Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Ben Gregg addressed the media prior to the WCC Tournament
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00 >> Well, we might as well start there.
00:02 What was your reaction when you saw those?
00:03 >> Jesus.
00:04 >> [LAUGH] >> Just get it out of the way.
00:05 What was your reaction when you saw those awards?
00:07 >> I mean, first of all, props to those guys.
00:10 I mean, can't really blame them for getting those awards.
00:12 It was the coaches who voted for them.
00:15 But I think we all obviously felt that Graham and
00:17 Ryan should have got at least one of those awards.
00:19 But I mean, can't really do anything about it now.
00:23 Hopefully, he just gets a trophy in Vegas and that will be that and
00:25 not really have to worry about the individual awards.
00:27 And I think they'll tell you the same thing, they don't really care about that
00:29 stuff, they just wanna win games and go down to Vegas and win the tournament.
00:33 >> Is there a different feeling playing there than playing home games or
00:39 road games because for a lot of teams, what's at stake?
00:43 But also just because what it means in this couple games?
00:48 >> Yeah, I think so.
00:49 I mean, I like playing down there in Vegas, it's always a good environment.
00:52 And our fans always travel so well, even to away games, so
00:54 they always feel like home games to us.
00:57 But yeah, I think the teams are gonna be playing,
00:59 do have a little chip on their shoulder trying to win as many games and
01:02 start getting to the tournament automatically.
01:04 But I mean, we have a chip on our shoulder too at the same time, so
01:07 we're gonna go down there and compete and try and win the whole thing again.
01:10 >> What are some of the things maybe you're talking to guys like Brayden or
01:14 Dusty about, guys maybe that don't have as much of the tournament or
01:18 one and done kind of game experience here?
01:20 >> Just be themselves, play like they've been playing all year.
01:23 They've been playing so great for us all year long.
01:25 Don't need to change anything up now or be nervous about anything.
01:28 I mean, they're bigger games, it is March, and
01:30 that's what people look forward to.
01:31 Me growing up as kids, it was a dream about playing in March.
01:34 But I mean, they've been doing so many good things for us all year.
01:36 Just continue what they're doing and just play confident and play free.
01:39 >> Then where's the confidence at right now?
01:42 For a while there, you had a lot of people really doubting you guys.
01:46 You really seem to put things together late,
01:48 like where's it at in the locker room right now?
01:50 How are you guys doing?
01:51 >> I think we've been confident all year.
01:53 I mean, just going back to the fall time, preseason stuff,
01:56 you know the work we put in.
01:57 And we lost a couple games that we thought we should have won, but
02:02 we never lost that confidence or that swag that we play with.
02:06 It's just kind of all clicking now, but
02:08 I don't think we've even reached our full potential yet,
02:09 which I think is a scary thing for other teams.
02:12 I think we can still get better in different aspects of the game.
02:15 That's what this week's kind of about, kind of working on ourselves.
02:18 Last two days, it's been working on ourselves, trying to better us and
02:21 then get the scouts going these next couple days.
02:23 But right now, we're super confident heading to Vegas.
02:26 >> You certainly, right before the Kentucky game,
02:29 certainly at the Kentucky game, started playing better basketball.
02:32 What changed over the last ten games?
02:34 Was it just a combination of all this time together and
02:39 finally figuring it out, or was there something, did you do something?
02:43 >> We didn't really do anything differently.
02:44 We keep kind of the same approach every week.
02:48 Not switching anything up, staying with the same game plan.
02:51 We knew it was gonna work.
02:52 I mean, we're all getting used to playing with each other and stuff.
02:56 I mean, we had two starters back from last year.
02:59 So I mean, it's gonna take time for that stuff to happen, and it just clicked.
03:02 And I think it did click at that Kentucky game.
03:04 And then ever since then, we've kind of been on a roll, and
03:06 I think it's gonna keep going forward.
03:08 >> For you personally, confidence wise, Coach P, we've heard talk about,
03:11 you might get down on yourself after a shot.
03:13 How you've been able to stay mentally locked in, especially now as a starter,
03:17 and the team's been much more efficient on offense?
03:19 >> Yeah, that is something I've been struggling with, just my time here.
03:22 I mean, I don't take a lot of shots, so
03:24 the ones I do shoot, I wanna expect myself to make them.
03:27 So when I do miss them, I do kinda get down on myself, but I'm working on that.
03:31 That's just kinda the mental side of things.
03:32 I've been taking that part very seriously about my game.
03:36 I'm not getting too down on myself, kinda staying even keeled.
03:39 I'm just trying to keep making those winning plays, those effort plays, I guess,
03:43 extra possessions or anything like that, just anything to help us win the game.
03:48 >> How do you think Dusty has handled the kind of emotional roller coaster?
03:50 I mean, he went from being out of the starting lineup two days before the season
03:53 to in it, back out of it.
03:55 So it could be a lot to handle for a freshman playing his first games.
03:57 >> Definitely is, but I don't think, I haven't seen anything change in him.
04:01 I mean, it definitely is hard for
04:03 a freshman to kinda go on that roller coaster like you said.
04:06 But he's a professional.
04:08 He's taken everything that's been thrown at him and
04:12 worked his butt off every day and just trying to do what's asked of him.
04:15 I can't imagine the pressure that's on him as a freshman.
04:18 I didn't have anything close to that when I was that young.
04:22 So it's just big time what he's been able to do and
04:24 I think he's gonna have a big march for us.
04:27 >> And you got guys playing in this tournament who've never played
04:29 in the tournament.
04:30 You were in that role a few years ago.
04:33 Was there a senior or a junior or an upperclassman that gave you some advice
04:37 that maybe you could share with the freshmen that haven't played in this,
04:41 that helped you?
04:43 >> It's kinda the same thing, like I said.
