Colorado University Athletics
Colorado, Washington Quotes
January 06, 2012 | Men's Basketball
Colorado Head Coach Tad Boyle
General - "I thought that was really a good win for our program. Especially for where we are right now, and I have such respect for Lorenzo Romar and the University of Washington and what that program has done over the last 10 years. They've got good players, and I think our guys battled, especially given the start of the game and how we played offensively. I thought our defense really created some offense for us, and we turned them over a little bit. It was just a good win for us, and I thought our guys played with real good heart and unbelievable toughness. One of the things we've talked to our team a lot about the last couple weeks is pride and toughness. Being proud of representing Colorado basketball, and what we want to make it represent, taking ownership in our program and playing with unbelievable toughness every night. Win or lose, you got to lay it on the line, and I think our guys have done that here recently. Our next challenge is how do we bounce back, whether you win or you lose, you have to bounce back."
On This Game Being A Measuring Stick- "I like how we handled our adversity tonight. It's not like we came out and just blew them out, we had to fight for it. I'm not ready to anoint ourselves 'Conference Champions'; were two games into an 18 game schedule. I like the track we're on and the direction we are headed, but this thing is a marathon. We talked to our team, even the veterans; there is a big difference between an 18-game conference schedule and a 16-game conference schedule, like we're used to in the Big 12. Those two extra games sometimes take a lot out of you, mentally and emotionally. I think (this win) gives us great confidence. But we did it at home, and to finish in the top half of any league, you have to win on the road, and hold serve at home. Again, this was a litmus test for our team, and we passed that test, so now it's on to the next one. But I don't want to get too full of our selves, but I think the term we need to start using is belief, and I want our fans to believe and know that when they show up to the Coors Events Center the Buffs are going to take care of business and play their hearts out. We're all in this together; we are going to need our fans as this season goes on."
On The Turning Point Of The Game - "I know I talk about it all the time, but I think it was our defense. Our defensive field goal percentage is first in the league (.390), we held a very explosive team to 33 percent, they had nine layups in the first half but shot 33 percent, I mean that's unheard of. Although some of those were off turnovers, and that's not bad defense, that's bad offense. I thought when our defense got set; we executed the game plan to a 'T'. What I liked about our team is we challenged them at halftime to come out (in the second half) and take some charges, because we had opportunities in the first half and we didn't do it, and in the second half we did. So our players are responding, and they're listening, which is very encouraging as a coach."
On Play Of The Bench - "I thought our bench in the first half was great. I thought Sabatino Chen's minutes were great, we were struggling a little bit, and he was aggressive, taking the ball to the hole. I thought Jeremy Adams played his best game as a Buff, he did some good things. Shane [Harris-Tunks] defensively was good. And Askia Booker coming off the bench, he plays with such unbridled enthusiasm and he is such a spark plug for us. That is one of the reason he comes off the bench; I look at Askia as a sixth starter for us, if you will. He keeps growing and learning, but he wants to have the ball in his hands and he wants to take big shots."
On G Nate Tomlinson - "Man, if you look at Nate's (box score) line tonight...it's pretty good. The thing about Nate is he is a guy that I'm comfortable with and our offense runs better when he is out there. He thinks like a point guard, and it also allows Spencer [Dinwiddie] to score a little bit more when he is not bringing the ball up. Nate running the point helps this team in a lot of ways that maybe the average fan doesn't realize as much."
On G Spencer Dinwiddie - "I'm really pleased with the way he is playing and where he is, and the poise and confidence he is playing with. I want him to continue to learn the game, and think like a coach. Eventually Spencer is going to have to be that guy that thinks about, 'Hey have we gotten Andre [Roberson] a shot lately, has Carlon [Brown] got a touch, and thinking about the whole big picture and that is the next step for him. I'm not saying he doesn't already do that, but I think that is an area he can continue to grow and develop as his career goes on."
Washington Head Coach Lorenzo Romar
General - "You've got to give credit to Colorado. They guarded us. We got out to a 14-5 lead and then they really clamped down defensively. They made shot after shot. They were very efficient offensively. They did a great job."
On Whether Colorado Did Anything Unexpected - "No. They were very efficient. We told our team they would be very efficient. We did things that were unexpected of us. We didn't guard like we should have, we didn't share the ball, things of that nature."
