Trayce Jackson-Davis and Race Thompson addressed the media on Sunday night after the NCAA tournament selection show.
Watch the full press conference below:
Q. Trayce, how from your eyes have you seen Malik develop since he got here as a freshman?
TRAYCE JACKSON-DAVIS: Malik came in really strong, playing against some of the mid-major schools. He kind of hit a slump in the middle of the season, but I think since late January, he’s really just turned it back up. He’s playing really, really well, playing really, really confident and I just think that’s his work ethic. I think that’s the way he takes things in practice going against me every day.
I’m proud of him and I know he’s ready to get back out there. He’s a really big spark for us off the bench. He just needs to keep doing what he’s doing.
Q. I guess for Race, having got a taste of tournament play last year and knowing what that feels like, how does that impact your mentality going into this year?
RACE THOMPSON: We worked all summer, all year, for this, last year being a play-in game, we kind of got a taste of it, and then going to play St. Mary’s. It’s like, we got a taste.
I think this whole year, feeling that, and just going into practice every day preparing to really play for the NCAA Tournament, just the want to be able to play deeper into the tournament is something that’s pushed us every single day.
Q. Curious, asked Coach Woodson the same thing. When you’re getting ready for an opponent that you really obviously haven’t played this season or probably, I don’t know if either of you guys watch much MAC basketball, but I’m guessing the answer is no. What are maybe the keys to kind of locking in the next couple days in terms of learning about this opponent? And what, I guess, does the staff do from a preparation perspective to kind of get you guys ready to play a team that you’re not as familiar with?
TRAYCE JACKSON-DAVIS: Nothing really changes, honestly. From the beginning of the year, we scouted every team the same, whether it be a mid major in the beginning of the year, out of conference opponent like North Carolina, or Purdue coming in on our home floor. We take our scouting very seriously. The assistant scouts do a great job.
We have three days to prepare, and we are going to do — we are going to see what they are doing, and then we’ve just got to go out and execute, and what the…
