Nolan Hickman, Dusty Stromer and Graham Ike reflected on Gonzaga's 69-60 loss to Saint Mary's in the 2024 WCC Tournament championship game.
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00:00 >> How about that matchup with your Marcelonas and Mahaney all night?
00:03 Just kind of a combo today, are they and
00:06 what was that matchup, both on the floor?
00:10 >> They complement each other well for sure.
00:12 Mahaney, when he gets it going, he's microwaved, so.
00:15 [BLANK_AUDIO]
00:18 He can get it going for sure.
00:21 Marcelonas is a great facilitator, so we knew that going into it, but
00:25 he just played better than us today.
00:28 >> Defensively, you guys did a lot of switching,
00:31 you found yourself on some of the bigs a lot of times.
00:35 How physical was that and the challenges that presented?
00:39 >> Yeah, it was really a challenge, especially for us, smaller guards.
00:43 Box out, box out positioning and everything, it was a challenge.
00:49 But that's what we're gonna be facing down the stretch,
00:53 especially in the NCAA tournament.
00:55 I'm sorry, but you just gotta buckle down on that,
01:00 get into practice, start hitting, rebounding.
01:05 Just start seeking out the ball better, and
01:08 that's how me and Ryan can get along as well.
01:11 >> With Graham dealing with a lot of foul trouble,
01:14 what does that change for you guys offensively?
01:17 >> It changes a lot, Graham, he's a huge factor to the team.
01:22 The leading scorer right now, so him being off the floor does impact a lot of stuff.
01:28 It was just unfortunate tonight, the rest was not in our favor.
01:33 It happens, it's how it goes.
01:36 >> Now moving forward, you guys put yourself still in the position to be in
01:40 the tournament, but how do you guys just kind of pass this one and
01:44 move on to the next one?
01:45 >> Take the zero, feel to the fire for sure.
01:49 Go back to the drawing board, watch a whole bunch of film,
01:53 and see who our opponent is first round.
01:57 And hopefully, we get on them with this feel that we got from this loss.
02:02 >> Had a big role tonight, obviously Graham dealing with foul trouble.
02:06 What was the step up mentality, just what was that like out there?
02:09 You played him before, but first WCC championships, what was that like?
02:13 >> Yeah, I mean, I always try to give my energy and give my best out there.
02:15 So whatever team needs me to do, just step into that role and
02:19 do what I need to do to help them win, I'll do it, so yeah.
02:24 >> Took the lead about eight minutes left in the second half, first lead, but
02:27 since then I think they haven't scored 18 to eight.
02:29 What did you see difference between that point and the other game?
02:33 >> They played a hell of a ball game, honestly.
02:35 They played a physical game.
02:38 I think we had a couple mental lapses down the stretch that normally happen to us.
02:44 And I think we use this as fuel to the fire going into March, and
02:49 I think we're gonna be ready.
02:50 >> Speaking of that, you put yourself,
02:53 the whole team in a position to still play in the tournament.
02:55 >> Yep. >> Not get an automatic berth, but
02:57 maybe sort of just forget that, forget this loss.
03:00 >> I mean, I don't think you do forget it.
03:01 I think you use it as fuel, and
03:04 I think this will help us really be ready to play in March, so yeah.
03:09 >> Graham dealing with a lot of foul trouble, just offensively.
03:12 How does that sort of change how you guys attack?
03:15 >> I mean, it changes the whole game.
03:16 I mean, he's one of our focal points offensively, and
03:21 also defensively too, cuz then we gotta put the smaller lineup in.
03:24 So it changes the whole game, and yeah.
03:29 >> Defensively, there was a lot of switching.
03:31 That was the first matchup in Spokane.
03:33 >> Mm-hm.
03:35 >> Was that sort of like you just switching under their bigs?
03:37 >> Yeah, no.
03:38 >> You said mentally locked in.
03:39 >> It was a battle, yeah.
03:40 And we were trying to switch the one through five, so
03:43 I had to battle with the bigs down the paint.
03:47 But like I said, I'm willing to do whatever it takes to win, so
03:50 it's not really anything to me.
03:52 >> Physical battle down there, just dealing with a lot of trouble in Saxton.
03:55 Just, what was that battle like going on down there?
03:59 >> The foul part was frustrating.
04:01 When there was gonna be a physical battle, that's what it is with them against them,
04:04 especially a game of this magnitude.
04:06 >> Yeah, right.
04:10 Any adjustments that you saw from them defensively on you versus that 24-point
04:14 game you had down there?
04:15 >> They were just bringing another body quickly.
04:17 Maybe I should have saw it a little earlier, found ways to get guys open looks or
04:24 one mores on the backside, but watched the film, went home from it.
04:30 >> Yeah, I think you guys had your first lead, but
04:32 you were just getting a little bit slow, and from that point forward,
04:34 just the complexion of the game is just making you sort of ready for that.
04:38 >> Just the pace, maybe.
04:42 Some turnovers, some shots where maybe you got a little overzealous.
04:45 >> Yeah.
04:49 >> There's only two or three other guys that have that.
04:51 >> But this loss now, you guys are still in the tournament, though, probably.
04:54 If that's the case, how do you work?
04:56 How do you guys sort of, because he talked about using a skill of fire,
04:59 do you sort of flush the loss instead, or do you sort of use it?
05:02 >> We learn from it.
05:05 It's definitely something we'll do.
05:07 We continue to learn from all the losses that we take.
05:10 We continue to learn from all the wins that we take.
05:11 Understanding that every moment prepares us for the next.
05:16 This will definitely sting, so we won't forget about it.
05:20 I won it this time.
05:21 And we'll take it into the next round.
05:24 >> Appreciate it, Greg.