Johnny Juzang (3) will be playing in the Final Four against Gonzaga. (UCLA Athletics)
Former Kentucky guard Johnny Juzang has become the UK connection for the NCAA Tournament and was brilliant in UCLA’s 51-49 upset win over No. 1 seed Michigan that sent UCLA to the Final Four where it will be a double-digit underdog to unbeaten Gonzaga. Juzang was the only player on either team to score more than 11 points — and he scored 12 straight UCLA points in the first half. He had a 28-point performance on 11-of-19 shooting.
He scored his tournament-low 13 points on 5-of-18 shooting in UCLA win over Alabama the previous game. But in five NCAA games — UCLA had to beat Michigan State in the play-in game — he has been over 20 points three times. He has averaged 21.6 per game in the five wins and his 108 total points are the most by any Bruin not named Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Juzang, who left UK after last season because he was homesick for the west coast, had a lengthy postgame interview after the win. Here’s what he had to say::
Question: On the first half, if there was something before the game that boosted his confidence to have this performance?
Juzang: “Not really, actually. Just approached it like another game. We’ve been super locked-in to this tournament. You don’t want to — as a player, you don’t like add pressure to yourself. I know the whole team was just worried about we’re going to leave it out there on the floor and we’re going to give it everything we’ve got. I mean, the shot just happened to go in and teammates are finding me. I wouldn’t say anything different.”
Question: What was the celebration was like after everything the team went through?
Juzang: “Unreal, man. Unreal. I love every single one of these guys. It’s incredible, man. Surreal. Surreal. Something, you know, growing up, you just dream about. And to do it with such an amazing group of guys, such incredible staff, such incredible coaches, makes it just so wonderful. It’s beautiful. It’s beautiful sharing this moment with, you know, your brothers and just great, great people. Incredible.”
Question: What are his thoughts about the team are to this point after transferring from Kentucky?
Juzang: “First, the transition, I was welcomed with warm, open arms, man. So I was just welcomed to this team from day one. So you know, it’s been amazing.
“And then, you know, just working with these guys and learning and growing altogether, and just being pushed, obviously we’ve had our ups and downs during the season, but it’s such a beautiful thing, you know, the way that we have come together for this postseason. And just to — it’s just a feeling of everybody’s just so unified. It’s like one, just, unit, and we’re just all sharing in each other and rooting for each other. I mean, I think that’s why we’re at this point and just playing for each other. Just a lot of love, man.
“We’re not done yet. But you know, so far, it’s been beautiful, the ups and downs, and that makes moments like this even more special. Even more special.”
Question; On his decision to go back home and play for a defensive-minded head coach in Mick Cronin and if that ever crossed his mind with how he plays?
Juzang: “Not all, man. First, there’s just something unexplainable. I just felt something about Coach, just such a genuine guy, and it was first — something it was just intuition and I just felt it. I felt that he was just genuine, so that was the first thing. His reputation, I had no second thoughts.
“It is also what drew — I knew that he was hard. I knew that he was intense. I knew that he was defensive-minded, and those are things that drew me, I wanted that. I wanted to be pushed.
“On top of the first thing I said, it drew me to him. I knew that he would push me and hold me accountable and challenge me, and I knew he — and I wanted to play for a program where obviously he does that for everybody. So you know, I want to be part of a winning program with, you know, winning standards, and, you know, a level of accountability to win games.
“So I actually would just say it’s the opposite, man, it really drew me to play for Coach. Obviously, it’s been incredible.”
Question: What about his defense against Michigan’s Franz Wagner?
Juzang: “Well, you know, the coaches do such a great job with our scouting reports and game preparation. All we’ve got to do is go out there and execute.
“But the plan, we knew he was a strong right-hand driver. We had some of their plays and actions kind of scouted out. You know, guys went out and executed great. Tried to take away those things and slow him down.
“But you know, they are a great team. You know, so credit to them. They got some really good players, and so yeah, but our coaches did a great job with the scouting. We just had to go execute.”
Question: How well he and Jaime Jaquez are doing and if it speaks to their bond?
Juzang: “Yeah, man, I don’t want to leave anybody out. Obviously, first and foremost, my family. My girlfriend. My family’s been out here obviously my whole life but they have been out here supporting me and that’s been so wonderful. My girlfriend is so supportive and she pushes me, and all my friends. They all know who they are, man. And then obviously, you mentioned Harvard-Westlake, Coach Rebibo, and my trainer, Dash.
“I don’t want to leave everybody out but everybody knows who they are, man. I’m so grateful to have the people I do in my life and so obviously I’d be nothing without them. I’m just super lucky to have so much support in my life, and everybody knows who they are. So you know who you are. I’m sorry, you know if I didn’t hit on it but I’m just kind of in the moment right now. Blessed to have so much great support.”
Question: When he went out with an injury, if he had to convince anyone to go back in?
Juzang: “No, I didn’t have to talk to anybody. I just stepped off and got some treatment and got some heavier tape. I knew I was going to be ready. I just needed a second to, you know, get it taken care of. But you know, the adrenaline and — I’ll feel it tonight — but the adrenaline, I wasn’t really too worried about it. I felt it, but I knew I would be back — I didn’t have to talk to anybody. So once I was ready; my coaches believe in me and I’m so lucky for that. So I was able to get right back in there and contribute.”
Question: What urgency did he feel to get back out there considering the big first half he had with how high the stakes were?
Juzang “For sure, man, it’s March Madness. I was trying to get out there as quick as I can to help my brothers. So you know, I was over there, you know, I kind of just looked back at the floor checking on what’s going on, and our trainer did such a great job. You know, he took care of me and he got me right out there really quick.
“But no, I definitely was, you know, trying to get out there as quick as I could. You know, so we got some lion-hearted guys on this team. We got some warriors, man. It kind of — it kind of, you know, checks everybody because the guy to your right is putting his heart on the floor and the guy to your left is putting his heart on the floor. I know I’ve got an injury or whatever, but I’m getting right back out there because I’m trying to leave my heart on the floor. Just kind of that spirit with the team. You know, everybody’s trying to do it, so I did feel, obviously, trying to get out there and fight with my brothers.”
