Gonzaga men's basketball coach Mark Few fields questions after the Bulldogs' 94-81 win over the Broncos on senior night
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00:00 >> You guys kind of took some punches from the first half, I think they're up five.
00:04 And then what do you think about the way you guys responded and
00:06 kind of played consistently throughout the second half?
00:09 >> I mean, they gave us everything they got there.
00:12 I mean, we had our hands full and had a real problem,
00:15 especially in that first half, stomping them.
00:16 But fortunately for us, our offense was clicking at a really, really high level.
00:22 But yeah, that is a really good basketball team.
00:25 They're big and physical.
00:29 I mean, that's one of the more physical teams.
00:31 They're built like maybe our 17 team was with the size they have.
00:36 And just their understanding and
00:38 willingness to really work everything kind of through those bags.
00:41 And then O'Neal started out on fire.
00:44 And let him get a couple catch and shoot threes.
00:49 And when they're hitting you inside and out, that makes it really, really hard.
00:54 But we responded, kept our offense going, and
00:59 then our defense got a lot better in the second half.
01:01 It was much, much better in the second half.
01:05 >> Mark, you spoke about how you guys needed to get Dusty going.
01:08 >> Yeah. >> I think it's the last time we're in
01:09 here.
01:10 Good night for him.
01:10 >> It was a great night.
01:11 In fact, I told the team afterwards, that's the Dusty, that's the guy we recruited.
01:17 That's the guy who started the year for us, making plays like that.
01:21 And just doing everything.
01:23 That's the beauty of Dusty.
01:24 It's not the threes, it's the flying around, getting put backs,
01:29 making plays on defense, just doing everything.
01:34 He fills every box.
01:35 So yeah, it's a great call.
01:36 And yeah, we needed everything tonight cuz we got a little bit of foul trouble.
01:40 [BLANK_AUDIO]
01:44 >> You guys were talking about watching the film from the first Santa Clara game.
01:47 Where do you think this team has evolved and
01:49 grown since that game about a month ago?
01:51 >> I mean, well clearly, I mean, I feel like our offense is more purposeful and
01:56 just we're a little bit have a better understanding,
02:02 especially when we play the three bigs.
02:04 I think we had that out there for times during that game.
02:07 It was a little bit disjointed.
02:09 And yeah, I mean, like Brian's used to playing now with Graham.
02:15 And Graham's used to playing with Ben and
02:19 all those different combinations and just kind of working our way through that.
02:24 We're much more cohesive on that end,
02:26 also settled in on some good defensive coverages.
02:30 Certainly looked better in the second half than they did in the first.
02:32 But again, we just have not ran into teams of that size and
02:37 that willingness really to go at us kind of inside out.
02:40 >> Nice to see Anton get that type of send off from the crowd.
02:47 >> Yeah.
02:48 >> The way he's connected, I guess, with this area.
02:51 >> Yes, very much so.
02:53 Perfect, perfect game.
02:55 >> I remember you telling us a few years ago that you wanted to challenge Anton,
03:00 be more assertive on the court, really take charge.
03:03 How have you seen him grow over these last five years now?
03:07 >> Well, I mean, tremendously, especially probably the most this past year.
03:12 I mean, without his sidekick Drew around, he's had to really own a lot of these
03:19 big possessions down the stretch of these games.
03:21 And he's done it, he's done it masterfully.
03:25 And even tonight he got off to a slow start, picked up a couple tough fouls, but
03:30 we didn't lose him for the game.
03:32 We got him back in there and he was a big factor, obviously, in that second half.
03:35 And I think there's your sign of growth, just right there.
03:41 He just impacts games in just so many different ways,
03:43 those steals, off the ball, on post feeds,
03:47 breaking presses, and everything.
03:51 It's amazing, and I heard you guys talking about John.
03:55 It just goes back to John, coaching him in AAU,
04:00 and all the coaches that were with him, his high school coach.
04:05 He did a great job, cuz he's not a one trick pony.
04:09 He does everything really, really well.
04:11 And it's getting more and more rare to find players like that, quite frankly.
04:16 >> Not to get too sentimental about it, Mark, but
04:20 Spokane kid, stayed the whole time.
04:23 Just how much does he mean to this program?
04:25 >> I mean, hey, he's meant a ton to us.
04:28 And obviously, it's so nice to have somebody from Spokane,
04:32 good enough to play here.
04:34 Not only good enough to play here, but good enough to start and
04:37 be such an all league type player.
04:40 And yeah, I mean, he's just a great teammate, a great person,
04:45 comes from a great family.
04:47 Wherever he's been, he's just well loved.
04:49 And what more could you ask for?
04:51 >> You have a battle coming next week, two guys.
04:55 >> Yeah, we had a battle tonight.
04:56 We had a big time battle tonight.
04:58 I mean, this took everything we had.
05:00 Yeah, I mean, Thursday's gonna be as physical as this and intense.
05:05 San Francisco brings a real intensity and a real physicality.
05:10 And they're playing great.
05:14 Us and St. Mary's the only teams that have been able to do anything with them.
05:18 So that's gonna be a huge, huge challenge.
05:21 And then just a short prep after that, we gotta go to St. Mary's.
05:26 So it'll be great.
05:29 I mean, these guys have taken care of business to put ourselves back in
05:32 position to, we gotta go out and perform.
05:36 >> Are you pretty happy to get that USF game at the Chase Center rather than
05:39 their gym can get pretty hostile and rowdy?
05:43 Do you think it helps you guys a little bit to be playing there?
05:45 >> No, I mean, I haven't really thought much about it, quite frankly.
05:48 Just, I mean, it's gonna be a hard game, no matter where it's at.
05:53 It's gonna be a really hard game.
05:54 So hopefully, their fans down there will support it.
05:59 It'll come out and be a great crowd, like it usually is when we play that.
06:06 >> Thanks for today.