Gonzaga freshman Dusty Stromer discusses his first WCC Tournament and much more at the Bulldogs' media availability
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00:00 >> I wouldn't say they're up to Brayden's standards.
00:03 >> Are you an academic weapon?
00:05 Is that what you mean?
00:06 >> I wouldn't call myself an academic weapon, no.
00:08 >> I don't think anybody would call him so.
00:11 >> [LAUGH]
00:15 >> I'm good.
00:16 >> I'm sad.
00:19 >> I'm sure when you chose to come to Gonzaga,
00:21 part of the dream was to play postseason basketball in March.
00:24 What's the feeling like now that it's here?
00:26 >> Man, it's exciting, super exciting.
00:28 I mean, it's every kid's dream to play in March and to play in these big games.
00:32 So I mean, I'm super excited, the team's excited, and I think we're ready to go.
00:37 >> Who do you lean on as somebody who's never played in NCAA tournament
00:42 conference tournament before?
00:43 And what are they kind of telling you as somebody up for class?
00:46 >> Man, I'd say Nolan.
00:47 Nolan's been a huge help for me throughout the season.
00:50 I think he's just such a great veteran to have, especially being another guard and
00:56 just sharing his experiences throughout the years.
01:00 I think he's done a great job of showing me the ropes.
01:03 And yes, I think he's been the one that's kind of teaching me the ways, so yeah.
01:10 >> You've been through quite the emotional roller coaster from two days before
01:16 the year, you didn't think you were gonna start, and you're starting, and
01:19 out of the lineup.
01:20 >> Yeah. >> How'd you get through all of it, and
01:21 you seem to be kind of playing your best ball right now?
01:23 >> Man, just staying in the gym, staying in the gym,
01:26 working regardless of what's going on.
01:28 I think Kushu's been so great, just instilling confidence in me
01:33 throughout the season regardless of what's been going on.
01:37 Starting a lot of, not starting a lot of, playing well, not playing well.
01:40 Just staying confident, staying in the gym, working, and getting better.
01:45 It's what I've been kind of trying to do.
01:47 >> Was it difficult to learn that you were gonna be out of the lineup,
01:50 or cuz you didn't expect to be in the lineup, was it maybe a little easier?
01:53 >> No, I mean, I wouldn't say it's difficult, I would just say it's new.
01:56 It's a new situation.
01:58 You're starting, it's easy to get in the rhythm or whatever, and
02:02 then coming off the bench, you gotta watch the game a little bit.
02:04 So both of them have ups and both of them have downs, so
02:08 you just gotta kind of figure out each situation.
02:11 >> Braden talked a little bit about guys just settling into their roles more
02:17 instantly, how would you sort of describe yours after what Theo just said,
02:21 starting and not starting?
02:22 >> Yeah, no, I think I'm starting to figure it out.
02:24 I think I'm coming in off the bench, giving as much energy as I can, and
02:30 playing the best defense that I possibly can, and
02:33 just giving the guys energy when they need it, so yeah.
02:36 >> It seems like you've kind of started to really figure things out,
02:41 but so has the team.
02:42 >> Yes, sir.
02:44 >> I guess, how much confidence do you guys have right now?
02:46 It feels like this is the best ball you've played.
02:48 >> Yeah, we're feeling great, we're feeling great.
02:50 We're having probably the most fun playing basketball that we've had this year,
02:55 and I think that's a big factor on why we're playing so well.
02:57 And yeah, I think we have a lot of confidence going into March.
03:03 >> What happened in the last ten games?
03:05 I mean, you're playing differently than you did in the first 20.
03:08 >> Totally.
03:09 >> Combination of everybody getting together, light switch going off,
03:13 one game, what happened?
03:15 >> Man, I'd say, I'd just say it has a lot to do with the team just coming
03:20 together as a group, and off the floor, I think we're all starting to bond really,
03:26 really well, and I think that directly translates on the floor.
03:29 I think we're playing as a group now, playing as a team, and
03:33 we kind of all are figuring out each other's play styles, and
03:37 I think that's what's going on, where we're just figuring each other out.
03:43 >> You've played everybody twice, but now you go to Vegas,
03:46 you don't know who you play until 24 hours before.
