Players Mentioned
Colorado-Hartford Quotes
December 29, 2012 | Men's Basketball
Colorado Head Coach Tad Boyle
General
"I'd like to talk about perspective, you know we're 10-2 and for the
most part I was happy with today's performance. There are still some areas
where obviously our team has to get better, and taking care of the ball is one
of them. When you look at our schedule and the strength of our schedule, and
look at the fact that we're 10-2, we feel good about ourselves, we're not
satisfied with ourselves but we feel good about where we are at this point. You
get into league play, every game means the same thing, the price goes up and
the intensity goes up, the level of competition goes up, and I think we're
ready for conference play."
On The
Bench
"You look at our first unit, they're playing at a high level, they're
playing together, they're sharing the ball, moving the ball, we've got to rely
on each other. I told the team in the locker room there's not one guy in here
who can beat the Pac 12 on their own and we've got to do it together as a
collective group. I like where we are, I think our bench needs to continue to
get better, we need to develop that, that will happen as the year goes on, but
we've got some capable guys coming off that bench and we're going to need to
count on them at times during this next 18 games. I've got confidence in every
single one of them."
On
Pac-12 Expectations
"They picked us 6th and we'll find out, I don't get too
concerned with those other than when people say it's a given we're going to go
to the tournament or it's a given that we're going to win this game . Nothing
is a given in college basketball, we learned that against Texas-Southern a
couple weeks ago and for the young people there's going to be a lot of learning
opportunities, we've had some already and we're going to continue to have some.
I don't get concerned with outside expectations but when I hear people talking
about a given that we're a tournament team or we should be going to the
tournament, there's nobody that should be. You have to earn your way into that
thing and that's what we're trying to do. We've got a young team and young
players, and we've got to figure it out and we've done a good job so far."
On The
Kansas Game
"I think our guys were a little embarrassed by the Kansas performance
but as we look forward to going to Arizona next week, it's a great home court
advantage we're stepping into and so it will be a challenge for these guys to
see if we've learned from that experience."
On
Offense
"I think offensively, you look at our efficiency, we're sharing the ball
more and moving the ball more, and we're understanding each other. It takes
some time, even with the European game it still takes time, I can see it in
practice, guys know where each other are going to be on the court and we're
playing inside out which is what we want to do. We wanted to go into Josh Scott
a lot today early because that's where our advantage was, and we're going to have
to play inside out as we get into league play. Offensively, I think our
efficiency has gotten better from day one to where we are now. Defensively,
we've gotten better too. We're not going to be playing against Northern Arizona
and Hartford next week, we're going to be playing against Arizona and Arizona
State, our defense will be tested a little more. But we look at our numbers and
they're decent."
On
Spencer Dinwiddie
"The first five or six minutes of the Northern Arizona game, Spencer
Dinwiddie is really our catalyst, first five minutes of the game today were
really special. He wasn't looking to get his own, he was looking for Andre's
shots and Askia's shots and Josh's shots. Sabatino did a great job of it too;
he's such a glue guy that makes everyone around him better. I thought Spencer's
play getting those guys going was critical."
On The
Pac 12
"We should dominate Northern Arizona and we should dominate Hartford.
Our guys are bigger and stronger and better athletes. Now the test becomes can
we dominate Arizona, I'm not sure we can dominate them but we can neutralize
their size and strength and athleticism. We're not 6-6, 220 and they may be 7
foot, 250. They've got men, they've got animals in there and it's a different
deal than what we've faced the last two games. But our guys understand that and
our guys love challenges, they're competitive and they believe in themselves
and we can't put too much into any one game. When you go into conference play
you've got 18 games in the Pac 12, 9 at home and 9 on the road, and I don't
know the last time someone went undefeated on the road in the Pac 12, but my
guess is it has been a long time. We have to make sure we don't get too high
after a win, don't get too full of ourselves, and we don't get too down if we
drop a game no matter who it is or who it's against."
