News Conference: Northern Kentucky First Round Preview

MODERATOR: We are joined by Northern Kentucky. We'll have
an opening statement statement from coach Brannen
Brannen and then go to the players players. John?

honor honor to be here. Really
Coach Brannen and then go to the
players. John? COACH BRANNEN: Obviously, an
honor to be here. Really excited about the opportunity to
be here in Indianapolis Indianapolis for our
school's first representation representation
representation in the NCAA
tournament tournament.
For our guys guys, it's been an outstanding
outstanding year. You hear the word Cinderella
Cinderella. It's something that takes takes place once
you get to the dance. For us us, it hasn't been like that
throughout throughout the regular season. 24-10,
winning 12 of our last 14 and 9 of our last ten.
We talked about all year playing our best basketball
basketball when it got to March to March and I feel
like we've we've 1ten.
We talked about all year playing our best basketball when it got
to March and I feel like we've done
0 ten.
We talked about all year playing our best basketball when it got
to March and I feel like we've done that for the most
. We talked about all year playing
our best basketball when it got to March and I feel like we've
done that for the most part. Certainly, I know you guys
guys will open up the questions as to

feel like we've done that for the most part. Certainly, I
know you guys will open up the questions as to who we're
playing. We're excited to get an opportunity to play against
against a prestigious prestigious program
like Kentucky. THE MODERATOR:
MODERATOR: Questions for the players
Q.
players. Q. Cole, I'm under the
impression when you you committed to Northern Kentucky,
you knew knew that it would be that it
would be a one-shot deal with the NCAA, playing in it. What
led you to do that? COLE MURRAY:
COLE MURRAY: First of all, I committed because of the
location it was in. I really loved everything
everything about about about the university.
Academic Academically, it had everything
everything everything I was looking for. The
facility at the mid-major level ()
with the NCAA, playing in it. What
led you to do that? COLE MURRAY: First of all, I
committed because of the location it was in. I really
loved everything about the university. Academically, it
had everything I was looking for. The facility at the
mid-major level () than the other schools schools
I'd looked at previously. For me and other seniors
seniors on the roster roster, it was about building a

than the other schools I'd looked at previously.
For me and other seniors on the roster, it was about building
a
as() than the other schools I'd looked at
previously. For me and other seniors on the
roster, it was about building a program.

looked at previously. For me and other seniors on the
roster, it was about building a program.
We l() than the other schools I'd
looked at previously. For me and other seniors on the
roster, it was about building a program. We wanted to
bring ot() than the other schools I'd
looked at previously. For me and other seniors on the
roster, it was about building a program. We wanted
to () than the other schools I'd
looked at previously. For me and other seniors on the
roster, it was about building a program. We wanted to
bring hi() than the other schools I'd
looked at previously. For me and other seniors on the
roster, it was about building a program. We wanted to bring
something gh() than the other schools I'd
looked at previously. For me and other seniors on the
roster, it was about building a program. We wanted to bring
something back e()
than the other schools I'd looked at previously.
For me and other seniors on the roster, it was about building a
program. We wanted to bring something
back r() than the other schools I'd
looked at previously. For me and other seniors on the
roster, it was about building a program. We wanted to bring
something back
() than the other schools I'd looked at previously.
For me and other seniors on the roster, it was about building a
program. We wanted to bring something back to Northern
Kentucky han
the other schools I'd looked at previously.
For me and other seniors on the roster, it was about building a
program. We wanted to bring something back to Northern
Kentucky than
the other schools I'd looked at previously.
For me and other seniors on the roster, it was about building a
program. We wanted to bring something back to Northern
Kentucky that we hadn't seen before. For us us, I feel
like we've we've done that to this opportunity
that to this point and we're really
excited about the opportunity that we have ahead ahead
of us Q.

and we're really excited about the opportunity that we have
ahead of us. Q. Lavone us.
Q. Lavone, Dominique Hawkins Hawkins and Derek Willis
Willis both talked about playing against against
you when playing in AAU and in high school school.
school. What are your recollections
recollections of playing against against them or with
them in AAU? LAVONE HOLLAND:

