lite 8 Media Conference
Q. For anybody that wants to answer, but given the run that you guys have been on, and I know you always say we're focused on the next opponent, has there ever been, even if just for a minute, you guys sat there and realized the type of media attention you guys are getting and how historic and special this is?
DARYL BANKS III: Yeah, it always kicks in a little bit for a quick second right after the game. Our phones are going crazy, we're seeing the different posts on social media.
But like you said earlier, after that little quick time goes by, we've got to focus on the next game, focus on the game plan. We can't let that distract us from what's to be played.
KC NDEFO: Yeah, as Daryl Banks said, we just try to focus on the next goal. But as we get back to the locker room after the game, our phones are buzzing, Instagram, Twitter, all types of social media platforms. It's good for the moment, for the night, we live it up as a team together. But as the next day comes, just focus on the game plan and our next opponent.
Q. For any of you, after the game last night, Shaheen is doing his postgame interview on the court, and of course he's greeted pretty much by all of you kind of bombing the interview. How do you think wanting to be a part of that moment and your connection with him has helped fuel this run and keep it going going forward?
HASSAN DRAME: I mean, during this type of time, it's always a special time. People always say, these are one of those opportunities that you get once in a lifetime, maybe twice if you're lucky enough.
When he was being interviewed, when we saw him, all of us going in there and jump over him, just the excitement we were giving at the moment.
MATTHEW LEE: Yeah, like Hassan said, those are once-in-a-lifetime moments. We were just happy to be in that moment and obviously just letting it all soak in, and we were just happy to be around each other. We saw Coach over there by himself, so we had to go mess with him a little bit.
Q. Matthew and Doug, speaking of that, how easy is it for you guys to play for Coach Holloway? What is it about him that allows you to feel like you can ride and die with him?
DOUG EDERT: It's pretty easy. All you really have to do is give 100 percent effort and defend.
But yeah, it's fun playing for him. He's a great coach. He believes in his players so much, and it gives us belief in ourselves and each other.
No, going back to the effort that we give, every time we're on the court we try our best to do whatever we have to do, whether it's guarding the ball, executing a game plan. And he has extreme confidence in us, which helps us when we're out there on the court.
MATTHEW LEE: Playing for Coach has been amazing. Like Doug said, he gives us extreme confidence. You see the fire and the energy that he brings to the court. He brings that same thing to practice.
You look to the sideline, you might have made a bad play or something, but you look to the sideline, you see somebody encouraging you and giving you kind words. He's been here before, he's been a player, so he knows what we're going through, and it's kind of just easy to play for him.
Q. For Fousseyni, Hassan and KC, you've gone up against great bigs along the way to the Elite Eight. Has that given you confidence going up against Armando Bacot and how good he is that you guys can deal with him, as well?
HASSAN DRAME: Like we always say, before going into a game, we don't see high, we don't see talent. Just all the respect, I don't even know who Edey is.
FOUSSEYNI DRAME: Like he said, it's true. I just always see basketball as just hope. Just play basketball, and like he said, we don't really know those names. All we see is a player.
Q. Daryl, just want to ask you what it was like coming up the ranks at The Patrick School, waiting your turn behind Bryce Aiken and Jordan Walker and Jamir Harris, how that shaped you as a player.
DARYL BANKS III: Yeah, so being behind them going against them in practice every day, it really just molded me to who I am today. Knowing that you've got to work, it's not going to be given. They're great players, you've seen their careers.
Yeah, so just battling against them every day gave me the experience and the wisdom they guided me through while I was there, and it was just an amazing experience to have.
Q. Matthew, curious if the opponent has a special significance to you and your family for your father's -- for North Carolina, and how many times have you heard his stories about that game especially?
MATTHEW LEE: I mean, I've heard a lot of stories of my dad's career. Obviously North Carolina was one of his biggest opponents and stuff. But I'm not really thinking too much of that. I'm just trying to stay focused and get this done with my team.
Q. For any of you, at what point does this stop become hey, this is kind of cool, look at this run, all right no, let's go out and win this thing. Is there a switch that flips there?
KC NDEFO: Well, there's no switch. Since day one, when we first came into the NCAA Tournament, that was our mindset, let's win this game. So that's what we came out and did every day, just tried to execute the game plan and contend and go for the win since day one.