On the
Bench
"They weren't where they needed to be mentally, I know that. My plan was
to let them go and let the bench bring it home, get them into a flow and let
them play, they turned it over they gave up layups. It's not a God-given right
to play; you've got to earn your time on the floor. They've earned it in
practice."
Hartford Head Coach John Gallagher
General
"In the first half we didn't play
with the intensity we needed. In the second half we came out and played with a
better level of intensity but it's nowhere near what it needs to be and what we
need to do. Looking at us from a whole this is the first game I felt we were
physically overmatched. Looking forward I really like our team today we were
just physically overmatched."
On Making 13 Three-Point Field Goals
"In a game like that you're going to have to make them, the problem is we
have to finish around the rim today. We didn't finish enough baskets around the
rim so it just wasn't good enough. I think it's also running our offense and
executing. We didn't execute at our level. But you have to give Colorado credit
they're the best defensive team we've faced. They play with the best level of
execution, and Tad Boyle is obviously one of the best coaches in America. Look
at what he has built here."
On
What You Learn From This Game
"Well, we're
7-6 and that's the first time Hartford has had seven wins non-conference since
1990, so that's a big step for our program. The reality is, and I just
challenged the team that this never happens again in our three year run with
the team. We have all sophomores and freshmen. That this never happens again. I
didn't yell and scream. I just felt that we're a good basketball team that was
flat today for the first 20 minutes. But you have to give Colorado a lot of
credit, you see what you take away from it is, when you play against a high
level team, you can't come in and be laissez-fare, you have to have a way about
you that's very authoritative. We'll
end up being a good basketball team, we're just not there yet."
Univeristy of Colorado Student-Athletes
Sophomore Guard Spencer Dinwiddie
On
Going Into Pac-12 Play
"Our non-conference was way better this year, and it will better help us
prepare for the Pac-12."
On
Having Good Energy Level After The Break
"I think that every time you have an extended period of time off where
you have a lot of practices between games you are more focused."
On
Assist-To-Turnover Ratio
"We definitely heard about that (from Coach Boyle). We want to keep our
turnovers in an 8-10 range and today we didn't do that. Our turnovers continue
to be a work in progress. Part of it, is a product of how we play, because we
try to play fast. So, we are probably going to be higher than most teams but we
always want our (assist-to-turnover ratio) to be positive, of course."
On
Depth Being A Concern
"No, depth is not a concern. We have the upmost confidence in them."
On
Chemistry Of Team
"I definitely do (think chemistry is good). I mean, you practice with
them every day so the chemistry is there and then the non-conference play
(helps). Living with these guys is what builds chemistry, even more so than
probably playing with them on the court. You get to learn how they truly are
and what they like and stuff. Everyone is comfortable with everybody and it is
a pleasure playing on this team; because I've been on teams where people didn't
like each other, and I'm not talking college, I'm talking about more AAU
stuff."
Freshman Forward Josh Scott
On
Out-Rebounding Hartford 52-21
"We are always trying to get a hefty rebound margin, and we just went
out and did it. All of us rebounded the ball really well, so it was a good day
for us in terms of that."
On
Going Into Pac-12 Play
"I'm excited and I feel like we played a pretty tough non-conference
schedule -this is obviously my first year so maybe I don't know what I'm
talking about- but I feel like since we have played such good competition it
has prepared us for league (play). So I'm pretty excited going into it and I
feel like we are prepared."
On
Depth Being A Concern
"I don't see a problem with it. I think we are pretty good, pretty deep
too."
On
Chemistry Of Team
"It has been fun for me, just because with this team everybody tells you
what they want you to do and the guards are pretty good at telling you what
they want, so, that kind of builds chemistry. When you know that they are not
going to yell at you, and they are just going to tell you where you should go.
That has really helped."
On
Starting Fast
"I think we are just coming out ready to go and
I think we learned from the Texas Southern's and the Wyoming's that you have to
come out ready to play. It is just our maturation that you are seeing."
-COLORADO-