Dominique Hawkins Hawkins at AAU. He's a good
player, fun to play with. Derek Willis Willis is also
good competition competition to play against

against. Q. Drew, I wonder if playing
Kentucky, is this is this something that's like a --
something you a -- something you'll be
telling your grandkids grandkids about some time in
the future? DREW McDONALD:
DREW McDONALD: I think think this whole experience in
general will be something I'll remember remember for
the rest of my life. Just growing up, watching the NCAA
tournament tournament, it just was a cool
experience. Coming here and getting getting a chance
chance to play in it, and then a big school like
Kentucky, it's just a great opportunity for us
Q.
us. Q. For you guys guys, when
when did this week become about business? Obviously, you
Obviously, you knew knew you earned a
berth berth and you were waiting for Selection Sunday
Sunday. Sunday night? When did you guys guys get
into Kentucky, wanting wanting to watch them or study
them? When did that turn and what has this week been like in
that regard regard? DREW McDONALD:
DREW McDONALD: Really, after the the selection show, we
had a meeting with coach and our managers managers and
players players and everybody everybody.
That's when it really started. I mean, we enjoy enjoyed
the experience of Selection Sunday Sunday. Once we
heard Kentucky and we had a meeting right after that, that's
when our business started. We got into practice
practice the next day, got in the game plan a little bit and
got more more in-depth in-depth as the week went
on. LAVONE HOLLAND:

been about business for us us the whole year. The began
began for the NCAA tournament tournament
two days after we won the conference
Ithe began for the NCAA tournament
two days after we won the
the began for the NCAA tournament
two days after we won the conference tournament

tournament two days after we won the conference
rethe began for the NCAA tournament
two days after we won the conference
althe began for the NCAA tournament
two days after we won the conference tournament.
lthe began for the NCAA tournament
two days after we won the conference tournament. We
y the began for the NCAA
tournament two days after we won the conference tournament. We
were right began
for the NCAA tournament two days after we won the conference
tournament. We were right back in the gym gym.
COLE MURRAY: COLE MURRAY: Yeah, what they
both ,
we were right back in the gym.
COLE MURRAY: Yeah, what they both just said. I mean, of the
mean, right after the the selection show, like
he said, we met and we put a game plan in. This whole week,
we went after it and got prepared

Q. Cole, how much much of an a of an awe factor
might there be? It's your first time in the tournament
tournament and they're the winningest program in
college basketball
, and they're the winningest
program in college basketball. COLE MURRAY:
COLE MURRAY: I mean, you can't look at it that way
at it that way. You've
?
COLE MURRAY: I mean, you can't look at it that way. You've got
to come in as if it's a face us us opponent
opponent ()
COLE MURRAY: I mean, you can't look at it that way. You've got
to come in as if it's a face us opponent () like we use the
term all year. No matter matter who we play, we prepare
prepare as if we play anybody anybody. This
week is no different. Doesn't matter matter what stage
we play on, who we play, where we play. We go in playing like
it's anybody else Q. else.
Q. For all the players players, if I'm
the term all year. No matter who
we play, we prepare as if we play anybody. This week is no
different. Doesn't matter what stage we play on, who we play,
where we play. We go in playing like it's anybody else.
Q. For all the players,
used the term all year. No matter
who we play, we prepare as if we play anybody. This week is no
different. Doesn't matter what stage we play on, who we play,
where we play. We go in playing like it's anybody else.
Q. For all the players, in a normal week, if I'm if
I'm a student on the NKU campus, how many NKU shirts
shirts do I see? Are there more NKU shirts shirts now?
DREW McDONALD: DREW McDONALD: You'll see a
couple throughout throughout campus. At the
beginning beginning of the year, you'll see some. As
basketball basketball season got on, we got more
students students to the game. It dwindle
dwindled down. I read any student who had a free ticket
ticket to the game are not allowed to wear wear U.K.
stuff. ()
DREW McDONALD: You'll see a couple throughout campus. At
the beginning of the year, you'll see some. As basketball
season got on, we got more students to the game. It
dwindled down. I read any student who had a free ticket to
the game are not allowed to wear U.K. stuff. () It dwindle
dwindled down as they've they've come to
support us us Q. us more.
LAVONE HOLLAND:
LAVONE HOLLAND: I only take one only take class
on campus right now. I don't get on campus much much.
() dwindled
down. I read any student who had a free ticket to the game
are not allowed to wear U.K. stuff. () It dwindled down as
they've come to support us more.
LAVONE HOLLAND: I only take class on campus right now. I
don't get on campus much. () When I do, I don't see many U.K.
shirts. COLE MURRAY:
COLE MURRAY: A few years ago ago, I used to see a lot.
This year, it's toned down a lot. It's been nice to see
Q. see. Q. LaRon see.
Q. Lavone see. Q. Lavone, can you tell us us
about a kid from Ballard Ballard playing at Northern
Northern and now playing against against
U.K. U.K. LAVONE HOLLAND:

