money Recap: What did Kansas coach Bill Self, KU basketball players say during Final Four press conference?
For continued coverage ahead of KU basketball's Final Four matchup against Villanova, see Friday's live story here.
NEW ORLEANS — Kansas men's basketball's Final Four matchup with Villanova is drawing closer.
The Jayhawks (32-6) represent the Midwest region, and are a No. 1 seed. The Wildcats (30-7) represent the South region, and are a No. 2 seed. The winner will face either Duke or North Carolina with a national championship on the line.
Kansas coach Bill Self, Villanova coach Jay Wright and players from both teams spoke during a press conference Thursday in New Orleans. Here's what they had to say.
What did Bill Self say during Thursday news conference?
Kansas men's basketball coach Bill Self understands that the majority of the attention might be on the second game, which features Duke and North Carolina, but he added that they're fired up to play their own.
He doesn't think anyone in the Final Four is flying under the radar by any means. He thinks each of them have a legitimate shot at winning a national championship if they play well.
More: 3 things to think about as Kansas basketball’s Final Four game vs. Villanova approaches
Self doesn't know if Mitch Lightfoot would love playing a seventh or eighth year of college basketball, but does know he would love playing it at Kansas. It's rewarding for Lightfoot that this kind of season can be his last one, and not the 2020-21 campaign.
Self considers it special to be able to lead a program with as much history as Kansas has. He's been a part of some of it. He thinks players start to understand it when they get around the team.
Self loves coaching Remy Martin
Self thinks Remy Martin is different than anyone he's ever coached, but loves doing it because of the energy and personality that Martin has. He thinks Martin has had as frustrating a season as someone could have who hasn't suffered a season-ending injury, and that now people are able to see what Martin's energy and presence mean for the team.
Self said they don't put an emphasis on recruiting local kids, but he does value that two of the best wings in college basketball are from the area. It's special that local kids have helped them reach the Final Four, but it's also special regardless.
MORE: Watch the full press conference below (KU players begin at about 1 hour 40 minutes into the video):
What does Self think about Villanova?
Self thinks the Villanova team in 2018 that beat Kansas in the Final Four is one of the best college basketball teams of the last decade. It was a game that wasn't over before it started, but wasn't far off from being that.
When it comes to the characteristics of a Jay Wright-coached team, Self said they don't turn it over and don't beat themselves. Self said Villanova won't help a team beat it. Self added it would be a great compliment if anyone said that about his team.
Self: Loss against Kentucky helped Jayhawks
Self doesn't know if there's a signature win in Kansas' season so far, but he does think there has been a loss that's helped the Jayhawks a ton. That was the loss against Kentucky. He said that day Kansas saw how much progress they had to make before they looked like a team that could win a national championship.
More: Watch Kansas basketball play Villanova in the Final Four at the Allen Fieldhouse Saturday
What did KU players say during Thursday's Final Four news conference?
Six Kansas basketball players participated in Thursday's press conference. The first session featured Jalen Wilson, David McCormack and Christian Braun. Mitch Lightfoot, Dajuan Harris Jr. and Ochai Agbaji were part of the second group.
Why is KU confident, how did the Kentucky loss help, and who's the best singer on the team?
Braun spoke to how much individual confidence each player on the team has. He said they all believe in themselves, no matter what talk there may have been publicly about a need for the roster to change.
McCormack said the Kentucky loss earlier in the season helped the team build character. It showed them how much rebounding and defense was necessary. This tournament has shown, as well, how important defense has been for the Jayhawks.
Braun also said this experience has been a great time so far, and that walking onto the court has been his favorite part so far. McCormack agreed that being here has been great, and added that being present in the moment is important.
McCormack highlighted Wilson as the best singer on the team, and Wilson agreed.
More: Here's the path Kansas basketball took to the Final Four of the 2022 NCAA Tournament
How last year's March Madness loss impacted this year's Final Four run
Agbaji and Lightfoot both mentioned how tough it was to lose in the round of 32 last season, and have to watch other teams make their runs. They knew that making a run this season meant taking things game-by-game.
Video: Kansas forward Mitch Lightfoot re-lives his 2018 Final Four experience, looks ahead
Agbaji also discussed what it means to have local guys on the team leading it to a Final Four. He said it says a lot about the Kansas City area's basketball talent.
Remy Martin a sparkplug for KU
Agbaji added that Remy Martin's bringing a lot of energy off the bench, and gives them a dynamic look offensively that's different. Harris and Lightfoot added on to that, agreeing. Lightfoot noted that Martin's energy is contagious.
What stands out in matchup against Villanova?
Harris said that length will be important in this game. He noted that he may not be the tallest player, but he does have long arms.
Lightfoot understands that physicality is going to be a big part of this game, and that both teams do it. He knows that both sides value it.
Lightfoot also understands that because the other Final Four game is Duke against North Carolina, and that brings with it a number of different storylines. He said it's OK if there are less people looking at the Kansas and Villanova game, and knows how much his team is focused on this.
More: Kansas basketball vs. Villanova in the Final Four: TV, matchup information for NCAA Tournament game
On David McCormack, Lightfoot said McCormack does a great job staying ready. He added McCormack doesn't complain at all about all the work he has to get done to stay ready through his injury. He knows McCormack will put in the work to be available in games like this.
On experience, Agbaji said that goes a long way. It helps teammates understand each other's games. It helps the team gel in general. This team is battle-tested because of the games it's played this season.
What did Villanova players say about KU matchup?