On Their Rhythm At The Beginning Of The 2nd Half - "We (got a rhythm) temporarily, but we couldn't sustain it. (We were able to) start playing a little defense. It always starts with defense. We played a little bit of defense and got on a little bit of a roll."
On If The Altitude Affected Them - "I would like to say it affected us, but we played this way against Saint Louis and South Dakota State and there was no altitude, so I can't blame it on that."
On A Specific Point Where The Game Got Away - "It was 14-5, they came back. We turned the ball over a couple of times. We took some very quick shots. They didn't have to guard very long at all. They got in a rhythm, then they were up 10. I thought that was a very big turning point in the game. It was the way they came back from 14-5. We just didn't make them guard us at all."
On Stopping Colorado F Andre Roberson - "Yeah, we were (satisfied), but then some other guys got loose on us, so it wasn't a team defensive effort."
On How Tough The Loss Is - "It's a tough loss in that you'd like to win on the road when you can, but we also felt like we were playing better basketball to where maybe we could be successful a couple times on the road. Every loss is tough."
Carlon Brown, Guard, Senior
On What He Said When The Team Fell Behind Early - "I was just saying for everybody to relax and for us to handle the pressure, that is what they do. It is nothing that we haven't seen or been through in practice. Just calm down and play our game. We kind of played into their hands, speeding up and not taking care of the ball. Once we got the first 5-7 minutes out of us, we really showed our true game and what we are made of."
On Physical Play Under The Basket - "We knew that they were No. 1 in rebounding in our conference, thus far in our league play, so we just tried our best to compete with them. I was telling guys, 'Even if you don't get a box out, at least get into the paint. Maybe get a tip on the ball and it may land in one of our teammate's hands. We can't leave the guy on an island by themselves.' We just collectively gained rebounds and I think we did a good job, even though we lost by two in that category."
On What The Win Means - "I don't think it tells us anything. We knew that we could play basketball with the best teams. That is why we challenged ourselves in Puerto Rico - though we lost two games, we knew we could play better. Obviously with a young team, you need to find ways to mesh early and we couldn't do that, but I think the last 4-5 games we have stepped it up, played together, and I think have brought our A-game and the execution that coach was asking for."
On Taking Confidence From The Win - "You can take confidence, but if we sit here and say, 'We beat Washington,' but we come out and lose Saturday, what does that mean? We have to take this win and be happy about it, but in this conference you turn around and play the next day. We come into work in the morning and get ready for Saturday."
On The Bench - "They played great. [Sabatino Chen] came in and did his thing with his spin move. He is a hard guy to guard. I don't think they were really ready for him, as far as scouts are concerned. Jeremy [Adams] had some big rebounds. Shane [Harris-Tunks] had some big rebounds. We gave a lot of credit to them at halftime and after the game. We are glad that they were prepared and ready to play when their number was called."
On Building Confidence In Nate Tomlinson - "We know that Nate can shoot the ball. He knows that he can shoot the ball, and that is all the he has to know - that we have confidence in him. As long as he maintains confidence in himself, everything will fall through. He made some big shots, made some good free throws and made some good assists. He was just being a senior leader."
On Playing Again In Two Days - "It's cool to me. It is kind of like youth basketball. You have a day off and then you play the next day. We are all young, except for me, and we'll be ready to go on Saturday. We are looking forward to it."
Andre Roberson, Forward, Sophomore
On What The Win Means - "I felt that it was a big victory for us, a big confidence boost. I feel like we are a top contender in this league and if we keep striving in practice, we will be where we want to be."
On Conference Play - "It's big. Something I learned from last year is that conference play is a whole different ballgame. You have to come ready to play every game because it matters in the end in the NCAA selection. You have to be one of the top to have a good chance of getting in there (the NCAA Tournament)."
On Physical Play Under The Basket - "We knew that they were going to crash the boards and try and get a lot of tip dunks. That is one thing that they do well, they get in there and rebound. They are a big team as well."
On The Crowd - "The crowd plays a big factor with us. We feed off of them. I just feel that they gave us a lot of energy to go out there and perform better and harder. I feel like if we get more fan support, it will be a lot better. I think if we continue to work and have that mindset, we will be alright in this league."
