Player Notebook: Sweet 16 Edition
Q. You got back from the initial round and campus was basically empty because you guys were on spring break. Coach Brownell said the other day it was kind of a shame, that he thought you all deserved some pats on the back from your fellow students. Do you share that sentiment?
GABE DEVOE: Yeah, I wish they would have been there. It would have been nice having the extra buzz around campus leading up to this weekend. But also I think it was good for us, like Coach said, no distractions. We were able to rest up and get ready for this week.
DONTE GRANTHAM: I agree with Gabe. I mean, I wish fans was there just to celebrate with them and just give us encouragement of our hard work. But I'm happy that they weren't. We needed to rest that day and just get ready for this game coming up.
Q. Gabe, could you talk about the matchup of guards for each team that will be going at it? And for Donte, how has this team changed without you in the lineup?
GABE DEVOE: Yeah, Kansas has great guards on the perimeter. And it's going to be a tough matchup for us. Just the main thing, limiting some of the 3s they get, just take away easy baskets.
DONTE GRANTHAM: I just think that guys got more confident to be honest. Guys had to step up like Aamir and Skara that played my position. And they really did that since I went out.
And guys like Gabe really stepped his game up and Marcquise. And I think our team's confidence is at an all time high now. I think guys just stepped up and are being very confident offensively and defensively, and nothing can stop them, to be honest.
Q. Donte, can you speak to the feelings, the emotions that you have this week and through the tournament, just as a result of your situation and having to watch your team like this?
DONTE GRANTHAM: I mean, it's hard. It's one of the hardest things that I've been through. I mean, just to know that I've put in all the work in the offseason, really dedicated myself to getting better. And our team, to be honest, is really putting in the work and just us dreaming about being here and me dreaming about being here since I was young.
And just to go down with an injury my last year, it's tough, but I don't let it bother me that much. I have to stay with my team mentally. And you can't take something back that already happened.
So I'm just looking forward, keep getting better, rehabbing myself. But I'm always going to be here for the team. But it's very tough on me. Very tough. I love the game of basketball.