NCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP: SECOND ROUND - PRINCETON VS MISSOURI

March 18, 2023

Mitch Henderson

Blake Peters

Ryan Langborg

Tosan Evbuomwan

Golden 1 Center

Princeton Tigers

Media Conference

Princeton 78, Missouri 63

THE MODERATOR: The victorious Princeton Tigers. Gentlemen, congratulations.

Mitch, let's start with you. A very, very sound performance throughout the game. I was just told a few minutes ago it's the largest margin of victory by a 15 seed ever in the NCAA tournament. Congratulations. The floor is yours.

MITCH HENDERSON: Does anybody have a stat sheet? Any available? I'd love to see the stats.

This started for us three years ago. We took the season off for COVID, came back. Ryan and Tosan were contributors as freshmen. But their junior years, we had a terrific team a year ago, we lost in the championship game. Didn't go to the NCAAs. We could barely watch the tournament.

We were finding out what we were with a new group. We lost two First Team -- we lost some All-Ivy guys. This group is really, really confident. This guy on my right was not named to any all-league teams at all, was not voted to any, and he was the best player on the floor. If you want to argue, I'm happy to argue with anybody in here.

He's been awesome. He's been awesome for five straight games.

Then Tosan, everybody knows a lot about Tosan. Tosan, I hope you don't mind.

Blake Peters has been making shots coming off the bench for us for weeks. This is a very, very confident group. We are so thrilled to be going to the Sweet 16. It is an absolute pleasure being around these guys. They just grit their teeth and they do it.

We finally made shots. This is the first half stats. How many threes did we make? 12 threes, all right, there we go. Only nine turnovers, Tosan, that's pretty good.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Coach, you're looking across and see the whole sea of orange. Did you recognize faces? How fun was that?

MITCH HENDERSON: More than a handful of guys I played with. Multiple players that I've coached. Family, friends. We really drew on the strength of our fans this weekend. Princeton, I don't think anybody does it quite like Princeton. I know I'm biased. But there's great school spirit. The school does that.

It's a four-year institution. You have personal relationships with your professors. All the student-athletes know each other. It really makes you feel comfortable.

We are so proud to be representing our school and playing great basketball in front of what I thought was just a terrific crowd.

Q. Tosan, as a senior, to be here through your journey, give your thoughts about your emotions being at this point.

TOSAN EVBUOMWAN: Unreal, obviously. I can't really put the feeling into words right now, to be honest. It's just an unreal feeling to do this with my guys and my teammates, coaching staff.

Like Coach said, it's been a few years in the making I think. We just have such a close group. We love to work with each other. We love to push each other. It's showing.

Just a group of really tough guys. It's all coming together at the right time I think.

MITCH HENDERSON: Tosan's passing, you won't see that again at Princeton for 50 years. I mean, he's really a very unique passer. When he came to us, it was like first week of practice. Ryan and Blake, no offense, but it was like a brilliant, blinding light from heaven. He's going to be a joy to coach. His humility is extraordinary.

Q. Outside of the COVID year, 11 seasons to work to this point, to advance in the tournament, get to the Sweet 16. How sweet that is for you? To the student-athletes, what we should know about Princeton around the country?

MITCH HENDERSON: I've always dreamed of playing deep into the tournament. As a player, got to the second round a couple times. Never got beyond it.

I feel like these guys, it's unbelievable.

Q. For both Mitch and Ryan, sort of what you were thinking when the fans started chanting Sweet 16? First time in the Sweet 16 since 1967. If you could describe the significance of that.

RYAN LANGBORG: Yeah, obviously being here is pretty surreal. Coming into this tournament, this is what we all wanted. We're not done yet. We've got a bunch of games left hopefully.

Like Tosan said, it's hard to put into words. We're all so excited and ready to get after the next one.

Q. Blake, do I understand correctly your grandparents went to Missouri?

BLAKE PETERS: Yes.

Q. Does that play any place in your mind after a day like this, having that kind of performance against them?

BLAKE PETERS: It does. Last couple days I know they've been having -- they had a watch party for the round of 64. Friends over at their house. Another big one today.

They went to Missouri. They're very passionate Tiger fans. But I know they were cheering for their grandson today. That's what makes things like this so special, is to do it in front of your family here, watching back at home.

Yeah, I hope they're proud of me.

Q. Ryan, you had 11 of the first 13 points. How did it feel to get those first couple to go down after not getting one against Arizona?

RYAN LANGBORG: I mean, it's always nice to see the ball go in the net. I have to give credit to these guys next to me. Tosan was finding me. I wouldn't be able to do any of that without them.

Like I said, shots weren't going in for any of us really the last game. To see the ball go through the net, it's always a great start to the game.

Q. Flashback a couple weeks ago, you blew a 19-point lead at home against Yale, almost blew it on the road against Harvard. How did those games help you playing today in such a high-pressure environment?

TOSAN EVBUOMWAN: Yeah, I said before that the kind of end of our season last five, six games, they were all huge games for us. They all felt like championship games.

