the ball is going to be in your hands, and typically these are the types of games that can come down to a few possessions. How much do you relish the idea of being that Alpha guard for this UConn team?

R.J. COLE: I'm not one to really think about myself, to be honest. Just going out there to do whatever it takes to win basketball games. I mean, these guys up here, I mean, we've done a lot together, so my teammates, without them, I wouldn't be in the position I am in. Honestly just taking it and not even thinking about things like that and just trying to win basketball games.

Q. Isaiah, how important is rebounding tomorrow? They're also a very good rebounding team, and what have you seen on film in regards to that?

ISAIAH WHALEY: I mean, in a lot of ways they're similar to us. I mean, the war starts as soon as the ball goes up -- the shot goes up, so that could be huge for us, and the coaches have been stressing every moment in practice. We can practice all the sets, all their tendencies, but as soon as the shot goes up, that's when it's really time to play basketball, so it's going to be huge for us to make sure we box out, and it is going to come down to who is the more desperate and tougher team at the end of the day.

Q. Adama and Isaiah, if you don't mind, what went wrong against Maryland? It's easy to say you got to make more shots than you did. What specifically do you have to do better than that game last year?

ISAIAH WHALEY: In general, it was a tough match-up because it was basically five guards, and so it was -- they were switching everything and trapping, and so it was kind of hard to adjust, and they just sped us up a lot, and they just got us really uncomfortable, but we got a lot better during the offseason with that. Especially being able to play against a team that goes really small like that, being able to play better defense off the switch and stuff like that, so it was just about us getting better in that aspect so we wouldn't be caught off guard by playing another team like that, so that's what it really came down to, just being able to play and switch against those guards and be able to attack those guards instead of having to play small like them. You just take advantage of our size.

ADAMA SANOGO: Like Isaiah said, they play five ball, and it was tough to be able to switch on point guard, but this time maybe work on that so we're ready for that right now. So we can play well.

Q. You guys, Tyrese and Adama, we talked to you after the Villanova game and just putting that behind you and focusing on the tournament. How have you guys processed, I guess, the couple of days since and then you really take that into this week?

TYRESE MARTIN: Just seeing the things that took us in the Villanova game where we were so close to advancing to the next game. We definitely went into that week. We've seen that on film where we messed up. We know we can't do that this time of year because it's only one game, and you're done, so we got to try to eliminate our mistakes and do what we do good. This time of year, we have to be able to do those things great.

Q. (Off microphone)

TYRESE MARTIN: Just the plays that we messed up at the end of the game, and at Villanova, just be able to capitalize at the end of the first half possession. It was a late shot clock in the second half where me and Adama should have switched, but Eric made the shot at the shot clock, things like that. We eliminate those plays, and we put ourselves in a position to play for a Big East championship, so we just have to make sure we don't put ourselves in that predicament this time around.

Q. This one is for R.J. or Tyrese. You talk a lot about identity all year long, and you've got a chance now to make it happen on a neutral court, completely different environment than what you have seen all year long. What's the adjustment been like from not just the Big East tournament but all season?

R.J. COLE: What's the biggest? I mean, it's kind of the same going into every game. If we don't know our identity, we could be bounced pretty quick. As for the games that we lost, we went away from what we're good at, what we're great at. We lost those games. So just mentally wrapping our minds around sticking to our identity, defense, rebounding, playing hard, and I think we'll be in pretty good shape.

TYRESE MARTIN: Same thing he said, this time of year, it's just one game and done, so, I mean, that last game against Villanova was probably one of the losses that we had where we played to our identity on defense and outrebounded them. We just came up short.

I think that goes back to the mistakes that we made, the critical mistakes, that they capitalized on. As long as we don't make those same mistakes, I think we should be advancing very far come this tournament.

Q. Congratulations on your success, UConn team. What are some of the things that you have learned about yourself -- (Off microphone)

R.J. COLE: I would just say how hard we play, how resilient we are. There's moments where it looks like the game is over, but we found a way to get it done. Just sticking together, being connected as a team as a unit and continue to do those things. It's been helping us out all year. We've had a successful season, and hopefully we continue that success.

ISAIAH WHALEY: I would probably say I've learned like how poised we can be during tough situations like late in the game. Like R.J. said, we've been in a lot of tough, close games, and just being able to stay poised and not -- people get scared in the moment. It's really big for us, especially during this time of the year, and so just being able to learn and see that is big for us.

Q. Isaiah, for you to come back to Connecticut for this graduate year, you get to this point now, you get to March Madness. How much is this week what you hoped and envisioned for to come back, have the opportunity to get this program on the map of the NCAA tournament?

