University of North Texas Athletics
NIT Semifinal Media Day
3/27/2023 6:03:00 PM | Men's Basketball
HEAD COACH GRANT McCASLAND OPENING STATEMENT
"Well, we're thankful to be here. You know, this is a program that's had a lot of firsts. This is a program that's really experienced a lot of firsts thanks to these guys. First NCAA Tournament win, first NIT appearance and we got to win some games and then now, able to be here in Vegas is really a huge blessing and proud of our university. It's taken a lot of people to get to this position, so our administration and our university in Denton, just a lot of people supporting and thankful and excited to be here."
Q. You mentioned the success you've had at getting to the postseason but you've also had success in the postseason. What's your secret of having success once you get to the postseason?
GRANT McCASLAND: "Well, we played a tough non-conference schedule and I think that always is something that you can look back on that prepares you for conference play. I think we play a possession game that our guys understand how to value possessions and then ultimately our defense gives us an opportunity to win every game. We have got great players and that's a big part of this, these two guys sitting up here, Tylor, we call him TP and Kai. These guys have continuously made plays in big moments and I do believe that they do that because they have the trust of their teammates, and they all love each other. That's a big part of winning is how do you stay connected as a group and things get hard and when things are going good, and these guys have done that, and they believe in each other. I think when you get in postseason play, it's about, one, you have to be tough and specifically defensively in rebounding, but ultimately you have to really understand roles and who can really make plays when we need to and these guys do that."
Q. Why do you think you've had success in the postseason that you've enjoyed over the years?
TYLOR PERRY: "He just hit on it, the non-conference schedule that we go through, and then as everybody in the world can see now, what we deal with in Conference USA, it's never an easy night going through conference throughout the year, and it's prepared us for moments like this. I think every situation we've been in this postseason, we've been in during conference. So when you have got that type of experience and when you have got guys who come together like we have during these last couple weeks, it's hard to lose at this point. And so we just have to continue to stay together and continue to be us and like coach said, love each other because at the end of the day, that's what matters at this point."
Q. It's been a really good year for the mid-majors postseason-wise. Do you think there's becoming less of a difference between high-major and mid-major?
KAI HUNTSBERRY: "I would say, I mean, I come from a DII, so I always thought, like, anybody could play anywhere. I just feel like mid-majors have always kind of had the juice to them that some people would say. I feel like high majors get more credit but there's people that play anywhere so I feel that anybody can beat anybody on any given night."
Q. Tylor, you do so much for the team, and how do you keep your legs fresh late in games? Because it looks like you're still popping even when you've been out there 40 minutes.
TYLOR PERRY: "I'm not excluded from anybody when it comes to playing, however, 40 minutes, and it gets told to me every time-out, every practice, every drill. If I want to be the best, I've got to be the best every day. That's been preached to me since I stepped foot on campus. Another thing is when you have coach Hodge sitting on your bench, you've got to play defense or you won't be out there. For me it's from within, and then from what we do in the weight room, how hard we practice; big shout-out to Coach Wright all year."
