PC: Zam Jones And Tilda Trygger Share Their Thoughts On The Michigan Matchup

NC State guard Zamareya Jones and forward Tilda Trygger met with the media to discuss their upcoming NCAA Tournament matchup with No. 2 seed Michigan.

NOTE: Click the video above to watch the interview.

Congrats on making it to the second round of March Madness. Since your game last night what have you learned about Michigan so far?
ZAMAREYA JONES: I would just say they play hard. Definitely offensive rebounds, so we got box out. We haven't really watched much film. We just get into the gym, going over their plays and sets, but really just go out there and play our game.

TILDA TRYGGER: Yeah, I think we're trying to focus a lot on ourselves, and rebounding is a big part. One and done is usually what we focus on. As she said, they play hard so we got to play harder.

You spoke about the things that NC State does well. What does NC State basketball look like when it's functioning at its best and how would you describe the key points of your team's identity?
TILDA TRYGGER: We talked a lot about this as a team. When we put our jerseys on we got to be proud that we're wearing an NC State jersey.

So we need to play for the team, for NC State, and I think that's the most important part.

ZAMAREYA JONES: Yeah, I agree with that. Just playing for one another. Not just playing for yourself is the biggest issue.

Tennessee is heralded for their press, just like Michigan as well. How do you think that game really prepared you for Michigan's press tomorrow?
ZAMAREYA JONES: You know, we got to handle pressure well. We have me and Ky'She in the back court. Maybe Zoe. Just going out there playing the game like we played Tennessee, not letting them speed us up and play our game.

What did you know about Coach when he was recruiting you? What was he like in that setting? And now that you played with him, what new thoughts and perspectives do you have?
TILDA TRYGGER: I think Coach is great. He has a lot of trust in his players, which you can see. He love his guards and both the players and him have a lot of trust in everybody that he puts on the court and bench players.

So and he's a great guy outside of the court, too. So it's just fun outside and then when we're on, it's about business. But that's what everybody that comes here wants.

ZAMAREYA JONES: I can agree with what she said.

Obviously this game is being played in Ann Arbor. Have you been treating this as a road game and are you preparing like a road game? Are you focusing on that or is it like a neutral site tournament game?
ZAMAREYA JONES: I don't think we thought too much about that. Just going out there playing like it's the second round of the playoffs; not really like home game. Of course they're the home team but we haven't really played much into their crowd.

Zam you mentioned something in the press conference yesterday about your team coming together in a moment when things weren't going right, and how that affected the team and brought ya'll together. Talk a little more about how that affected the team as a whole, your confidence and relying on your teammates throughout the struggle?
ZAMAREYA JONES: I would just say it's all about leadership. We had Zoe go out. She's a junior so one of our biggest leaders. So stepping into the role of getting everybody on one board. Tennessee makes a run. That's what they do.

So just not getting frustrated and turn against each other. A lot of teams once teams get down start to turn on each other.

Us, we just came together after every possession and we're going to continue to do that versus Michigan.

In the Notre Dame game in the ACC tournament you didn't have a shot; yesterday seemed like you were a lot more involved in the offense. What was that like for you and getting back into playing your game?
TILDA TRYGGER: I think just keep being aggressive. Sometimes you don't get the looks and sometimes, yeah, it just happens. Just sometimes demand the ball and when I feel like I have it inside just keep being aggressive.

Because I trust my guards to make the right decisions so it's just keep going, yeah.

Michigan has got a variety of offensive weapons. What are going to be some keys for your team defensively tomorrow?
ZAMAREYA JONES: I would just say lock up and defend. Take pride in playing defense. You never want anybody to score on you, so it's a regular game, go in, we got the scouting report, so just take away what they do best.

You guys have a very guard-heavy offense. Found a lot of success driving into the paint last night. Brooke Quarles Daniels is on the Big10 All-Defensive team. How does they impact the game and what are you hoping to do against her and that defense?
ZAMAREYA JONES: To that question, I mean, I'm just going to play my game. I guess all the guards is going to play their game. We're not really worried about one specific player.

If she plays good defense you know that she made -- I guess she plays good defense. We just playing our game. Not letting anybody speed us up. Just going to play our game at the end of the day.

You had mentioned Ky'She. How much confidence does last night's performance give you in her?
ZAMAREYA JONES: She's a great player. Glad she went out there and played. She's a freshman so it's kind of nerve-wracking coming in. I was nervous before the game and I'm a sophomore, so I know she was before the game.

So I just told her on the court, it's me and you. We're here together. She did a great job, so I'm just ready for her to step up and do it against Michigan.

You guys are the 7 seed playing against the 2 seed. Does that give you a chip on your shoulder, underdog mentality at all?
TILDA TRYGGER: I mean, yeah, they're a higher seed than us and it's their home court, but I love being the underdogs because I don't think it's something we think about. I just think we're just going to go in there and get the first punch and do our thing.

Yeah, of course. It's a part of it.

You guys at least in past years have some experience playing deep into Marche, whereas this Michigan team is younger and last year they I think bounced first, second round. So how do you think you're going to be able to exploit your experience and what do you think that brings into a matchup like tomorrow?
ZAMAREYA JONES: I would just say we just continue to stick with what we did for the last couple years. Not leaning on that, you know what team -- we also young, no seniors on our team, so it's kind of just roll with it.

Like at the end of the day we have to play our game and if we get far we get far. We're going to try to get as far as we can.