Gonzaga Bulldogs guard Nolan Hickman addressed the burden of carrying the program's NCAA Tournament legacy
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00:00 I want to do it, I feel like it's because the team needs it.
00:05 We all have our tendencies of sitting down on defense, but
00:09 I feel like what I bring for the team is my intensity, that I bring my defense.
00:14 I feel like it's much needed and it goes a long way for the squad.
00:19 Just to see that I'm sitting down, now a vet, which is really insane.
00:25 But when they see a vet, like the other guys, Dusty and them,
00:30 it just gives them a spark just to try and go hard on defense.
00:34 That's what I try to bring.
00:36 >> Speaking of being a vet,
00:37 you and your coaches tweaked the starting lineup a little bit.
00:40 Just wondering what you've seen from Dusty embracing that challenge and
00:45 he had a pretty good game against San Diego.
00:46 >> Yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm sorry, he had a real good game.
00:51 Yeah, man, I'm real proud of Dusty, man.
00:55 He's been overcoming a lot of challenges,
00:57 with him being rushed and just being thrown into the fire.
01:01 And he knows what was best for the team,
01:04 especially with Benny coming in and starting out.
01:08 So he knew what needed to be done.
01:10 There was no backtalk or no, of course, people will want to start.
01:14 But if it benefits the team, and that's what his energy was at,
01:18 if it benefits the team, that's how he was going by it.
01:22 So I applaud him for that.
01:25 A lot of other players wouldn't be able to do that, so salute to my bro.
01:28 >> Gonna feel good to be home Thursday, not getting booed by the opposing crowd.
01:33 >> Yeah, for sure.
01:36 Those road games are much needed too,
01:39 just to show that we fight through adversity and everything.
01:43 But yeah, it's always gonna feel good to be back in the camp.
01:47 >> How do you describe the difference, no students to students back when you're home?
01:52 >> Honestly, man, it's not too bad without students.
01:59 I'm not gonna lie, we've actually had a really good crowd without students.
02:02 They get rowdy the same way some of the students do.
02:06 But of course, I'm not gonna put that past the students, the students got it.
02:10 And the student section in the camp, they always have my heart.
02:14 But I feel like everybody as a whole, I wouldn't just wanna put them in categories.
02:19 I feel like the fan base, they bring it all, they bring it every single game.
02:23 So all about free.
02:25 >> What do you see out of San Francisco's guards?
02:27 >> They're real tough, real, I feel like they're real bulky, oriented.
02:35 They're scoring heavy, but
02:41 I feel like the real challenge is gonna be with that big fella.
02:46 He's averaging, I think, I'm sorry, I don't know his name.
02:51 Yeah, yeah, yeah.
02:53 But I feel like that's gonna be where we need to really focus in it.
02:57 And honestly, do a good job containing him.
03:04 That makes sense, yeah.
03:05 >> And the three ball, they shoot three of them.
03:07 >> Yeah, they shoot that three ball very well.
03:09 And they cut, they're a real good cutting team.
03:11 So, and we have a bad tendency of getting cut.
03:14 So this will be a challenge, this will be a challenge for us.
03:18 And yeah, we ready.
03:20 >> You saw a lot of Brandon Huff last year on the scout team when he was red shirted.
03:24 What's the most impressive thing you saw him do during his red shirt season?
03:28 >> It's kind of weird because B Huff, he's been doing this,
03:32 that's what I'm saying, in practice.
03:33 Like he said, red shirt last year.
03:35 He's been showing growth.
03:38 He's been knocking down people on practice.
03:40 He's been putting up numbers against anybody in the squad.
03:44 So I just feel like it's so dope to see him come to life and
03:48 to get the recognition he deserves, to get the minutes he deserves.
03:51 It's real dope to see he has that type of player to always be in the right spot
03:58 at the right time, I feel like it's just a gift.
04:02 >> Is there anything different or unique about a week like this where you have
04:07 one home game and then one road game versus out on the road for two games or
04:10 home for two games?
04:12 >> Honestly, I don't think it's no different.
04:14 I just think it's always fun to be back at home.
04:19 That's all I think, honestly, just coming back.
04:22 Road games are always fun too, just because of the atmosphere and
04:25 the crowds and all that.
04:27 But yeah, I don't really see no difference, so.
