Colorado University Athletics
CU-ASU Post Game Quotes
January 17, 2015 | Men's Basketball
University of Colorado Head Coach Tad Boyle
General
"Winnable game. There's no reason why we shouldn't have won this basketball game. It's always something and tonight it was our defense in the second half let us down. They shoot 71 percent in the second half and it's amazing we're in the game. I told our guys in the locker room, 'This says something about our team that's going well when we're in a game like that when you're giving up 71 percent on your defensive end.' We're getting better in spots, there's no question about it. I thought we had some good individual performances tonight; [G] Jaron [Hopkins] and [Tre'Shaun Fletcher] were really good offensively and are hopefully gaining some confidence. You know that [ASU F Jonathan] Gilling and [G Bo] Barnes are shooters and you let shooters get hot and you have problems on your hands. That was the difference in the game was their three-point shooting. They're great shooters and (ASU) is like two different teams when those guys are out of the game because now you have to guard the ball and guard the drive and guard the ball screens a little bit better. But, when Gilling and Barnes come into the game you have to change your thought process. If you gamble, and you get out of position as a defender on shooters like that then they're going to make you pay and they made us pay tonight. That was the difference in the ball game, I thought, their three-point shooting."
On Whether CU Is Making Strides Offensively
"No question, we're making great strides. Â I've seen it in practice, our half court offense has gotten better. Again, tonight, because of our lineups (without F's Josh Scott and Xavier Johnson) we're a little limited in terms of what we can run. We played Fletcher at the four a lot tonight. I thought [F] Wesley [Gordon] battled tonight, [ASU F Eric Jacobsen] is a load down there and I thought Wesley really made some improvements defensively. But, when you're a little shorthanded I thought our offense was good tonight. We shot a little over 46 percent tonight, we'll take that, and 10-for-21 from three, we'll take that. So we made some strides but our defense wasn't good enough in the second half."
On G Jaron Hopkins Emerging And His Defensive Efforts
"He's just got to pick his spots. Defense is mostly about position and anticipation. The steal he had in front of our bench for a layup was a great example of that. Now, gambling in the second half and letting [ASU G] Bo Barnes get a wide open three is the downside to that. So, you don't want to gamble when the gamble can make you pay and that's what Jaron has to learn as a defender is when is it ok to get out in those passing lanes and when do I have to be a little more rock solid depending on who I'm guarding and not gamble as much. Hopefully our whole team is learning some things because we have to get better. My thing is, we're getting better in spots, there's no doubt about it, it's just there's always something. It's hard to win on the road and our guys are figuring that out and it's not going to get any easier. The one thing we are not going to do is feel sorry for ourselves, we're going to get back to work on Monday and have good practices Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday and try to get ready for Washington. You have to win at home, and we know that, but we have to start winning some games on the road and we've yet to proven that."
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