ISAIAH WHALEY: I mean, it feels amazing, honestly. My first two years we were -- my teammates we were talking about making plans for Spring Break and March Madness was not even in our mind. And now it's just like we're here, and now we're filming for our next opponent and literally each game could be our last, but we're really excited for the moment. Just to be a part of the transition, and it's an mazing feeling because, you know, I've always wanted to be a part of this.

This is what you come to UConn for. You want to come to UConn just to be in this position because everybody knows when UConn is in the tournament, anything can happen. Just to be able to be a part of that is really special moment, and that's what everybody that wants to come to UConn comes to UConn for, so, yeah.

Q. I'm curious, the guy to your right. You two make up such a fierce front court, not just in your league, but in college basketball. What's it like playing alongside him?

ISAIAH WHALEY: I mean, it's amazing because it brings another rim protector. We can help each other -- help off each other, and just somebody that I can look to and I can throw the ball down to, and I know he is going to go to work or somebody that I know is going to go war for me. I know it's going to be down there in the trenches with me.

That's literally everybody on this -- that's up here, and everybody is going to go to war for the rebound, and everybody wants to get a stop and play defense, so just -- but him specifically just to play with another player like that is always fun.

DAN HURLEY: Excited to be, obviously, in Buffalo, unbelievable sports town. So thrilled to be here. And hopefully some of the success that Bob had while coaching here in Buffalo rubs off on me, my man Nate Oats.

Q. Pleased to meet you, Dan.

DAN HURLEY: Some familiar faces.

Q. You guys adopted the 45:07 motivation. I think that was back in June. Obviously, came into the season with a lot of disappointing -- based on how last year ended. I'm wondering how you view -- what's the measure for success of this season? Is tomorrow winning, does that mean this is a successful season? What's the measure now for a successful season?

DAN HURLEY: I think -- I don't know if that's necessarily something that you are even considering just right now. You just are so focused on New Mexico State and trying to survive tomorrow's game. I think you look bigger picture once seasons are fully over, and you've had a little bit of time to reflect on things.

I just feel like to this point that this team has given me everything they have. I feel like this group has kind of squeezed the lemon dry. I think individual players like R.J. and Adama and Tyrese have had unbelievable years. I think that this team has dealt with a lot, a lot of injuries and a lot of different things during the course of that nonconference to end the nonconference to the beginning of the Big East tournament. I love this team. I love what this team has given UConn this year.

Q. Just tell us a little bit about what your brother has mentioned to you about Buffalo and any places to go eat at while you're here?

DAN HURLEY: Yeah, yeah. (Laughing).

Well, what's the place? Anchor Bar. (Laughing) I'm thinking about McCants and Teddy Allen. I'm not thinking about wings.

No, Bob, I obviously loved coaching here, the support he got at UB, the way they drew the fan base. It's obviously a great sports city. The Bills, the Sabres. Obviously, Canisius, big-time. Bonnies are close. Big-time sports area.

Q. Give you a technical foul on that. You was taking too long to get that answer.

DAN HURLEY: I didn't want to get it wrong. When I hear guys at a press conference saying the wrong shit, it makes me crazy.

Q. Yes, sir. On a much more serious note, Coach, what do you think is going to be the ingredients on racking off a six-game winning streak here cutting these nets down?

DAN HURLEY: Listen, I think we play a very similar style. It's going to be a very, very physical game. They are two very, very tough teams. They're a really, really mature team, older players. I don't know if McCants is maybe a sixth your player. Rice and Teddy Allen are really, really experienced players. McNair is a big physical guy. They're deep and athletic, and they -- we do a lot of the same things that -- we mirror each other in a lot of ways. It's just who is going to do it better tomorrow in a 40-minute game.

Q. Congrats, and good luck tomorrow and enjoy Buffalo, coach.

DAN HURLEY: No doubt, man. Appreciate it.

Q. How are you better prepared for this year compared to last year, and even mentally handling the big stage and the big moment?

DAN HURLEY: I think just a more well-rounded team at both ends of the court. We're not one player reliant. I think we could -- we're really good at pulling -- we're really good on the wing, and we're really good at center, and that sets you up to be really good, but I think the biggest thing is, you know, we have a couple of different ways that we could beat you at the offensive end of the court as opposed to last year you have such a dynamic guy like Bouk on the court. I think guys are playing with a lot more offensive confidence than last year because we're not so reliant on that one dynamic, incredible talent.

Q. How good was the Big East this year? How does that prepare you for this tournament coming out of a tough league like that, and do you think the league maybe on a national level maybe doesn't get its due a little bit?

DAN HURLEY: Yeah, you know, I don't -- I couldn't tell you the national narrative because I don't watch the sports shows on TV, and I muted or turned off so many notifications on my Twitter that I don't really even know what the narrative is, but I just know that the league is brutal this year. Probably should have been a seven bid league.