04:30 >> You know a lot about point guard play.
04:33 You've probably played it all your life.
04:34 What do you make of the streak, the stretch that Andrew's put together with
04:39 the first turnovers, scoring, all those things?
04:43 >> Who?
04:43 >> Andrew.
04:44 >> [LAUGH] >> I knew you were gonna talk about it.
04:49 I'm sorry, what was the question again?
04:54 >> Just you've seen a lot of, you've done point guard play all your life.
04:57 What do you make of the stretch he has been on here?
04:59 >> Yeah, he's been on a tangent, man.
05:01 He's been causing mayhem in the WCC conference for sure, man.
05:07 It's just been what we've been working on all season.
05:10 Me and him, we've been really trying to work, grind and everything.
05:14 So it's just coming to light.
05:16 I feel like all the work is just coming to light.
05:19 The way he's distributing the ball is at its highest right now.
05:23 And that's just something we're gonna need moving forward,
05:26 especially trying to make this run for the March Madness.
05:28 >> I heard a lot about Graham's dedication behind the scenes.
05:34 I've talked to a few people about the film work he does individually.
05:37 He's really good with his body, just a lot of extra stuff.
05:40 Have you seen any examples of that?
05:41 I know someone had a couple of months with him so far, but
05:43 have you seen that same thing from him?
05:45 >> Yeah, Graham's really into it.
05:47 So he prepares like a pro would.
05:54 So yeah, man, I've seen a lot of things he's done over time where I've just been
06:01 like, he's got his stuff in order.
06:05 So just simple stuff like sometimes we catch him well before practice,
06:12 getting his footwork together or making sure his jump hook's right.
06:15 Or even stretching, making sure everything's loose before a game.
06:20 And a lot of people, they take that for granted and
06:23 just go out there and just hoop or don't prepare.
06:27 But Graham definitely, yeah, he's a prepared type.
06:29 >> I was gonna ask you, you grew up in Seattle, so you were probably fully aware,
06:36 even before you got here, what Gonzaga's done, the streaks, the NCAA tournaments.
06:41 Went on the conference and that.
06:44 This is a year where you guys, everybody is projecting right now at least,
06:47 that you're bubble, maybe off the bubble even.
06:51 How do you guys deal with that?
06:53 Is there innate pressure coming here knowing what Gonzaga's done and
06:56 how do you deal with maybe the outside noise that comes along with all those
07:00 streaks?
07:01 >> Well, it's for sure pressure.
07:04 I don't really like staring away from the fact that pressure is not a thing or
07:08 anything like that.
07:10 I definitely feel like there's some type of pressure.
07:12 I feel like that's also needed in any sport.
07:15 Just so you can have that urge or that want,
07:19 that fire just to win more than what you usually feel like in any other game.
07:26 But I feel like, yeah, they usually see us around,
07:35 we're number one spot and that's kind of the norm.
07:38 But now we're not really that and
07:43 I'm glad to have it early than late.
07:47 So now we have that fire now, then we usually gotta figure out and
07:54 get the fire going later on when the teams are Arkansas or the world or
08:00 Alabama or the world.
08:01 So I just think it's a beautiful, it's a gift and a curse.
08:06 And I think my guys are gonna be ready regardless of what the rankings say.
08:14 So be ready.
08:15 >> What's social media like these days?
08:17 >> I'm off of that.
08:18 I'm not gonna lie, man.
08:19 I've been off of that.
08:20 I've been off all the socials.
08:22 I was just back on it for
08:27 coaches 700 wins, so it's not either posting about a winner.
08:33 We're talking about the squad, I don't really know that too much.
08:36 >> You think a lot of the guys have adopted that same thing or
08:38 is it more just you?
08:39 >> I wouldn't say most of the guys, or at least if they did,
08:43 they don't really talk about it as much.
08:45 But me, I just feel like it's, I wouldn't say it's needed for me, but
08:51 it's just, if it wasn't for my profession, I don't think I would have social.
08:56 So it's just better for me, clears my head.
09:00 >> Have you done that before, kind of gotten dark for a stretch of time and
09:02 thought this thing would help you?
09:04 >> Yeah, all the time.
09:05 >> Time for one more for Nolan?
09:08 All right, thanks, Nolan.