A our next guest is a national champion unlike yourself up. All American but not a national champion now let's not compare my career to cal singular he's actually good. The job nineteen points on butler in last Monday's NCAA tournament championship is named the most outstanding player of the Final Four heard here on the stand Medford native and current Duke blue devil. Passing their congratulations man. Ram not hey when you're growing up is -- to -- born in what 1988. -- yeah but it's -- what was your first memory of the Final Four.
While gone. I I really don't know -- group and I key guy and I think in bashful when. I -- until. Middle school so. I couldn't really tell yeah.
That blows my follow up question I'm excited your hockey man who's your team.
Well I don't really have a team anymore blessed she's just. Govpx McCain's game went to until a couple of days ago and you know it's pretty cut.
On behalf of red wings nation we'd like to welcome you into -- come on let's get on board with the other reds.
Yeah well I'll -- puzzle that they're NATO anymore.
I'll sing their -- so what were you thinking when when the big Fella missed that free throw with what four seconds left.
Well I didn't million this year until you know he he he missed it and -- can not coming off guard them. Com you know that I just -- you know to the you know good -- Hate. Hayward and down and I got screened in. On the ball came off the backboard and try to ram. Nicest. Six. Released you know the cut that up Paul Benigno and.
Do you think it was going to end.
It looked good called on the grounds that it really get decorated -- put. Arm into it and look good.
Yet that's green looked like it hurt.
I have been heard to had not. But yeah he's actually got me.
Looking back on that team what stands out most.
Or how -- goalies you know fight to -- on you know -- double game on you know they're very good team and home. You know by no means are they a the Cinderella team because. Now there -- very sound talented team in.
You know I'd I would just say you know is of course can't -- game and just you know both teams you know will still well will --
I was listening to an interview with Grant Hill who said him -- Christian late nearing the end jay wings are playing you guys kind of you know a scrimmage or Kris isn't everything in. He didn't think too highly of your team honey got you guys might be a little bit of trouble. When you started this season did you think that this did the -- guys are Capel of this than the national championship was was realistic.
Yeah I mean we we knew we -- you know good and we -- that we had you know some pieces to. To a do some special but I think -- a good team in town could programming -- coaching staff is getting better in a couple season. I had no means in the team. What they're gonna be India in the beginning of the season. -- opposed -- great job of not coach innocent here in. And you know just -- guys you know we we we got better we got closer as a team. No it was now gives -- funk -- can do be a part of.
Todd really announcing there of do here on the -- now did did I'm curious because it you couldn't really tell on television but it sounded just. Absolutely over the top -- probe butler crowd there how did that affect you guys -- did it.
Oh yeah they're definitely I've got there and they're -- you know we also had a great. I'm supporting. Task. Now. You know they our fans are great. He had great support throughout the whole lot term itself thank you guys but who really was. That big deal.
Have you gone back to watch the game.
shot it. A couple of times the other final shot but I haven't watched video game.
Now what we do that shot now now let's go to about thirty seconds left I think it was in effort kept the -- I think he -- to beat you had a huge fifteen footer. Nick -- stuck a dagger in -- walk me through that China went a little short -- nice game that only a little short Beckett -- on us and they're watching that game going. My -- this shot right here if he knocks this down this -- this one could live forever in the annals of Final Four history.
Yeah. I had tickets dot com and -- the same thing. You know we're up one and I would hit that we would've been a series so. I knew that. Most breathtaking shots and it is really income off my NRA and just came up way short and you know it would have been a nice -- to have put you know it did did happen and sometimes those things happen but -- I guess the main thing was that we came -- you have the right play. -- we get -- defense to stop and then. -- with the free throw. Just came up with you know the land.
So in your head on the court EU EU thought to yourself boy this going to be really big for -- politico.
Really had no no question. You know I knew it taken and.
Even before that shot I knew all night -- on the court that was open that the at the elbow and and I flash there and.
I think you -- signal and then in the the past Dolan and Shawn and no I turned and shouted I knew assured it just came up my mind and.
What did you do with the peace thing that you -- downwards that.
You know -- I -- I don't really know delighted him I'd be right back packing my you know my best guy. Even unpacked from in other trips sized risk.
Not aren't okay you do care that you won the national champs it's all right Eric. Where where you play next here in the NBA.
The last have you made his decision. You know I -- in my name and and.
I actually -- coach today and we talked for a little bit in.
Actually -- not talk with my parents tomorrow so I should you know build and make a decision in. It was.
It's it's coming. Scrambled. Just ceremony of the emotional when he the national championship and.
And not been doing some special one and then even having him in the opposite. The opportunity to and team name in the draft. Now.
Kind of just scrambled and not gap and take -- they used to getting some much information to sit down and just think about it.
And -- one of them real school -- to go to class dear. Professors kind of cut you some slack and mean is -- a national championship or is it like the next day you're back in physics.
I don't have anything in the class. But. It's okay too because even the week off split.
tech school. That it showed exclude today some class and.
Home in I look forward to it. I had good classmates thing and -- teachers so it's it's actually pretty fun.
Which argue with that Duke's Kyle singular here on the fan Medford native -- national champs so you said couple -- days and you have until April 25 to enter the draft in May -- to withdraw. Do you anticipate taking all that time or do you think it's just a couple of days away your decision.
Yeah I'll save my decisions as better week who have maybe maybe less -- that calm.
I don't. I really have no idea what I'm gonna --
Just basically got up in the air and come to this my pants and I trust there they're excited and I I trust coaches too so. Com and it's got to listen to what they have to say and and I guess and make a decision that feels right.
Now what was coach's guidance for you say he met with him today did he tell you where you may go in the draft or what does he tell you.
Yeah.
Basically coach settlers million I'm here for you it continue you saying calm and told me you know from like he's entered. -- first round maybe second round pick and you know he basically says it's up to me it's my decision. Now he'll definitely support him whatever I do.
What kind of MBA player do you foresee yourself. Projected as who do you look at the NBA and say I can do that.
I'm home. And to be honest I really don't look at anyone. Some really modeled my game after but there's a lot of guys that now. Their games I I respect then that yeah. That admire black thumb really that is and I can only be my own person and it that makes sense and.
And I see myself being very successful you know basketball player. Now Laviolette and.
Content that I've always you know pride myself on -- Korea.
When you get a state championship and national championship b.s in NBA title now when you're done.
It's actually. He does enough.
Housing there did -- thinks for a carve out a few minutes for us congratulations on the national championship. I don't know -- yeah.
