Gonzaga forward Anton Watson met with the media on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024 at the McCarthey Athletic Center.
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00:00 >> What's this guy USF like that you're going against?
00:04 I'm not gonna try to pronounce his name, I don't think I know it.
00:07 >> No, I've seen a little bit of him.
00:09 And yeah, I'm guessing today we're gonna cover him a lot.
00:12 But I heard he's athletic, plays super hard.
00:16 And that's kinda their focus on offense is to get him the ball.
00:20 But yeah, he's super athletic, yeah.
00:22 >> Do they run it through him, offense, for him?
00:24 >> Yeah, I think a lot of offense goes through him.
00:26 And he's just super aggressive on offense.
00:29 He's trying to get to the cup, so just finding ways to stop him,
00:33 I think will be good for us.
00:34 >> How huge is a game like this just to help build a case for
00:38 you guys in the tournament and all that stuff, and quality opponents coming in here?
00:42 >> Yeah, it's a big game.
00:44 I think we all know that.
00:45 And yeah, they're a good team.
00:49 And WCC, they're one of the teams that are gonna be at the top at the end of
00:54 the season, at the end of the conference.
00:56 So we know it's a big game.
00:58 And yeah, we gotta be fully prepared for this one.
01:01 >> What did you learn about you guys when you have a road stretch like you just did?
01:05 And things that you take from that as opposed to playing at home?
01:08 Because obviously it's tough to win on the road anyway.
01:11 >> Yeah, we gotta take all the positives from that.
01:13 And I think there was a lot of positives from this last weekend to go and
01:18 play the defense that we did for both games.
01:21 And the second half of Pepperdine, that felt like the best defense we played.
01:25 And San Diego, we just came out from the start.
01:28 And I think that's how we should play every game, just with that type of energy,
01:32 that type of confidence.
01:33 And yeah, just starting the game out like that, every game I think will be all right.
01:38 >> So a week like this is different where you have the home game on Thursday and
01:43 you gotta travel and then go on the road Saturday versus being on the road
01:46 the whole time?
01:48 >> It's not too different.
01:49 I think when you're a college athlete, you get used to just flying around or
01:54 playing at home.
01:55 But yeah, I think it'll be nice to play them at home first and
01:59 then we'll go down to the Pacific and focus on them after we play San Francisco.
02:04 >> What have you seen out of Dusty embracing coming off the bench in a couple
02:07 games?
02:07 And who knows if coaches wants to go back to him in the starting lineup?
02:10 But what have you seen out of those couple games where Ben's been in the starting
02:13 lineup and Dusty's been coming off the bench?
02:15 >> Yeah, I'm super proud of Dusty.
02:17 Yeah, he came out still playing the way he plays, with confidence.
02:21 And he didn't let that affect him too much.
02:24 And yeah, I think he's just gonna keep getting better and we need him.
02:29 Like I said, he plays a lot of minutes and he plays defense, brings us energy.
02:32 So yeah, I'm proud of Dusty and just how he's going about things.
02:37 >> You've seen this kid you're going against play and
02:42 you probably keep an eye on other teams.
02:44 I'm curious, how intricate do your scouting reports come from the coaches
02:49 compared to what you kind of see and watching them for an hour or a year or
02:53 whatever?
02:54 How different is it or how intricate do they get?
02:56 >> It's pretty detailed, the scouting reports and
03:01 just all the film we watch on players.
03:03 But I feel like when you watch it yourself, you watch him play a game or
03:07 something, you really kind of can tell the player he is.
03:10 And yeah, I think it's gonna be a challenge for whoever's guarding them,
03:15 either me, Graham.
03:16 I think we're gonna throw a lot of different things at them.
03:19 But yeah, it's a challenge and when I'm on defense, any opponent on offense,
03:24 I take it as a challenge to stop them.
03:28 So I think it'll be fun for us.
03:30 >> Nolan just talked about the team embracing being more nasty on defense
03:34 the last couple weeks since the Santa Clara game especially.
03:37 Is that kind of a buzzword that you guys have used in the locker room and
03:39 something the coaches have tried to instill the last few weeks or
03:43 maybe the whole season because you guys have been pretty good defensively the whole
03:45 year?