If Xavier played against one more win there, it's probably seven. And even people like St. John's and DePaul, I mean, it's really, really hard teams to beat. Forget about all the NCAA caliber teams and the style was so physical, and there's so many outstanding coaches. Not like guys are known to be wheeler and dealers in recruiting. I mean, like some of the best basketball coaches in terms of, like, X and O and preparation coaching this league which makes every night a challenge.

Q. How is Jordan doing, and is he going to play tomorrow, and if there's any other injury updates?

DAN HURLEY: Yeah. Everyone else is good to go. We're still trying to see where Jordan is going to be tomorrow, so he will probably be game time. He has ramped up his work, but he has missed some time.

Q. You've played in this tournament obviously. You've coached in it a couple of places. Does that help you at all in terms of trying to kind of relate to these guys, what they are going to be experiencing tomorrow, or do you just rely on the guys who were here last year, the disappointment of what happened last year or using a combination of both?

DAN HURLEY: You know, for me I've coached in four of the last five tournaments that we've played, right? It's become comfortable for me. This group, obviously, we didn't play great last year in the tournament. I think these guys learned a lot from that experience.

I feel like the whole season just playing in the Big East, the big games in Atlantis, the big game with Bonnies at the Pru, you have something you're going to follow up with there? The Big East gauntlet, the Big East tournament.

Listen, if our -- if we fold under the bright lights tomorrow night after the Friday night experience with Villanova at the Garden, no game should be too big for us after you play in a Big East semi at the Garden versus Nova in a game like that. I'm hoping that just the entire season plus the Big East tournament just makes our guys feel really, really comfortable.

Q. You talk a lot about identity, but you also talk about legacy and the idea that this team is sort of bringing the program back to prominence. How does tomorrow define that for you?

DAN HURLEY: Listen, this group will always be remembered for lifting this program from a really, really embarrassing bad point. Nowhere near contention for any type of postseason tournament to a program that's become -- that's going to end the season nationally ranked, has played at the top of the Big East. It's not easy coming from a worst league with a bad team to one of the best leagues in the country and playing at the top of the conference two years in a row, getting to the semis and being a hair away from playing for a championship on Saturday, going back-to-back NCAA tournaments from where we were in the AAC.

This group will be remembered for that, but you want to add to legacy, obviously, when you watch the New Mexico State on film, you don't think about a run in the NCAA tournament. You just think about surviving Thursday's game, but winning games in the NCAA tournament is where you get obviously remembered at a much different level.

Q. I guess playing a team like New Mexico State, which in a lot of ways plays so similar to you, does that give you an advantage out there playing another physical team?

DAN HURLEY: It gives us an advantage if we play to our identity better than they do, but really we usually punk the other team or have a good chance to punk the other team by how hard we play, how physical we are, what we do on both backboards, and they'll mitigate that because those are a lot of their strengths.

I think you'll see a game tomorrow that's a very intense game. It might be the most intense match-up of the first round here because these are two teams that get after it. Chris coaches his guys hard, and they play incredibly hard, and they're also very -- they've got a number of older players. You know, guys 23, played multiple years of college.

Q. What does Teddy do well? Does he remind you of anybody in the league? He is obviously unique. He has size and can do a lot of different things.

DAN HURLEY: Teddy is a bucket. Teddy is a tough shot maker. Teddy plays with a lot of pop and a lot of personality and intensity. I don't know if there's anyone in the Big East that we've played against that has that type of release, and you just have to stay down and be disciplined against him because he has so much stuff off the dribble, and he is so good with head fakes and shoulder fakes and you just got to stay down and be the second guy to leave the floor and not be overly aggressive against him because he is an unbelievable counter puncher.

Q. Anything that has surprised you about this group over the last few months, things that have emerged through its collective personality, anything like that?

DAN HURLEY: Not so much a surprise, but I've just been impressed. I just love this team. I love what this team has been able to do this year, just to win the amount of games that this group has won the last two years in the Big East in the regular season and how hard they fought in the Big East tournament and just what they've done for the program. I just want to continue to coach these guys.

Q. I wanted to ask you about Rhode Island. There's obviously been a coaching change there. You were successful in that job. I wonder how you see that job going forward and how maybe other coaches in your industry see that job going forward?

DAN HURLEY: I know how much -- how hard it was for Thor to make a change, especially when he knows the quality of David Cox. David Cox is an incredible coach. It sounds cliche, but he is an even better guy, first class all the way.

Rhode Island is a great job. That's a great, great job, and it should be a highly sought after job by top low to mid major coaches that are on the rise and top assistants across the country. It's a great job, but it's an 11-month-a-year job, and you got to have a certain personality. You got to be wired to push for what you want every single day because that's what it takes to play at the top of that league in that particular job, but it's a great job and great people there. I loved living there.