Colorado University Athletics
Colorado Kansas Quotes
March 08, 2002 | Men's Basketball
HEAD COACH RICARDO PATTON
On the loss to Kansas:
"I think the best team clearly won. We played a team that, in my mind, is on a mission to win it all."
On Colorado's slow start to the game:
"It could have been a combination of a lot of things. I thought we came to the game focused. We had some guys that this was their first tournament. The No. 1 thing that contributed to that is that (Kansas) is a doggone good basketball team. They don't miss a beat."
On the match-up with Kansas:
"I thought that their best players were better than our best players, but hopefully our guys gained some valuable experience."
FRESHMAN CENTER DAVID HARRISON
On Drew Gooden not shaking hands before the game:
"I'm apparently the person with no class. I'm the one who got booed and he got cheered. That set the tone for the game."
"He'll (Gooden) always be the good guy, but his not shaking my hand shows his weakness as a person."
On things that were said during the game:
"Yes, there were things said. He repeatedly told me I couldn't guard him. He reminded me that they were up 30. They can say anything about us and if you want me to say the politically correct thing, I will tell you that KU is the best team in the nation, but in my opinion Oklahoma is better."
On playing KU:
"It's so hard to play against them because you don't get any respect from the crowd, the officials or the KU team."
JUNIOR FORWARD STEPHANE PELLE
On the type of game opponents must play against Kansas:
"I think they must limit the amount of turnovers and be an aggressive team. And a team that plays against them has to go in there knowing that they will beat them. It takes a lot against Kansas. They show a minimum amount of mistakes and they take advantage of yours."
Kansas
Friday, March 8, 2002 / Kemper Arena / Kansas City, Mo.
Head Coach ROY WILLIAMS
On the game:
"We feel very fortunate. We just played very well. We are a pretty doggone experienced team. You always build your momentum in great tournament games."
On NCAA tournament:
"Our guys are focused on today. We are going to play our butts off."
On Jeff Boschee:
"He has an ability to shoot the ball. His teammates know how to find him. He is a confident little rascal."
SENIOR GUARD JEFF BOSCHEE
On the Big 12 Tournament:
"I like playing in the tournament atmosphere. The atmosphere in this arena is great. I was real excited to play today and I showed a lot of emotion."
On his role on the team:
"I try to be a leader, but I'm not the most vocal guy on the team. I lead by example. I hit some shots, I go after loose balls and I try to help the team any way I can, both offensively and defensively."
JUNIOR GUARD KIRK HINRICH
On Colorado's David Harrison's comments about Kansas being an ordinary team:
"We were already motivated, but we used this as motivation. If I was Drew (Gooden) I would be offended too. We just have to ignore the nonsense and just play. I think we did a good job of that today."
JUNIOR FORWARD NICK COLLISON
On who you would like to play:
"I don't care, Texas Tech and Oklahoma State are both good teams."
"It's good to get one tournament game under our belt. It's good to get off to such a great start."
"The trash talking was a non-factor in my opinion. Today we were just the better team. Pelle is a tough player."
JUNIOR FORWARD DREW GOODEN
On the trash talking:
"This isn't a trash talking tournament. I like to let the scoreboard do the talking. You've got to play well or you go home. I'm not going to do any trash talking about Colorado."
"You can beat teams that push you around. We try to play smarter than our opponents. We are just playing good basketball now. We are a much stronger basketball team than last year."
FRESHMAN FORWARD WAYNE SIMIEN
On the win:
"It's a good feeling. We just came off a close game with Missouri. We were able to achieve our goal of going undefeated in the conference and have started off this tournament on the right foot."