03:46 >> Yeah, I would say that's a big key, just nasty.
03:50 Just doing whatever it takes on the defensive end.
03:56 Obviously, we don't have Drew dropping 35 points a game, but
04:01 our defense is really good this year.
04:04 That's what we have to put our faith in.
04:07 Yeah, that's where it starts is we gotta be the most aggressive, nasty team.
04:10 Win all the 50/50 balls and that's just how it's gonna be the rest of the year.
04:15 >> When do you think this team started to embrace that or
04:18 kind of accepted the reality that it might have to do more with more of
04:21 a defensive effort this year?
04:22 Was it early on in the summer or early on in the fall?
04:25 Or when did you kind of see the team adopt that philosophy, I guess?
04:28 >> I would say probably early on in the season.
04:30 Just how we noticed how good we were on defense and
04:35 we could stop some players and some teams.
04:38 But yeah, our offense wasn't too hot to start the season, but
04:43 our defense I felt like was solid and we could rely on that at times.
04:47 >> Grow up here so you know all about the history of the program and
04:53 all the streaks they have.
04:55 What's it like when you're sitting more on the bubble than ranked fifth or
04:59 third or first in the country?
05:02 What's that like social media wise?
05:05 What do you hear from family or students on that front?
05:10 >> Yeah, a lot of people are gonna talk.
05:13 I feel like every year it's something new.
05:17 If we're ranked one, two, people are saying we don't deserve it.
05:20 If we're ranked 25, people are saying, yeah, that's what it should be.
05:24 So I think it's just what we think in the locker room, the coaches,
05:31 what we're focused on, this is pretty much a brand new team, I feel like.
05:35 And it's hard to maintain that success for five years that I've been here.
05:41 And it's not easy, it's not easy to be top ten team all the time.
05:46 So I think we just need to focus on what we're doing.
05:49 And yeah, I think we're gonna be all right.
05:52 People, they assume so much, but we just keep working and
05:58 keep our head down and don't really pay attention to the media.
06:02 >> What do you hear on social media?
06:04 >> It's a lot.
06:05 [LAUGH] I try not to pay attention to it, but it's gonna pop up eventually.
06:10 Yeah, it's nothing too crazy that I haven't heard before, but yeah,
06:17 it's just, it is what it is, people gonna talk.
06:21 >> Do you ever force yourself to get off of Instagram, Twitter for
06:25 a couple weeks, just like Nolan said, to avoid that stuff and
06:29 get away from it all for a few weeks?
06:30 Or do you?
06:31 >> Yeah.
06:32 >> Does it feel to you maybe too?
06:34 >> I really don't pay no mind to it because the people who are commenting,
06:38 tweeting on us, people usually who haven't touched the basketball in their life and
06:43 don't understand the work we put into it and
06:48 just everything that happens in the game, so I don't pay no mind to it.
06:54 I know people are gonna talk and I just hope they stay on that side.
06:58 And we start winning, hope they don't try to come back and
07:02 I wanna hop on the train.
07:04 >> Obviously, you guys will have to go down there eventually, but
07:08 how big is it to play this team for the first time this season at home?
07:11 Try and set the tone with this home game.
07:14 >> Yeah, it's huge.
07:16 We love playing in the Kendall.
07:18 I think the fans bring us so much energy and students are gonna be back.
07:23 So I think it's gonna be a fun game.
07:25 Yeah, this is one I feel like we need to get going.
07:32 >> And Tom, what have you just kind of seen from June over the last couple weeks
07:36 heading into WCC play?
07:38 Do you tell him anything just as a veteran of what to expect or
07:42 how he can improve, stuff like that?
07:44 >> Yeah, June just got to keep his confidence, stay positive.
07:48 I know he's not probably getting as much minutes as he would like, but yeah,
07:53 he's super talented and I know it's hard for him.
07:55 Just coming to America and it's tough.
08:00 I couldn't imagine going to a different country right now and
08:03 try and learn language, go to class, go to practice.
08:07 But yeah, for him, I think it starts in practice and
08:10 just I'm trying to help him along the way,
08:14 teach him things that I had to learn when I was younger.