Villanova players Caleb Daniels, Collin Gillespie and Eric Dixon were the first three players to speak to media Thursday.
Daniels expressed how much of a blessing and an honor it was to be here, given he's from the area. To be able to become the player he is today, he said comes from his teammates holding him accountable just as he holds them accountable. Consistency is key.
Gillespie said he didn't play at all in the post in high school, but learned how to do it by playing one-on-one with family and then starting to when he arrived at Villanova. He credits Jalen Brunson with helping him a lot. It's a valuable tool for the Wildcats, using him there. He feels it's become natural for him now, and that it's also helped him having to defend it with discovering ways to take advantage of that on the offensive end.
Dixon said it means everything to have Justin Moore with them for this Final Four experience. Gillespie said the same, and that it's more about basketball and they want to make sure he's all right. Daniels described Moore as a true brother for them, and that it gives them added confidence having him around.
Gillespie could tell right away that Daniels was someone who could help Villanova, from the first time the two played one-on-one against each other. Daniels even got up 13-0 on Gillespie in that game, although Daniels admitted that Gillespie ended up winning it and got the better of him in their series.
All three discussed how they felt about Kansas as a team. Dixon said they were tough. Gillespie said they're really well coached, that he's familiar with Ochai Agbaji, Christian Braun and David McCormack and that Remy Martin is a dynamic scorer off of the bench. Daniels considers the Jayhawks well-balanced and well-coached, and expects a physical battle for 40 minutes.
Players Brandon Slater, Chris Arcidiacono, Jermaine Samuels and Bryan Antoine came up next for Villanova.
Slater said it's a special thing, for the community he comes from, for himself and others from it to be on this stage in New Orleans. They don't talk about it much during the season. However, after the season, he indicates they will.
Arcidiacono described Kansas as a unique team, and one that's unlike any other team they've faced this season. He added they play tough, physical and fast. He said Villanova will have to play its brand of basketball for 40 minutes and rebound as well.
Samuels also doesn't think there's a team in the Big East Conference or in their non-conference schedule that's similar to Kansas. He thinks David McCormack and Mitch Lightfoot give the Jayhawks a really good front court, and that Remy Martin makes them capable of being explosive offensively. He added Kansas is a No. 1 seed for a reason.
Samuels also said that it is tough to not have Moore available, but the other guys on the team are ready to compete as well. They've been putting in work themselves, even if the public doesn't see it.
Samuels remembers a game a couple of seasons ago against Kansas being electric, and that the players for the Jayhawks who were on that team have gotten better. And, that means Kansas is experienced.
For Arcidiacono and Antoine, considering they don't have Moore what they have to do is just keep doing what their coach asks of them. Arcidiacono added that it's not just up to them to do that, and that there are others who will step up.
Samuels considers it an honor to be on a Final Four stage with blue-blood programs like Kansas, Duke and North Carolina. Ever since he started watching basketball, he's seen these teams reach the Final Four. It's a tribute to the guys who came before him at Villanova to be on this stage, and he's playing for them.
More: 3 things to think about as Kansas basketball’s Final Four game vs. Villanova approaches
What did Villanova coach Jay Wright say about Kansas basketball?
The Villanova portion of the press conference was finished up by head coach Jay Wright.
Wright's opening statement included him discussing how thrilling it is to be a part of the Final Four, and that he's fired up to be in New Orleans. He said they've been having good practices, as they've started to get more comfortable without Moore available. Kansas will be one of the fastest teams Villanova has played, and he knows the Jayhawks are intelligent because of them being a Bill Self-coached team.
If there are one or two players Wright feels he has to stop, because Kansas plays inside-out he would have to say David McCormack and Ochai Agbaji. But then, Wright pointed out, there's also Remy Martin coming off of the bench. There's also Jalen Wilson, who Wright described as being like Josh Hart but only bigger.
When speaking to the consistency of Self's teams, Wright said they always play hard and are outstanding defensively. And, he reiterated, the Jayhawks are always intelligent.
Wright hopes that the way Villanova posts up its guards can be effective against Kansas, especially with them not having Moore available. However, while Wright knows the Wildcats get a lot of credit for doing that, it's only part of what they do. He thinks they'll have to be creative with how they do it against the Jayhawks, but they can be successful without it.
There are a lot of great feelings about coming to the Final Four, but something that's really heartwarming for Wright has been seeing Daniels go on the journey Daniels has and be in this position. Wright noted how much the pandemic affected Daniels individually, when it comes to getting COVID-19. Wright highlighted Daniels' faith and mental toughness.
More: Recap: Kansas basketball's Bill Self talks superstitions, Final Four noise, Ochai Agbaji's career
Wright wasn't surprised to hear about the one-on-one game between Gillespie and Daniels, or how it went. He'd like to see those two go up against each other now, because of how much Daniels has developed — especially defensively — in that time.
Wright is excited to be on a stage with blue-blood programs like Kansas and North Carolina and Duke. The tournament is about playing the best basketball right now, and he feels those three programs are. He doesn't aspire to be a blue-blood, but loves to hear others consider Villanova to be on the same level as them.
Wright considers the current Kansas team to be much different than the one that played in the Final Four in 2018. He thinks that game four years ago was just one of those games when one team is making a ton of shots. It reminds him of the games this season that Villanova lost against Creighton and Baylor.
Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. Contact him at jmguskey@gannett.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas vs Villanova: KU players, Bill Self discuss Final Four matchup
