What Gonzaga players said about NCAA Tournament run: 'We're just a really tight-knit group'

Graham Ike, Nolan Hickman and Braden Huff addressed the media before Friday's Sweet 16 matchup with Purdue

The Gonzaga Bulldogs have been through a lot since they last saw the Purdue Boilermakers in late November.

The numbers reflect major improvement over the course of the season, especially after Ben Gregg was inserted into the starting lineup. Since then the Zags have been one of the most efficient offenses in the country and have won 16 of their last 18 games, tied for the third-best winning percentage in the nation over that stretch.

Things have only gotten better in the month of March for Mark Few’s bunch. Gonzaga ranks No. 3 on Bart Torvik since the first of the month and is second in offensive efficiency, first in 3-point field goal percentage and top-15 in effective field goal percentage and turnover rate in the nation.

“Honestly, man, I think after that Saint Mary's game we had in the WCC conference tournament, I think after that we just started buckling down,” Nolan Hickman said on Thursday. “After that, we just started buckling down and understanding what our strengths are and what our weaknesses are, and we went from there.”

Here’s more of what Hickman, Graham Ike and Braden Huff said to the media ahead of the Bulldogs’ matchup with Purdue in the Sweet 16.

Ike on how he and the team has changed since first matchup with Purdue:

“The biggest thing is probably just how many games we've played since then. Like our connectivity and our synergy is on a whole 'nother level than it was when we were playing our fourth game against Purdue. We're clicking right now on the right page.”

“Yeah, I'm a lot different. My wind's better. I'd say my touch is better. The feel for the game is better. The feel in the offense for myself is better. The game just feels a lot slower than it was at that time.”

Hickman on Purdue’s supporting cast of Lance Jones, Fletcher Loyer and Braden Smith:

“They definitely complement each other really well, especially with Zach (Edey) on the post. They're always able to find him whenever things are not going well on the offensive end. ... When they need a bucket, they always go to him, and they always find a way to. So, yeah, they complement each other really well.”

Huff on the team’s connectivity off the court:

“I think we're just a really tight-knit group. I think we went through some ups and downs early in the season, and through that we got stronger on the court and also off the court. I think that's shown in our play lately.”

“Yeah, it's a fun group to be around. Everyone loves each other on this team. So it's a really cool group, and I don't think you see that a ton, especially with the transfer portal and everything in college basketball now. It's cool that we've got such a tight-knit group.”

MORE: WHAT MARK FEW SAID BEFORE GONZAGA-PURDUE MATCHUP

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