04:44 It's the same.
04:46 We're just playing basketball at the end of the day.
04:47 I mean, yeah, I mean, win or go home.
04:49 But if we play with that mentality that we're just not trying to lose,
04:53 I think that's where things can go wrong for us.
04:56 So just playing that same confidence we've been playing with all year and
04:59 those younger guys, I think they understand that.
05:01 I think Drew was a big piece of that for me last year.
05:05 Just telling me to stay confident.
05:06 If you keep playing my game, don't try and switch anything up or
05:10 just be anything different.
05:12 And I think that's what I'm gonna try and tell these young guys and
05:14 just try and play it themselves.
05:16 >> You played everybody twice, but you don't know who you play until 24 hours.
05:21 Is there anything that hasn't happened in a long time, maybe since Hawaii?
05:25 Is that a difficult thing to do where you don't know who you're gonna play until
05:29 hours before?
05:30 >> Yeah, it is difficult, but I think this week is big for us.
05:33 Like I said, just working on ourselves, trying to get better just as our team and
05:37 not really worrying about a scout.
05:38 I feel like in regular season, you're always scouting someone,
05:41 not really having that time to just kind of digging on yourselves.
05:44 And so this week has been big time for us, but it is difficult.
05:49 But our coaches do such a good job of giving us scouts.
05:51 And like you said, we played them all two times, so
05:53 it's kind of easier to get those scouts going quicker and with a quick turnaround.
05:56 >> This tournament obviously means a lot.
06:00 You can't have that automatic bid by winning it.
06:02 But seeding wise, a comp championship out there would certainly do you guys wonders.
06:07 Has there been discussion amongst you guys about the importance of this
06:10 year's tournament?
06:10 >> I mean, we all kind of know, but there's not much being said about it.
06:16 I think just the big message is just go down there and win the tournament and
06:19 then everything will take care of itself type of deal.
06:22 So we're not looking ahead to March Madness or anything.
06:25 We're just worried about first game on Monday and then win that and
06:29 then worry about championship on Tuesday.
06:30 And then, like I said,
06:31 we'll be automatic bid once we worry about bubble wash or anything like that.
06:35 >> And with all the, let's say doubts, like early on in the season, and
06:39 then you throw in the awards, the conference awards.
06:42 Could this be, I guess, an opportunity for
06:45 you guys to really make a statement out there?
06:47 >> I think it is gonna be for sure.
06:49 I mean, the chip on our shoulder only got bigger.
06:51 And we've heard all the doubters all year,
06:53 especially in the preseason, everybody was hating on us.
06:55 And especially with these awards that's coming out,
06:59 I think some guys will have a little bigger chip on their shoulder.
07:02 But it's just all fuel to the fire.
07:04 We wanna win it regardless of what the situation was and
07:06 what's happened this year.
07:08 That's always a main goal at the end of the year.
07:10 So that's just the focus right now.
07:11 >> You had some main guys like Ryan, Nolan, even Graham had some down games.
07:17 >> Mm-hm.
07:18 >> Real adversity at the start of the year.
07:20 How did those guys get through it?
07:22 What did you see watching them or how'd they get through it to the other side?
07:27 >> I think it's just a confidence piece.
07:29 I mean, we all know we're here for a reason.
07:32 We made it, this is a super high level of basketball and we know why we're here,
07:35 what it took to get us here.
07:37 And just not trying to switch anything up.
07:39 I mean, everybody's gonna have down games.
07:41 I've had my fair share.
07:43 So just being consistent with the work, and that's what these guys do.
07:45 They love being in the gym, they're always in here.
07:48 And so they know they're gonna bounce back next game.
07:50 And we try and give them as much confidence as possible if they do have
07:53 a down game to bounce back.
07:55 And they know that we have their backs, for sure.
07:57 >> What Kentucky did for you guys that's been different since then?
08:01 >> It just shows that we can win those big games.
08:03 I mean, we kinda let some of those slip by in the past.
08:06 And just being able to pull that out, especially in that type of environment,
08:10 it's big time for us.
08:11 If we're winning games there, we can, I mean, beat anybody in the country.
08:17 So just a big time confidence booster for us.
08:20 >> Heard Nolan sort of be some of a coach on the sideline with younger guys,
08:25 helping them out, just based on his own mistakes in the past.
08:28 Just what have you seen from Nolan?
08:29 Has he imparted wisdom on younger guys?
08:31 Yeah, what do you think that says about him?
08:34 >> Big time growth, I mean, I think that's something he struggled with.
08:37 If he'd had a down game in the past, he'd kinda just kinda get down on himself and
08:41 kinda shut down a little bit.
08:42 And this year, it's been a total flip.
08:44 I mean, if he has a bad game, he's in the gym the next day trying to work on it and
08:49 not pouting or anything like that.
08:50 And I think the younger guys are seeing that and
08:53 kinda seeing how he's approaching that stuff.
08:55 And I mean, his games are speaking for himself.
08:57 Right now, he's playing at a super high level, and he's gonna keep going.
09:01 >> You mentioned the week that you guys get to kinda take a step back here.
09:04 But as a player, do you like that?
09:06 I mean, obviously, you want the bye, but you guys are rolling.
09:08 Do you like that kinda break a little bit?
09:09 Or is it more like, hey, I wanna keep this momentum going here?
09:12 >> Yeah, I mean, it is nice to have that momentum going,
09:15 having two games every week.
09:17 That is nice, especially when you're winning those games.
09:20 But I think it's only gonna help us.
09:21 I think we had the momentum, and
09:23 now we're getting to working ourselves and get better.
09:26 I think that's gonna be really big for us, and
09:28 we're gonna be better headed into Vegas.
09:30 [BLANK_AUDIO]
09:32 >> Thank you.
09:33 >> Thank you, Ben.