Q. time. Q. You're from Ballard
Ballard high school school, now going to Northern
Northern and playing against against U.K.,
what's that's like? LAVONE HOLLAND:

opportunity I've been bless blessed with. I
wouldn't say it was something that I, like, dreamed
dreamed dreamed about but it is something that I've
always wanted
Q.
to do. Q. Cole, there have been some
15s 15s to beat 2s 2s in the last few years years.
I'm years. I'm wondering how much much you
guys guys maybe take some, what, confidence
confidence that you can be another one.
PLAYER 1: . PLAYER one: That's something
that you look at and you know what craziness happens
happens in the tournament tournament. Obviously,
anything can happen. Like I said before, we just try
to prepare prepare for whoever whoever we play.
We don't look at the seeding. We don't look at the tradition
of the other school or anything like that. We just come in,
every day, and do it like we've we've been doing it.
It's helped us us us be successful successful
Q. this far. Q. Just to kind of to
kind of piggyback off that, how hard is it, when you look at
rosters rosters, their roster roster, kids
kids who you played AAU with, you know your your class
rankings rankings when you come out as high school kids
kids. You know some of some of these kids
some of these guys guys will be in the
NBA next year. Has that been hard at all all to think
about measuring measuring up or how we'll do
against against that type of guy, I guess? I think
any of you can answer that. DREW McDONALD:
DREW McDONALD: I think it's kind of motivation
motivation, really. It's a great opportunity for us us.
They're on national TV TV all the time. They get all this
exposure exposure and we're more of a lower
lower mid-major team, and we don't get the exposure that they
they do. So being on a national stage like this gives
us us a chance to expose our talents talents
talents and expose how we play as a team.
It's some motivation motivation, just seeing the
rankings rankings coming out and seeing guys
guys that you're going to play in the NBA with. I played
against several several of them in the AAU. AAU.
I now AAU. I know what they they are. We
played against against them, beat some of the teams
teams in AAUs AAUs. Like Cole says, it's a faceless
faceless opponent

Q. Cole, you went to high school school about 80 Myles
from about 80 miles 80 miles from
here. Some of Some of your teammates
teammates went to high school school in Indianapolis
Indianapolis. Have you talked about how unique
unique this experience is to have the first tournament
tournament you guys guys are playing, to play
it right here in Indianapolis Indianapolis?
COLE MURRAY: COLE MURRAY: It's pretty
pretty special to have the first tournament
tournament for this school be in a place where I basically
basically grew up. Us Us, BG, Jordan and I talk about
how cool it is that we get to experience this back in our home
Q.
state. Q. I'm wondering
wondering, for any of you guys guys, if you had time
time time to stop and smell smell the roses
roses, the accomplishment accomplishment
of of being in your first year of eligibility
eligibility, doing it it. Or was there no time for this?
It's business, business. COLE MURRAY:
COLE MURRAY: A day or two after we won the conference
conference tournament tournament, that's when
it really sank in and you understand what we've /PHREURBD
we've accomplish
accomplished. Not only for us us as a team but as a
university as a whole. To see see all the people it
affects affects, all the alumni alumni that reach
out to you and say how special it is and thank us us for
what we've we've done. Other than that
Other than that, ever since we found out who we play, it's been
business-like from there. LAVONE HOLLAND:

going to take this as far as this as far as
we can and then when it's all over, we'll just just soak
in what we've accomplish accomplished.
DREW McDONALD: DREW McDONALD: Kind of like
what they both said. We got a little bit of a layoff after we
won the conference conference championship so a day
or two we got to let it sink in and enjoy enjoy it. We
got back to work. Even before Selection Sunday Sunday,
we were were back in practice practice,
working working on our game, working on us us.
We're going to keep keep feisting and see how far we can
take this thing. Before thing.
Once it's done, we'll step back back and realize how great
a year we had. We have 24 wins wins right now. Hopefully
we we can increase that. THE MODERATOR:
MODERATOR: Thanks, guys guys. See you tomorrow
tomorrow. Continue with questions for
coach Brannen Q. Brannen.
Q. John, you were able to sign two first team Kentucky
all-staters all-staters last year, including
including Mr. Basketball
Basketball. You've signed a really good player in the
current current class. Did you take the job planning to
emphasize emphasize in-state recruiting? Are even
you a little surprised at how well you've been able to do this
quickly quickly? COACH BRANNEN:

Mark. Our basis basis on taking on the program was
two-fold. To build the culture culture immediately
immediately immediately and try to do that
with the current current players players we had
when we took over the team last year, with a team transitioning
to division one and the new league, the horizon.
The second was recruiting. We gained traction
traction in recruiting probably quicker quicker than
anything in our program. It had to do with a great staff.
State of Kentucky was great at the time we took over the job.
We had connections with with Carson Carson
Williams, Mason Faulkner Faulkner, Lavone
Lavone Holland Holland, a guy we signed. Drew
and Cole were already already here.
It's a situation for us us where once we gained that
traction traction quickly quickly, it
snowballed from there. Good players players want to
play with good players players. We had an outstanding
outstanding first recruiting class. Whenever
Whenever you take over a program, these first two re
cruiting classeses classes are important
important in winning fast. ()
traction quickly, it snowballed from
there. Good players want to play with good players. We had
an outstanding first recruiting class. Whenever you take over a
program, these first two recruiting classes are important
in winning fast. () Marry that with the the culture that
was was built the first year, you have a 24-win team
this Q.
year. Q. John, specifically
specifically, about one of those those
in-state guys guys, Lavone Lavone, how important
important is it to have a guy played at Ballard
Ballard and was a quality high player from
Louisville Louisville and then just
specifically specifically about his game,
what do you like and how has he stepped up for you guys
guys the last few weeks weeks?
COACH BRANNEN:
COACH BRANNEN: He's been phenomenal
phenomenal. At the point guard spot, he's he's dynamic
dynamic in what he can do with the basketball
basketball. He's a big part of the run we've we've had
and the way we've we've had a successful
successful season. Add to the to the fact Hee comes
comes from a successful successful program
like Ballard Ballard, he understands
understands winning, winning, has been coached.
More important importantly, you probably saw
that with the way they speak and how they handle themselves
themselves, he's a great kid. And for for me, this
has probably been one of the most most enjoyable teams
teams I've coached in my 18 years 18 years in
the profession profession. It's nice that it's
specific to Lavone Lavone, being a Kentucky
Q.
kid. Q. John, I wonder if you would
buy buy the David and Goliath Goliath story
line line here and, if so what is is the rock in your
sling shot? COACH BRANNEN:

guys would like us us to. It's not who we are. We're
going to go every day. We're a process oriented
oriented group. We divorce ourselves ourselves
from outcomes comes. We focus on possession
possession by possession ,
what is the rock in your sling shot?
COACH BRANNEN: I know you guys would like us to. It's not who
we are. We're going to go every day. We're a process oriented
group. We divorce ourselves from outcomes. We focus on
possession by possession, day by day.
What you heard out of our young young men today is what
they believe in. And this is is a 15-2
-oriented group. We divorce ourselves
from outcomes. We focus on possession by possession, day by
day. What you heard out of our young
men today is what they believe in. And this is a 15-2 seed.
The committee committee put Northern Kentucky
versus Kentucky. It's a good story line. First time ever
versus the greatest greatest program in college
basketball history history. It's an opportunity
for us us to continue to play well, well, hopefully
hopefully. We'll take it as that.
When that. When you're in the eye of the
storm, Jerry, I don't know know that many coaches
coaches look basketball
history. It's an opportunity for us to continue to play well,
hopefully. We'll take it as that.
When you're in the eye of the storm, Jerry, I don't know that
many coaches look at it like Q. that.
Q. John, could you speak to your familiarity
familiarity with the history history of the program
and what's your relationship ship like with Kim shields
shields? COACH BRANNEN:

Northern Kentucky. I've got a lot -- the two national
championship finalist teams teams in division two were
guys guys I grew up with. Coach shields calls calls
me calls me after every game, giving giving me a
me a con grat laker to laker to message. 20
years ago years ago, Northern Kentucky University
University was a school that was was not a
destination destination school. It
school. It was was where kids kids went to
school who couldn't afford to go to Louisville
Louisville and Kentucky. It's now a destination
destination school. We're up to 150,000nts to
15,000 students students. students.
I could go on and on. I have tremendous tremendous
love for this university and a tremendous amount amount
of respect for what the program has done in the past to get us
us to the division one level. ()