03:48 Has that caused any concerns, or the fact you played them twice,
03:52 it's like, okay, we can pick this up.
03:54 >> Yeah, I was gonna say, I mean, we played them twice, we kind of know each
03:58 team's personnel, we kind of know what they're trying to do, so
04:01 I think we'll be ready, yeah.
04:02 >> I asked Braden, what's been the low point and the high point for you this year?
04:09 >> Man, I'd say the low point was definitely that loss at home,
04:14 safety St. Mary's, I think that was one we all really wanted to have.
04:20 Coaching staff, two players, I think all of us, that hurt us, but
04:24 I think that the high point is beating St. Mary's at St. Mary's.
04:28 I think that was something we all wanted to happen so badly.
04:34 We all practiced so hard that week, and it just felt great to get it done.
04:39 >> Is there a learning curve for you this year where you might look back and
04:44 be like, I'm glad I went through this, even though at the time it seemed maybe
04:48 darker?
04:49 >> No, I mean, I was just talking to Coach Gentry about it.
04:51 I think this year I've learned more than I've ever learned in my entire life
04:55 about basketball.
04:56 I mean, coming into this year, being a high school senior,
05:00 you think you know so much about basketball, you think all this stuff.
05:05 And then you get to college and you realize, I don't know anything.
05:08 I got a lot to learn.
05:09 So yeah, it's been a huge learning curve, but I'm so grateful for it.
05:13 I mean, it's only gonna help me be more successful in the future.
05:17 >> What was maybe the biggest thing you didn't expect that was eye opening to you
05:21 that you learned from about the college game or-
05:24 >> I'd just say the level of play,
05:27 like every single player on a roster is a great player.
05:32 Every single player on a division one roster is probably the best player on
05:36 their high school team, all on one team.
05:38 So I think just getting thrown in the fire and
05:43 seeing all these great players has been definitely surprising.
05:47 Like you never know, watching at home, you don't know how good these guys are until
05:51 you really get to touch and feel, and then you figure it out.
05:55 So yeah.
05:55 [BLANK_AUDIO]
05:58 >> What did Kentucky do for this team?
05:59 >> I think that was a big turning point in our season for sure.
06:03 I think that gave us the belief in ourselves that we can beat anyone and
06:08 we can play with the best of them.
06:11 And I think that just gave us the confidence that we needed to be successful.
06:16 >> You mentioned that off the court, you guys have gotten much closer.
06:19 What are some of the things you guys do?
06:21 >> We play a lot of FIFA, we play a lot of Madden.
06:26 And yeah, no, we just hang out.
06:29 We're a really tight knit group and we kind of do everything together.
06:34 So I think that's what's helped us kind of mesh so fast here, so yeah.
06:40 >> Who's the best?
06:41 I know Graham's a beast at 2K.
06:43 >> Graham's a beast at 2K.
06:44 He's not better than me at 2K, though.
06:45 Everyone wants to say that Graham's the best.
06:47 He's not the best.
06:48 But the best player at Madden is definitely Bee Huff.
06:53 But yeah, Graham's top two.
06:55 >> [LAUGH] >> You've almost made it through your
07:01 first winter in Spokane being a SoCal boy.
07:05 What's it been like?
07:05 What's it been like?
07:08 >> It's been freezing.
07:09 It's been freezing.
07:10 >> [LAUGH] >> Definitely colder than I ever thought.
07:15 I didn't even know it could get this cold.
07:16 I mean, a couple days it was like negative seven or something crazy like that.
07:20 I was like, this is insane.
07:22 But I mean, the guys were telling me this wasn't even a bad winter in Spokane,
07:27 which is crazy to me.
07:28 But no, it's been cool.
07:31 It's been cool to see the seasons change for the first time ever.
07:35 And yeah, it's been cool.
07:38 >> Driving in the snow.
07:39 >> Driving in the snow, that's scary.
07:41 I didn't know about that.
07:42 I don't know the rules.
07:44 I don't know all that.
07:45 But yeah, driving in the snow is definitely an adjustment.
07:48 >> That's okay, most people in Spokane don't know that.
07:51 >> [LAUGH] >> Yeah.
07:53 >> Yeah.
07:53 >> All right, thanks, guys.
07:58 >> All right, thanks, guys.