Anton Watson and Nolan Hickman talk to the media after Gonzaga's 94-81 win over Santa Clara on senior night
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00:00 >> Yeah, how special was that reception post game,
00:04 obviously to get the win in a situation like this?
00:10 >> Yeah, super special.
00:12 I've been kind of thinking about a lot this whole week,
00:15 just like how it's gonna go, but I'm just happy we got the dub and
00:20 everyone was showing love.
00:22 So it's definitely a special night for me.
00:24 And I was out there by myself as a senior, so
00:26 it was a little different than last year.
00:29 >> Did you hear from Drew?
00:31 >> Yeah, Drew texts me.
00:33 We play video games all the time together, so he be talking smack.
00:36 But yeah, I always hear from Drew.
00:38 [BLANK_AUDIO]
00:41 >> Anton, we've talked to you about it before, but Gonzaga,
00:45 Pratt, two Gonzaga, the king of Spokane, big joke.
00:49 What is it like to say, hey, this is my last game?
00:53 >> Yeah, it's kind of bittersweet.
00:56 I've been in Spokane forever, it feels like.
00:58 But this really is my home.
01:01 Everyone treats me like it's their home, and
01:04 it's just a whole big family, it feels like.
01:07 So yeah, it's gonna be hard to leave, but I'm excited for that next step.
01:12 But we still got a lot of season to finish, so I'm excited for that.
01:15 >> Nolan, in pregame, I noticed you all were on the bench,
01:21 let him shoot doing his thing out there.
01:24 What was that?
01:25 >> You remember what we were talking about?
01:27 >> Pregame.
01:28 >> You guys were all on the bench watching him shoot.
01:31 What were you all doing there?
01:34 >> First of all, the media team did a great job on the interview.
01:38 My God, they wanted me to run through.
01:39 I was ready to run through the wall.
01:41 Yeah, the video was fire, man.
01:42 It was dope seeing his family up there too.
01:44 Yeah, man, and even the managers, they got to get in there and show that.
01:49 It was their senior night as well too, so it was a good experience.
01:53 I was excited to see it.
01:54 >> Nolan, do you feel like this is as well as you guys have played all year,
02:00 kind of entering this crucial stretch, two more WCC games before the postseason starts?
02:05 >> Most definitely.
02:06 >> What's gone into that?
02:09 Why do you think that's the case?
02:10 >> Honestly, man, I just think we're starting to feel it to ourselves.
02:15 I think we're starting to get a real good understanding of what the game plan is
02:20 with every team.
02:23 Yeah, man, and honestly, I feel like we could do even better on the defense end,
02:27 but I feel like we've been buckling down on a lot of teams on the defense end.
02:31 So I feel like that's been helping us in general.
02:35 >> The game from Dusty tonight, how big is that to get him going with
02:41 the tournament around the corner?
02:43 >> Definitely, huge.
02:45 I just hope that that gets his confidence going,
02:47 cuz he ain't been playing the way he's been wanting to play.
02:50 So yeah, it was much needed for him.
02:53 >> I got a wall of guys out there, five or six bigs.
03:01 But you guys still got your work done.
03:03 What's it like going against a team that has the depth that you all have up front?
03:08 >> Yeah, it's definitely tough.
03:10 They got a lot of big guys, strong guys.
03:12 But I think we have the right mindset,
03:16 kinda going in the second half of they gonna get tired and
03:20 we gotta win the glass in the second half.
03:22 Cuz I think we're losing the first half on the boards.
03:26 But yeah, I think our guards did a good job too, coming in and helping us rebound.
03:31 I think we need that from them.
03:32 And then Vinny, Graham, myself, we gotta hold it down and
03:36 make sure the big guys don't get easy put backs.
03:39 But yeah, our guards did a good job helping us.
03:44 >> Some big games coming up for you guys.
03:46 Just any thoughts on San Fran or St. Mary's?
03:49 >> It's gonna be a battle.
03:53 >> Yeah. >> I think we all know that.
03:55 Starts out with San Fran.
03:57 That's a game in front of us.
03:59 So we gotta put our hard hats on and yeah, it's gonna be a battle.
04:03 >> How about you guys wanna get St. Mary's back?
04:08 >> I feel like the same way we wanted to get Santa Clara out,
04:13 the way I feel like it's the same way with St. Mary's.
04:15 And we ready.
04:18 >> Anton, where do you think this team has changed since you guys went down to Santa
04:21 Clara and lost that game a month ago?
04:22 >> We changed a lot.
04:25 We were even watching film on that game.
04:28 And it was a rough film session.
04:29 But coaches kept reminding us that we've gotten better and
04:34 we've just been playing a lot more fluid with each other.
04:37 So the offensive end, yeah, that's been clicking right now.
04:41 I think defense, we can do even better, but defense feel like it's clicking a little
04:45 bit, the spurts, we get a couple stops in a row, which is really good.
04:50 So yeah, I feel like we're flowing right now.
04:54 >> Any more for the guys?
04:55 >> Anton, obviously you still have a few more games to play, but
04:58 how do you wanna be remembered by the Zags fans and your teammates?
05:01 >> I think it comes up a lot.
05:05 Everyone says I'm a true Zag.
05:07 And I feel like that's the best compliment anyone can give me.
05:12 Just to embody what it means to be a Zag.
05:14 And just the players who came before me and I looked up to them.
05:21 And it's cool that I can represent that in the city of Spokane.
05:25 And a lot of kids look up to me, so that's the best compliment I can give.
05:32 >> Anton, you passed John Stockton tonight on the scoring list of Gonzaga.
05:36 I know he was your AAU coach here for a little bit.
05:39 Just what is that relationship like with Mr. Stockton and
05:42 what that means to you tonight?
05:43 >> He gonna get some smack talk.
05:45 I'm gonna send him a text right after this.
05:47 I didn't even know that, but no, that's, yeah.
05:49 He's always watching him from behind the scenes.
05:53 And if I'm playing bad or I'm doing something not right,
05:58 he'll send me a little text just to remind me.
06:00 So that relationship, it's always gonna be there.
06:04 >> Thanks, guys.
06:05 >> Thanks, guys.