Gonzaga big man Graham Ike already had a detailed scouting report on McNeese shortly after the 2024 NCAA Tournament bracket was revealed on Sunday, March 17.
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00:00 >> Stachey, you're looking at?
00:01 >> Yeah.
00:02 >> What are you focusing on?
00:04 >> Looking at just close games that they've had recently.
00:10 Field goal percentage, who's been shooting shots, how many attempts they get up.
00:14 Definitely rebounding in turnovers.
00:16 B-Mike was telling us before we got in here that they like to force turnovers
00:20 defensively, so that'll be cool.
00:22 They probably don't get up into us, so we just gotta handle that pressure well.
00:26 I know they get up a lot of threes.
00:29 One of the guards is averaging 18 to 5.
00:33 So we'll get a plan on him and see what that looks like.
00:36 But it looks like they're pretty much fired up.
00:39 >> It's a lot of knowledge for a match that was announced 20 minutes ago.
00:42 You've already gathered.
00:43 >> Yeah, so we gotta stay on our toes now.
00:46 It's March, of course.
00:48 Everything is right in front of us, and we just gotta be ready for
00:50 the next moment.
00:52 Our staff is doing a great job of preparing us for that, and
00:55 I know the guys are definitely preparing for that as well.
00:58 >> Any intel on some of the big men you might be facing?
01:00 >> I was looking at him, maybe number five, Colum.
01:06 My shoemate's a little bit of a undersized four, six, six, four man.
01:13 I remember playing him at McNeese a couple years ago.
01:16 I remember him, some of these other dudes, I'm not really familiar with.
01:21 >> Do you have a file already of all the teams you've been playing or something?
01:25 >> I think that's Barry, he's quick with his stuff.
01:30 So yeah, he had it ready to go right after the announcement.
01:33 >> Reaction when you saw your name as a five, Salt Lake, and
01:36 then St. Mary's as a five school champ?
01:38 >> Yeah, I was super shocked, we got the five.
01:43 Honestly, I was expecting a seven or something.
01:47 But yeah, loving where we're at, loving how our practice is looking.
01:49 And then the St. Mary's deal, being here.
01:53 I was joking maybe a week back, what if they just happen to get places in Spokane?
01:59 Look at it now, it's probably gonna be an away game for them, but yeah, we'll see.
02:03 >> Everyone talks about elevation when it comes to Salt Lake and Denver.
02:07 You grew up in Denver, you played in Laramie,
02:09 which is the highest elevation in the country maybe.
02:12 You expect that to be kind of factored off for you?
02:15 I mean, do you ever notice it when you come back and play places like that?
02:20 >> The only time I really notice it was Laramie, but that's an anomaly in itself.
02:24 7220, but me growing up in Colorado, I'm pretty much, I feel like I'm used to it.
02:29 Body's used to it, and Salt Lake's lower than that.
02:33 Might take a couple, like a possession or maybe the first four minutes,
02:37 just to get used to the style up and down and all that.
02:40 But after that, I'll be good.
02:42 >> Connections, good friends, playing, teammates, former,
02:45 any new buddies out there, anywhere?
02:48 >> I'm not really sure right now.
02:55 I got a couple guys, a little bit on Boise, Colorado.
02:59 Some of my big knees guys didn't get in.
03:03 I still got to look at some of the other brackets.
03:05 I was just so focused on where we would go.
03:07 Honestly, I was just like, okay, our name's not popped up, or not yet.
03:10 And then when we got there, just focused on our side of the bracket.
03:12 >> What was your reaction to some of the CBS guys already picking McNeese to win
03:17 the camp?
03:18 >> I thought that was cool.
03:19 Everybody has their opinion.
03:21 You don't say what you wanna say, but ultimately, we know what we're capable of,
03:26 and what we wanna do.
03:28 Yeah, so let's just feel to the floor.
03:30 Cool, I think we're gonna lose on that.
03:33 >> Salt Lake good for family members to come, and friends?
03:35 >> Yeah, definitely.
03:36 Yeah, definitely family members and friends, and even us, with traveling.
03:40 And our fans, I heard we got a lot of fans down there already, so
03:44 that's gonna be great.
03:45 We need that.
03:45 >> What do you guys need to do to come out and win this game?
03:52 What's kind of been the focal point of practice since you guys got back here?
03:55 >> Yeah, just focusing on every single possession, rebounding, most definitely.
04:00 Just trying to get better each and every day,
04:04 knowing that we cannot take this for granted.
04:06 There's only 64 teams left playing for something.
04:10 And this is a great opportunity that we have, so cherishing this, and
04:14 just trying to get better.
04:16 >> What was it like for you playing in that first four game a couple years ago?
04:19 Was it Indiana you guys played?
04:21 >> Yeah, Dayton.
04:22 >> Dayton, and then last year watching the tournament from home, and
04:26 just kinda wanting to get back there.
04:28 >> Yeah, it feels surreal almost to be back here now,
04:34 in this opportunity, in this space, with these people.
04:36 This is what every kid dreams of, and to get back here is great.
04:40 Honestly, I don't really count my first four.
04:43 I didn't feel like I was all the way in, and I lost at that time.
04:46 So just to be here now, it's on and pop, and honestly, I'm loving it.
04:53 >> How important is this rest this time of year?
04:55 A lot of guys playing a lot of minutes.
04:57 You hadn't played 18 months prior to this season.
04:59 How do you feel personally, body-wise, and then how much important is rest?
05:03 >> Rest is so important, especially at this time.
05:06 But even before the season, or not even before the season, but
05:09 early on in the season, if you're handling your stuff,
05:12 just trying to stay with our trainers, and staying in the weight room with TK,
05:15 and stuff like that, it'll help us out now in March, which it shows it has.
05:20 I'm feeling great, honestly, body-wise.
05:22 Just did some yoga this morning, got a massage yesterday.
05:26 I'm about to get in a float tank after this, so
05:28 it's just like always just staying on top of it.
05:30 My mom says that prevention gets no credit.
05:32 >> How much damage can this team do?
05:35 >> I think we can make a real deep run, a lot of damage.
05:38 As long as we just stay focused in on one game at a time,
05:42 focused on winning that one game,
05:43 which is the mindset we've been having this past month, month and a half, honestly.
05:48 And just keep that going, keep having great zeal, as coach says, and
05:53 great enjoyment in the game, we'll be fine.
05:54 >> Anton talked about the rebounding after the game on Tuesday.
05:58 That's something that you guys took kind of personal.
06:00 How much of that is kind of a focal point?
06:03 >> It's a big focal point.
06:04 37-22 is rare, definitely for us.
06:08 It didn't feel good.
06:10 So that's something we were working on yesterday, the day before, and
06:13 we'll probably go back and work on it tomorrow.
06:14 Yeah, because we gotta finish possessions.
06:18 First, we gotta get extra possessions on the offensive end.
06:20 >> How much satisfaction did it take that it was a bumpy ride?
06:26 Can you guys figure it out?
06:27 >> A lot of satisfaction, just cuz we got tested to the fine.
06:34 We saw what we were made of, honestly.
06:36 And for us to come out on the other side feeling better,
06:40 it just makes us as a collective stronger.
06:44 >> Thanks, Coach.