08:18 So yeah, I think he's gonna be good, but I think it was tough for
08:23 him at the beginning of the season, but he's learning right now.
08:27 >> You've played with both of the Nembhard brothers.
08:29 I know Andrew and Ryan are different as far as how they go about things, but
08:33 when there's a Nembhard running the point,
08:35 you just kind of feel more comfortable than when they're not out there, I guess.
08:39 >> Yeah, I would say definitely.
08:40 Yeah, to have the honor to play with both of them is really nice and
08:46 they make my job easier.
08:47 Both of them play with crazy pace and Ryan pushes the rock and
08:54 they both get passed out of the world.
08:55 So yeah, it's been nice playing with both of them, I can say that.
09:01 And then he's shooting the ball well now too, which is really good for us.
09:05 So his confidence and
09:07 just his pace has helped his team so much throughout the year.
09:10 >> As with Benny starting out with you all, I know what he does on the floor.
09:17 Does he bring anything else in tangible ways that helps?
09:21 >> What do you mean?
09:24 >> Like his energy, he's kind of got a personality on the floor.
09:29 >> Yeah, no, Benny brings energy literally on and off the court.
09:33 Before the game, he gets us pumped up.
09:35 Yeah, he's just that guy.
09:38 Yeah, on the court, he hit a big three, gets the whole bench fired up.
09:44 And he gets a big rebound, he's gonna show emotion.
09:47 So yeah, I love playing with Benny.
09:49 Those are the type of guys you need on your team and you want on the court.
09:54 >> Is it needed?
09:55 >> Yeah, I think it's definitely needed, especially for this team.
09:58 I think that's his role, is to bring energy, make big stops.
10:06 Kind of like, I feel like my role a couple years in the past, but
10:10 he has to start rolling now and he's bringing that impact right from the start.
10:16 >> Have you taken any extra measures with your body to prepare yourself to play
10:21 kind of this new role where you're often playing 40 hard minutes a game?
10:24 I've asked you to do a lot on offense, defense.
10:26 Are you doing anything different this year than you have the past few years?
10:30 >> I'll say definitely stretching more.
10:33 Getting the ice tub, I feel like that's just necessary.
10:36 All the treatment things, my body,
10:40 playing 40 minutes is not too easy, but I'm getting a little bit older and
10:45 I'm starting to feel a little bit more.
10:47 So getting the ice tub, working with Josh, I think that's the biggest thing for
10:51 me this year, and that's just keeping me healthy right now.
10:54 >> What have you seen from Graham behind the scenes?
10:57 I've heard he's someone who takes really good care of his body.
11:00 He's really mature in that sense, and also puts in a lot of work in the film room.
11:04 Have you seen any examples of that, a few months you've been with him?
11:06 >> Yeah, sure, we'll have a hard ass practice.
11:11 And I'll come back 30 minutes later, walk down the court, and
11:15 Graham's still out there shooting, still working out.
11:17 I'm like, bro, you gotta go home eventually.
11:20 But that's just the type of guy he is.
11:24 He has a bad game, bad practice.
11:27 He's gonna be back on the court, making sure everything's right.
11:31 And just having that mentality, having someone like him on the team,
11:35 that's huge for us.
11:36 And he's a beast, so we're gonna need him all year.
11:40 [BLANK_AUDIO]
11:44 >> What about B-Huff?
11:45 Obviously, you went up against him a lot last year on the scout team and
11:48 watched him during the redshirt year.
11:49 What's the most impressive thing you saw him do during that redshirt season,
11:53 during a practice or scrimmage or anything like that?
11:55 >> You're talking about last year?
11:56 >> Yeah, last year.
11:57 >> Yeah.
11:58 >> If you can remember one or two things.
12:00 >> Well, he's super tough to guard.
12:02 I remember that.
12:04 Even Drew said that just going against white squad, we had to guard him every day.
12:08 So we all see it in B-Huff.
12:11 And obviously, he's super talented.
12:14 And I think it's showing right now, everyone's seeing it.
12:19 But for the guys last year, everyone already knew that was gonna happen,
12:22 I feel like.
12:23 So it's cool to see that.
12:25 [BLANK_AUDIO]
12:30 >> That all good?
12:31 >> Thank you.