Anton Watson and Braden Huff addressed the media after Gonzaga's 96-64 WCC victory over Portland.
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00:00 >> Are you guys in those first three or four went down in the three line,
00:06 is there a contagiousness to that?
00:08 Either way, if they're not going or if they are?
00:11 >> Yeah, I would say so.
00:13 Every time we play Portland, they kinda do something funky on defense,
00:17 try to throw us off.
00:18 But I think our approach was good.
00:21 And those first three threes went down and
00:25 I feel like that got everyone's confidence going up.
00:27 >> Sure, they kinda started to do a great job giving us that early cushion.
00:32 And yeah, seeing a big room at night, which was good.
00:36 >> Brandon, how important are these opportunities for
00:40 you where you can get a longer run, I think 24 minutes back to your season high?
00:45 What does it mean to be able to be out there and kind of play through mistakes and
00:48 have other chances to score and defend?
00:51 >> It's great.
00:52 I mean, it's all kind of just a learning experience.
00:55 I mean, that's how I look at it.
00:57 Last year was a great learning experience for me,
00:59 learning from guys like Tom and Drew just on the bench.
01:03 Now, finally getting those minutes and that PT is huge and
01:07 I'm just kinda trying to make the most of it.
01:09 >> What'd you kind of learn from the end of that game on Saturday,
01:12 the stretch that you played, what were kind of some of your takeaways and
01:16 what were the coaches, teammates telling you?
01:18 >> Yeah, I mean, it's a tough position, just my role,
01:22 just kinda you always gotta stay ready.
01:25 It was a long stretch in the second half.
01:28 I was out for it.
01:30 Coming with Graham in foul trouble, just be ready.
01:33 And just gotta work your tail, especially in a game like that.
01:37 Just gotta give it all you got and lock up and get stops.
01:41 I think that's the biggest thing, especially in crunch time like that.
01:45 >> Coach called you, he thought that maybe you'd be a good pickleball or
01:50 ping pong player cuz of your hand-eye coordination.
01:52 Are you, and then where does that come from also, basketball court?
01:56 >> We played a little bit at Coach Fu's house,
02:00 a little bit of pickleball at Coach Fu's house in the fall when we went up there.
02:04 I like to think I'm pretty good on the team, but that might just be me.
02:09 I don't know if the other guys agree.
02:11 But yeah, I mean, I don't know where the hand-eye coordination comes.
02:19 I think it's just kinda natural, but I mean, we got Ryan and Nolan,
02:23 great guards who are just kinda putting the ball right where it needs to be and
02:28 make my job easy, so.
02:29 >> Yeah, I'm telling you, that was your pickleball game.
02:33 >> No, it was decent.
02:34 >> [LAUGH] >> I don't know,
02:36 it depends on, I think me and B Huff would be a crazy duo in pickleball.
02:41 That's team length right there, so.
02:42 >> [LAUGH] >> They don't wanna see us on the court.
02:46 >> Is that length something that allows you guys, you think,
02:48 to be so efficient, finishing around the rim?
02:50 You guys are both pretty efficient tonight.
02:52 >> I'll say so, yeah.
02:54 >> Yeah, I think.
02:56 >> Yeah, just the touch around the rim, I think.
02:58 You play basketball for a long time, you kinda just learn that touch and
03:02 just the feeling.
03:04 And he's had it since day one, since he's been here.
03:08 And it's kinda the same thing that Drew had.
03:11 When he gets around the rim, he doesn't really miss.
03:14 So yeah, I feel like just touch and instincts.
03:18 >> How different is it guarding a guy like Robertson?
03:22 >> Yeah, it's a little different, but he's good.
03:25 He's a high IQ player, he's gonna draw fouls,
03:29 but he's not the fastest, most explosive player.
03:33 But it's definitely different.
03:36 But I'll say he's a fun guy to guard, and
03:39 I think I've matched up against him the past four years.
03:43 So it's been super competitive with him, and
03:46 I just take it as a challenge every time I see him.
03:49 >> And Tom, what was the mindset of this team coming off of an emotional game
03:52 Saturday with what you guys have this Saturday coming up?
03:55 It could have easily kind of been considered a trap game today.
03:57 How has this team kind of approached this week in general?
04:00 >> Yeah, I wouldn't say necessarily just watch that game out of our minds,
04:06 but we know that we had a game coming up today.
04:09 And then we got a big one on Saturday.
04:11 So we just gotta take these opportunities and take full advantage of them.
04:16 So we can't really dwell on the past or dwell on our losses, but
04:20 we know that we can't really lose any more games.
04:23 So yeah, I would just say we were locked in ever since I lost, but yeah.
04:27 >> What do you think of playing on Brock, both you guys?
04:31 >> I'm excited for the experience.
04:34 I got a lot of family coming down for that one.
04:37 It's kinda close to where I'm from.
04:40 So yeah, I'm excited, historic place, gonna be a great atmosphere,
04:45 really excited for that game.
04:47 >> Yeah, it's gonna be crazy.
04:48 Kinda like we played Alabama last year, but we didn't play at the arena.
04:53 But yeah, playing in Rupp, I think that's just a once in a lifetime type of thing,
04:57 especially for Gonzaga.
04:59 And yeah, I got some family down there that's about to go, so
05:02 I think it's gonna be special.
05:03 >> Anton, this is a much different Kentucky team from last year, but
05:07 what kind of challenges do they still present, I guess,
05:10 from if you've been able to watch them all this season?
05:12 >> Yeah, they're super talented.
05:15 They always have a talented team, athletic.
05:18 Yeah, and they got a good coach.
05:22 So yeah, I think they're gonna be a good team.
05:25 It's gonna be a fun game.
05:28 They like to go up and down the court.
05:31 They don't play slow, so I think it's gonna be a high-paced game, and
05:34 it's gonna be super fun to play.
05:35 >> Do you feel like there's added importance in that game,
05:40 just what it could do for you all?
05:41 >> Yeah, I would say so.
05:44 Yeah.
05:48 >> Yeah, definitely.
05:49 >> Yeah, we'll be locked in for that one for sure.
05:53 >> Anton, did it help when we play in 25 minutes tonight after such a physical
05:58 game on Saturday, and you know you've got another big one coming up, and
06:01 having guys like Braden step up and give you a little bit more rest today?
06:05 >> Yeah, I would say it helped.
06:06 Yeah, 25 minutes, that's not too much, but
06:13 playing 40 minutes on Saturday, that was kind of a lot.
06:16 It's just kind of hard on the body, but I think we're doing a good job as a team,
06:19 just recovery-wise, and again with our trainers, and just making sure we're ready.
06:23 Cuz we got a lot of guys playing a lot of minutes, so
06:26 I think we just gotta be prepared and stay locked in on that.
06:30 [BLANK_AUDIO]