SOUTHWEST MAUI INVITATIONAL

November 26, 2025

Shaheen Holloway

AJ Staton-McCray

Lahaina Civic Center

Seton Hall Pirates

Postgame Press Conference

Seton Hall 75, Washington State 61

Q. What did you learn about your team this week?

SHAHEEN HOLLOWAY: First, Washington State is really good. Watching those guys all night, they could really shoot the basketball. They had a great weekend here, so credit to those guys.

I knew that we was going to come out and play hard because that's what we do. We defend, we play hard. I guess what I learned from the team is it was so easy to have a letdown after yesterday's loss, especially the way we lost. But these guys came out with energy and juice, and to me those are all good signs of becoming a good basketball team. I was proud of that.

Q. AJ, Glass had a huge game last night. What were you trying to do to limit him and frustrate him today?

AJ STATON-McCRAY: Just keep him off the three-point line and not foul. We had trouble fouling versus USC, so that was our main objective, was to keep the ball off the three-point line and keep our hands but still play aggressive on defense.

Q. AJ, have you watched this tournament before coming here as a kid maybe or recently, and how important do you feel like this week was for you guys as you go on into the season?

AJ STATON-McCRAY: Of course I used to watch this tournament growing up, but it was very important because people were saying we didn't play anybody coming into this tournament, so we had something to prove. But it's still a process. We're still going forward for our main objectives.

Q. Coach, you've been asked all week about this, but can you one more time tell us the importance of this tournament in the college baseball landscape. It's a historical -- well, you tell me, please.

SHAHEEN HOLLOWAY: Yeah, it's Maui, right? It's a big-time tournament. Got great teams this year, great coaches. Every year it's one of the top NTEs out there and everybody wants to come here.

We're happy to be here, happy to be a part of it. It's my first time being a part of it, so I think, like I said the other day, it's one of the best tournaments by far.

Q. I think at the beginning of the press conference earlier in the week, you talked about on Thursday what you wanted to know about your team. You're close to Thursday; what is it about this team that you're really happy about? What is it that you think you need to continue to refine?

SHAHEEN HOLLOWAY: Yeah, I think we've got to -- obviously last night wasn't happy with our pick-and-roll defense. I thought it sucked. Obviously we watched and I was up all night paying attention because this team runs a lot of pick-and-rolls, as well.

But I learned with this team that once again, earlier in the year I wanted guys that love basketball, and I love that comes with it. It's so easy right now to love what comes with it with NIL and all that stuff. I want guys that really love it. I think today you seen guys that love the game.

Think about it; after a tough loss, after two games, it was so easy to come out with dead legs, no play, and these guys came out with juice, and I was proud of that. To me that was a step in the right direction.