The Yale loss specifically was a massive turning point for us I think. We were able to refocus the day after at practice, going forward with games. All those games were big games. That kind of gives us confidence going into each game here.

The Ivy championship, as well. We've been here before, we've played on -- obviously this is the biggest stage we've played on -- a big stage, being able to get it done. We have confidence in one another to show out and have a big performance.

Q. You guys and FDU have galvanized a state of 8 million people. What do you think you've shown the world about New Jersey college basketball and mid-major basketball in general?

RYAN LANGBORG: I guess there's something in the water (smiling). Something's helping us.

But yeah, no, it's great to represent New Jersey, bring it home for all the people there. Yeah, we're over the moon.

Q. About 10 minutes left in the game, they cut it to six. It felt like they were clawing their way back in there. You went on a big run after that. Other than making shots during the next four minutes, what can you attribute to the turnaround?

BLAKE PETERS: We're a tight group. Coach always likes to go like this when we're losing leads, we're coming apart. But today we stayed together. If that metaphor doesn't illustrate our togetherness like it did today, I don't know what does.

MITCH HENDERSON: I always think when they're chatting a lot, when you go back to the huddle, you're going to talk to them. Really long timeouts. Long TV medias. This group is like ch-ch-ch-ch. He doesn't talk much. He doesn't talk much. But today they were very chatty. It was really fun, very enjoyable game to coach.

Q. Coach, you won the rebounding battle 44 to 30, I believe. A top 10 rebounding team in the nation. What goes into your success in the offense and defensive boards?

MITCH HENDERSON: We've got terrific players. Cade Pierce, 16 rebounds. He's a freshman. I mean, Zach Martini, Tosan. We've made it a huge priority. Keeshawn. They're playing absolutely fearless. They're unafraid of anyone.

Q. For any of you guys, how Thursday's game, if it gave you any confidence, momentum that you felt? How did you deal with the last two days, people talking about you, staying focused on today?

TOSAN EVBUOMWAN: Yeah, I think Thursday obviously did give us confidence. It was nice to be able to ride momentum into this game.

But like you said, it's about remaining focused on the next thing. The world looks at us as two upsets. But I feel like we're supposed to be here. We have a lot of confidence in one another, what we're doing. There's definitely no letup with this group.

Q. Mitch, you obviously have the context of history, having played. As we talked about earlier, seeing first-round wins. The significance of getting to the Sweet 16, how that sort of affects the legacy of this team.

MITCH HENDERSON: I think that will hit us when it's over. We'll be in New Jersey in about 10 hours. Tonight we're taking the redeye home.

I told them at halftime, We're going to get on that flight. We were up seven at half. We had coughed up seven points. I said, You know we're going to get on that flight, no matter what, when we get on that flight, we're going to be us. We felt like the best version of us could beat the best version of them.

They did it. Yes, we're going to the Sweet 16. But this is a really unique group. I think in the tournament each group has a special life. This one has a really special life. So I'm just, again, so proud of 'em.

Q. Caden Pierce had six offensive rebounds in the second half. Blake Peters in the second half, he didn't take a shot, and he ended up five for eight. All of them behind the arc. Blake, what was your focus going into that second half? They left you in the corner a lot. Mitch, if you could talk behind it.

BLAKE PETERS: All year I've been working on kind of reading Tosan and other guys. I think I do a good job finding open space when he drives. Missouri kept coming off, so I just tried to find open space. Tosan found me. Some other guys found me.

At the end of the day we've all put in a lot of work shooting the ball. Our slogan is: make shots. Today I made shots. I think it was more about making plays. When you get the ball, you're on defense, stay locked in.

Even if you don't play in the first half, like who cares, can't control it. Just kind of go with the flow.

MITCH HENDERSON: Blake, he's an absolute driller.

On Fridays at Princeton, you have a little bit less classes. So a day when we could practice just a little bit earlier, but we haven't been able to because Blake speaks fluent Chinese.

BLAKE PETERS: Not fluent. But close.

MITCH HENDERSON: He wants to be Secretary of State. He's absolutely unflappable. You get my vote (smiling).

He's very calm under pressure. That's how he is. That's how he goes about his business.

Q. Mitch, your defense today, I don't think Missouri ever really got in a rhythm. Maybe in bursts here and there. I'm sure it's hard to summarize, but what do you think you did that had them discombobulated a bit?

MITCH HENDERSON: Really tough group. We can switch. Know exactly what they're supposed to do. They keep their body in front of their guys. Good old-fashioned, tough-nosed defense.

Our league also, it's so hard to guard in our league. We've seen a little bit of everything we saw the last two games in our league regularly. I know you guys say, It's Arizona and Missouri. For us, it's the same actions, just different players. You got to keep your body in front of 'em and contest shots.

I mean, it's a really hard, tough-nosed group. They know how to do it.

THE MODERATOR: Gentlemen, we're out of time. Congratulations. Good luck in Louisville.