We're up to 15,000 students. I could go on and on. I have
tremendous love for this university and a tremendous
amount of respect for what the program has done in the past to
get us to the division one level. ().
Q. Talk about the freshman man season Carson Carson has
has had. COACH BRANNEN:

of this all year long. He started being the most most
consistent freshman freshman I've ever coached.
He's probably one of the most most consistent players
players I've ever coached. I've I've been at every
level. Every day, he's the same. He's
hard working. Toughness is a core value of our program. He's
really increased the toughness of our program. He's really
moved moved the needle needle in a lot of
different ways ways. A joy to coach, doesn't say a
a whole lot. Probably wouldn't get two words two
words out of him on this podium podium, but he's a guy
who every day impacts impacts this
Q.
team. Q. John, when you guys guys
are playing well, what is working? What is the approach
you guys guys have? COACH BRANNEN:

really up and down. We shot the most most 3s 3s and
mated 3s and made the most most 3s 3s in
the league in the horizon. We play free offensive
offensively. We'll get up in full court defensive
defensively, but we want the game to be free-flowing with the
ball to move and I think re bounding wise wise, we've
we've been a top 50 re bound team most most of the
year. From a visual standpoint
standpoint, I like to think we're a fun team to watch.
Most Most of the people that come to that have seen
seen that. So we'll Q. see.
Q. What or who, I guess, really caught your eye or maybe has
kept kept you awake this this week in terms
terms of watching U.K. and what you're going to try to have your
guys guys do? COACH BRANNEN:

draft picks picks. They've They've got a
Hall of Fame Keach Fame coach. I would
coach. I could go on and on ()

caught your eye or maybe has kept you awake this week in
terms of watching U.K. and what you're going to try to have your
guys do? COACH BRANNEN: Three top 15
draft picks. They've got a Hall of Fame coach. I could go on
and on (). What I've been impressed impressed
with with the Kentucky team, again, I coached
coached at Alabama Alabama for () years
years. Coach Cal does a great job of putting guys guys in
spots spots and mixing talents together
together. I think probably our guys
guys adjustment that would be made will be the speed because
their speed doesn't show up on tape as well as as
well as it shows putting
guys in spots and mixing talents together.
I think probably our guys adjustment that would be made
will be the speed because their speed doesn't show up on tape as
well as it shows up Cal
does a great job of putting guys in spots and mixing talents
together. I think probably our guys
adjustment that would be made will be the speed because their
speed doesn't show up on tape as well as it shows up
Q. in ogether.
I think probably our guys adjustment that would be made
will be the speed because their speed doesn't show up on tape as
well as it shows up in person. Q. John,
alents together.
I think probably our guys adjustment that would be made
will be the speed because their speed doesn't show up on tape as
well as it shows up in person. Q. John, you were running
running through some metrics metrics about how NKU
has evolved evolved in recent years years. How
big a platform is just this playing U.K. in the NCAA
tournament tournament to sort of spread that story
throughout throughout the commonwealth?
COACH BRANNEN:
COACH BRANNEN: It's going to the NCAA first, foremost
foremost. Only two teams teams since 1970 have
done it in their first year. That's a tremendous accomplish
ment accomplishment that our guys
guys will get a chance to take stock in when the season's
's over because it's just not normal.
Now, it wasn't it wasn't a Cinderella
Cinderella story. This is a team 12-6 in the are egg lar
season, tied for third in the league. This is a quality
basketball basketball team. Put on top of it the
fact that you get to play Kentucky, that adds adds to
it. You'll play somebody somebody really good
regardless regardless of whether you're a 14 or
Q.
15. Q. There have been 15s 15s
that beat 2s? Q. 2s in recent years
years. How does that play on your mind mind?
COACH BRANNEN:
COACH BRANNEN: It doesn't play on mine, because I think each
game is its own situation and each game's got its own life.
Maybe it plays plays to -- speaks speaks to the
confidence confidence of maybe other teams
teams or maybe some of some of my players
players. But specifically specifically to us
us, we've we've got a task at hand that we've we've
got to be able to accomplish accomplish and we've
we've we've got to prepare prepare to do
that. We prepared prepared all week. It will be a
possession possession-by-possession

Really Really doesn't speak much
doesn't speak much much to anything that really influences
us us this week. Was that the answer you thought

thought? THE MODERATOR:
MODERATOR: See you tomorrow tomorrow, Coach
Coach. COACH BRANNEN:

News Conference: Northern Kentucky First Round Preview

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