MOUNTAIN WEST MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

March 16, 2024

Richard Pitino

Jamal Mashburn, Jr.

Jemarl Baker, Jr.

Thomas & Mack Center

New Mexico Lobos

Postgame Press Conference

New Mexico 68, San Diego State 61

THE MODERATOR: For New Mexico we have student-athletes Jemarl Baker, Jr., Jamal Mashburn, Jr., and Coach Richard Pitino. Coach, let's get thoughts on today's game.

RICHARD PITINO: Really, really proud of the guys in this locker room. They had so much belief the whole year and came into this tournament playing confidently, playing loose, and winning in a variety of ways.

Nobody has ever, I believe, won in this tournament four games in four nights like this, and we never looked fatigued. San Diego State is a program that we've got a lot of respect for. We knew we would have to raise our level of toughness, and we did it.

So happy for our amazing fan base. Happy for the state of New Mexico, the City of Albuquerque. I know how much they love college basketball. We're going to enjoy this moment tonight.

THE MODERATOR: Questions for the student-athletes.

Q. Coach just mentioned it for both of you guys, first team ever to play all four days and come out with a title. What does that mean to you, and what does that say about your team?

JAMAL MASHBURN JR: Man, it's just a testament to you our group and our toughness. We've gone through so much stuff this year either individually, together. Man, we've been through the ups and downs together, but we've never separated. We continue to work throughout our struggles.

Man, it's just a testament to our toughness and how we just keep going, and everybody is just on the same page at all times.

JEMARL BAKER JR: He said it. He said it. That's everything right there.

Q. Sometimes have you to match great defense with great defense. It's worked for you guys up to this point. You had 14 points off of 10 turnovers today. You know you're a great offensive team, but what kind of confidence does this give you these defensive performances like this for the tournament?

JEMARL BAKER JR: Definitely gives us confidence. I mean, that's what coach has been emphasizing. Just being scrappy, being tough, and getting out on the break and running.

We've been executing the game plan these last few games, and we have to continue on doing that in the tournament.

Q. First for you, Jemarl Baker. As you've had an incredible journey, seven years, four schools. Not at the complete end of this road, as you guys have clinched at least one more game, but what does it feel like helping be a part of a title-winning team for the first time in a decade for the school?

JEMARL BAKER JR: It's incredible, man. It's incredible. We've worked so hard to get to this point. Like Mash said, we have had so many ups and downs this year, and we all just stayed confident in ourselves and stayed together.

It feels great. It's not over yet, but is it does feel great to get a championship on my way out, that's for sure.

Q. Then as you look to your side and you see your coach, Jamal, who you are one of the first two people he recruited and all the way at the end of -- not at the complete end of this journey, but near the end, and you guys are bringing home a title to Albuquerque. What does that mean to you, and what's your connection been like with the coach?

JAMAL MASHBURN JR: Man, I mean, this guy right here, man, he's dealt with me through the worst times of my life, through the best times of my life. I can only be grateful and be appreciative for a coach like this to be able to put me in ^ positions to succeed and for him to just trust me and trust me to be myself, trust me to go out there and attack, trust me to go out there and defend and do whatever I need to do to help win a game.

Man, our goal to come here was to win a championship and cut down nets, and we did that. It's not over yet, but we did that.

Q. A lot has been mentioned about the competition level of the conference. A lot has been mentioned about six teams going tomorrow. How far do you think all these six teams will go in the Big Dance?

JAMAL MASHBURN JR: Man, we got six games to win. That's our goal. We're very confident and humble about this process, and we know we have to -- I don't know when we leave or when we have to head out or whatever, but we're ready to go. We're ready to play whoever. Yeah, we're going to win some games. We're going to make some noise.

JEMARL BAKER JR: For sure. We have a group that knows that we can beat anybody, so we just have to get back to work and be ready for whoever we play and whenever it is.

Q. Mash, it's been mentioned how you followed the guy to your right there here three years ago. You've had ups and downs with your shooting this year. How did it feel getting your shot going when you had Donavan Dent not 100%?

JAMAL MASHBURN JR: I mean, I know I've struggled shooting the ball, and I'm happy I was able to come out here and make some shots, but I always stayed confident in myself throughout anything just because I put in the work, and I put in the hours and time and the equity in my game.

So my confidence has never wavered. There's been ups and downs throughout this year, as with any athlete. It's tough. Just being able to stick through and push through, and these are the moments that you stick through and push through for, for championships, for teams winning and stuff like that. That's what we stick to it for, so yeah.

THE MODERATOR: We'll dismiss the student-athletes at this time. Questions for Coach.

Q. Just what does it mean for you to get your first title in this year where it's probably arguably the best year in this conference history?

RICHARD PITINO: It means a lot. You know, I took a chance when I took this job, and I did it because of our fan base. I wanted to be at a place that celebrated basketball, and I wanted to be in a community that really cared about the basketball program.

With that a lot comes with it. It really does. Sometimes it can be hard. There were some tough times this year with some tough losses, especially at home, where you had to pick yourself up off the mat, and you just had to keep believing in what we're doing and believing in the guys in the locker room.

Our guys never ever wavered from their confidence. They really didn't. They came into this tournament truly believing that they could win it. So that's why I picked up my family and took a risk, and it sure feels like it's paying off right now.

Q. To do all that for a fan base that has embraced you in and this team, what do you see it mean to your team?

RICHARD PITINO: I think it's one of the best fan bases in college basketball. I truly, truly believe it. They are as invested in this program on a daily basis as a Kentucky where I grew up for eight years. I don't see a whole lot of a difference, and they're loyal.

When we first got here, we were 3-0-3 in the NET. Half the building was empty. To get guys like Jaelen House and Jemal Mashburn to come to your school without ever seeing campus and then being able to have this pay off, it's an amazing journey and truly I'm very grateful and appreciative.

Q. Also just curious, what was your message during the last media timeout when you were tied 59-59?

RICHARD PITINO: Get stops. Clearly they were going to LeDee every single time. We were having some issues with getting stops. He was getting fouled, which he does. He's great at it. He was knocking down his free-throws.

We just had to go make winning plays, and we found a way to get a couple more winning plays down the stretch. Our defense and our rebounding really grew this tournament, and we had no chance to win if we didn't start getting scrappy like we did.

Then to be able to do it without really Donovan Dent. He really fought to give us 12 minutes, and very appreciative of him as well.

Q. I was wondering how you would describe as vividly as you would like what it was like to play in this league this season.

RICHARD PITINO: I really liked our team. I felt like we could compete with anybody, but there were a lot of good teams that we were going against, and there were a lot of teams -- obviously we're going to get six in the NCAA Tournament.

UNLV is as good as any of them as well.

So it was just like made for TV every single night. Great players. Great coaches. Fan bases that truly care. I remember coming here thinking, all right, maybe it's a little bit of a step down from the Big Ten.

It didn't feel like it on a nightly basis. It really didn't. I mean, packed houses, national TV. There were just wars every night.

I know I got better as a coach going against some of these amazing coaches and programs. It was a long, long season, but very rewarding.

Q. I think the entire state of New Mexico is celebrating with you right now. What impact did name, image, and likeness in the greater New Mexico community, which you kind of alluded to -- what impact did they all have upon helping you build this championship roster?

RICHARD PITINO: Well I think the thing, you take a job at a place that cares, and you need to be invested, and we have a fan base, and we have a community that really, really cares.

I'm so very appreciative of their support and appreciative of all that believe-in-us and stick-with-us through highs and lows. So I hope they are enjoying this moment just like we are.

Q. Jamal Mashburn and Jaelen House combined for 49 points with those being the two first building blocks of this championship. What did it mean to you to see them go out and perform like that and both deliver just legendary performances?

RICHARD PITINO: Yeah, as I said before, when we got the job, we were not allowed to go recruiting because of the pandemic so, we put together a recruiting class of eight players that had never stepped on campus. Three are left. Sebastian Forsling, Jamal Mashburn, Jr., and Jaelen House. And Jaelen House and Mash have been all-conference players.

This year was a little bit more challenging because of all the injuries and the emergence of Donovan Dent. We had to play them together. There were times where it was hard because of defense and rebounding, but we felt like it would put us in a position to win.

Now you come in, and Donovan Dent is really sick. He can't play. Mash and House stepped up, as older guys absolutely do in that time.

Q. Then last question, have you gotten a chance to talk to your dad, Rick, yet? If you had to take a guess, what do you think the first thing he's going to say is?

RICHARD PITINO: I've not spoken to him. I'm sure he's hopefully very proud. I hope my mom is proud, my family is proud.

Any time you get fired, it's hard, you know, as a young head coach and you are Rick Pitino's son and everybody is comparing you to him, and you do feel a little bit of a burden.

I'm probably not going to go in the Naismith Hall of Fame like he is, and that's okay, but you have to have a high level of belief in yourself.

I wouldn't be able to do this profession without being able to lean on my mom and my dad and the support, because they're always there. We're far away from each other, but they're always there.

I am the person, the husband, the father that I try to be every day because of my parents.

Q. I asked Dutch what was the difference in the game when the game was in the balance really with five, six minutes to go in the game, and he just basically said House. I was wondering if you would agree with that?

RICHARD PITINO: Yeah, House is the type of guy who -- because they really switch all ball screens. They mixed up their coverages, but you have to go make plays. Either you can throw it in the low post, which it's hard to score on, or you can kind of take him off the bounce.

Jaelen got to the free-throw line, made some big shots. Fierce, fierce competitor. I was never a little bit concerned that he would be tired. He's built for moments like this.

Q. Following up on the NIL question, I know you're obviously looking forward to the NCAA Tournament, but you have three young guys on your roster who have played very well this year, got exposure on national TV today, are going to get exposure in the NCAA Tournament. With the way things are right now, how concerned are you at a quote, unquote, mid-major program that you're going to be able to keep those guys knowing what's coming?

RICHARD PITINO: Yeah, for one, I don't think we're a mid-major program. I don't think San Diego State and a lot of these programs are. The salaries may be a little different at times and some of the budgets, but I don't feel like the players on a day-to-day basis feel that.

You know, you try not to worry about it. It's coming for all of us. It just is. It's the reality of it. You try to create a culture that they believe you're going to be invested in them. There's always going to be people with more money. That's just the reality of coaches, players, ADs, everywhere.

You just have to hope and be as transparent with them as possible. You know, you want what's best for them. You really do. I feel like all three of those guys and a lot of the guys we can bring back could be in a great position. You know, you understand. I mean, I think you understand that opportunities are always going to be there, but you just try to be as open and honest with everybody as you can.